You're doing great by being proactive about this! One thing I'd add - when you call your worker tomorrow, ask them to note in your case file that you reported the job and uploaded the paystub. Sometimes different workers see your case and having notes helps avoid confusion later. Also, since you mentioned you have a 2-year-old, definitely ask about the childcare right away. The approval process can take a few weeks, so the sooner you apply the better. And don't forget about transportation assistance if you need help getting to work - that's another supportive service that can really help during the transition period. You're asking all the right questions and being responsible about reporting. That's exactly what you need to do to stay in compliance!

Hey Hannah! First off, congrats on the new job - that's awesome! 🎉 And don't worry, your question isn't dumb at all. The CalWORKs system can be really confusing, especially when you're new to it. Everyone here has given you great advice. Definitely upload those check stubs ASAP to BenefitsCal - verbal reporting alone isn't enough. They need the actual documentation to verify your income and adjust your benefits accordingly. Since you're in WTW, here's what I'd recommend doing right now: 1. Upload your paystub immediately (sounds like you already did this - great!) 2. Call your worker and confirm they received it 3. Ask about how your work hours will affect your WTW participation requirements 4. Request childcare assistance for your 2-year-old (this can take time to process, so start now) 5. Ask about transportation assistance if you need help getting to work Keep uploading every single paystub you get going forward, and always take screenshots like others mentioned. Better to over-document than under-document with CalWORKs! You're being super responsible by asking these questions and reporting everything properly. That's exactly the right approach to avoid any issues down the road. Keep it up!

OMG I LOVE when people find out they're actually eligible for MORE benefits than they thought! Fill out that SAR7 TODAY and get it submitted. Don't wait until the deadline because processing can take a few days. And once your cash aid is back, make sure to ask about the diaper benefit and childcare assistance - those are HUGE helps when you have a toddler. The CalWORKs childcare benefit alone can save you hundreds or thousands of dollars if you're working or in school!

Great job figuring this out! Just wanted to add that when you do start looking for work, make sure to let your CalWORKs worker know - they have programs that can help with job search, training, and even transportation assistance. And the childcare benefit through CalWORKs can cover daycare costs while you're working OR looking for work, which is amazing. Also, with a child under 2, you're in the "young child exemption" category, so you won't have strict work requirements right away. Take advantage of this time to get stable housing, finish any education/training you want to do, and plan for when those requirements kick in after your daughter turns 2. You're doing great advocating for yourself and your little one!

Make sure when you call that you specifically mention you need to know why your CalFresh dropped from $850 to $397 even after your sanction was removed. Sometimes the workers don't volunteer information unless you ask very specific questions. Also, it's possible that the $850 might have included some retroactive benefits that made it temporarily higher. Did you receive any lump-sum payments or back benefits around the time you were getting $850?

I'm really sorry you're going through this stress with your benefits. From what I'm reading in the other comments, it sounds like there might be several factors at play here. The reduction from $850 to $397 does seem steep for just removing one household member, but if that $850 included back pay or retroactive benefits, then your regular monthly amount was probably never actually that high to begin with. Here's what I'd suggest: definitely use that Claimyr service someone mentioned to get through to your worker faster. When you do connect, ask for three specific things: 1) A CalFresh Budget Worksheet showing exactly how they calculated your current $397, 2) Clarification on whether the original $850 included any back pay or lump sum, and 3) Verification that they have your correct household size, income, and expenses (especially rent since you mentioned it went up). Also double-check that they're not counting child support you're not actually receiving consistently. That's a common issue that can really mess up the calculations. Hang in there - once you get the actual breakdown, you'll at least know if the amount is correct or if there's an error to fix.

I had my phone recertification about 3 weeks ago and it took roughly 45 minutes. A few things that really helped me prepare: 1. I called right at 8 AM when they opened - only waited about 15 minutes to get through 2. Had all my documents spread out on my kitchen table so I could grab anything quickly 3. Made sure my phone was fully charged and used a landline as backup 4. Kept a pen and paper handy to write down any important info or reference numbers They asked me pretty much everything that was on the SAWS 2, but also some additional questions about my living situation and whether anyone else contributes to household expenses. One thing that caught me off guard was they wanted to know about any cash I had on hand that day - apparently that counts toward your asset limit. My case was approved the same day and my EBT card was loaded within 3 business days. The worker was actually really nice and explained everything clearly. Just make sure you speak up if you can't hear them well - the phone quality isn't always great. You got this!

I just went through my phone recertification in February and wanted to share a few things that really helped me be prepared. The whole process took about 50 minutes, but that included some time where my worker had to look up something in my file. Here's what I'd recommend having ready: - Last 30 days of pay stubs (they asked for specific dates and amounts) - Current rent receipt or lease agreement - Utility bills from the last month - Childcare provider information and receipts if applicable - Any medical insurance cards or documentation - Your Social Security cards for you and your kids - School enrollment verification for your children One thing that really surprised me was they asked detailed questions about my transportation to work - like how I get there, how much I spend on gas or bus fare, etc. They also wanted to know if I had any savings goals or plans to change jobs in the next 6 months. The worker told me that since my case was straightforward like yours (same job, same housing, same family size), the interview would likely be on the shorter side. She also mentioned that they're required to go through every section of the SAWS 2 even if nothing changed, but it goes much faster when people have their documents organized. My advice is to treat it like you're gathering documents for taxes - be thorough and have everything in one place. Good luck!

Just want to add something important that I learned the hard way - if you're approved for CalWORKs, make sure you understand the difference between your "cash aid" and your "food stamps" on the same EBT card. I accidentally used my food stamp balance thinking it was cash and got so confused when I couldn't withdraw money at the ATM! The food portion (CalFresh) can ONLY be used for eligible food items, while the cash portion (CalWORKs) works like a debit card for anything. It shows as two separate balances when you check your card. Also, some stores will ask if you want to use "EBT Cash" or "EBT Food" when you swipe - now I know what that means! Sounds obvious but it wasn't to me at first.

As someone who just went through this process a few months ago, I want to emphasize something really important that hasn't been mentioned yet - when you get approved for CalWORKs, they'll assign you to something called a "Welfare-to-Work" (WTW) program. Since you're a student, your school attendance can usually count toward your WTW hours, BUT you need to make sure your eligibility worker understands this from the beginning. I made the mistake of not clarifying this upfront and almost got sanctioned because my worker didn't realize my college classes counted as my work activity. Also, keep detailed records of everything - every form you submit, every conversation you have with your worker, and especially your school attendance. The system can be really unforgiving if there are any gaps in documentation. One more tip: if you ever have issues with your case, don't hesitate to ask to speak with a supervisor. Sometimes the frontline workers aren't fully familiar with student cases, but supervisors usually have more experience with these situations. You've got this!