Just wanted to add that you should also keep track of the dates and times of all your interactions with the investigator. Write down what they asked, what you told them, and any deadlines they gave you. If this drags on or if they make any decisions you disagree with, having a detailed timeline will be super helpful if you need to file an appeal or fair hearing request. Also, don't let them pressure you into admitting to anything you didn't do. Using your EBT card for legitimate grocery shopping while caring for your kids is exactly what the program is for. You're working AND taking care of your children - that's what CalWORKs is supposed to support. Stay strong and don't let them intimidate you into thinking you did something wrong when you clearly didn't.

I went through almost the exact same thing last year! The investigator made me feel like a criminal just for grocery shopping near my mom's house where I drop off my daughter for babysitting. It's so frustrating because you're literally doing everything right - working, arranging childcare, using your benefits for food - but they make you feel guilty about it. The investigation took about 6 weeks for me, but they cleared me completely once I provided documentation showing my living situation and childcare arrangement. Like others said, gather everything you can: lease agreement, utility bills, your work schedule, and definitely get something in writing from your sister about the childcare. One thing that really helped me was creating a simple calendar showing my work days and when I needed to use my sister's childcare, then matching it to my EBT usage dates. It clearly showed the pattern and proved I wasn't living somewhere else. Don't let them make you feel bad for being a responsible parent who's trying to work and take care of your kids. You're doing nothing wrong!

I'm so sorry you're going through this stress - the uncertainty is honestly the worst part. Just wanted to share that I went through something similar with my son who has special needs. The key thing that saved me was getting everything documented BEFORE the formal sanction process started. I learned that you can actually request a "pre-sanction conference" with your worker and their supervisor to discuss your barriers. During mine, I brought medical records showing my son's appointments and explained how his needs affected my availability. They ended up reducing my required hours from 30 to 20 per week and gave me a 6-month review period. Also, don't forget that travel time to and from WTW activities counts toward your hours - if you're spending time getting to appointments or job searches, make sure your worker knows and counts those hours too. Hang in there, and definitely get that medical documentation from your daughter's doctor as others mentioned!

I'm a new member here but I've been reading through all these responses and wanted to add something that helped me when I was in a similar situation. If you haven't already, make sure to ask your caseworker about the "Illness or Incapacity of Child" exemption. This is specifically designed for situations like yours where you're caring for a child with ongoing medical needs like chronic asthma. With proper medical documentation (the CW 61 form others mentioned), you might qualify for a complete temporary exemption rather than just reduced hours. I got a 90-day exemption when my daughter was going through a series of specialist appointments, and it gave me breathing room to get everything organized. Also, keep a detailed log of every medical appointment, pharmacy visit, and day your daughter is too sick for school - this creates a paper trail that shows the ongoing nature of her condition. The caseworkers respond much better when you can show patterns rather than just isolated incidents. Don't give up - there are more protections available than they usually tell you about upfront!

Congratulations on the new job! Just wanted to add something that might help - when you do get that written confirmation of your closure date, make sure it specifically states that your case is being closed due to "voluntary withdrawal" or "client request." Sometimes workers will code it differently (like "excess income" or "failure to comply") which can affect things like your ability to reapply quickly if you need to later. Also, since you mentioned CalFresh - that program has different rules and might stay open even after CalWORKs closes, especially if your new income is still within CalFresh limits. Definitely ask about that when you follow up!

Just wanted to share my experience since I went through something similar last month! I requested case closure when I got a job offer and was really worried about the timing too. The good news is they did honor the March benefits since I requested closure after the 10th, just like everyone is saying here. One thing that really helped me was asking my worker to send me an email confirmation of our conversation about the closure request - that way I had something in writing right away while waiting for the official NOA. Also, definitely keep track of your exact start date and first paycheck amount because if they ever question anything later, having those details documented will save you so much stress. The whole process took about 3 weeks for me from request to actual closure, so you should be all set for March! Congrats on the new job - it's such a relief to be moving forward!

Just wanted to add that if you're having trouble reaching your county office during the transition, you can also visit in person if possible. I know it's not convenient, but when my county switched last fall, the phone lines were completely overwhelmed for about 2 weeks. Walking into the office was actually faster than trying to call. Also, if you have kids getting school meals through the National School Lunch Program, make sure your school knows about any temporary benefit disruptions during the switch - sometimes there can be a day or two delay in the data sync between systems, and you don't want your kids to lose their free lunch eligibility even briefly. One more tip: Screenshot your current benefit amount and payment schedule from CalWIN before the switch. I've heard of a few cases where benefit amounts got miscalculated during the data transfer, and having that proof made it much easier to get it corrected quickly.

I went through this transition about 6 months ago and wanted to share a few things that might help. First, don't panic - your benefits won't just disappear overnight. The counties are required to give at least 30 days notice before the switch. Here's what I wish someone had told me: 1. Your case worker should give you a specific date when CalWIN will stop working for your county 2. You can actually create your BenefitsCal account early (even before the official switch) to get familiar with it 3. Your case number might change slightly - mine went from starting with "04" to starting with "C4" but all my history was still there The BenefitsCal system is honestly much better once you get used to it. You can upload documents right from your phone, and it shows your benefit history going back years. The mobile app actually works properly unlike the old CalWIN mobile site that never loaded right. One warning though - during the first few weeks after your county switches, expect the customer service lines to be extra busy. Everyone's calling with questions about the new system. If you can, try to get any urgent business handled before the switch happens. Good luck with your redetermination! The transition might seem scary but once it's done, the new system is actually easier to use.

Just to clarify on the CalFresh increase after job loss - yes, you SHOULD get more food stamps when your income decreases. However, it's not automatic. You need to report your job loss as a change in circumstances. If you already provided your final pay stub, that's a good start, but make sure they've actually processed it as a change. And regarding the CalWORKs timeline - regular applications should be processed within 30 days, but they often take the full time. That's why pushing for expedited CalFresh (3 days) is so important in your situation.

So glad to hear you got through and are getting the expedited CalFresh processed! That's a huge relief. Just a heads up - once your CalFresh benefits get loaded, you might want to prioritize buying non-perishable staples first (rice, beans, pasta, canned goods) since those will stretch furthest if there are any delays with your regular CalWORKs application. Also, many stores have sales on diapers around the holidays, so keep an eye out for deals to make that diaper stipend go further. You're doing great advocating for your family - it's exhausting having to fight for basic assistance when you're already struggling, but you pushed through and got results. Hope things start looking up soon!