I went through something similar a few months ago. My aunt sent me money for my car repair and I was so stressed about whether to report it or not. I ended up calling the CalWORKs hotline and they told me that legitimate gifts from family members don't count as income, but you're still supposed to report them on your SAR 7 so they can verify it's actually a gift and not payment for work or something else. The worker said it's always better to report and let them decide rather than not report at all. When I did report it, they just asked for a simple statement from my aunt saying it was a gift with no expectation of repayment, and my benefits didn't change. The key is being upfront about it. Since you're planning to call your worker anyway, maybe mention that you want to make sure you're reporting everything correctly going forward so this doesn't happen again.

I've been following this thread and wanted to share some practical tips for anyone in a similar situation. First, when you do reach your worker, be prepared with specific details - the exact amount, date received, and your brother's contact info in case they need verification. Second, if you haven't already, start keeping a simple log of any money you receive (even gifts) with dates and sources - it makes reporting so much easier. Third, don't be surprised if they ask you to complete a "Report of Gift" form or something similar. Most counties have a standard process for this. The good news is that genuine family gifts are usually pretty straightforward to verify and resolve. The fact that you're being proactive about this instead of waiting for them to discover it shows good faith, which workers do notice and appreciate. Hang in there - you're doing the right thing by addressing it head-on!

Sofia, I'm a single mom who went through almost the exact same situation 8 months ago. My CalFresh got cut and the worker told me the same lie about CalWORKs - that if I didn't qualify for one, I wouldn't qualify for the other. Complete BS! I finally reapplied for CalWORKs after reading posts like this one, and not only did I get approved for $347/month in cash aid, but they also helped me with childcare costs so I could work more hours. My income was actually HIGHER than yours when I got approved. Here's what I wish someone had told me: bring EVERYTHING when you go in - pay stubs, rent receipts, utility bills, the restraining order, any childcare receipts. They calculate your "need" based on your actual expenses versus income. With rent that high compared to your income, you should definitely qualify. Also, apply for WIC if you haven't already - your 3-year-old still qualifies and it'll help stretch your grocery budget while you're waiting for CalWORKs to process. Don't let them discourage you again. You've got this mama! 💪

I'm so sorry you've been dealing with this misinformation from your worker, Sofia. What happened to you is unfortunately way too common - workers sometimes give incorrect information either because they're undertrained or trying to manage their caseloads. The income calculation differences between CalFresh and CalWORKs are significant. CalWORKs has what's called the "earned income disregard" where they subtract $450 from your gross income, then only count 50% of what remains. So your $1,850 becomes about $700 in "countable income" for CalWORKs purposes. Given your high housing costs ($1,325 is a huge portion of your income), you should absolutely qualify for some cash assistance. The system is supposed to help families like yours who are working but still struggling to meet basic needs. When you reapply, specifically mention: - The restraining order (automatic cooperation exemption) - Your childcare costs for work - Request expedited processing due to imminent homelessness risk - Ask about utility assistance programs Don't let one worker's mistake keep your family from getting help. You're working hard and deserve support. Reapply as soon as possible!

Just went through my CalWORKs recertification last week and had the EXACT same experience! I was so panicked when I couldn't find any record of my phone interview in BenefitsCal. Called my county office three times before finally getting through to someone who explained that the interview information doesn't show up in the portal - it's all stored in their internal system. What really helped calm my nerves was checking a few key things in BenefitsCal: 1. My documents section still showed all my paystubs as "Received" 2. The recertification task showed as "Complete" (even though no interview details appeared) 3. My current certification period was still active Got my Notice of Action exactly 6 days after the interview confirming everything was approved for another year. The system is definitely confusing but as long as you did the interview and submitted docs, you should be good! The waiting period is nerve-wracking but try not to stress too much - sounds like you followed all the steps correctly.

I'm going through my first CalWORKs recertification right now and this whole thread has been such a lifesaver! I was literally about to have a panic attack because I couldn't find ANY confirmation of my phone interview from last Tuesday in BenefitsCal. Reading everyone's experiences here has made me realize this is just how the broken system works, not something wrong with my case specifically. I did all three steps - submitted the online application, uploaded my pay stubs, and completed the 45-minute phone interview where they asked me literally every single question I already answered online (so frustrating!). Just checked and my recertification task does show "Complete" and my documents are still marked as "Received" so I think I'm okay. Still going to be obsessively checking my mailbox for the Notice of Action though! Has anyone here had experience with different counties? I'm in San Bernardino County and wondering if some county offices are better than others at processing these recertifications quickly. My benefits expire at the end of next month so I'm trying not to stress but it's hard when the system gives you zero feedback about what's happening with your case. Thank you all for sharing your stories - it really helps to know we're not alone in dealing with this confusing process! 💙

For everyone in this thread - here's a simple breakdown: 1. If you had ANY earned income: File taxes to claim EITC and Child Tax Credit 2. If you had ZERO earned income but have dependent children: Still file to claim the refundable portion of the Child Tax Credit and California state credits 3. If you had ZERO earned income and NO dependents: You probably won't get a refund unless you had taxes withheld from some other income source To find free tax help: - Call 211 for VITA locations near you - Visit irs.gov/vita - Ask at your county CalWORKs office for referrals Most important: Tax refunds DO NOT count as income for CalWORKs and don't need to be reported!

I'm in a similar situation - been on CalWORKs with my 4-year-old and haven't worked at all this year due to my own health issues. Reading through all these responses has been really eye-opening! I had no idea there were credits available even without earned income. Quick question for those who have gone through the VITA program - do they help you understand what documentation you need beforehand? I want to make sure I have everything together before I go so I don't waste anyone's time. Also, how long does the appointment usually take? This thread has been so much more helpful than trying to get answers from my caseworker. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences!

Based on everything you've shared, it definitely sounds like you're approved! Those payment amounts make perfect sense given your work situation. Just to add to what others have said - you should get your regular monthly payment on the same date each month going forward. The date is usually based on your case number, so it might be the 1st like you got in April, or it could be a different day. One thing I'd suggest is setting up text alerts in your BenefitsCal account if you haven't already. That way you'll get notified when benefits are deposited and when new documents are posted. It's really helpful for staying on top of things when workers are hard to reach. Also, don't stress too much about the missing approval letter - sometimes the system is just slow. As long as you keep getting your monthly payments, you're good. Just make sure to complete any Welfare to Work requirements they give you and report income changes within 10 days like others mentioned.

The confusion is totally understandable - CalWORKs payment timing can be really confusing when you're new to the system! From what you've described, those payments definitely indicate you've been approved. The $100 on March 31st was your prorated benefit for the remaining days of March after your approval, and the $120 on April 1st is your regular monthly grant amount. Your benefit amount being around $120 makes sense given that you're working 15 hours per week. CalWORKs has income disregards, but they still reduce your grant based on your earnings. The $20 cash aid portion might be a separate supplement or transportation allowance. Even though you haven't received your approval letter yet, the payment pattern you're experiencing is exactly how new approvals work. Keep trying to reach your worker for confirmation and to get a copy of your benefit calculation worksheet - that will show you exactly how they arrived at your grant amount. In the meantime, you can expect your regular monthly payment to continue on the same date each month (likely the 1st based on your April payment).