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.

I went through a PFI about 3 months ago and wanted to share what helped me the most. Besides bringing all the documents everyone mentioned, I also printed out copies of all my SAR7 forms and any change reports I had submitted. The worker appreciated having everything organized in a folder. One thing that caught me off guard was they asked about any cash gifts I might have received - like if family helped with groceries or gave me money for birthdays. I hadn't thought to mention the $100 my aunt gave me for my daughter's birthday, but I was honest about it and they said that was fine since it was under the reporting threshold. They also asked about any babysitting or odd jobs I might do for neighbors, even if it's just a few dollars here and there. The key is really just being completely transparent. Good luck with your interview!

I just wanted to add something that might help ease your mind - I had my PFI about 4 months ago and was absolutely terrified beforehand. I'd been receiving CalWORKs for about a year and like you, I'd been really careful about reporting everything on time. The thing that helped me most was calling ahead and asking what specific documents to bring. My worker told me to bring proof of rent, utility bills, any income documentation, and ID for everyone in my household. The actual interview was much more conversational than I expected - they asked about my living situation, how I budget my money, and verified some basic information. What really surprised me was that the worker actually gave me some helpful resources I didn't know about, like information about childcare assistance programs. The whole thing took about 40 minutes and my benefits continued without any issues. I know it's scary getting that letter, but try to think of it as just another step in maintaining your case rather than an accusation. You're clearly being responsible by staying on top of your reporting requirements, so you should be just fine!

Hey Cass! I went through a PFI about 8 months ago and totally understand your anxiety - that letter is scary! But honestly, it ended up being much less intimidating than I expected. My worker explained that they randomly select cases for these interviews as part of their fraud prevention program, and it's not because they suspect anything specific about your case. A few tips that helped me: arrive a few minutes early, dress neatly (not fancy, just presentable), and speak clearly and confidently. They asked about my household size, living arrangements, income sources, and monthly expenses. The worker also asked if anyone helps me financially and about any vehicles I own or have access to. One thing that really helped was that I had organized all my documents in chronological order - they seemed impressed by that! The whole interview took about 35 minutes and my benefits stayed exactly the same afterward. You've been diligent about your reporting, so you're going to do great. Just remember - they want to help families who qualify, not kick people off who are following the rules. You've got this!

I had my PFI about 2 months ago and wanted to share something that really helped me - I brought a simple one-page summary that I typed up beforehand with basic info like my household members, monthly income, rent amount, and major expenses. The worker really appreciated having it to reference during our conversation and it helped me stay organized with my answers. Also, don't be surprised if they ask about your grocery budget or how you typically spend your CalWORKs cash aid - they're just trying to understand if your expenses align with your reported situation. One last thing - if you realize you forgot to mention something during the interview, it's totally okay to call them afterward to add that information. I forgot to mention a small medical bill payment plan and called the next day, and they just added a note to my file. The fact that you're being proactive about preparing shows you're doing everything right. You'll do great!

I had my PFI last year and want to echo what everyone else is saying - it really is routine! One thing that helped me was bringing a small notebook to jot down any important information they shared during the interview. My worker mentioned some deadlines and resources that I wanted to remember later. Also, if you're nervous about answering questions, it's perfectly fine to ask for clarification if something isn't clear. They'd rather you understand the question and give an accurate answer than guess. I was worried they'd think I was being difficult, but my worker actually appreciated that I wanted to make sure I was giving complete information. The whole experience was much more professional and straightforward than I expected. My benefits continued normally and I even learned about a few programs I didn't know existed. You're clearly being responsible by preparing ahead of time, so I'm confident you'll do just fine!

I went through a PFI about 5 months ago and completely understand your anxiety - that letter made my heart drop too! But I want to reassure you that it really was routine like everyone is saying. What helped me most was treating it like any other appointment where I needed to provide documentation. I brought everything in a manila folder: my ID, kids' birth certificates, lease agreement, recent utility bills, bank statements from the past 2 months, and my last few paystubs. The worker asked pretty standard questions about who lives in my home, my monthly expenses, and if anyone helps me out financially. She was actually quite professional and even complimented me on being so organized. The whole thing took about 40 minutes and my benefits stayed exactly the same. One tip - if you have any questions during the interview, don't hesitate to ask! I asked her to clarify what she meant by "household composition" and she was happy to explain. You're clearly responsible since you've been staying on top of your reporting, so you have nothing to worry about. Just be honest and thorough, and you'll be fine!

I had my PFI about 7 months ago and was absolutely terrified when I got that letter! Like you, I'd been really careful about reporting everything and couldn't understand why I was being called in. But honestly, it ended up being one of the most reassuring experiences I've had with CalWORKs. My worker was really kind and explained that they're required by the state to conduct these interviews on a certain percentage of cases each quarter - it's literally just a numbers game, not because they suspect anything. She told me that in her experience, over 95% of these interviews result in no changes to benefits. What really helped me was making a simple timeline of any changes in my situation over the past year, even small ones like when my daughter started preschool or when I moved apartments. The worker appreciated having that reference and it helped me feel more organized. The questions were pretty straightforward - living situation, income, expenses, and household members. She also asked if I understood all the CalWORKs rules, which I thought was nice because it gave me a chance to ask about things I wasn't sure about. The whole thing took about 45 minutes and my benefits continued without any issues. You're clearly being responsible by preparing ahead of time, so I'm sure you'll do great!

I just wanted to add my experience since I had a PFI about 3 months ago and was in your exact same situation - single mom, been on CalWORKs for about the same amount of time, and completely panicked when I got that letter! What really helped me was calling the office beforehand to confirm the appointment time and asking what specific documents they needed. The worker I spoke with was actually really nice and reassured me that it was standard procedure. During the interview, they asked about my living situation, monthly budget, and if anyone helps me with expenses or childcare. One thing I wish someone had told me - they might ask about any informal work you do, like selling things online or doing hair for friends. I mentioned that I occasionally sell clothes on Facebook Marketplace and they said that was fine as long as I report it if it becomes regular income. The worker was professional and the whole thing felt more like a conversation than an interrogation. My benefits stayed the same and she even gave me information about some utility assistance programs I didn't know about. You're going to do great - just be honest and bring all your paperwork organized!

I had my PFI about 6 weeks ago and wanted to share something that really helped calm my nerves - I brought my mom with me for support! Like others mentioned, you have the right to bring someone, and having her there made me feel so much more confident. The worker was totally fine with it and even included my mom when explaining some of the programs available. One thing I'd add to all the great advice here - if you get emotional or overwhelmed during the interview (I teared up a bit from stress), that's completely normal and the workers understand. My worker actually paused and got me some tissues and reassured me that everything looked fine with my case. Also, after reading through all these responses, I'm struck by how many people had positive experiences! It really shows that these interviews aren't the scary interrogations we imagine them to be. You're clearly a responsible recipient who's been doing everything right, so try to go in with confidence. The fact that you're preparing so thoroughly shows you're exactly the kind of person these programs are designed to help - a caring parent working hard to take care of your kids. You've got this, Cass!