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Will I lose CalWORKs for not paying rent? Worker said I must report rent even while staying with someone for free

I'm totally stressed about my recent SAR 7 situation. A worker called me saying I could get my CalWORKs reduced or completely cut off if I keep reporting that I don't pay rent! She told me I need to sit down with the people I'm staying with and come up with a monthly rent amount that I'm supposedly paying them. This doesn't sound right to me at all. I thought CalWORKs cash aid was for my child's overall needs - not just rent but also clothes, diapers, and other expenses. How can they take away benefits just because someone is letting me stay somewhere without charging me? Isn't that punishing people who have supportive family/friends? Also complicating things: I have a 4-month-old and am currently pregnant with a different father's baby. The worker said since I'm living with the father of the baby I'm pregnant with, he has to be added to my case, and benefits might go up or down. He already has his own CalFresh case though. And to top it all off, the worker is saying my SAR 7 is incomplete because someone else used to use this address. She wants me to get paperwork signed by this person saying they don't live here anymore! The worker asked why I didn't report this person moving out - but I didn't even know they were using this address, and neither did the homeowner! Now this other person is worried she'll lose benefits for her son and granddaughter if she reports she doesn't live here anymore. Is any of this legit? What should I do?

Dylan Evans

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I'm so sorry you went through all that stress and confusion! As someone who's been navigating CalWORKs for a while, I can tell you that your original worker was definitely giving you incorrect information. It's unfortunately pretty common for workers to misunderstand policies, especially around housing situations. Just wanted to add a couple things that might help others in similar situations: 1. If you're staying somewhere for free, the county might assess it as "in-kind income" but they have to use fair market value calculations - they can't just make you pick a random rent amount. And even if they do count some in-kind income, it usually only reduces your grant slightly, not eliminates it entirely. 2. For documentation, keep records of all your conversations with workers - dates, times, what was said. This really helps when you need to escalate or clarify conflicting information later. 3. The CalWORKs All County Letter (ACL) system has all the official policy guidance. You can actually look these up online if you want to verify what workers are telling you. It sounds like you did everything right by pushing back and asking for a supervisor. That takes courage, especially when you're dealing with pregnancy stress on top of everything else. Hope your case gets resolved smoothly from here!

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Paige Cantoni

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This is really helpful information, especially about the All County Letter system! I had no idea that was available online for people to look up policies themselves. That could be such a valuable resource for verifying what workers tell you. The point about keeping records of conversations is also really smart - I wish I had started doing that from the beginning of this whole situation. It would have made it so much easier to explain the conflicting information I was getting when I finally spoke with the supervisor. Thank you for sharing these practical tips! It's reassuring to know that there are concrete steps people can take to advocate for themselves and verify information in this system.

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Ethan Clark

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I'm so glad you were able to get this resolved by speaking with a supervisor! Your story is a perfect example of why it's so important to question things when workers give you information that doesn't sound right. As someone who's helped family members navigate CalWORKs, I can confirm that your original worker was completely wrong on multiple points. You should never be told to make up a rent amount you're not actually paying - that's literally asking you to commit fraud! And the idea that free housing automatically disqualifies you from CalWORKs is just not true. For anyone else reading this who might face similar issues: document everything, don't be afraid to ask for supervisors, and remember that you have the right to understand exactly which policies apply to your situation. Workers sometimes get overwhelmed or confused about complex rules, but that doesn't mean you have to accept incorrect information that could harm your benefits. The address situation you mentioned is also really common - definitely get that other person to update their information ASAP to avoid fraud investigations for everyone involved. Thanks for sharing your experience and the resolution! Stories like this help other community members know what to expect and how to advocate for themselves.

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Darcy Moore

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This whole thread has been so educational! As someone who just started receiving CalWORKs benefits, I had no idea that workers could give such incorrect information or that we have the right to question what they tell us. Reading about everyone's experiences with similar issues makes me feel much more prepared to handle my own case. The advice about documenting conversations, asking for policy citations, and not being afraid to escalate to supervisors is invaluable. I'm definitely bookmarking this discussion for future reference. It's really encouraging to see how supporting each other in this community can help everyone navigate this complicated system more successfully!

