make sure ur mom gets on medi-cal too!! my mom was paying like crazy for her medicare part B out of her ss check but when she got on medi-cal they started paying that part for her so she got an extra $170 a month!!

I'm new to CalWORKs and just went through something similar with my elderly father. One thing I learned that might help - when you report your mom moving in, ask your worker specifically about the "deeming" rules. Sometimes they can exclude a portion of her income if she has her own necessary expenses like medical costs or medications. Also, definitely get her on the SSI application ASAP - even if she only gets approved for a small amount, it opens up other benefits like automatic Medi-Cal. The waiting period is tough but it's worth it in the long run. Hang in there!

I just went through this same process in San Bernardino County last month! The $200 WTW participation incentive definitely exists, but like others mentioned, the timing varies. For me, it took exactly 4 weeks from when my sanction was removed to when I saw the payment. What I learned is that your worker has to complete two separate actions in the computer system: 1) officially close/cure your sanction case, and 2) enter your participation verification for the incentive payment. Sometimes there's a gap between these two things happening. I'd suggest calling and specifically asking if both steps have been completed. Also, when you do get it, it'll show up as a separate line item on your Notice of Action - mine said "WTW PARTICIPATION INCENTIVE $200.00" so you'll know exactly what it is. Hang in there, it should come through!

I just wanted to add my experience from Orange County - I got my sanction removed about 8 months ago and had a similar situation. The $200 WTW participation incentive took about 3 weeks to show up for me, but here's something important that I don't think anyone mentioned yet: make sure you're meeting the minimum weekly participation hours AFTER your sanction is removed. In my county, I had to complete at least 32 hours per week of approved WTW activities (job search, education, work experience, etc.) for a full month before the incentive payment was triggered. My worker initially forgot to tell me this requirement, so I was only doing like 20 hours a week thinking it was enough. Once I started hitting the 32 hours consistently and turned in my participation verification sheets on time, the payment came through. Also, if you're doing job search activities, make sure you're documenting everything properly - they want to see specific employer names, dates, and contact methods for each application. Hope this helps!

Since you're pregnant, make sure you're also on WIC if you're not already. It won't replace Cash Aid, but it provides nutritional support during pregnancy and after baby arrives. Also look into the Pregnancy Special Needs payment through CalWORKs which gives you a small additional amount each month while pregnant. After reporting your change in living situation, if your benefits are reduced significantly, ask your worker about what will happen after the baby arrives. Once the baby is born, you'll need to provide verification (birth certificate, hospital documents) to add the child to your case within 10 days. At that point, the situation changes again because you and your boyfriend will share a child, which affects how they consider your household composition.

Congratulations on your pregnancy! I went through something similar when I was expecting my second child. Here's what I learned from my experience: You definitely need to report the address change within 10 days - that's a firm requirement regardless of how it affects your benefits. When you call, be very specific about your living arrangement. Tell them: - You're pregnant with your boyfriend's child (due July) - Who's on the lease - Exactly how much each of you pays toward rent/utilities - That you're not married Since you're pregnant with his child, they may treat this differently than if you were just roommates. Ask specifically about: 1. The Pregnancy Special Needs payment ($47/month) 2. How they'll calculate any "in-kind income" from shared housing costs 3. What happens to your case after the baby is born One tip: if possible, try to contribute something toward the rent from your Cash Aid (even if it's just $50-100) and document it. This shows you're using your benefits for housing costs, which can sometimes work in your favor during their calculations. The rules change again once baby arrives since you'll share a child together, so ask them to explain both scenarios. Getting everything in writing helps too - workers sometimes give different info and having documentation protects you. Good luck mama! The system is confusing but being proactive and honest is always the best approach.

To add to my earlier comment about protecting your benefits: If you want to switch to direct deposit like someone suggested, you need to fill out the "Request for Account Change - Electronic Benefit Transfer" form (also called CW 2206). You can download it on the CDSS website or get it from your county office. And regarding your question about text alerts - yes! You can sign up for EBT text alerts by visiting the EBT website or calling customer service. It will notify you whenever there's activity on your account.

I'm so sorry this happened to you! EBT theft is unfortunately becoming really common. A few additional tips that have helped me stay safe: 1. Never use your EBT card at gas stations or convenience stores - those card readers get compromised a lot 2. If you have to use an ATM, always wiggle the card reader first to make sure it's not loose (sign of a skimmer) 3. Consider keeping a record of your transactions - take photos of receipts and check your balance daily 4. Report suspicious activity immediately, even small amounts Also, once you get your text alerts set up, you'll get notified right away if someone tries to use your card. I caught someone trying to use mine within 5 minutes because of those alerts! The county was able to stop the transaction before any money was taken. Stay strong - you're handling this really well and asking all the right questions to protect yourself going forward.

Here's something that might help - I've found that Credit Union ATMs are often really reliable for EBT withdrawals too. Places like Golden 1 Credit Union or Schools First Federal Credit Union usually don't charge surcharge fees for EBT transactions. Also, if you're in a bind and need cash fast, some Walmart locations have customer service desks where you can withdraw cash directly with your EBT card and ID - no ATM needed. They can usually do larger amounts than the ATM limits too. Just make sure to bring your ID and know your PIN. The customer service option has been a lifesaver for me when all the ATMs seemed to be down or out of service.

I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who shared their tips! As someone who's also pretty new to CalWORKs (got approved about 6 months ago), I remember how overwhelming it was trying to figure out the whole EBT card system. One thing that really helped me was calling the customer service number on the back of my EBT card - they can tell you your exact balance and also help you find ATMs near you that work with the card. The wait time isn't usually too bad, maybe 5-10 minutes. Also, I've had good luck with ATMs at Costco and Sam's Club if you have memberships there. They never seem to have issues with EBT cards and don't charge extra fees. It's such a relief when you find reliable spots where you know your card will work!