I'm a case worker and wanted to add some clarification to what's already been shared here. You're absolutely right that you cannot apply for CalFresh for just your children if you all live together and you provide their meals - this would be considered fraud if misrepresented. However, I encourage you to still apply for your full household! Many working families are surprised to learn they qualify. For a household of 5, the gross income limit is $4,810/month (as of 2024), but more importantly, CalFresh uses your NET income after deductions. With rent at 60% of your income, you'd get a significant shelter deduction. Also consider applying for emergency CalFresh if you're in immediate need - this can provide benefits within 3 days if you qualify. The application asks about your monthly expenses, so gather documentation for rent, utilities, childcare, and medical expenses before applying. One last tip: if your county office is hard to reach by phone, many counties now accept applications online through BenefitsCal, and you can often get faster responses through their online messaging system once you have an account.

I just wanted to echo what the case worker and others have said - definitely still apply even though you can't separate your kids! I was in almost the exact same situation last year with 3 kids and thought we made too much. What really helped us was keeping track of ALL our monthly expenses for a few weeks before applying. Things I didn't think to include at first: after-school care costs, gas for driving to work, medical copays, even the monthly cost of school lunches (before we qualified for free ones). Every legitimate expense helps reduce your countable income. We ended up qualifying for $200/month which doesn't sound like much but it's been a huge help with our grocery budget, especially for buying healthy foods for the kids. The application through BenefitsCal was way easier than trying to call - took about 30 minutes and I got a response within a week. Don't let that other mom's misinformation discourage you from applying the right way. There's real help available for working families, you just have to go through the proper channels. Good luck!

I'm new to this community and going through my first CalWORKs redetermination next month, so this entire discussion has been incredibly helpful! I was getting really anxious about what documents I'd need to prepare, but reading everyone's experiences has put my mind at ease. It's good to know that the standard requirement is just the most recent month's bank statement, and that if they need additional months, they have to specify exactly which ones and why. I'll definitely use the advice about asking directly "which specific months do you need me to submit?" to get clear guidance from my worker. The release form option that lets the county verify directly with the bank also sounds like a great backup plan. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences - this community is such a valuable resource for navigating the system!

I'm new to this community and just wanted to say thank you to everyone who shared their experiences here! I have my first CalWORKs redetermination coming up in a couple weeks and was feeling really overwhelmed about what paperwork they might ask for. Reading through this thread has been so reassuring - it sounds like the standard is just your most recent month's bank statement, and if they need anything beyond that, they have to be specific about what and why. I love the advice about asking directly "which exact months do you need me to submit?" to avoid any confusion. The release form option for letting the county verify directly with your bank is also something I hadn't heard of before but sounds really helpful. It's so nice to have a community where people share practical advice like this - navigating government benefits can feel so intimidating when you're doing it alone!

Hey! I'm new here but wanted to share what I learned when I was in a similar situation last year. The WTW program can seem overwhelming at first, but there are definitely options that work for single moms with young kids. A few things that helped me: - Ask specifically about "concurrent activities" - you might be able to combine things like adult education classes with work experience to meet your hours - If you're interested in healthcare, many counties have medical assistant or home health aide programs that are in high demand and lead to good-paying jobs - Don't let them pressure you into just job search activities if that's not what you want - you have the right to choose education/training if it makes sense for your goals One heads up - make sure you understand the "good cause" exemptions for when you might need to miss hours (sick kids, lack of childcare, etc.). Knowing these upfront can save you from getting sanctioned later. It sounds like you're on the right track now with getting more info from your worker. The online admin program sounds like a great fit for your situation! Keep advocating for yourself - you know your needs better than anyone else.

Great question about concurrent activities! From my experience, yes you can often combine different WTW activities to meet your hours. For example, I did an online customer service certification program for 20 hours/week and then did a work experience placement at a local nonprofit for 10 hours/week to get my full 30 hours. The work experience gave me real-world practice while I was learning the skills in my online classes. For medical assistant programs, most have both online and in-person components. The coursework (anatomy, medical terminology, etc.) is usually online, but you'll need to do hands-on clinical training and externships in person. However, some programs are more flexible about when you do the in-person parts - like evening or weekend clinical sessions. One thing I wish someone had told me earlier - ask about "education in combination with work" options. If you're doing the admin program, you might be able to get a part-time office job or internship that counts toward your hours while you're still learning. It's like getting paid to practice what you're studying! Definitely ask the counselor to show you exactly how different combinations of activities would work to meet your 30 hours. They should be able to map out a few different scenarios for you to choose from.

I'm new to this community and to CalWORKs, but this entire discussion has been incredibly helpful and honestly quite alarming. I had no idea that missing a SAR7 form could happen so easily or that the system had so many communication gaps. @Marcus Patterson, I'm so relieved you were able to get everything resolved! Your situation really highlights how stressful this process can be when you're depending on these benefits for your family. What strikes me most is how everyone here jumped in to help with practical solutions - from explaining the 90-day restoration period to sharing specific services like Claimyr. This is exactly the kind of community support that makes such a difference when dealing with complicated bureaucracy. I'm definitely taking notes on all the tips shared here: setting up calendar reminders regardless of notices, checking spam folders, knowing about the cdss.ca.gov form downloads, and having backup plans for when phone lines are impossible. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences and knowledge - it's going to help so many families avoid this same panic!

As a new community member, I'm honestly shocked reading through this entire thread about how complicated and stressful the SAR7 process can be! @Marcus Patterson, I'm so glad you were able to get your benefits sorted out before they were cut off - what a relief that must have been! This discussion has been incredibly educational for someone like me who's just starting to navigate the CalWORKs system. I had no idea about all these potential pitfalls: mail not being delivered, BenefitsCal not always working properly, county offices being nearly impossible to reach by phone, and notifications ending up in spam folders. The amount of practical advice shared here is amazing - from Alice's professional insights about the 90-day restoration period to Owen's suggestion about Claimyr, and Lydia's detailed steps for finding forms online. It really shows how this community looks out for each other when dealing with these bureaucratic challenges. I'm definitely taking all these tips to heart: setting calendar reminders regardless of official notices, checking spam folders regularly, knowing backup options like downloading forms from cdss.ca.gov, and having services like Claimyr as a last resort. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences - this thread is going to be a lifesaver for families facing similar situations!

As someone who just joined this community, I found this entire thread incredibly helpful! I'm currently going through a similar situation where my roommate (who was on my CalWORKs case) moved out unexpectedly last month. Reading through everyone's experiences has given me the confidence to take action instead of procrastinating out of fear. The landlord letter idea is brilliant - I never would have thought of that as documentation. It's also reassuring to see that even though there might be a benefit reduction, the case stays open as long as you're honest and report changes promptly. Thank you all for being so supportive and sharing real experiences rather than just theoretical advice. This is exactly the kind of community support that makes navigating these systems less overwhelming!

This is such a comprehensive thread with amazing real-world advice! As a newcomer to this community, I'm impressed by how everyone jumped in to help with practical solutions. The progression from initial panic about removing an ex from the case to a successful resolution is exactly what people need to see. A few key takeaways that stood out to me: 1) The 10-day reporting requirement is crucial to avoid fraud issues, 2) Multiple documentation options exist (landlord letters, utility bills, written statements), 3) Going in person can bypass phone system frustrations, and 4) While benefits may decrease with household size changes, it's far better than risking overpayments. Manny's positive outcome shows that while these situations feel overwhelming initially, they're totally manageable with the right approach and timely action. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this thread will definitely help others facing similar household changes!