Just wanted to share my recent experience since I'm also a family of 5 who just went through this process. We got approved last month and are receiving $1,268 for CalWORKs cash aid and $1,159 for CalFresh with zero income. The amounts everyone mentioned are pretty spot on! A few things that helped speed up our process: 1) Apply online first at GetCalFresh.org or YourBenefitsNow.org to get in the system faster, 2) Gather ALL your documents before your interview (birth certificates, Social Security cards, proof of address, etc.), and 3) If you have kids under 5, mention it during your interview as it can help with work requirements. Also, don't forget about WIC if your kids are under 5 - that's additional food assistance specifically for young children that stacks with CalFresh. My 2-year-old gets formula, milk, eggs, and other basics through WIC which really helps stretch our food budget. The whole process took about 6 weeks from application to getting our first benefits, but we got emergency CalFresh within 3 days since we had literally $0 income. Hang in there - it's stressful but the assistance really does help while you get back on your feet!

I just wanted to add something about the application timeline that might help - when you do finally get through to someone at the county office, ask specifically about expedited processing if you're facing immediate homelessness. They can sometimes process emergency CalWORKs payments within 5-7 days if you meet certain crisis criteria. Also, since your rent is $2,300 for a 2-bedroom with 5 people, you might want to look into the CalWORKs Housing Support Program in your county. Some counties have additional rental assistance programs specifically for CalWORKs recipients that can help bridge the gap between your benefits and actual housing costs. One more tip - when you go to your interview, bring a utility shutoff notice or eviction notice if you have one. This can help establish the urgency of your situation and potentially qualify you for additional emergency assistance beyond the regular monthly amounts.

I'm new to this community but going through a very similar situation right now. My ex also reported me after our breakup and I just had my fraud investigation interview last week. I wanted to share a few things that might help: First, they did allow me to reschedule my interview once when I couldn't get childcare, so if you need accommodations, ask. Second, the investigator was actually more professional and less intimidating than I expected - they're just doing their job, not trying to trap you. One thing I wish I had known beforehand: they asked very specific questions about my living situation, who else has access to my benefits card, and whether anyone else helps support my household. Make sure you're prepared to answer those accurately because they can verify a lot of this information. Also, if you do end up with an overpayment, ask about hardship considerations. If paying it back would cause severe financial strain, they sometimes have options to reduce the monthly payment amount or pause collections temporarily. The waiting for results after the interview is nerve-wracking, but at least once it's done you'll know where you stand. Hang in there - you're handling this the right way by taking it seriously and being prepared.

I'm new to this community but wanted to share some encouragement and practical advice. I went through a fraud investigation about two years ago - also reported by an ex - and while it was one of the most stressful experiences of my life, I got through it and you will too. A few things that really helped me: 1. I organized everything chronologically - dates worked, amounts earned, any proof I had (even photos of me at work). This showed I was taking it seriously. 2. During my interview, I brought a simple one-page summary of all the unreported work with dates and amounts. The investigator actually appreciated having it organized. 3. I admitted my mistake immediately and explained that I genuinely thought sporadic cash work under $300/month didn't need to be reported until the next SAR7. They classified mine as an inadvertent overpayment. I had to pay back $2,100 over 20 months (about $105/month deducted from future benefits) but kept my CalFresh and Medi-Cal throughout, and my kids' portion of Cash Aid was never affected. The hardest part is the waiting and not knowing, but the fact that you're being proactive and honest puts you in the best possible position. Most investigators can tell the difference between someone trying to scam the system and a single parent who made a reporting mistake while trying to get by. You've got this - just focus on being completely truthful and organized with your documentation.

I'm new to CalWORKs and this thread is SO helpful! I had no idea about the 10-day reporting rule or how they calculate income. Can someone clarify - when they say "within 10 days," does that mean 10 calendar days or 10 business days? And if I can't get through to my worker by phone, can I report changes by email or do I need to go to the office in person? I'm trying to understand all my options in case I ever need to report a change quickly. Thanks everyone for being so informative!

I'm going through a similar situation right now and wanted to share what I learned from my county worker. When you report the change, ask specifically about the "good cause" provision - sometimes they can waive overpayment collections if you can show the delay in reporting was due to circumstances beyond your control (like reconciling with your spouse and needing time to figure things out). It's not guaranteed, but worth asking about. Also, one thing I didn't see mentioned - make sure to ask about any work-related deductions your husband might qualify for. Things like transportation costs to/from work, work clothes, union dues, etc. can sometimes be deducted from his countable income, which could help reduce the impact on your benefits a little bit. Definitely don't wait any longer though - the overpayment amount just gets bigger each month you don't report. Good luck with everything!

Update: I went back to the office today with ALL the documents for my kids. Turns out there was a mix-up with my case - they had me confused with someone else who has a similar name!!! The supervisor apologized and they're processing my application now. They also said I can get benefits backdated to when I first tried to apply. Thank you everyone for your help and advice!! I was so stressed about this but now it's getting fixed! For anyone else having similar issues - definitely ask for a supervisor and bring ALL your documentation!!

So glad to hear you got it resolved! This is a perfect example of why it's so important to persist and ask for a supervisor when something doesn't seem right. Mix-ups with similar names happen more often than you'd think in the system. For anyone else reading this thread who might face similar issues - Dmitry's experience shows that sometimes the problem isn't with your eligibility at all, but with administrative errors. Always trust your instincts if something seems off, especially when you know you should qualify based on income and family size. And great job getting the retroactive benefits too! That can make a huge difference financially. Thanks for coming back to update us on the outcome - it really helps other community members who might be going through the same thing.

I'm new to this community and just went through this exact situation! Want to share what worked for me - I created a simple spreadsheet to track both my EDD payments and CalWORKs reporting. I have columns for: EDD payment date, amount received, which SAR7 period it falls into, and whether I've reported it yet. This has been a lifesaver for staying organized! Also, something I learned the hard way - if you get any retroactive EDD payments (like if there was a delay in processing), those count as income in the month you actually receive them, not the original benefit period. Make sure to report those right away since they can be large amounts that might put you over your IRT. One more tip - keep your EDD debit card statements too, not just screenshots. Having multiple forms of documentation has saved me when my worker questioned the timing of certain payments. Everyone's advice here about being completely transparent is so important - it's better to over-communicate than risk compliance issues!

This thread has been incredibly informative! I'm new to this community and currently receiving CalWORKs for my family. I haven't had to deal with EDD yet, but reading through everyone's experiences has given me such valuable insight into what to expect if I ever need unemployment benefits. The complexity of coordinating between these two programs is honestly overwhelming, but seeing how supportive and knowledgeable this community is gives me confidence that there are resources and people to help navigate these challenges. I'm definitely bookmarking this discussion for future reference and will be sure to follow all the advice about detailed record-keeping and transparent reporting. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences - it's clear that helping each other understand these complicated systems is so important for protecting our benefits and avoiding costly mistakes!