I just wanted to jump in and say that everyone here has given you really solid advice! One thing I'd add that hasn't been mentioned yet - if you're still having trouble getting through to your caseworker after trying all the usual methods, you can also file a complaint with the county's CalWORKs program manager. Sometimes that lights a fire under them to respond more quickly. Also, when you do get those documents together, I'd recommend submitting them in multiple ways if possible - email AND mail AND drop off in person if you can. The county offices can be notorious for "losing" paperwork, especially when deadlines are tight. The fact that this income was from 2022 and you didn't apply until late 2023 is your ace in the hole here. Make sure that's the FIRST thing you mention in any communication - put it right at the top so they can't miss it. You're going to get through this! The system is designed to be intimidating but you know your rights now thanks to everyone here sharing their experiences.

Hey Dylan! I'm so sorry you're going through this stress - IEVS reports are honestly one of the most anxiety-inducing things about being on CalWORKs. I went through something similar about a year ago and felt like I was going to have a panic attack when I got that letter! The good news is that everyone here has given you excellent advice, and since your job was in 2022 but you didn't apply for benefits until late 2023, you should definitely be in the clear for any overpayment issues. That timeline is crucial - make sure you lead with that information in ALL your communications with the county. A couple additional tips from my experience: - When you call your old employer, mention it's for "government benefit verification" - that usually gets you transferred to the right department faster - If you used any tax prep software like TurboTax or H&R Block in 2022, you might still be able to log in and download your documents from there - Consider sending a brief email or letter TODAY just acknowledging you received the notice and are working to gather the requested documents - it shows good faith effort The 10-day deadline feels impossible but it's really just meant to get you to respond, not necessarily have everything perfect. You've got a whole community here rooting for you! Keep us posted on how it goes! 💪

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now with my dad as our provider! He's been watching my 2-year-old for about 6 weeks and we're still waiting on the first payment. Reading through all these comments is so helpful - I had no idea about the TrustLine requirement either. My CalWORKs worker definitely didn't explain that part clearly. I'm going to call the Alternative Payment Program office tomorrow and specifically ask about his TrustLine status and provider number. It's so frustrating that they don't tell you about these potential delays upfront. My dad has been great about helping out but he's on a fixed income and really needs those payments to start coming through. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - at least now I know what questions to ask!

I'm new to this community but going through the exact same thing right now! My grandmother has been watching my 4-year-old for about 5 weeks while I'm in the WTW program and we haven't seen a single payment yet. Reading all these responses is eye-opening - my worker never mentioned TrustLine at all, and now I'm wondering if that's what's holding everything up. I called three times this week and keep getting told "it's processing" with no real timeline. It's putting so much stress on my grandma because she's been buying snacks and supplies for my daughter out of her own pocket. I'm definitely going to try calling the Alternative Payment Program office directly tomorrow and ask specifically about TrustLine status and the provider number. Thank you all for sharing your experiences - it helps to know I'm not alone in dealing with this mess of a system!

This whole situation is sadly way too common with CalWORKs. I had a similar experience where my worker claimed they called multiple times but I had zero missed calls or voicemails. What finally worked for me was calling first thing in the morning (right at 8am when they open) and immediately asking to speak with a supervisor. Don't let them transfer you back to your regular worker - be firm that you need to speak with management about documentation issues. When I did this, the supervisor was able to see that no outgoing calls were actually logged to my number despite what my worker had written in the case notes. They reassigned me to a different worker that same day and I had my interview completed within 48 hours. Also, make sure to get the supervisor's name and ask them to email you confirmation of your new interview time - having it in writing prevents any "he said, she said" situations later. Don't give up - you have every right to receive the services you're eligible for!

I'm dealing with something similar right now with my CalWORKs worker! They keep saying they called me but I never get any calls or voicemails. It's like they just mark it down without actually calling. I've been documenting everything - taking screenshots of my call log, writing down exact times I was available, and even recording myself waiting by the phone during scheduled appointment times. When I finally got through to someone last week, they admitted that some workers have "heavy caseloads" and sometimes "communication issues occur." That felt like code for "yeah, they're not actually calling everyone they're supposed to." I'm going to try the supervisor route that others mentioned here. Has anyone had success with filing a formal complaint through the state if the county office doesn't resolve it? I'm worried this is affecting my application timeline and I really can't afford any more delays.

I just wanted to share that I went through this exact situation last year with my daughter's application. The father wasn't involved at all and I only knew his first name and that he lived somewhere in San Diego. I was terrified about the cooperation requirement too! But honestly, the child support worker was really understanding. She explained that cooperation just means being honest about what you know and being willing to help if they need more info later. I filled out the forms with "unknown" for his address and SSN, explained the situation during my interview, and my daughter's benefits were approved without any issues. They never found him (not surprising since I barely knew anything about him), but that didn't affect our case at all. Tell your sister not to stress too much - being a single mom is hard enough without worrying about things that probably won't even be a problem. The system is designed to help families like yours, not punish them for circumstances beyond their control.

I'm going through this same situation right now with my 8-month-old son! The father disappeared when I was 5 months pregnant and I literally only know his first name and the bar where we met. I was so scared about the cooperation requirement that I almost didn't apply at all. But my caseworker explained that "cooperation" doesn't mean you have to be a detective - it just means you share whatever you do know and don't intentionally hide information. I filled out the CW 2.1 form with his first name only and wrote "unknown" for everything else. During my LCSA interview, I explained that I met him at a bar, we only knew each other for a few weeks, and I have no way to contact him or his family. The worker said this happens more often than people think and that my honesty was exactly what they needed to see. My benefits were approved and they opened a child support case, but when they couldn't locate him with just a first name, that was the end of it. No one questioned me further or made me feel bad about not having more info. Your sister should definitely apply - the worst thing she can do is not try to get help she needs for her baby.

OMG I LOVE when people find out they're actually eligible for MORE benefits than they thought! Fill out that SAR7 TODAY and get it submitted. Don't wait until the deadline because processing can take a few days. And once your cash aid is back, make sure to ask about the diaper benefit and childcare assistance - those are HUGE helps when you have a toddler. The CalWORKs childcare benefit alone can save you hundreds or thousands of dollars if you're working or in school!

Great job figuring this out! Just wanted to add that when you do start looking for work, make sure to let your CalWORKs worker know - they have programs that can help with job search, training, and even transportation assistance. And the childcare benefit through CalWORKs can cover daycare costs while you're working OR looking for work, which is amazing. Also, with a child under 2, you're in the "young child exemption" category, so you won't have strict work requirements right away. Take advantage of this time to get stable housing, finish any education/training you want to do, and plan for when those requirements kick in after your daughter turns 2. You're doing great advocating for yourself and your little one!