I appreciate all the suggestions everyone. I'm going to try several things: 1) Request a breakdown of how they calculated my income to make sure they're not counting the tuition portion that goes to the school, 2) Apply for CalFresh since apparently they don't count VA benefits as income, 3) Ask specifically about the single parent exemption for WTW hours, and 4) Request a fair hearing if needed. This is all so complicated and frustrating, but I'm determined to make this work somehow. I just want to complete my degree and make a better life for my kid.

I'm also a veteran dealing with similar issues, though I haven't hit this specific problem yet since I'm still in the application process. This whole thread has been really eye-opening - I had no idea VA benefits were treated differently than other educational aid for CalWORKs. It seems really backwards that we're penalized for using benefits we earned through our service. I'm definitely going to apply for CalFresh first based on what everyone's saying here, and maybe hold off on CalWORKs until I understand all the implications. Thank you all for sharing your experiences - this kind of real-world info is so much more helpful than trying to navigate the official websites and conflicting information from different workers.

dont 4get they gonna make u provide info about ur childs father too for child support stuff. they make u cooperate with child support services unless u got a good reason not to (like domestic violence

Just wanted to add - if you're having trouble with the phone system, try calling right when they open (usually 8am) or during lunch hours when it's less busy. Also, some counties let you schedule interviews online through your MyBenefits account after you apply. Check your account dashboard to see if that option is available - way easier than calling! And since you mentioned rent is due in 3 weeks, make sure to bring documentation of your housing costs to the interview (lease, rent receipt, etc). Your CalWORKs amount is partly based on your shelter costs, so having that info ready will help speed up the process.

my friend said some counties r giving emergency benefits if u have a urgent need like rent due so maybe ask about that too

I'm a newcomer here but going through the exact same nightmare! My benefits haven't posted for March either and I'm panicking about April. Reading through all these responses is both reassuring (I'm not alone) and terrifying (this is apparently widespread). @Riya Sharma and @Ethan Scott - thank you for the detailed technical information! I had no idea about these specific flags and codes. I'm definitely going to ask about the "Priority Authorization Flag" and "monthly manual authorization" when I go in. One question - has anyone tried escalating this to the California Department of Social Services directly instead of just dealing with county offices? I'm wondering if there's a state-level complaint process for systemic issues like this. It seems crazy that 15% of cases are affected and there's no emergency fix being fast-tracked. Also @Santiago Diaz I'm curious about that Claimyr service - did they charge you for it? At this point I'd pay reasonable fees just to avoid these monthly office visits with my kids.

Update: I was finally able to reach my worker! Turns out they just needed to verify a deposit in my account from my mom (birthday gift money for my daughter) and make sure I still meet the resource limit. The worker was actually super nice and it took like 5 minutes to clear up. Thanks everyone for the advice and calming me down! My benefits are safe.

So glad everything worked out for you! This is exactly why I tell everyone not to panic when they get these calls. The county workers really do need better training on how to leave voicemails - saying "need to review transactions ASAP" sounds so ominous when it's usually something simple like verifying a gift deposit. Thanks for updating us with the resolution - it'll help other people who find this thread when they're going through the same thing!

Thank you all for the helpful responses! I have my recertification interview next week and I'll bring all my paystubs and ask my sister to write out that statement about the childcare. The calculation breakdown really helps me understand how they'll look at my income. I'm still nervous but feeling more prepared now!

Good luck with your recertification interview! One more tip - if your worker seems to calculate your income differently than what others have explained here, don't be afraid to ask them to walk through the calculation step by step. Sometimes they make mistakes or forget to apply certain deductions. You have the right to understand exactly how they're determining your eligibility. Also, if you do get approved, keep track of your hours and pay going forward since any significant changes might affect your benefits later. Sounds like you're doing everything right to get back on your feet!