You're doing great by being proactive about this! One thing I'd add - when you call your worker tomorrow, ask them to note in your case file that you reported the job and uploaded the paystub. Sometimes different workers see your case and having notes helps avoid confusion later. Also, since you mentioned you have a 2-year-old, definitely ask about the childcare right away. The approval process can take a few weeks, so the sooner you apply the better. And don't forget about transportation assistance if you need help getting to work - that's another supportive service that can really help during the transition period. You're asking all the right questions and being responsible about reporting. That's exactly what you need to do to stay in compliance!

Hey Hannah! First off, congrats on the new job - that's awesome! 🎉 And don't worry, your question isn't dumb at all. The CalWORKs system can be really confusing, especially when you're new to it. Everyone here has given you great advice. Definitely upload those check stubs ASAP to BenefitsCal - verbal reporting alone isn't enough. They need the actual documentation to verify your income and adjust your benefits accordingly. Since you're in WTW, here's what I'd recommend doing right now: 1. Upload your paystub immediately (sounds like you already did this - great!) 2. Call your worker and confirm they received it 3. Ask about how your work hours will affect your WTW participation requirements 4. Request childcare assistance for your 2-year-old (this can take time to process, so start now) 5. Ask about transportation assistance if you need help getting to work Keep uploading every single paystub you get going forward, and always take screenshots like others mentioned. Better to over-document than under-document with CalWORKs! You're being super responsible by asking these questions and reporting everything properly. That's exactly the right approach to avoid any issues down the road. Keep it up!

This thread has been so informative! I'm a single mom with one toddler in Fresno County and I've been on CalWORKs for about 4 months now. Getting $492/month currently which is really tough to stretch, so hearing about this 5% increase gives me some hope. I was actually starting to panic because I heard rumors that they might be cutting benefits due to budget issues, so this is such a relief! My caseworker hasn't said anything about it either - seems like that's a common theme here. I'm not working right now because I'm taking care of my 18-month-old full time, so hopefully I'll get the full increase amount. Does anyone know if Fresno County is usually quick with sending out those Notice of Action letters, or do they tend to be on the slower side? I want to make sure I don't miss it!

This is such valuable information for all of us! I'm a single mom with my 8-year-old daughter in Sacramento County and currently receive $587/month. Like so many others here, my caseworker hasn't mentioned anything about this increase either - it's honestly kind of disappointing that we're all finding out through each other instead of from the people who are supposed to be helping us navigate these programs. I've been really stressed about rising costs lately, especially with school starting back up soon and needing to budget for supplies and clothes. Even a $30 increase would help so much! I'm currently doing online classes for my medical assistant certification while she's at school, so hopefully since that's an approved WTW activity I'll get the full benefit. It's encouraging to see everyone sharing information and supporting each other - this community is honestly more helpful than my actual case management sometimes! I'll definitely be watching my mailbox in May and June for that Notice of Action letter.

Make sure when you call that you specifically mention you need to know why your CalFresh dropped from $850 to $397 even after your sanction was removed. Sometimes the workers don't volunteer information unless you ask very specific questions. Also, it's possible that the $850 might have included some retroactive benefits that made it temporarily higher. Did you receive any lump-sum payments or back benefits around the time you were getting $850?

I'm really sorry you're going through this stress with your benefits. From what I'm reading in the other comments, it sounds like there might be several factors at play here. The reduction from $850 to $397 does seem steep for just removing one household member, but if that $850 included back pay or retroactive benefits, then your regular monthly amount was probably never actually that high to begin with. Here's what I'd suggest: definitely use that Claimyr service someone mentioned to get through to your worker faster. When you do connect, ask for three specific things: 1) A CalFresh Budget Worksheet showing exactly how they calculated your current $397, 2) Clarification on whether the original $850 included any back pay or lump sum, and 3) Verification that they have your correct household size, income, and expenses (especially rent since you mentioned it went up). Also double-check that they're not counting child support you're not actually receiving consistently. That's a common issue that can really mess up the calculations. Hang in there - once you get the actual breakdown, you'll at least know if the amount is correct or if there's an error to fix.

I had my phone recertification about 3 weeks ago and it took roughly 45 minutes. A few things that really helped me prepare: 1. I called right at 8 AM when they opened - only waited about 15 minutes to get through 2. Had all my documents spread out on my kitchen table so I could grab anything quickly 3. Made sure my phone was fully charged and used a landline as backup 4. Kept a pen and paper handy to write down any important info or reference numbers They asked me pretty much everything that was on the SAWS 2, but also some additional questions about my living situation and whether anyone else contributes to household expenses. One thing that caught me off guard was they wanted to know about any cash I had on hand that day - apparently that counts toward your asset limit. My case was approved the same day and my EBT card was loaded within 3 business days. The worker was actually really nice and explained everything clearly. Just make sure you speak up if you can't hear them well - the phone quality isn't always great. You got this!

I just went through my phone recertification in February and wanted to share a few things that really helped me be prepared. The whole process took about 50 minutes, but that included some time where my worker had to look up something in my file. Here's what I'd recommend having ready: - Last 30 days of pay stubs (they asked for specific dates and amounts) - Current rent receipt or lease agreement - Utility bills from the last month - Childcare provider information and receipts if applicable - Any medical insurance cards or documentation - Your Social Security cards for you and your kids - School enrollment verification for your children One thing that really surprised me was they asked detailed questions about my transportation to work - like how I get there, how much I spend on gas or bus fare, etc. They also wanted to know if I had any savings goals or plans to change jobs in the next 6 months. The worker told me that since my case was straightforward like yours (same job, same housing, same family size), the interview would likely be on the shorter side. She also mentioned that they're required to go through every section of the SAWS 2 even if nothing changed, but it goes much faster when people have their documents organized. My advice is to treat it like you're gathering documents for taxes - be thorough and have everything in one place. Good luck!

I'm new to this community but wanted to share my experience since I went through something similar last year. I applied for CalWORKs and my ex-husband decided he wanted to start paying child support regularly right after I got approved (he had been very inconsistent before). I was terrified about fraud accusations too, but when I called my worker and explained the situation, she was actually really understanding. She said changes in circumstances happen all the time and the important thing is reporting them promptly. I ended up keeping the benefits and just reported his support as income, which reduced my cash aid but I still qualified for some assistance. The key thing that helped me was being completely transparent about the timeline - I told them exactly when the conversation happened and that it was after my approval. Having that documentation really put my mind at ease. Whatever you decide to do (cancel or keep with reported income), just make sure you document everything and be upfront about the timing. You're clearly acting in good faith here, which is what matters most. Good luck!

I'm also new here but wanted to add my perspective as someone who works in social services (not CalWORKs specifically, but similar programs). What you're describing is absolutely NOT fraud - fraud requires intentional deception, and you clearly told the truth during your interview based on what you knew at that time. Changes in family support are incredibly common right after someone applies for benefits. Sometimes it's because family members didn't realize how much the person was struggling, sometimes it's because they have mixed feelings about government assistance. Your caseworker has probably seen this exact scenario dozens of times. A few practical tips from what I've observed: - Document the conversation with your husband (date, time, what was discussed) - If you decide to keep benefits, report the new income within 10 days as required - Be prepared to provide details about the amount and frequency of his support - Keep records of any actual financial help he provides You have two perfectly valid options: cancel the benefits or keep them and report the income change. Either way, you're following the rules. Don't let anxiety make this decision for you - think about what makes the most sense for your family's long-term stability.