As someone who's helped many people navigate CalWORKs recertifications, I want to emphasize a few key points that will help put your mind at ease: 1. **You're absolutely doing the right thing by reporting the car** - honesty is always the best policy with CalWORKs, and trying to hide assets can cause much bigger problems down the road. 2. **The equity calculation works in your favor** - With only 2 payments made on a $19K car, your equity is probably around $400-500, which is nowhere near the $10,000 vehicle exemption limit. 3. **Your work justification is strong** - The fact that you need this car specifically for DoorDash to support your family makes it a legitimate work expense, not a luxury purchase. **Pro tip for your recertification form**: In addition to listing the car value and loan amount in their respective sections, use the comments/additional information section to write something like: "2019 vehicle purchased 2 months ago for DoorDash work transportation. Current loan balance approximately $18,600. Vehicle essential for earning income to support family." This proactive explanation helps your eligibility worker understand your situation immediately and shows you're being transparent about everything. You've got this - sounds like you're handling a tough situation responsibly!

I just wanted to jump in here as someone who's been through multiple CalWORKs recertifications with financed vehicles. Everyone has given you excellent advice, and I can confirm that your situation is really common and shouldn't cause any problems with your benefits. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is that when you're doing your recertification interview (whether by phone or in person), don't be afraid to ask your eligibility worker to walk through the asset calculation with you if you're still confused. Most workers are actually pretty patient about explaining how they calculate equity vs. full value, especially when you're being upfront about everything. Also, since you mentioned you're struggling with the car payments, make sure you're claiming ALL your legitimate business expenses for DoorDash on your income reporting. Gas, maintenance, insurance (the business portion), phone bill percentage, even things like hand sanitizer or masks if you use them for deliveries. These deductions can really add up and lower your countable income. You're being so responsible by asking these questions ahead of time instead of just hoping for the best. That tells me you're going to handle this recertification just fine. Your equity is practically zero, you have a legitimate work need for the vehicle, and you're being completely honest about everything. You've got this!

I went through this exact same situation about 6 months ago - $342 stolen from my CalWORKs cash aid while my card was in my purse the whole time! I was so confused and scared they wouldn't believe me. Here's what worked for me: I called the EBT customer service line immediately and they were actually really helpful. They explained that card skimming is super common now - criminals put devices on card readers that steal your info without you knowing. Then they make fake cards with your account info. The investigation took about 2 weeks for me, but I did get all my money back. The key things that helped: - I reported it within 24 hours of discovering it - I had receipts showing I used my card at a different location around the same time as the theft - I was very detailed in my written statement on the EBT-2259 form For the emergency assistance - don't give up! Call back and ask different people until someone helps. I had to call 3 times before I found a worker who knew about the emergency funds. Tell them you're facing eviction due to the theft and ask specifically about "immediate need payments" or "emergency assistance." You're going to get through this! The system can be frustrating but they do replace stolen benefits when it's clearly fraud like this. Keep all your paperwork and don't let them make you feel like you did anything wrong.

I'm so sorry this happened to you! As someone who's been on CalWORKs for a few years, I know how terrifying it is when your benefits get stolen, especially when it's rent money. The skimming scams are getting really bad - they put these tiny devices on card readers that you can't even see, and they steal your card info without you knowing. Here's what I learned when my friend went through this same thing: 1. You did the right thing calling EBT customer service first. Make sure you get a reference number for your report. 2. When you fill out the EBT-2259 form, be as detailed as possible. Write down exactly where you were when the theft happened, that your card never left your possession, and include any receipts from legitimate transactions you made around that time. 3. For emergency help with rent - call your county office and specifically ask about "emergency assistance due to EBT theft." Some workers don't know about all the emergency programs available. If the first person says no, ask for a supervisor. 4. File a police report too, even if they say they can't investigate. Having that report number can help with your county case. The good news is that people ARE getting their money back from these thefts - it just takes time. Don't let them make you feel like you're lying. This is happening to so many people right now. You're going to get through this!

I'm new to this community and just wanted to say thank you to everyone who shared their experiences with inheritance reporting! I'm not currently dealing with this situation myself, but reading through all these real-world examples has been incredibly educational. It's really clear that the consensus is to report inheritance right away - even though it might mean one month of reduced benefits, that's so much better than risking fraud charges or having to pay back benefits with penalties later. What really stands out to me is how many people have successfully navigated this exact situation and had their benefits resume normally the following month. @Bethany, it sounds like you've gotten some excellent advice here from people who've actually been through this process. The fact that you're asking about it beforehand shows you're being responsible, and using the money for necessary car repairs sounds like a smart financial decision. This community seems like such a valuable resource for getting real advice from people who understand the CalWORKs system firsthand!

I just want to echo what everyone else has said - definitely report the inheritance! I went through a similar situation last year when I received about $3,800 from my dad's estate. I was so scared about losing benefits that I almost didn't report it, but I'm so glad I did. Yes, my CalWORKs payment was $0 for that month because it put me over the income limit, but the next month everything went back to normal. The most important thing is to report it in writing (not just a phone call) and keep copies of everything. I also kept detailed receipts for how I spent the money - car repairs, past-due bills, etc. - just in case they ever asked. The temporary loss of one month's benefits was way better than the stress of worrying about them finding out later. You're being smart by asking about this ahead of time instead of just hoping for the best. This community has been such a lifesaver for getting real advice from people who actually understand what we're going through!

One more thing - once you apply for CalWORKs and they open a child support case, that case continues even if you later stop receiving Cash Aid. So be prepared for that. The only way to close it would be if you both agree to close it and you're no longer on public assistance. I wish someone had told me that before I applied!

Hey Emily, I totally understand your stress about this situation! I went through something similar when I first applied for CalWORKs. Here's what helped me: I called the county office before applying and asked to speak with someone about the child support requirements. They explained everything upfront, including the Good Cause exemption process that Natalie mentioned. Even though it sounds like you might not qualify for the exemption, it's worth understanding all your options. Also, when you do talk to your child's father, maybe frame it as "I need temporary help to get back on my feet, and this is unfortunately a requirement" rather than making it sound permanent. Some counties also have family mediation services that can help parents work through these situations. The most important thing is that you get the help you need right now - your housing stability matters for both you and your child. Don't let fear of potential relationship drama keep you from accessing benefits you're entitled to when you're in a tough spot!

So glad everything worked out for you Sara! This is such a helpful thread for anyone dealing with rent changes. Just wanted to add that if anyone else is in a similar situation with family rent arrangements, make sure to keep copies of all those letters and documentation. I learned the hard way that workers sometimes ask for the same paperwork multiple times, especially during recertifications. Having everything saved digitally makes resubmitting so much easier. And definitely don't be afraid to ask about those housing assistance programs - like Amy said, they don't always tell you about them upfront but they can be lifesavers when rent gets crazy high like it has everywhere lately.

This whole thread is exactly why I love this community - so much helpful info! I'm dealing with a similar family rent situation right now and was totally confused about what to report and when. The breakdown about CalWORKs vs CalFresh is super clear and I had no idea about that Housing Support Program waitlist thing. Definitely going to ask my worker about that next time I call. Sara, thanks for posting the update too - it really helps to see how these situations actually play out instead of just guessing what might happen.