Wait why r u even telling them??? just keep getting the benefits till they catch on. My cousin moved to Oregon and kept using her Cali benefits for like 4 months before anyone noticed. Free money!!

Good luck with your move and helping your sister! Just want to add that when you apply for Arizona's Cash Assistance program, you'll need to do it through their Department of Economic Security (DES). They have online applications, but you might want to call ahead to see what documents you'll need to bring since requirements can be different from California. Also, ask your CA worker if they can provide you with a letter showing when your benefits ended - this might help speed up your Arizona application since it shows you're not getting duplicate benefits. The whole process is stressful but you're doing the right thing by reporting everything properly!

Just wanted to follow up - were you able to get through to anyone at the office? If you're still having trouble, remember you can also try contacting your county's general CalWORKs customer service line rather than just your specific worker. Sometimes the main line can help expedite urgent cases or at least put notes in the system about your submission.

I'm sorry you're going through this stress! I've been on CalWORKs for about 2 years now and had a similar scare once. Since you got your SAR 7 in before the end of the month, you should be okay - the system is designed to handle this exact situation. One thing that really helped me was going to the office in person with a copy of my lease showing my rent due date. I explained my situation to the front desk and they were able to get me an emergency appointment same day. The worker told me that having a child's illness is definitely considered "good cause" for late submission. Also, if you do end up with a delay in benefits, talk to your landlord ASAP. Many landlords are understanding if you can show them documentation that benefits are just delayed, not cancelled. Sometimes they'll accept partial payment or give you a few extra days if you're upfront about it. Keep us posted on how it goes! Sending you good vibes that everything works out.

UPDATE: I took everyone's advice and went to the office this morning. You were all right - there was a problem with how they entered my address (they put "avenue" instead of "street"). They issued me a temporary card on the spot with all my benefits loaded! I was able to withdraw cash for my rent right after. Thank you all SO MUCH for your help!!

So glad you got it sorted out! This is exactly why going in person is usually the best option when there are issues like this. The address mix-up is super common - I've seen it happen with "Street" vs "St.", apartment numbers being wrong, or zip codes getting transposed. The county workers can fix these issues immediately when you're there in person, but it's nearly impossible to resolve over the phone. Your experience will definitely help other people who run into the same problem!

When I was trying to explain my 1099 situation to CalWORKs, I spent 3 days trying to reach someone by phone. Kept getting disconnected after waiting for hours. Finally used Claimyr to get through to a real person at the county (seriously, check out their demo: https://youtu.be/jzISHxCPLwE). The worker I spoke with actually helped me fill out the self-employment form over the phone. Turns out I was eligible for more benefits after properly accounting for my business expenses!

I'm new to this whole CalWORKs thing and just started doing DoorDash a few weeks ago. Reading through all these comments is honestly overwhelming but also really helpful! I had no idea about the mileage tracking or that I could deduct expenses. I've just been reporting my gross earnings like an idiot. Should I be worried that I'm going to get in trouble for reporting wrong on my first SAR7? I literally just submitted it last week with my total DoorDash earnings and didn't mention any expenses because I didn't know I was supposed to. Now I'm freaking out that they're going to think I was trying to hide something or get more benefits than I deserve. Do I need to call them and tell them I made a mistake?

Update: I got through to my worker finally! They said it's fine to travel for the court date and my benefits won't be affected as long as I'm not gone more than 30 days. I just need to turn in my court documents when I get back. Thanks everyone for the advice! Really helped calm my anxiety about this whole situation.

Great to hear you got it sorted out! Just a heads up - make sure to keep copies of all your court documents and maybe take a photo of your plane tickets/hotel receipts too. Some workers are more thorough than others when you get back, so having everything documented makes the whole process smoother. Hope your court case goes well!