I'm so excited for you getting your own place! I went through something similar a few months ago and totally understand the stress about benefits. One thing I learned that might help - when you report your move through BenefitsCal, there's actually a specific section for "Change of Address" that walks you through exactly what documentation you need. They'll ask for your lease agreement and proof of any utility responsibilities. Also, since your rent is going from $600 to $1450, that's actually a pretty significant increase in your shelter costs which should definitely help your CalFresh calculation. The shelter deduction can be substantial - in my county it added about $200+ to my monthly benefit calculation. Just make sure when you upload your lease that it clearly shows the monthly rent amount and your move-in date. Some people forget to include the utilities part, but if you're now paying electric/gas/water separately, make sure to mention that too because the standard utility allowance is usually around $400+ which gets added to your shelter deduction. The whole process took about 2 weeks for my benefits to get recalculated after I reported everything. Don't panic if there's a slight delay - they usually backdate any increases to when you reported the change. You're going to do great in your new place!

Congratulations on your new apartment! That's such an exciting milestone. I completely understand your anxiety about how this might affect your benefits - it's totally normal to worry about that. From what I understand, you'll definitely want to report your address change within 10 days through BenefitsCal or directly to your caseworker. The good news is that moving itself won't disqualify you from benefits, and since your rent is increasing significantly from what you were paying your mom, this could actually help your CalFresh benefits through the shelter deduction. One thing I'd suggest is gathering all your documentation before you report - your lease agreement, any utility setup paperwork, and maybe even a simple letter explaining your previous living arrangement and rent amount. Having everything organized will make the process smoother. It sounds like you've been responsible with your benefits so far, so don't let fear keep you from taking this important step toward independence. The fact that you're asking these questions shows you want to do everything correctly. Best of luck with your move - having your own space is going to be amazing!

Hey Kayla! I'm also a single mom in California and went through the CalWORKs application process about 4 months ago with my 2 kids (ages 6 and 10). Your income situation sounds really similar to what mine was when I applied. Based on what you've shared, you're probably looking at around $325-400 in monthly cash aid after they calculate your income deductions. The way it works is they take your gross monthly income (about $1,430 for 20 hrs/week at $16.50), subtract the first $450 (that's the income disregard), then only count 50% of what's left against your maximum aid payment. For the Welfare to Work requirements, since you're already working 20 hours, you'll only need 10 more hours of approved activities to meet the 30-hour requirement. I do a mix of online job training courses and volunteer work at my kids' school - both count toward the hours and I can schedule them around my existing job. A couple of things that really helped me during the application process: - Apply online through BenefitsCal first thing in the morning when the system runs smoother - Have all your documents ready before you start (ID, birth certificates, pay stubs, rent receipt, bank statements) - Ask about Emergency Aid if you're behind on any bills - they can sometimes provide immediate help Don't forget to ask about childcare assistance once you're approved - that's been the biggest game changer for us! My kids' after-school care is almost completely covered now. The whole process took about 3 weeks for me and honestly, the financial relief has been incredible. Your family deserves this support - don't let the application process intimidate you. You've got this! 💪

Hi Kayla! I'm a single mom in Sacramento County with 2 kids (ages 4 and 7) and I've been on CalWORKs for about 10 months now. Your situation sounds almost identical to mine when I first applied - I was also working part-time (about 18 hours/week at $16/hour) and really struggling after a rent increase. Based on your income, you're probably looking at around $350-425 in monthly cash aid. The income calculation works like this: they'll take your gross monthly pay (roughly $1,430), subtract the $450 income disregard, then only count 50% of what's left against your Maximum Aid Payment. So your countable income would be around $490. For Welfare to Work, since you're already working 20 hours, you'll only need 10 additional hours of approved activities. I do online certificate courses through the local community college - they count toward my WTW hours AND I'm building skills for a better job later. A few tips that made my process smoother: - Submit your application online through BenefitsCal on a weekday morning when the system is less busy - Take photos of all documents before uploading in case you need to resubmit - Ask specifically about Emergency Aid during your interview - it can provide immediate help with overdue bills - Don't forget to apply for Stage 1 childcare assistance right after approval The additional benefits are incredible too - free school meals, utility discounts, back-to-school vouchers, and my kids qualified for free vision/dental care through Medi-Cal. The childcare assistance alone has been life-changing - I only pay $41/month now for my 4-year-old's daycare. It took about 4 weeks from application to first payment, but the peace of mind has been worth everything. Your kids deserve this support and so do you - don't hesitate to apply! Feel free to ask if you have questions about the process. You've got this mama! 💙

Just wanted to add that when you call the EBT customer service number, if your account shows as "active" but with a zero balance, that's actually a good sign - it means your case worker will just reload benefits onto your existing card once you're approved. But if it says "inactive" or "closed," then you'll probably need to wait for a new card to be mailed. Also, since your interview is Tuesday and rent is due Friday, make sure to explicitly say "I am requesting immediate need assistance due to housing emergency" during your interview. Those exact words can trigger faster processing. Some counties can even do same-day emergency payments if you have all your documents ready and clearly explain the timeline. Don't just mention it in passing - really emphasize that you need help before Friday to avoid eviction. Your situation sounds like a textbook case for expedited benefits since you were involuntarily terminated and have immediate housing needs. Stay positive!

