Congratulations on your pregnancy! I just wanted to add something that helped me when I was in a similar situation - if you decide to report your pregnancy now to get the Pregnancy Special Needs payment, make sure to ask your doctor specifically for a "medical verification of pregnancy" letter rather than just bringing in your ultrasound photos. Some caseworkers are pickier about the documentation format than others. Also, I'd recommend starting a simple log now of any pregnancy-related expenses (prenatal vitamins, maternity clothes, etc.) because sometimes they ask about special needs beyond the standard $47/month payment if you have documented medical requirements. One more tip - when you do report the birth later, ask about the "layette allowance" which is a one-time payment for baby essentials like clothes and blankets. Not all caseworkers mention it automatically, but it's available for newborns. The amount varies but it's usually around $100-150 and can really help with those first baby purchases. Good luck with everything! You're being really proactive by asking these questions ahead of time.

Congratulations on your pregnancy! I've been on CalWORKs for about a year now and just wanted to share what I learned when I was researching this topic (thankfully found this community first!). Based on everything I've read here and from talking to my caseworker, here's what I understand: You have flexibility on when to report - you can report now to get the Pregnancy Special Needs payment ($47/month) or wait until after birth, but you MUST report within 10 days after the baby arrives. If I were in your situation, I'd probably report the pregnancy at my next appointment to get that extra $47/month - it adds up over the months and could really help with pregnancy expenses. Just make sure to get the proper "medical verification of pregnancy" documentation from your doctor. One thing I'm curious about from reading all these responses - has anyone had experience with how reporting pregnancy affects your annual eligibility review timing? I'm wondering if adding a baby changes when your next review is due or if it stays the same. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences here - this thread is going to help so many people navigate this process!

Hey Ryder! Congratulations on getting your sanction cleared - that's such a huge accomplishment after 4 months! Reading through this thread has been incredibly educational as someone who's relatively new to CalWORKs myself. Your question has sparked what's basically become the most comprehensive resource I've seen for understanding sanctions, available support programs, and how to stay compliant. The collective knowledge everyone has shared here is amazing! A few things that really stood out to me from everyone's responses: - The importance of documenting EVERYTHING (taking photos of paperwork, keeping personal records of hours) - How many support programs exist that you have to specifically ask about (Supportive Services, transportation assistance, childcare help) - The value of getting your caseworker's direct contact info and asking for clarification in writing - That you can request hearings BEFORE sanctions take effect (wish more people knew this!) It's clear you're approaching this much more strategically the second time around, which is awesome. The job readiness program sounds like a great fresh start, and with all the advice about transportation assistance and other supports, hopefully you'll have the resources you need to stay on track. Thanks for asking this question and being so open about your experience. Your thread is going to help so many people navigate this system more successfully! Wishing you the best with your increased benefits and staying compliant with your WTW plan.

Congratulations on clearing your sanction, Ryder! This thread has been incredibly helpful for understanding the CalWORKs system. As someone who's been on CalWORKs for about 8 months now, I've learned more from reading everyone's experiences here than from months of trying to navigate this alone. I wanted to add something that helped me avoid sanctions - setting up calendar reminders on my phone for ALL appointments and deadlines, not just the obvious ones. I put in reminders 3 days before, 1 day before, and the morning of each appointment. It sounds simple, but with everything else going on in life, it's easy to lose track of dates. Also, I noticed several people mentioned taking photos of documents - I'd suggest also emailing copies to yourself as backup. I've had my phone break before and lost all my photos, but the emails were still accessible from any computer. One more tip: if your county has a CalWORKs participants' Facebook group or online forum, join it! I found one for my county and it's been invaluable for getting real-time updates about office closures, worker changes, and other issues that can affect appointments. Thanks again for starting this discussion - it's going to help so many people! Good luck staying on track with your WTW plan.

I'm so sorry this happened to you - EBT theft is unfortunately becoming way too common and it's absolutely terrifying when you have kids depending on that money. I went through something similar last year and want to share what I learned: First, you're doing the right thing filing the police report. When you go to the county office tomorrow, bring that police report number and ask specifically for the CW 2215 form that others mentioned. Don't leave without filing this form - it's crucial for getting your benefits replaced. Here's something that really helped me: when I explained to the supervisor that I had children at home and no other resources for food/rent, they were able to provide what's called an "Immediate Need" payment while the investigation was pending. It wasn't the full amount stolen, but it was enough to cover groceries and part of my rent. They have special provisions when minor children are involved. Also, definitely get a completely new EBT card with a new number - not just a PIN change. The skimmers can copy your entire card number, so changing the PIN won't help if they have all your card info. One last tip: if you have trouble getting through to your worker or getting help at the office, document everything. Write down names, dates, what you were told. If you don't get emergency assistance, ask them to put in writing why you were denied - sometimes this motivates them to actually help. You will get through this! The stolen benefits can be replaced, it just takes patience and persistence.

