CalWORKs investigator showed up at my door asking about my ex - what happens next?

omg this happened to my cousin last year! they think your lying about your household situation. you need to show proof he moved, like lease agreement or something with his new address

This is actually quite common with CalWORKs when they suspect unreported income or household composition changes. Since your benefits are calculated based on who lives in your home, they need to verify your ex actually moved out. The investigator is part of their Income and Eligibility Verification System (IEVS). Here's what you should prepare: 1. Any legal separation paperwork you've started filing 2. A written statement from your ex confirming he no longer lives there (notarized if possible) 3. Any evidence of his new address (mail, utility bills, etc.) 4. Statements from neighbors or your landlord who can confirm he moved out If the investigator schedules a home visit, don't panic - just make sure they can see your ex's belongings are gone (empty closet space, etc.). Be polite but direct with the investigator.

the county always does this!! they are trying to catch u in a lie. they prob got a tip from someone or saw something on social media. be careful what u post online cuz they check that stuff too. my benefits got cut for 6 months when my kids dad was staying w me for just 2 weeks and someone reported it. had to appeal and everything

If you don't provide enough evidence, they could potentially issue an Intentional Program Violation (IPV) which would affect your benefits. They're investigating because something triggered their system - perhaps an address match in another database, reported income from the same household, or even someone reporting you. You need to be completely truthful and cooperative with the investigator. They're more understanding when you work with them rather than against them. During this process, make sure you're still meeting all your Welfare to Work (WTW) requirements and submitting any requested verification on time. Document every conversation you have with the investigator and the county (dates, names, what was discussed). And most importantly - did the investigator give you a specific deadline to call back or provide documentation? Don't miss that deadline!

I had to deal with a fraud investigator last year and it was a nightmare trying to reach them. I kept calling and leaving messages but couldn't get through. When I finally got someone on the phone, they said my case was on hold until I completed the interview. Try using Claimyr (claimyr.com) - it's this service that gets you through to a real CalWORKs worker instead of waiting on hold forever. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/jzISHxCPLwE It basically helped me jump the phone queue and I got connected to my investigator in like 5 minutes. Definitely worth it when your benefits are on the line.

Be VERY careful!! These investigators are NOT your friends! They're looking for ANY reason to say you committed fraud. Even if it was an honest mistake or misunderstanding, they can still hit you with an overpayment and make you pay back THOUSANDS!!! They'll ask the same question different ways trying to catch you in a lie. RECORD EVERYTHING and don't sign ANYTHING without reading it carefully first!!! I had a friend who got accused of having her boyfriend living with her when he was just visiting a lot. They ended up making her pay back 6 months of benefits! Almost $6,000!!!

Something people don't realize is that you need to report household composition changes within 10 days on CalWORKs, not just wait until your next SAR7 or recertification. If your ex moved out 6 weeks ago but you only reported it at recertification 2 weeks ago, that could be why they're investigating. For your next steps: 1. Call the investigator back if you haven't already 2. Ask specifically what documentation they need to verify your household change 3. Follow up in writing (email or letter) documenting your conversation 4. Submit whatever proof you can gather as soon as possible The good news is that with your ex gone, your benefit amount might actually increase since there's one less adult in the household (assuming he wasn't contributing income that was helping).

this is why i hate the system. they treat us like criminals!!! my neigbor got cash aid and she had her boyfrend staying with her all the time and they never got caught but then when someone is honest they get investigated!! makes no sense

A quick suggestion based on my experience as a benefits advocate: Gather statements from people who can confirm your situation. This could include: 1. A statement from your children's school showing you as the only parent at that address 2. A statement from your landlord confirming the change in occupancy 3. Utility bills showing decreased usage after he left 4. Any new mailing address you have for your ex Also, be prepared for a possible home visit where they may ask to look around. They typically check bedrooms, bathroom cabinets, and closets for signs of another adult living there. This feels invasive but is standard procedure in these investigations.

I went through something similar when my ex moved out and I didn't report it right away. The investigator was actually pretty reasonable once I provided the documentation they needed. Here's what helped me: 1. Get a notarized letter from your ex stating when he moved out and his current address 2. If he's getting mail somewhere else now, get copies of recent mail with his name and new address 3. Ask your landlord for a written statement about the household change 4. Take photos of his empty closet/dresser space if the investigator wants to do a home visit The whole process took about 3 weeks for me, and my benefits actually increased once they confirmed he wasn't part of my household anymore. Stay calm and just be completely honest with them. Document everything and keep copies of what you submit. You'll get through this!