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I went through this exact same situation about 6 months ago - lost my job and needed help with my two kids. Here's what I learned: definitely apply online at BenefitsCal.com, but also call the county office the same day you submit to let them know you applied and ask about expedited processing since you're facing eviction. They have something called "Immediate Need" that can get you emergency cash within 3 days if you qualify. One thing that really helped me was having all my documents ready BEFORE starting the application - it took me about 45 minutes to complete once I had everything organized. The system does save your progress if you need to take breaks. Also, don't just wait for them to call you for the interview. After 3-4 days, start calling them daily to check on your application status. Be persistent but polite - the squeaky wheel gets the grease with these offices. Keep calling until you get that interview scheduled. Good luck! I know how stressful this is but hang in there - the help is available, you just have to push through the bureaucracy to get it.
Thank you so much for sharing your experience! This gives me a lot of hope. I'm definitely going to follow your advice about calling the same day I submit the application. Can I ask - when you called about the Immediate Need, did you have to explain your whole situation again or did they already have your application details? I'm trying to figure out if I should mention the potential eviction in the online application itself or if it's better to explain it over the phone when I call.
I'm so grateful for all this detailed advice everyone! I'm feeling much more confident about starting the application process now. Just to make sure I understand correctly - after I submit on BenefitsCal, I should call the county office that same day to mention I applied AND specifically ask about Immediate Need processing due to my rent situation, right? And I should mention the potential eviction both in the online application AND when I call? Also, for those of you who went through this recently - about how long did your interview take? I'm trying to plan around my kids' schedules since childcare has been tight since losing my job. Really appreciate this community - you all are lifesavers!
Yes, exactly! Call the same day you submit and mention both your application AND the immediate need due to rent/eviction risk. Definitely mention it in both places - the online app and phone call. For interviews, mine was about 30-45 minutes over the phone. They'll ask about your household, income, expenses, and go over the documents you uploaded. If you have young kids during the call, the workers are usually understanding if there are interruptions. You can also request the interview be scheduled during school hours if that works better. The phone interviews are actually easier with kids than in-person visits! Hang in there - you're taking the right steps to get the help you need.
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I'm so glad you got this sorted out! Your experience really highlights how important it is to get the right information directly from your worker. For anyone else reading this thread who might be in a similar situation, here are the key takeaways: 1. Tax refunds (including EIC) are NOT counted as income for CalWORKs or CalFresh 2. EIC specifically doesn't count as a resource for 12 months after receiving it 3. Always report tax refunds on your SAR7 for transparency, but label them clearly as "TAX REFUND" 4. Keep documentation (bank statements + actual tax return) in case of future questions 5. The resource limit for a family of 3 is $10,211 It's frustrating how confusing the system can be, but threads like this really help other families navigate these situations. Thanks for sharing your resolution - it'll definitely help someone else who's panicking about the same thing!
This is exactly the kind of helpful breakdown I wish I had when I first started receiving benefits! I'm new to CalWORKs and the whole system feels overwhelming with all the different rules and reporting requirements. Seeing real examples like Yara's situation and how she resolved it makes me feel less anxious about making mistakes on my own paperwork. I'm bookmarking this thread for future reference - thank you everyone for taking the time to explain things so clearly!
As someone who just went through my first SAR7 process last month, I can totally relate to the panic about reporting things correctly! The advice here is spot-on - I also had a tax refund (smaller than yours, but still nerve-wracking) and my worker told me the same thing about labeling it clearly. One thing that helped me was calling the day before my SAR7 was due to double-check I filled it out right. Even though it took forever to get through, having that confirmation gave me so much peace of mind. The system is really confusing for newcomers, but this community has been a lifesaver for understanding the rules. Glad you got it sorted out!
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Just wanted to add something that might help - if you're having trouble keeping track of your income month to month, I've found it helpful to keep a simple spreadsheet or even just a notebook where I write down my hours and pay each week. Since you're at $2,000 now and the IRT is $2,635, you have about $635 of wiggle room, but it can creep up faster than you think with overtime or extra shifts. Also, don't forget that the IRT calculation includes ALL income sources - not just your main job but any side gigs, unemployment, disability payments, etc. I made that mistake once and got confused about why my numbers didn't match what the county had on file. Stay organized and you'll be fine!