I went through this exact same nightmare about 8 months ago! Had my card with me the whole time, never shared my PIN, but someone still managed to drain my entire cash aid at an ATM clear across the city. I know how terrifying this feels, especially with kids depending on that money. Here's what I wish someone had told me: When you go to the county office tomorrow, don't just ask for emergency assistance - ask specifically for "Immediate Need for families with minor children." This is different from regular emergency aid and they're required to process it faster when kids are involved. Also, bring your ID, your EBT card (even though it's compromised), the police report number, and any screenshots you might have of your account showing the fraudulent transactions. Write down the exact date/time you discovered the theft and the last legitimate purchase you made. The investigation took about 7 weeks for me, but I got emergency assistance within 2 days that covered groceries and helped with rent. Don't let them tell you that you have to wait - with minor children in the home, they have expedited procedures. One more thing - after this happened to me, I started only using ATMs inside banks or major stores, never standalone ones. The skimmers are usually on the sketchy ATMs in gas stations or small shops. Stay strong, mama - they will make this right, but you have to be persistent and know your rights!

I just want to echo what everyone has said about being persistent if you get pushback initially. When I helped my neighbor (she's 71) apply for CalWORKs for her grandson, the first worker kept insisting she needed to do job search activities and kept trying to include her in the assistance unit. We had to ask for a supervisor who immediately knew the rules about senior caretakers. One thing I'd add - when you go to the appointment, write down the worker's name and ask them to note in the case file that your mom is applying specifically as a "non-needy caretaker relative over age 60" and is therefore exempt from WTW requirements. This creates a paper trail in case there are issues later. Also, don't be surprised if the process takes a while. My neighbor's case took about 6 weeks to get approved because it had to go through additional reviews since senior caretaker cases are less common. But once it was approved, she got retroactive payments back to when she applied. Your mom is doing such an important thing raising your niece, especially after such a loss. The system should be supporting families like yours, not making it harder!

I want to add something that might help during the application process - if your mom encounters any issues with the county office or feels like she's not getting the right information, she can also contact the California Department of Social Services directly at their state level. They have a complaint process and can sometimes help resolve local office issues. Also, make sure your mom keeps copies of EVERYTHING - the application, any documents she submits, and notes from any conversations with county workers. If there are delays or problems later, having that documentation can be really important. One more resource that might be helpful is 211 - you can dial 2-1-1 from any phone to get connected to local resources and services. They often know about community organizations that specifically help seniors navigate benefit applications and might be able to connect you with additional support. Your mom sounds like an amazing person for stepping up to care for your niece during such a difficult time. I hope the application process goes smoothly and she gets the assistance she deserves!

This has been such an incredibly helpful and comprehensive thread! As someone who's completely new to both CalWORKs and the SSI system, I've learned more from reading everyone's real experiences here than from hours of trying to decipher official government websites and pamphlets. What really impresses me is how consistently everyone emphasizes the importance of reporting immediately and getting everything in writing. Those seem to be the two golden rules for navigating these benefit transitions successfully. The detailed explanations of interim assistance reimbursement have been especially valuable - I had never heard of this process before but now understand it's completely routine and handled automatically between agencies. Katherine, congratulations on your daughter's SSI approval! Your question has created such a valuable resource for families in similar situations. The specific dollar amounts and timelines that people have shared really help paint a clear picture of what to expect during the transition period. To everyone who shared their personal experiences - thank you for being so generous with your time and knowledge. This is exactly the kind of practical, real-world information that makes navigating these complex systems feel much less overwhelming. I'm bookmarking this entire discussion for future reference, and I'm sure many other families will benefit from this incredible collection of insights and advice. What a wonderful example of how communities can support each other through challenging processes!

This thread has been absolutely amazing to read through! As a parent who's currently navigating the SSI application process for my 9-year-old daughter with developmental delays, I can't thank everyone enough for sharing such detailed, real-world experiences. Katherine, first off - huge congratulations on your daughter's SSI approval! I know how emotionally and mentally exhausting that application process can be, and you should be so proud for advocating for her through it all. What really stands out to me from reading everyone's responses is how the interim assistance reimbursement process, while initially scary-sounding, is actually a pretty standard and automated procedure. The fact that multiple people have confirmed you don't personally owe anything back and that it's handled directly between SSI and the county is such a relief to understand ahead of time. The consistency in everyone's advice about reporting immediately (within 10 days) really emphasizes how critical that timing is. I'm definitely going to save this thread and reference it when we hopefully get to the approval stage. The specific tips about having all documentation ready, asking for written confirmation, and requesting detailed explanations of calculations are pure gold. Thank you all for creating such a supportive space where families can learn from each other's experiences. This kind of practical knowledge makes navigating these complex systems feel so much less overwhelming!