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I'm new to CalWORKs and this thread is SO helpful! I had no idea about the 10-day reporting rule or how they calculate income. Can someone clarify - when they say "within 10 days," does that mean 10 calendar days or 10 business days? And if I can't get through to my worker by phone, can I report changes by email or do I need to go to the office in person? I'm trying to understand all my options in case I ever need to report a change quickly. Thanks everyone for being so informative!
Hey Fatima! Welcome to the CalWORKs world - it's definitely confusing at first but you'll get the hang of it. The 10 days is calendar days, not business days, so weekends count. As for reporting methods, you can usually report changes multiple ways: phone (though good luck getting through!), in person at the office, through your county's online portal if they have one, or sometimes by fax. Email policies vary by county - some accept it, others don't. I'd recommend asking your worker what methods they accept when you first meet them, and get it in writing if possible. That way you'll know your options ahead of time. Also keep records of when and how you reported - take screenshots, keep fax confirmations, etc. in case there's ever a question about timing!
I'm going through a similar situation right now and wanted to share what I learned from my county worker. When you report the change, ask specifically about the "good cause" provision - sometimes they can waive overpayment collections if you can show the delay in reporting was due to circumstances beyond your control (like reconciling with your spouse and needing time to figure things out). It's not guaranteed, but worth asking about. Also, one thing I didn't see mentioned - make sure to ask about any work-related deductions your husband might qualify for. Things like transportation costs to/from work, work clothes, union dues, etc. can sometimes be deducted from his countable income, which could help reduce the impact on your benefits a little bit. Definitely don't wait any longer though - the overpayment amount just gets bigger each month you don't report. Good luck with everything!
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Update: I went back to the office today with ALL the documents for my kids. Turns out there was a mix-up with my case - they had me confused with someone else who has a similar name!!! The supervisor apologized and they're processing my application now. They also said I can get benefits backdated to when I first tried to apply. Thank you everyone for your help and advice!! I was so stressed about this but now it's getting fixed! For anyone else having similar issues - definitely ask for a supervisor and bring ALL your documentation!!
So glad to hear you got it resolved! This is a perfect example of why it's so important to persist and ask for a supervisor when something doesn't seem right. Mix-ups with similar names happen more often than you'd think in the system. For anyone else reading this thread who might face similar issues - Dmitry's experience shows that sometimes the problem isn't with your eligibility at all, but with administrative errors. Always trust your instincts if something seems off, especially when you know you should qualify based on income and family size. And great job getting the retroactive benefits too! That can make a huge difference financially. Thanks for coming back to update us on the outcome - it really helps other community members who might be going through the same thing.
This is such great news! I'm really happy you got it sorted out. It's so frustrating when administrative errors like this happen, especially when you're already dealing with the stress of caring for four kids and trying to make ends meet. Your story will definitely help other parents who might be facing similar roadblocks - sometimes persistence really does pay off. And getting those retroactive benefits is huge! That should help catch up on some of the expenses you've had while waiting. Thanks for sharing the update with everyone here.
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I went through this exact same situation with my twins last year! What ended up working for me was connecting with my local community resource center - they had partnerships with several organizations that provide diapers regardless of your CalWORKs status. Also, don't give up on the CalWORKs route yet. Like others mentioned, make sure they're calculating ALL your deductions correctly. I was initially told I didn't qualify, but when I brought documentation of my childcare costs and transportation expenses, it changed everything. In the meantime, check out these resources: - Local food banks often have diaper programs - Churches sometimes run diaper pantries (even if you're not a member) - Facebook mom groups in your area - they often share info about diaper drives and giveaways - Some pediatrician offices keep sample diapers they'll give to families in need Hang in there mama, there are people and programs out there to help bridge this gap!
Thank you so much for all these suggestions! I never thought to check with food banks or churches for diapers. And hearing that you were initially told you didn't qualify but then did qualify after bringing documentation gives me hope. I'm going to gather all my childcare receipts and transportation costs and go back to my worker. In the meantime, I'll definitely look into those local Facebook groups too - that's such a great idea!
