CalWORKs sent me a Preventative Fraud Interview notice - do I need to worry?

I had one of those last year! Try not to worry - they really are mostly routine. The county does random checks on a certain percentage of cases. They'll ask about your living situation, who lives with you, your income, and expenses. Just bring your ID, rent/mortgage info, paystubs (if you work), and any childcare receipts. Be honest and you'll be fine!

Thank you! That makes me feel a little better. Did they ask you a lot of personal questions? I'm worried they'll ask about my ex (kids' dad) who sometimes takes the kids on weekends but doesn't live with us. Should I mention that?

omg they did this to me too!! so annoying, i think they just try to scare people into admitting stuff. my worker was super rude and kept asking the same questions over and over like she was trying to catch me in a lie. bring ALL ur paperwork!!

Oh no! That's exactly what I'm afraid of! Did they end up cutting your benefits or were you able to keep them after the interview?

These Preventative Fraud Interviews (PFIs) are standard procedure and not necessarily an indication that you're suspected of fraud. California DSS conducts these regularly as part of their program integrity measures. To prepare:1. Bring all verification documents (ID, rent agreement, utility bills, income documentation)2. Be prepared to explain your household composition in detail3. Have documentation of any changes you've reported4. Bring copies of your SAR7 forms if you have themYes, attendance is mandatory. Missing the interview without rescheduling could potentially lead to benefits being discontinued. If you can't make the scheduled time, call immediately to reschedule.

Thank you for this detailed information! I'll gather all my documents. Do you know how long these interviews typically last? I need to arrange childcare.

I went through this in January. It lasted about 45 minutes. The worker asked about my living situation, who stays in my home, my income sources, and how I pay bills. Be completely honest about your children's father's visitation - they consider that normal co-parenting, not him

That's really helpful, thank you! My ex doesn't pay child support (he's supposed to but doesn't), and he's not on my case. He just sees the kids sometimes on weekends. I'll make sure to explain that clearly.

This is just another way for them to try to kick people off benefits!!! They did the same to my cousin and asked all kinds of invasive questions about who comes to her house and checked her Facebook to see if she was posting pictures with a boyfriend. They don't care about helping families AT ALL.

While I understand your frustration, this isn't entirely accurate. Preventative Fraud Interviews are standard procedure to maintain program integrity. They're not designed to kick people off benefits but to ensure resources go to eligible families. Being prepared and honest is the best approach. Social media checks aren't standard protocol, though in some fraud investigations they may review publicly available information.

I just had mine last month. It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. But one thing - they ask about any cars registered in your name. I forgot to mention my old car that doesn't even run anymore and they found it in the DMV system. Caused a whole extra investigation. So make sure you disclose EVERY vehicle even if you don't use it!

Oh wow, I wouldn't have thought about that! I do have an old car that's registered to me but my brother uses it. I'll definitely mention that. Did the extra investigation cause your benefits to get delayed?

If you're having trouble reaching someone at the county office to ask questions before your interview, try using Claimyr (claimyr.com). It helped me get through to a CalWORKs worker when I had a similar situation with a PFI notice. They connected me directly to a worker without the usual wait times. There's a video that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/jzISHxCPLwE I was able to get clarification on what documents to bring and even reschedule to a more convenient time. Made the whole process less stressful.

Thanks for the tip! I've been trying to call for two days and keep getting disconnected. I'll check this out. Did you get to speak with your specific worker or just anyone in the department?

make sure u tell them if u have a new job!!! i got a part time job at walmart and forgot to mention it and they found out anyway and said i was trying to commit fraud even tho i just forgot!!

This is an important point. The county has access to income verification databases that show employment information. Even if you haven't received your first paycheck yet, you should mention any new employment. They'll check this information regardless of what you report, so it's always better to be forthcoming.

After your interview, request a written summary of what was discussed and agreed upon. I didn't do this after my PFI and later had issues because the worker claimed I said something I didn't. Having documentation helps protect you. Also, if you're nervous, it's okay to bring someone with you for support - a friend, relative, or even a community advocate. You have that right.

That's really good advice - I wouldn't have thought to ask for a summary. Is that something they normally provide or will I need to specifically request it? And I didn't know I could bring someone with me - that would definitely help with my anxiety about this.

One more thing - after my interview, my benefits continued without any problems. I was super worried like you, but a month later everything was exactly the same. My worker even told me that the vast majority of these interviews don't find any problems. So try not to stress too much!

Thank you for sharing that! It's reassuring to hear positive experiences. I'll update here after my interview to let everyone know how it went.

Hey Cass! I just wanted to add my experience since I went through a PFI about 6 months ago. I was terrified too, but it really was routine like others have said. A few things that helped me prepare: I made a list beforehand of everyone who has keys to my apartment (just my mom for emergencies), wrote down my monthly expenses with approximate amounts, and brought bank statements for the past 3 months even though they didn't ask for them. The worker was actually pretty nice and explained that they're required to do these interviews on a certain percentage of cases each year. The whole thing took about 30 minutes and my benefits stayed the same. You've got this! Just be honest and thorough with your answers.