As someone who's dealt with this exact situation multiple times, I can confirm everything others have shared here. The fraud protection system is actually pretty sensitive - I've had my card blocked just for using it at a different grocery store chain than usual, even within California! One thing I'd add is that when you call EBT customer service, be prepared with your full SSN, card number, and be able to verify some recent transactions. They ask a lot of security questions before they'll remove the block. Also, if you're planning to be out of state for more than a few days, ask them how long the "travel authorization" lasts - sometimes it's only good for 30 days and you might need to call again for longer trips. The whole system definitely needs better upfront communication, but at least the protection has gotten better since the skimming got so bad. I lost $400 in cash aid to skimmers at a gas station ATM last year and it took 3 weeks to get it replaced. So while the travel blocks are annoying, I'd rather deal with a phone call than lose all my benefits again.

I'm really glad this worked out for you! This whole thread has been incredibly educational - I had no idea about the travel notification requirements either. It's honestly shocking that this information isn't clearly communicated when you receive your EBT card. For anyone else reading this who might travel frequently, it sounds like calling ahead before your trip might be the smartest approach to avoid getting stuck without access to your benefits. The fraud protection makes total sense given all the skimming horror stories, but the lack of clear guidance from the state is really problematic. Also want to echo what others said about keeping that EBT customer service number (1-877-328-9677) saved in your phone and having all your card info ready when you call. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this is exactly the kind of practical knowledge that helps families navigate these systems successfully!

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?

I've been doing gig work for over a year and went through this exact same confusion! The self-employment designation for 1099 work is actually standard across most benefit programs, not just CalWORKs. When you get that form, make sure to include EVERYTHING - gas, car maintenance, oil changes, portion of your phone bill used for the apps, car washes, even parking fees when you're waiting for orders. I use an app called MileIQ to track my driving automatically. Also pro tip: if you use your car for both personal and work driving, you can only deduct the percentage used for work. Keep a simple log of your work hours vs total driving time. The paperwork is annoying but once you get it set up, it's actually much better for your benefits calculation. Don't let them intimidate you - you're entitled to these deductions!

Update: I tried that Claimyr service and IT WORKED!!! Got through to a person in 20 minutes after trying for a week on my own. Turns out they needed verification of my new job's pay stubs because the format looks different from my old ones. They're giving me 10 days to submit them and said my benefits won't stop if I get them in. Such a relief! Thanks everyone for the help!

I'm so glad you got through and figured it out! This whole thread is such a perfect example of how broken the communication system is. Like seriously, how hard would it be for them to just include a checklist in the notice that says "Missing: new paystub format verification" instead of just "incomplete"?? For anyone else reading this - definitely save Claimyr and that assembly member tip for future reference. And @Javier Torres thanks for explaining the 30-day restoration rule - I had no idea that existed and it could save people so much stress and reapplication hassle! It's crazy that we have to crowdsource this basic information because the actual system is so hard to navigate. But at least we're all helping each other out! 💪

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!

Just wanted to add - if you're using cash aid for hotel expenses, try to stay somewhere that accepts EBT for payment or has an ATM nearby. Some smaller hotels in rural areas might not have easy ATM access. Also, I'd recommend withdrawing some cash before you leave California just in case you run into any issues with your card while you're in Georgia. Better safe than sorry, especially when you're dealing with court stress on top of everything else.

I'm so sorry you went through all that stress and confusion! As someone who's been navigating CalWORKs for a while, I can tell you that your original worker was definitely giving you incorrect information. It's unfortunately pretty common for workers to misunderstand policies, especially around housing situations. Just wanted to add a couple things that might help others in similar situations: 1. If you're staying somewhere for free, the county might assess it as "in-kind income" but they have to use fair market value calculations - they can't just make you pick a random rent amount. And even if they do count some in-kind income, it usually only reduces your grant slightly, not eliminates it entirely. 2. For documentation, keep records of all your conversations with workers - dates, times, what was said. This really helps when you need to escalate or clarify conflicting information later. 3. The CalWORKs All County Letter (ACL) system has all the official policy guidance. You can actually look these up online if you want to verify what workers are telling you. It sounds like you did everything right by pushing back and asking for a supervisor. That takes courage, especially when you're dealing with pregnancy stress on top of everything else. Hope your case gets resolved smoothly from here!

I'm so glad you were able to get this resolved by speaking with a supervisor! Your story is a perfect example of why it's so important to question things when workers give you information that doesn't sound right. As someone who's helped family members navigate CalWORKs, I can confirm that your original worker was completely wrong on multiple points. You should never be told to make up a rent amount you're not actually paying - that's literally asking you to commit fraud! And the idea that free housing automatically disqualifies you from CalWORKs is just not true. For anyone else reading this who might face similar issues: document everything, don't be afraid to ask for supervisors, and remember that you have the right to understand exactly which policies apply to your situation. Workers sometimes get overwhelmed or confused about complex rules, but that doesn't mean you have to accept incorrect information that could harm your benefits. The address situation you mentioned is also really common - definitely get that other person to update their information ASAP to avoid fraud investigations for everyone involved. Thanks for sharing your experience and the resolution! Stories like this help other community members know what to expect and how to advocate for themselves.