Another possibility: did you miss any Welfare to Work (WTW) appointments or not meet your required participation hours? Sometimes they'll impose a financial sanction for WTW non-compliance, but again, they're required to send you multiple notices before doing this. Regardless of what caused the reduction, you have rights. If you request a state hearing and explain that you never received notification of the change, you have a strong case. Make sure to specifically request "aid paid pending" when you file for the hearing if it's been less than 90 days since the reduction started.

This is exactly what happened to me 6 months ago! Same situation - $280 reduction with zero notification. Turns out my caseworker had made an error in calculating my rent allowance and "corrected" it without telling me. I went straight to my county office and demanded to speak with a supervisor. Took 3 visits but they finally admitted the mistake and restored my benefits retroactively. Document EVERYTHING - take photos of your BenefitsCal account showing no notices, keep records of when you call and get disconnected. Also, you might want to contact your local legal aid society - many have CalWORKs advocates who can help you navigate the appeal process for free. Don't let them intimidate you into giving up. You and your kids deserve those benefits!

This whole thread is so helpful! I'm starting college next semester and was worried about how work study might affect my benefits. It's really frustrating that caseworkers aren't consistently trained on these rules - seems like every office interprets things differently. I'm definitely going to save that MPP Section 44-111.24 reference and make sure to get documentation from my financial aid office before I even start working. It's amazing how much easier it is to navigate this stuff when you have a community of people who've been through it. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences!

I'm just starting my CalWORKs application process and this thread is incredibly eye-opening! I had no idea that caseworkers might not always know the rules correctly. It's both reassuring and concerning to see how common this work study issue seems to be. I'm planning to start community college next fall and will likely need work study to help with expenses, so I'm taking notes on everything you all have shared. The MPP Section 44-111.24 reference, getting documentation from financial aid, asking for things in writing - this is all so valuable to know ahead of time. It's really inspiring to see people like Skylar successfully advocating for themselves and getting issues resolved. And Omar, hearing that you completed college while on CalWORKs gives me so much hope! Sometimes the system feels overwhelming when you're new to it, but having a community like this where people share real experiences and practical advice makes it feel much more manageable. Thank you all for being so generous with your knowledge!

This same thing happened to my daughter last month! The caseworker kept insisting she needed an unemployment denial letter even though she only worked for 4 months total in the past 2 years. What ended up working was going to the office in person and refusing to leave until they let her speak to a supervisor. The supervisor immediately approved her application once she understood the situation. Sometimes you have to be really persistent to get through the bureaucracy!

I went through something similar about 6 months ago! My caseworker kept saying I needed to provide proof of unemployment application even though I clearly didn't have enough work credits. What finally worked for me was getting a printout from the EDD website showing my wage history for the last 18 months. When they could see in black and white that I only had 3 months of reported wages, they finally understood I couldn't qualify for UI benefits. You can access this through your EDD online account - look for "Wage and Potential Benefit Inquiry" or something similar. Print it out and bring it with you when you go in person or email it to your supervisor. Sometimes having the official documentation makes all the difference even when the logic should be obvious. Also, definitely push for that expedited processing since you're in emergency status with only $27 left. They're supposed to prioritize cases like yours. Don't let them brush you off - you deserve help and this denial is completely unreasonable!

I just wanted to add that if you do decide to apply, don't be discouraged if the process seems overwhelming at first. I was in a similar situation a few years ago - single mom, worried about how it would affect my other benefits. The caseworkers can seem intimidating, but most of them really do want to help you succeed. One thing I wish someone had told me: keep copies of EVERYTHING. Every form you submit, every appointment notice, every communication. The system can be disorganized and having your own records saved me multiple times when documents got "lost" in their system. Also, if you end up doing the education route through WTW like Fatima mentioned, there are some really good programs available. I got my CNA certification through CalWORKs and it led to steady work. The timing might actually be perfect since your son is old enough to be more independent while you're in classes or training. Good luck with whatever you decide!

I went through this exact situation about 3 years ago when my daughter was 15! Yes, your CalFresh will go down some when you get CalWORKs, but you'll definitely have more total money each month. In my case, I was getting around $500 in food stamps and that dropped to about $320, but I was getting $700+ in cash aid, so it was totally worth it. For the work requirements, they'll work with you to create a plan. Since your son is 16, you do need to do the 30 hours, but like others mentioned, there are options. I did a mix of job search and community college classes. The education route was actually amazing - I got my medical assistant certificate and now have a stable job that pays well enough that I don't need CalWORKs anymore. One tip: when you meet with your WTW worker, be upfront about your goals and what kind of work or training interests you. They have partnerships with local colleges and training programs that can really set you up for success. Don't just accept the first thing they suggest if it doesn't feel like a good fit for you. The application process can be frustrating, but stick with it. Having that financial stability while getting training or education can be life-changing!

That's great news! 🎉 I'm so glad everything worked out for you. It's such a relief when you finally see that approval notice show up. The delay between when they actually process it and when the notice appears in BenefitsCal is really frustrating - they should definitely improve that system. Your tip about screenshotting the confirmation email is smart too. Thanks for updating us with the good news!

This whole thread is so reassuring! I'm scheduled for my recertification next month and I've been dreading it after hearing horror stories about delays and missing documents. It's good to know that benefits continue while they process everything and that the EBT website showing scheduled payments is a reliable indicator. I'm definitely going to screenshot my confirmation email like you suggested and maybe bookmark that Claimyr service in case I need to call. Thanks for sharing your experience and congrats on getting through the process! 👍