CalWORKs investigating my case for having newborn out-of-state - will they discontinue my benefits?

omg they did the same thing to me last yr!!! i had to go to texas for my aunts funeral and stayed for like 3 weeks cuz i was helping my cousins with stuff after and when i got back they saw my ebt purchases and said i moved!! so stupid they dont understand sometimes u have to go places but still live here.

This is an unfortunate but common issue with CalWORKs. They take residency requirements very seriously, but they also have policies for temporary absences. You need to gather evidence to prove your California residency: 1. Your apartment lease/rental receipts from Long Beach 2. Utility bills in your name 3. California ID/driver's license 4. Any mail you received at your California address during that time 5. Medical records showing your pregnancy complications that necessitated help Request a hearing IMMEDIATELY if they send a Notice of Action to discontinue your benefits. You have 90 days to appeal, but requesting within 10 days will keep your benefits active during the appeal process. You have legitimate reasons for temporary absence - medical necessity is a valid reason under CalWORKs rules. Make sure to emphasize that your absence was temporary and due to medical need.

Hi there - I work for a legal aid organization that helps with these exact issues. This sounds like a misunderstanding about the temporary absence policy. Under CalWORKs regulations, you are allowed to be temporarily absent from California for certain reasons, and medical necessity is absolutely one of them. Bring all documentation to your worker showing: 1. Your continued maintenance of your CA residence 2. Medical necessity for the temporary absence 3. Your intention to return to CA (which you clearly did) If you get a Notice of Action to discontinue, you have 90 days to appeal BUT only 10 days to request "aid paid pending" which means benefits continue during appeal. Some CalWORKs workers aren't fully informed about the temporary absence exceptions. The key is documenting that your absence was both temporary and necessary.

The birth certificate from Arizona is actually important evidence. It proves WHEN your baby was born, which helps establish the timeline of your temporary absence. It doesn't hurt your case - it's part of documenting your situation accurately. Remember to focus on these key points with your worker: 1. You maintained your California home (paid rent, kept utilities on) 2. You had a medical reason for staying with family temporarily 3. You returned to California as soon as you were able 4. Your intention was always to return to California If your worker isn't understanding, ask to speak with a supervisor. Sometimes escalating the issue helps get someone who better understands the regulations about temporary absences.

they ALWAYS think ppl r lying!! my sister went thru this when she had her gallbladder removed in nevada (her in-laws live there) and calworks thought she moved away too. its like we cant even leave the state for ANYTHING without them assuming we moved!!! make sure u bring a bunch of mail with ur cali address from that time period, that helped my sis.

I had this exact same problem last year! I went to visit my sister in Oregon for 6 weeks when she had surgery and needed help with her kids. CalWORKs saw my out-of-state EBT usage and opened an investigation saying I had moved. Trying to get through to anyone at the county office was IMPOSSIBLE. I called for days and kept getting disconnected or waiting on hold for hours. I finally used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to a real person - they have this service that calls for you and connects you when a real human answers. Saved me so much time and frustration! They have a video demo here: https://youtu.be/jzISHxCPLwE Once I actually got to TALK to someone, I was able to explain my situation and provide my documentation. The investigation was closed and my benefits continued. Don't give up - but also don't waste days trying to get through on those impossible phone lines.

Yes, I had to bring my lease, utility bills, and a letter from my sister explaining why I was staying with her (her medical situation). Also brought my mail that was forwarded to me while I was there. Once I got through to someone who actually understood the rules, they told me I should have notified them BEFORE leaving the state, but since I had all the documentation proving it was temporary, they closed the investigation. Definitely use that call service - saved me so much stress!

u HAVE to tell them beforehand if ur going to be out of state more than 30 days!!!! thats probly why they flagged u. but they cant just cut u off without giving u a chance to explain. u have rights!!! my friend works for DPSS and she says they have special rules for medical stuff and family emergencies but u gotta prove it.

To address your follow-up questions: 1. Yes, take all your documentation to the DPSS office right away. Don't wait for a hearing if you can resolve it directly with evidence. 2. The official rule is that absences over 30 days must be reported, but there are exceptions for medical necessity. Your pregnancy complications qualify. 3. The birth certificate from Arizona is IMPORTANT evidence - bring it! It doesn't hurt your case, it helps document the timeline and reason for your absence. 4. If they do issue a discontinuance notice, file your appeal IMMEDIATELY and specifically request "aid paid pending" to keep benefits during the appeal process. 5. Make sure to emphasize that this was a TEMPORARY absence for MEDICAL NECESSITY, and that you maintained your California residence the entire time (paid rent, kept utilities on, etc.). Keep copies of EVERYTHING you submit. If your worker is being difficult, formally request to speak with a supervisor.

This story makes me SO MAD. The system acts like we're criminals for having family in other states or needing to travel! I had a similar investigation when my car broke down in Nevada and I was stuck there for 3 weeks. The worker accused me of "abandoning California residency" even though I had an apartment and job here! The whole thing is ridiculous - we're allowed to TRAVEL. Having a baby is a legit medical reason to get help from family. The system is broken when they treat normal life situations like fraud. Good luck with your case - stand your ground and don't let them intimidate you!

I'm so sorry you're going through this stress, especially with a newborn and toddler! This is actually more common than you think. I went through something similar when I had to stay with my sister in Oregon for 2 months after my c-section because I had complications and needed help. Here's what worked for me: I gathered EVERYTHING that showed I never stopped being a California resident - my lease agreement, utility bills that stayed in my name, bank statements showing I was still paying my CA rent, even receipts from stores near my apartment before I left and after I got back. The key thing is to show this was TEMPORARY and MEDICAL. Your pregnancy complications are a legitimate reason under CalWORKs rules. Don't let them make you feel like you did something wrong - you were taking care of your health and your children! If they won't listen, definitely ask for a supervisor or file an appeal. And document everything - write down the date/time of every conversation and what was said. You've got this mama! 💪