That's really smart advice about tracking everything! I've been pretty disorganized since the move, but you're right that $635 wiggle room can disappear quickly if I'm not careful. I like the spreadsheet idea - I could set it up to automatically calculate my monthly total so I know exactly where I stand. Good point about ALL income sources too. Right now it's just my part-time job, but I was thinking about maybe doing some gig work on weekends to help with moving expenses. I'll make sure to factor that into my tracking if I do. Thanks for the practical tips!
Just joining this community and this thread was super helpful! I'm in a similar situation - single mom with one kid, working part-time. Reading everyone's experiences here has been eye-opening, especially about the benefits cliff and the importance of tracking income carefully. I had no idea about services like Claimyr to help get through to caseworkers faster - that's going to be a game changer for me since I've been playing phone tag with mine for weeks. Also really appreciate the tip about CalWORKs childcare benefits through the CCP 7 form. I've been struggling with childcare costs eating up most of my paycheck, so I'm definitely going to look into that. Thanks to everyone who shared their knowledge and experiences - this community seems like such a valuable resource for navigating the system!
Welcome to the community! I'm also pretty new here but this thread has been incredibly helpful. I was in the exact same boat - single mom, part-time work, and totally overwhelmed trying to navigate all the CalWORKs rules after moving. Everyone here has been so generous with sharing their knowledge and real experiences. The Claimyr tip alone is worth its weight in gold - I was spending hours on hold just to get disconnected! And definitely look into that childcare benefit - I had no idea it existed until someone mentioned it here. This community really does make the whole system feel less intimidating when you have people who've been through it willing to share what they've learned. Good luck with everything!
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I just went through this exact situation last month! My SAR7 was 5 days late and I was missing my rent verification. The 3-day review timeline they gave you is pretty standard - they can't just process it over the phone when it's both late AND incomplete because it requires supervisor approval. What really helped me was following up on day 3 if I hadn't heard anything yet. In my case, they ended up approving it and my benefits continued without any gap. The key is that you got those missing documents in quickly after they told you what was needed. Try to stay positive - from what I've seen, most people who get their paperwork in within a day or two like you did end up being fine. The waiting is definitely the hardest part though!
Thank you for sharing your experience! It's so reassuring to hear from someone who just went through this exact same situation and had it work out. The part about needing supervisor approval when it's both late AND incomplete really makes sense - that explains why they can't just handle it over the phone like normal SAR7 issues. I'm definitely going to follow your advice about following up on day 3 if I don't hear anything. The waiting really is the hardest part, especially when you're worried about your family's benefits getting cut off. But hearing all these success stories from everyone here has really helped ease my anxiety. I'll make sure to update the community once I hear back from my worker!
I'm also dealing with CalWORKs right now and this thread has been so helpful! I had a question about the BenefitsCal portal - when your case is under review like this, does it usually show any kind of status update or does it just stay as "active" until they make their decision? I've been checking mine obsessively every day but it never seems to change, even when I know they're processing something. Also, has anyone had luck with emailing their worker instead of calling? Mine has an email listed but I wasn't sure if that's actually a good way to follow up or if phone calls are better. Thanks for sharing all your experiences - it really helps those of us who are new to navigating this system!
Oliver Alexander
Just to follow up on this thread - address changes must be reported within 10 days, but they are not tied to your Semi-Annual Report (SAR7) timeline. The SAR7 is primarily for reporting income changes and household composition. For county transfers with CalWORKs: 1. Report your move to both counties (old and new) 2. Your case will be transferred to the new county 3. Benefits should continue uninterrupted if done correctly 4. The new county becomes responsible for your case management The BenefitsCal portal sometimes takes time to fully update after a county transfer, which is likely why you're seeing your regular benefit amount still displayed. This doesn't mean you'll receive duplicate benefits.
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Eleanor Foster
•Update: I finally got through to Sacramento County yesterday. The worker confirmed what most of you said - the website is showing June's normal payment, and my May payment was processed correctly. She also verified my case transfer is in progress and I shouldn't have any gaps in benefits. Thanks everyone for your help!
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Emma Davis
That's great news that you got it sorted out! County transfers can be really stressful when you're not sure what's happening with your benefits. It's always better to call and confirm rather than worry about potential overpayments. Glad Sacramento County was able to clarify everything for you and that your case transfer is going smoothly. Moving is expensive enough without having to stress about benefit issues on top of it!
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DeShawn Washington
•So glad everything worked out! I went through something similar when I moved counties and the uncertainty is the worst part. It's really helpful that you updated us with the outcome - I'm sure other people in similar situations will find this thread useful. Moving is stressful enough without worrying about your benefits getting messed up!
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