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Zara Shah

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Here's a practical tip I used when my husband had variable income: I created a simple spreadsheet where I recorded each paycheck as it came in and had it automatically total the monthly amount. Then I wrote my IRT amount at the top in bold. As soon as that monthly total exceeded the IRT, I knew I had to report within 10 days. Another important thing to remember is that if you go over your IRT one month, your cash aid will be adjusted for that month, but it doesn't automatically mean you'll lose benefits completely. They recalculate based on the actual income and deductions.

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Sean Flanagan

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The spreadsheet idea is genius! I'm going to set that up tonight. And thank you for explaining that going over the IRT doesn't automatically mean losing everything - that's been a big worry for me. I just need to be better about tracking and reporting on time.

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I just went through this same situation a few months ago and it was so stressful! What really helped me was requesting my specific IRT amount in writing from my caseworker - they're supposed to tell you this number on your Notice of Action but sometimes it's buried in all the paperwork. One thing I learned is that you can also submit your income reports through the mail with a return receipt requested if you're worried about documentation. That way you have proof of when you submitted it if there are any questions later. Also, don't feel bad about the confusion - I've been on CalWORKs for 2 years and I'm STILL learning new things about how it all works. The system is incredibly complex and they really don't do a good job explaining it clearly to recipients.

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Miguel Ramos

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my sister had same problem they didnt take her calworks but the next year they took her tax return without telling her first so watch out for that part

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Good to know - I'll be careful about the tax return thing. I usually use that money for catching up on bills.

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Ava Thompson

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I went through something similar last year. EDD said I owed them about $800 from unemployment overpayment, but when I got my CalWORKs emergency assistance payment, they didn't touch it. The two systems really don't talk to each other that way. However, I did end up setting up a $15/month payment plan with EDD after they started sending threatening letters about wage garnishment (even though I wasn't working at the time). It was worth it for peace of mind. Also, definitely keep all your paperwork about the stimulus payment - you'll need it for your next reporting period. Your CalWORKs worker should be able to tell you exactly how to report it so it doesn't mess with your regular benefits.

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Benjamin Kim

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I'm so sorry you're going through this! I had my CalWORKs stolen about 6 months ago and it was such a nightmare. Mine took 16 business days to get replaced - way longer than they initially told me. The key things that helped me were: 1) calling every single day to check status, 2) asking to speak with a supervisor when regular workers couldn't help, and 3) documenting EVERYTHING (dates, times, who I spoke with, reference numbers). Also definitely apply for that emergency assistance/immediate need payment while you wait - even if it's partial, it's better than nothing when you have kids to feed. And if you haven't already, make sure you've changed your PIN and requested a new card. The person who stole your benefits might still have access otherwise. Hang in there - I know it's incredibly stressful but most people do eventually get their money back. The system is just overwhelmed right now with all the theft cases. 💙

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Thank you so much for the encouragement and advice! It really helps to hear from someone who went through the same thing. 16 days is still pretty long but at least you got it back eventually. I'm definitely going to start calling every day and asking for supervisors if needed. And yes, I already changed my PIN and got a new card issued right after I reported it. Really appreciate you taking the time to share your experience - gives me hope that this will eventually work out! 💙

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Ethan Wilson

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I'm a caseworker at one of the county offices and I want to give you some insider tips that might help speed things up. First, when you call, specifically ask for the "EBT theft unit" - don't just talk to general intake. They handle these cases faster. Second, if you're facing immediate hardship (which you clearly are with rent due), mention that you want to file for "emergency food assistance" in addition to your theft claim - it's a separate process but can get you some help within 24-48 hours. Third, if it's been more than 10 business days without a decision, you can file a complaint with the state - sometimes that gets counties moving faster. I've seen too many families struggle while waiting, and there ARE ways to get help faster if you know what to ask for. Keep advocating for yourself!

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Jace Caspullo

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That's great news! Glad you got it sorted out before your deadline. Make sure to save/print the confirmation number for your new application just in case there are any future issues.

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Kolton Murphy

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This is such a relief to hear that others have experienced this too! I've been dealing with CalWORKs for 3 years now and the BenefitsCal system has always been glitchy, but it seems like it's gotten worse lately. Last month my neighbor had a similar issue where her whole application just vanished mid-process. She ended up having to go to the county office in person with all her documents because she couldn't get the online system to work at all. For future reference, I always recommend taking screenshots after each page you complete and saving any confirmation numbers you get along the way. The system definitely has issues but documenting everything helps if you need to appeal or prove you were trying to meet deadlines. Hope everyone gets their issues resolved quickly!

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