I just went through this same situation last month! Your old EBT card should work fine - they'll just reload it once you're approved. Since it's only been 3 months, your account is probably still active even with a $0 balance. Given your tight timeline with rent due Friday and interview Tuesday, make sure to specifically ask for "expedited processing due to immediate housing need" during your interview. Bring documentation of your layoff and current rent situation. Some counties can issue emergency cash within 1-2 business days for urgent housing situations like yours. You can also call the EBT customer service number on your card right now to confirm your account status - if it shows "active" you're good to go with the same card!

I'm going through the exact same thing right now - had my phone interview 2.5 weeks ago and still getting the "processing" runaround when I call or visit the office. This thread has been so eye-opening because I had no idea this was such a widespread issue with CalWORKs! Logan, I'm so glad you finally got through and discovered it was employer verification holding things up - that's exactly the kind of specific information they should have told you weeks ago instead of making you play detective. Reading everyone's strategies has given me hope and a real action plan. I've been calling randomly throughout the day and waiting hours just to get disconnected, but the 8am sharp calling strategy makes so much sense. And asking specifically "what verification are you waiting for?" instead of accepting vague "still processing" answers is going to be my new approach. The tip about requesting expedited processing if you're facing housing issues is something I definitely need to try since my rent is due next week. It's honestly heartbreaking that so many of us are dealing with the same broken system when we're already struggling financially, but this community support means everything. Thank you all for sharing your experiences and proving that persistence really does work, even when it feels impossible!

This thread has been such a valuable resource! I'm currently in week 3 of waiting after my CalWORKs interview and was starting to feel like I was doing something wrong. Reading Logan's success story and everyone's shared experiences has been so reassuring - it's clear this is a systemic problem, not individual failures. The specific strategies mentioned here (calling at 8am, asking "what verification are you waiting for?", requesting supervisors, knowing about expedited processing and Civil Rights complaints) are game-changers that I never would have known about otherwise. It's absolutely ridiculous that we have to become experts at navigating around a broken system when we're already dealing with financial stress, but I'm so grateful for this community sharing their knowledge. For anyone else still waiting - this thread proves persistence pays off and we're definitely not alone in this struggle. Bookmarking this for reference when I make my next call!

This thread is so helpful and eye-opening! I'm new to CalWORKs and had no idea that missing mail notices were such a common problem. Reading everyone's experiences makes me realize I need to be way more proactive about staying on top of my case. @CosmicCommander I'm so relieved you got it sorted out! The fact that you never received the verification request letter but they still discontinued your benefits without proper notice is exactly the kind of thing that makes this system so stressful for families who are already struggling. For anyone else dealing with similar issues, it sounds like the key takeaways are: 1) Don't assume it's about income - could be missing paperwork, 2) Keep calling until you get a real person who can explain what's happening, 3) Document EVERYTHING, and 4) Consider going in person if phone calls aren't working. I'm definitely going to set up those text alerts and start keeping a log book like Omar suggested. Thanks everyone for sharing your stories - it's scary how common these notification failures seem to be, but at least we can help each other navigate this broken system!

This whole thread is a perfect example of why we need better advocacy and oversight of county CalWORKs offices! The fact that so many people are experiencing the same issue - benefits discontinued without proper notice - shows this is a systemic problem, not just individual worker errors. What really gets me is that families are put in impossible situations where they have to choose between spending days on the phone trying to reach someone or potentially losing hundreds of dollars in benefits they depend on for basic needs like rent and food. The 10-day notice requirement exists for a reason - people need time to respond or appeal before their lifeline gets cut off. I'd encourage anyone dealing with this to also consider filing a complaint with your county's client advocate or ombudsman if the situation isn't resolved quickly. Sometimes a formal complaint gets faster action than just calling the regular worker line. You can also contact legal aid organizations in your area - many offer free help with CalWORKs issues. @CosmicCommander I'm so glad you got it resolved! Your experience highlights how important it is for people to share these stories so we know we're not alone and can learn from each other's strategies for navigating this broken system.