I'm so sorry you're dealing with this frustrating situation! As someone who recently went through a similar experience, I completely understand your confusion about the IRT rules. The explanation everyone gave about IRT being a "reporting schedule threshold" rather than a "benefit protection threshold" is spot on. I made the same assumption you did initially - that staying under the IRT meant my benefits would remain stable. It's really misleading how this gets communicated (or not communicated) during the application process. Since you're working IHSS, make sure when you request that hearing that you specifically ask about any special income disregards or exemptions that might apply to caregiving income. I've heard there can be additional protections for IHSS providers that don't always get applied correctly. Also, don't feel discouraged about working even though your cash aid decreased. You're gaining valuable work experience in healthcare/caregiving, which could lead to better opportunities down the road. Plus, you should still have your Medi-Cal coverage, and you might qualify for other working family benefits like childcare assistance or transportation help that weren't available when you weren't working. Hang in there - the transition period is always the hardest part, but you're taking the right steps by asking questions and advocating for yourself!

I just want to echo what everyone else has said - this is such a valuable discussion for anyone navigating CalWORKs while working! The distinction between CalFresh and CalWORKs rules around the IRT is something I wish was explained better upfront. @Emily Parker, I'd encourage you to definitely request that hearing. Even if the calculation ends up being correct, you'll get a detailed explanation of how they processed your IHSS income and what disregards were applied. I've seen several people in this thread mention finding calculation errors that led to backpay, so it's worth checking. One thing I'd add is to make sure you understand all the work-related benefits you might now qualify for. Since you're working IHSS, you should maintain your Medi-Cal coverage, and depending on your situation, you might be eligible for CalWORKs childcare, transportation assistance, or other supportive services that can actually be worth more than the cash aid reduction. Sometimes the county workers don't automatically tell you about these additional benefits when your situation changes. The IHSS work experience is also really valuable - it's specialized healthcare work that looks great on applications for other caregiving positions, CNAs programs, or healthcare jobs that typically pay much better than minimum wage. You're building toward something even if it doesn't feel like it right now. Good luck with the hearing process, and thanks for starting this discussion - I'm sure it's helping a lot of people understand these confusing rules better!

What an incredible thread to read through! As someone who's been on CalFresh for about 8 months now, I wish I had found this community earlier. Mei, your story perfectly captures that heart-stopping moment when you realize you might have made a mistake on something so important. I had a similar panic moment a few months ago when I wasn't sure if I had reported my work-study income correctly (turns out I had, but the anxiety was real!). Reading about your methodical approach - trying multiple contact methods, documenting everything, and being completely honest with the worker - is exactly the roadmap I would have wanted during my own stress spiral. The outcome you achieved really demonstrates what several people mentioned about good faith efforts making all the difference. A $42 monthly reduction for voluntarily reporting $160 in additional monthly income is honestly better than I would have expected, and it shows the system can work fairly when you approach it with transparency. Thanks for sharing both the scary parts and the resolution - knowing that honest mistakes can be corrected without devastating consequences takes away so much of the fear around these applications. This thread is going to be incredibly helpful for anyone facing similar situations!

This has been such an incredibly valuable thread to read through! As someone who just submitted my CalFresh application last week, I was already feeling anxious about whether I filled everything out correctly. Seeing Mei's story unfold from the initial panic to the successful resolution has been so reassuring and educational. What really strikes me is how this demonstrates that the county workers are human beings who understand that these applications are complex and mistakes happen. The fact that your voluntary reporting and documented good faith efforts resulted in just a reasonable benefit adjustment rather than penalties or fraud accusations shows the system can work fairly when you approach it honestly. The practical advice throughout this thread has been incredible - from documenting all contact attempts to using call services to get through busy phone lines, to the importance of being upfront about honest mistakes. I'm definitely bookmarking all of these tips for reference. Thank you, Mei, for being willing to share both your initial fear and the positive outcome. And thanks to everyone else who contributed their experiences and professional insights. This is exactly the kind of community support that makes navigating these complex systems feel manageable rather than overwhelming. Stories like this give me so much more confidence in handling my own CalFresh journey!

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this - it's absolutely infuriating when workers just blatantly ignore court orders like this! I went through something similar in Orange County last year and it took me filing complaints with THREE different agencies before they finally moved. Here's what I'd recommend based on what finally worked for me: 1. File a formal complaint with the CDSS Office of Appeals at (916) 653-8271 - tell them specifically that Riverside County is in violation of implementing a hearing decision 2. Contact the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH) Civil Rights Division - they handle violations of due process rights 3. Reach out to Legal Aid of Riverside County at (951) 368-2555 - they deal with CalWORKs non-compliance cases regularly Also, when you call Riverside County, ask specifically for the "Appeals Implementation Unit" - it's different from regular compliance and they're the ones who are supposed to handle court-ordered restorations. Document every single interaction with dates, times, and names. Take screenshots of your BenefitsCal account showing the discontinued status. The more documentation you have, the stronger your case becomes when you escalate. You shouldn't have to fight this hard for benefits a judge already ruled you're entitled to! Keep pushing - they're counting on you giving up, but you have the law on your side.

