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UPDATE: I went to the county office in person today with a letter from my landlord saying my ex moved out. The worker was actually really nice and helped me fill out the SAR 3 right there. She said my cash aid will go down by about $112 since the household is smaller now, but I'm just relieved to have him off my case officially! Thanks everyone for your help!
That's great news! Going in person is often the most efficient way to handle these changes. I'm glad the worker was helpful and that you got it resolved quickly. The reduction in benefits is normal when the household size decreases, but you're right that having your case accurate is the most important thing. Be sure to keep an eye on your EBT card to make sure the next deposit reflects the updated amount.
yay!!!! so happy it worked out for u!! way better than my experience lol
So glad you were able to get this resolved quickly! Going in person really is the best approach when you can't get through on the phone. The $112 reduction makes sense with one less person in the household, but at least now you don't have to worry about any potential overpayments or your ex having access to your case information. Thanks for updating us on how it went - this will be helpful for others dealing with similar situations!
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The way they calculate your benefits is so confusing!!!! My worker told me EDD counts differently than regular income because it already has taxes taken out or something? But then another worker told me that was wrong. I don't even know who to believe anymore. The whole system is designed to confuse people on purpose I swear.
EDD is considered unearned income (like disability, child support, etc.), while wages from a job are earned income. They are calculated slightly differently for CalWORKs, but both affect your grant amount. Your first worker might have been referring to the earned income disregard that applies to job income but not to unemployment benefits. The system is definitely confusing, but I promise it's not designed to trick you - it's just a complicated patchwork of rules.
Update: I checked our last Notice of Action and our IRT is $2,676. My husband's EDD payment was $840 for two weeks, and I make about $1,100 a month part-time. So combined we're at $1,940, which is under our IRT. Does that mean I can wait until our next SAR7 in May to report it? Or do I still need to report it now?
be carefull, if he gets paid every 2 weeks he mite get 3 payments in 1 month sometimes. thats what happened to us and it put us over the IRT that month but we didnt realize until they came after us for not reporting
You're right to be cautious about the timing! Since you're under your IRT right now, you technically can wait until your May SAR7. But I'd suggest keeping a close eye on when his next payments come. EDD usually pays weekly or bi-weekly, so like Ella mentioned, you could end up with 3 payments in some months depending on the timing. I learned this the hard way when I got caught off guard by an "extra" payment that pushed us over our limit. Maybe set a reminder to check your total monthly income around the 20th of each month so you don't accidentally miss the 10-day reporting deadline if you do go over your IRT.
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Just realized I should mention - if you do choose to mail it, send it certified mail with tracking! It costs a few extra dollars but gives you proof they received it. I've had workers claim they never got my paperwork until I showed them USPS tracking confirmation with the name of who signed for it.
That's a really smart idea! Seems like most people prefer the online method but if I do end up mailing it for some reason, I'll definitely send it certified.
mail it in!!! the website always crashes for me and i hate it. my worker said most people just mail the packets so they expect it that way. i think it depends how comfortable u r with computers tho
This isn't accurate information. Most counties now process 60-75% of recertifications online. Paper applications typically take 2-3 days longer to process because they need to be manually scanned into the system first. If you're comfortable using a smartphone or computer even a little bit, BenefitsCal is almost always the better option.
@Rosie Harper is absolutely right about the processing times. I work at a county office can (t'say which one for privacy and) we definitely prioritize the online submissions because they re'already in our system. Paper apps have to go through an extra step where someone manually enters all the info, which can add several days especially if we re'short-staffed. The confirmation number from BenefitsCal is also way more reliable than hoping mail doesn t'get lost in our mailroom!
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my cousin works for DPSS and she says they auto-enroll ppl all the time now bc so many families weren't applying for all the benefits they qualify for. u probably got evaluated during ur calfresh app and they just didnt explain it well
That makes sense. They've been trying to streamline the process for families, especially those with children. The system is supposed to maximize benefits automatically when possible, though they really should communicate this better.
If you do confirm this is legitimate CalWORKs money intended for you, make sure you understand all the requirements that come with it. Cash Aid has Welfare to Work (WTW) participation requirements unless you qualify for an exemption. You'll also need to complete a Semi-Annual Report (SAR7) every six months and report certain income changes when they happen. The rules are different than CalFresh, so make sure you understand your reporting responsibilities to avoid any future problems.
I didn't even think about WTW requirements! That's really important to know. Last time I was on CalWORKs I had to do job search hours every week. I'm working part-time now, would that count toward the WTW hours?
Yes, your part-time work would typically count toward WTW hours! The number of hours depends on your specific situation and family size. With 2 kids, you might need 30 hours per week total, and your job hours usually count first. Any remaining hours could be fulfilled through other activities like education, training, or additional job search. But definitely confirm this with your worker since everyone's situation is different and there might be exemptions you qualify for.
Jacob Lee
I'm new to this community and to CalWORKs, but this entire discussion has been incredibly helpful and honestly quite alarming. I had no idea that missing a SAR7 form could happen so easily or that the system had so many communication gaps. @Marcus Patterson, I'm so relieved you were able to get everything resolved! Your situation really highlights how stressful this process can be when you're depending on these benefits for your family. What strikes me most is how everyone here jumped in to help with practical solutions - from explaining the 90-day restoration period to sharing specific services like Claimyr. This is exactly the kind of community support that makes such a difference when dealing with complicated bureaucracy. I'm definitely taking notes on all the tips shared here: setting up calendar reminders regardless of notices, checking spam folders, knowing about the cdss.ca.gov form downloads, and having backup plans for when phone lines are impossible. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences and knowledge - it's going to help so many families avoid this same panic!
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Saanvi Krishnaswami
•@Jacob Lee Welcome to the community! You re'absolutely right about how eye-opening this whole thread has been. As another newcomer, I m'both grateful for all the shared knowledge and honestly pretty shocked at how easy it seems to be to accidentally lose benefits due to communication breakdowns. The fact that @Marcus Patterson never received his paper form and then couldn t find'the online option really shows how many ways this system can fail families who are just trying to stay compliant. What really impressed me is how quickly everyone rallied with specific, actionable advice - not just sympathy, but actual solutions like the Claimyr service, the calendar reminder strategy, and even the tip about checking spam folders. It s clear'this community has learned these workarounds the hard way through their own experiences. I m definitely'bookmarking this entire thread as a reference guide for navigating CalWORKs paperwork issues. Thanks to everyone who shared their knowledge and especially to Marcus for keeping us updated on what actually worked!
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Miguel Ortiz
As a new community member, I'm honestly shocked reading through this entire thread about how complicated and stressful the SAR7 process can be! @Marcus Patterson, I'm so glad you were able to get your benefits sorted out before they were cut off - what a relief that must have been! This discussion has been incredibly educational for someone like me who's just starting to navigate the CalWORKs system. I had no idea about all these potential pitfalls: mail not being delivered, BenefitsCal not always working properly, county offices being nearly impossible to reach by phone, and notifications ending up in spam folders. The amount of practical advice shared here is amazing - from Alice's professional insights about the 90-day restoration period to Owen's suggestion about Claimyr, and Lydia's detailed steps for finding forms online. It really shows how this community looks out for each other when dealing with these bureaucratic challenges. I'm definitely taking all these tips to heart: setting calendar reminders regardless of official notices, checking spam folders regularly, knowing backup options like downloading forms from cdss.ca.gov, and having services like Claimyr as a last resort. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences - this thread is going to be a lifesaver for families facing similar situations!
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