Just want to echo what everyone else is saying - DO NOT mess around with the SAR7 deadline! I've been on CalWORKs for 3 years and I've seen so many people get their benefits cut because they thought they had more time or didn't take it seriously. One thing I didn't see mentioned - if you're struggling to get all your paperwork together by March 1st, you can submit the SAR7 form itself by the deadline and then you usually have 10 days to provide any missing verification documents. But don't rely on this - it's better to get everything in at once. Also, since you mentioned your caseworker didn't explain much when you got approved, I'd suggest asking them (or the eligibility worker) to walk you through the SAR7 process step by step. They're supposed to help you understand what's required. If they won't help, ask to speak to a supervisor. You have the right to get clear information about your case! The BenefitsCal website is definitely your best bet for submitting. I always submit mine there and get the confirmation right away. Just make sure all your documents are clear scans or photos - blurry documents get rejected.

Hey Jamal! I just wanted to add something that might help with your Walmart income reporting. Since you mentioned getting extra hours around Valentine's Day, make sure you're looking at your actual February paystub dates, not just when you worked the hours. Sometimes if you work extra hours at the end of January, that income might show up on a February paystub and needs to be reported on your SAR7. Also, if Walmart gave you any holiday pay or bonuses in February, that all counts as income too. I work retail and learned this the hard way when I forgot to report a small bonus and got questioned about it later. One more thing - if you're having trouble accessing your paystubs, most big employers like Walmart have online portals where you can download them. That might be easier than waiting for paper copies. You've got great advice from everyone here, so you should be all set! Just don't stress too much - as long as you report everything honestly and get it in by March 1st, you'll be fine.

Just wanted to chime in as someone who went through this exact same worry! I was terrified to apply for any benefits because I thought it would automatically trigger child support stuff with my ex. But I can confirm what everyone else is saying - CalFresh truly does NOT require child support cooperation. I've been receiving CalFresh for my 4-year-old for about 8 months now and there has been zero contact with child support services. My ex and I have our own arrangement that works for us, and the county has never interfered with that. The key is being very clear during your application and interview that you ONLY want CalFresh. Don't let anyone talk you into CalWORKs if you don't want the child support involvement. Your kids need food, and you deserve that help without drama!

I went through this same situation about a year ago and I'm happy to share my experience! I was a single mom with a 2-year-old and desperately needed food assistance, but I was terrified about the child support thing because my daughter's dad and I had worked out our own informal arrangement that was actually working pretty well for both of us. I ended up applying for ONLY CalFresh through the BenefitsCal website, and I can confirm that there was absolutely no involvement from child support services. During my phone interview, the worker did mention that I might qualify for CalWORKs cash assistance too, but when I politely declined and said I only wanted food benefits, they respected that completely. The key things that helped me: 1. Only checked the CalFresh box on the application 2. Was very clear during the interview that I only wanted food assistance 3. Kept all my paperwork focused on CalFresh eligibility It's been over a year now and I've never had any contact from child support enforcement. My ex and I still have our arrangement, and getting CalFresh has been a huge help for groceries without any of the drama I was worried about. You've got this! Your kids deserve to eat well and you shouldn't have to choose between that and keeping peace with your co-parent.

I've tried logging out and back in multiple times, even using different devices and browsers. Still showing nothing. I even deleted and reinstalled the BenefitsCal app on my phone. Same issue everywhere. 😞

This is so frustrating and scary when you're depending on those benefits! I went through something similar last year where my CalWORKs just vanished from the system overnight. In my case, it turned out the county had flagged my case for a "quality control review" during their monthly processing, which temporarily suspended my benefits while they did their audit. The problem was nobody told me this was happening! What saved me was going directly to the county office in person with all my documents - ID, last benefit notice, recent paystubs, etc. The front desk worker was able to look up my case immediately and see what was going on. Turns out it was just a routine review that got stuck in the system somehow. Since you mentioned your rent is due soon, definitely emphasize the emergency nature when you call. Use the phrase "emergency aid" - they're supposed to expedite cases where people are facing homelessness. Also ask specifically if your case is under any kind of review or hold status. Sometimes these system glitches happen when cases get pulled for random audits. Hope you get this sorted out quickly! Keep us updated on what happens.

I went through this exact situation last summer and I know how terrifying it is when your rent money disappears overnight! The good news is that California has really strengthened their benefit theft protections, so you absolutely CAN get your money back. A few things that helped speed up my case: - I called the EBT fraud hotline (1-877-328-9677) immediately after filing the police report to create an additional paper trail - When I submitted my EBT 2259 form, I also included a signed affidavit stating I never shared my PIN with anyone - I took photos of the specific ATM where my card was skimmed and included those with my paperwork The most important thing is to emphasize the EMERGENCY nature of your situation when you submit tomorrow. Tell them your exact eviction date and ask if they can flag your case as "expedited due to imminent homelessness." Some counties can process these in as little as 3-5 business days when housing is at immediate risk. Also, while you're there, definitely ask about CalWORKs Homeless Assistance Program (HAP) as backup - it can provide emergency rent assistance even while your theft claim is being processed. Don't let them tell you that you have to wait for one program before applying for another. You've got this! The system isn't perfect but it DOES work when you know the right steps to take. Keep us updated! 💪

I'm so sorry you're going through this - benefit theft is becoming way too common and it's absolutely terrifying when it's money you depend on for basic needs like housing. Reading through all the advice here, it sounds like you have a really solid plan for tomorrow. Just wanted to add one more thing that might help - when you go to submit your paperwork, ask if they can give you a case number and the direct contact info for whoever will be handling your theft claim. Having a specific person to follow up with instead of going through the general phone system can make a huge difference in getting timely updates. Also, don't be afraid to be your own advocate throughout this process. You're dealing with a crime that happened TO you, not something you did wrong. Your urgency about potential eviction is completely valid and they need to treat it that way. Wishing you the best tomorrow - you've got all the right documentation and knowledge now thanks to this amazing community. Please do keep us posted on how it goes! 🙏

Glad to hear your payment came through! For future reference, if this happens again and causes serious problems (like late fees on bills), you can request an "Immediate Need" payment from your CalWORKs office if the delay was their fault. You might also want to ask your worker at your next appointment if your regular deposit day or time has permanently changed. Sometimes they adjust batch processing schedules without clearly communicating it to recipients. It's worth making a note of exactly when your deposits have been arriving for the last few months to see if there's a new pattern forming.

This is so stressful when you're depending on that money! I'm in LA County and we had similar issues a few months back where payments were coming 4-6 hours late consistently. What helped me was setting up text alerts through the EBT app so I'd get notified the moment anything hit my account instead of constantly checking manually. Also, if you have a smartphone, the "ebtEDGE" app lets you check your balance and transaction history in real-time, which might be faster than calling the EBT customer service line. Really glad yours finally came through today - hopefully this gets sorted out system-wide soon because the stress isn't worth it!