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this - it's absolutely unacceptable that workers can just ignore court orders like this! I'm a newcomer here but wanted to share what I've learned from reading everyone's experiences. It sounds like the key is hitting them from multiple angles at once rather than just calling the regular customer service line over and over. Based on what worked for others here, I'd definitely try: 1. Contacting the State Hearings Division immediately and specifically saying "I need to report non-compliance with a judge's order" 2. Reaching out to your assembly member's constituent services - it seems like this really gets their attention quickly 3. Looking for the Appeals Implementation Unit or Appeals Case Manager specifically The fact that you have everything documented (screenshots, dates, the judge's ruling) puts you in a really strong position. It's clear you did everything right and they're just being non-compliant. I hope you get this resolved soon - nobody should have to fight this hard for benefits a judge already ordered! Keep us posted on how it goes with these suggestions.

I'm also brand new to CalWORKs and just starting the childcare approval process! This thread has been incredibly helpful - way more informative than the limited information I got from my caseworker. My mom is going to watch my 3-year-old and 6-year-old while I complete my WTW activities. Based on everyone's experiences here, I'm now prepared for the 4-6 week wait for that first payment and understand about the 70% rate for family providers. The tip about calling the childcare payment unit directly instead of trying to reach my regular caseworker sounds like a game-changer - I'm definitely going to try that for getting county-specific rate information. One question I have that I haven't seen addressed - does anyone know if there are any restrictions on how many hours per day a family provider can watch kids? My WTW schedule sometimes requires 8-hour days, and I want to make sure that's allowable for Stage One childcare. Also, if my mom gets sick one day and my dad has to watch them instead, do we need to get him approved as a backup provider or can my mom still submit the attendance for those hours? Thanks to everyone for sharing such detailed real-world experiences. This community is amazing for helping newcomers understand what to actually expect from the CalWORKs system! It's made this whole process feel much less overwhelming.

I'm also completely new to CalWORKs and just got my childcare approved last week! My sister is going to watch my 18-month-old and 4-year-old while I do my job search activities. This entire thread has been SO much more helpful than anything my caseworker told me - honestly she just handed me some forms and said "fill these out." Reading through everyone's experiences, I'm now prepared for that 4-6 week wait for the first payment (which is rough but at least I know what to expect), and I understand about the 70% rate for family providers. The tip about calling the childcare payment unit directly is genius - my caseworker never returns calls but maybe the payment unit will be more responsive. One thing I'm curious about - has anyone had their family provider watch kids overnight? My job training program has some early morning sessions that start at 6 AM, so my sister would need to have the kids stay over the night before. Does CalWORKs cover overnight care or is there a different rate for that? Also wondering if anyone knows whether the infant rate (for my 18-month-old) is significantly higher than the preschool rate since younger kids need more intensive care. Thanks to everyone who's shared their real experiences here - this community has been a lifesaver for understanding how this actually works in practice! Way better than the generic pamphlets they give you.

Hi Landon! I just wanted to add something that helped me a lot when I was navigating this system - if you end up having trouble with your application or need to appeal a decision, most counties have free legal aid organizations that can help. In LA County, you can contact Neighborhood Legal Services or Legal Aid Foundation. They helped me when my CalFresh application got denied the first time due to a paperwork issue. Also, once you get approved for benefits, sign up for the county's text message updates. They'll send you reminders about recertification deadlines and other important dates. Missing a recertification can cause your benefits to get cut off, and it's a huge hassle to get them reinstated. One last thing - if you're struggling financially while waiting for your application to be processed, look into local food banks and community resources. Many churches and community centers offer emergency food assistance that can help bridge the gap. The United Way has a good resource finder if you call 211. Good luck with everything!

Hey Landon! I've been reading through all the great advice everyone's given you, and I just wanted to add one more thing that really helped me when I first applied for benefits. When you go to your interview (whether in person or over the phone), write down all your questions beforehand and don't be afraid to ask the caseworker to repeat or clarify anything you don't understand. They're used to explaining things multiple times, and it's way better to ask during the interview than to realize later you missed something important. Also, if English isn't your first language or you have any disabilities that might make the process harder, you have the right to request an interpreter or other accommodations - don't hesitate to ask for help if you need it. The whole system can feel really intimidating at first, but once you get through the initial application and understand how everything works, it gets much easier to manage. You're asking all the right questions and clearly taking everyone's advice seriously, so I think you're going to do great! Welcome to the community, and feel free to come back here if you have more questions as you go through the process.