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i added my gf and her kid last year and they wanted everyting for both!!! so bring EVERYTHING you can think of - lease, birth certificates, id's, ssn cards, bills, paystubs, marriage license, bank statements, everything!!!! the welfare office in our county kept asking for more and more stuff and it took like 3 months to finally get them added and get the right benefits. so frustrating!!!
Oh no, 3 months is such a long time! I hope it doesn't take that long for us. Did they give you retroactive benefits for that whole time period once everything was approved? I'm getting worried now about how complicated this might be.
Hey Jade! Congratulations on your new baby and marriage! 🎉 I just went through this exact process 6 months ago when I added my partner and our baby to my case. Here's my advice based on what worked for me: **Bring copies of everything, not just originals!** They kept some of my documents and I'm so glad I had copies. **For timing on reporting changes:** Don't wait for your SAR7 - report household changes within 10 days. I know it seems scary but it's actually better to report right away. They'll do the income calculation and you might be pleasantly surprised - with the baby added, your family size increases which means higher income limits. **Important tip nobody mentioned:** Ask specifically about transitional childcare benefits when you're there. Even though your baby is young now, getting on the waitlist early is smart because there's often a waiting period. Also, bring a snack and water bottle - these appointments can take HOURS! Good luck mama, you've got this! 💪
Natalie Khan
Just wanted to share my recent experience since I'm also a family of 5 who just went through this process. We got approved last month and are receiving $1,268 for CalWORKs cash aid and $1,159 for CalFresh with zero income. The amounts everyone mentioned are pretty spot on! A few things that helped speed up our process: 1) Apply online first at GetCalFresh.org or YourBenefitsNow.org to get in the system faster, 2) Gather ALL your documents before your interview (birth certificates, Social Security cards, proof of address, etc.), and 3) If you have kids under 5, mention it during your interview as it can help with work requirements. Also, don't forget about WIC if your kids are under 5 - that's additional food assistance specifically for young children that stacks with CalFresh. My 2-year-old gets formula, milk, eggs, and other basics through WIC which really helps stretch our food budget. The whole process took about 6 weeks from application to getting our first benefits, but we got emergency CalFresh within 3 days since we had literally $0 income. Hang in there - it's stressful but the assistance really does help while you get back on your feet!
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Freya Andersen
•This is super helpful @Natalie Khan! Quick question - when you applied online at GetCalFresh.org, did you still have to do a phone interview or did they waive that? I'm trying to figure out if applying online actually saves time or if you still have to go through all the same steps anyway. Also, how long after your interview did you actually receive the physical EBT cards in the mail?
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Connor Rupert
I just wanted to add something about the application timeline that might help - when you do finally get through to someone at the county office, ask specifically about expedited processing if you're facing immediate homelessness. They can sometimes process emergency CalWORKs payments within 5-7 days if you meet certain crisis criteria. Also, since your rent is $2,300 for a 2-bedroom with 5 people, you might want to look into the CalWORKs Housing Support Program in your county. Some counties have additional rental assistance programs specifically for CalWORKs recipients that can help bridge the gap between your benefits and actual housing costs. One more tip - when you go to your interview, bring a utility shutoff notice or eviction notice if you have one. This can help establish the urgency of your situation and potentially qualify you for additional emergency assistance beyond the regular monthly amounts.
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Natasha Orlova
•This is really good advice about the expedited processing! I didn't know they could do emergency CalWORKs payments that fast. We actually just got an eviction notice yesterday (30 days) so I'll definitely bring that to the interview. Do you know if the Housing Support Program is available in all counties or just certain ones? I'm in Riverside County and our rent situation is getting desperate. Thanks for mentioning the utility shutoff notices too - our power company has been sending warnings but we haven't gotten an actual shutoff notice yet.
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