Help! Do I need to reapply for CalWORKs when moving to a different county?

You don't need to reapply! What you need is an Inter-County Transfer (ICT). Call your current county and tell them you're moving and need to start an ICT. They should help you begin the process. The new county should contact you within 30 days of the transfer. Make sure you have your new address ready to provide them.

i moved from la to riverside last year and they didnt trasnfer right and i had to reapply anyway lol so just be prepared for that

There's a specific process called an Inter-County Transfer (ICT) that you need to request. Here's exactly what you should do: 1. Notify your current county worker IN WRITING that you're moving. Include your case number, new address, and moving date. 2. The current county has 7 calendar days to initiate the transfer after you notify them. 3. The new county should send you a welcome letter within 30 days. 4. You'll likely need to do an interview with the new county to confirm your eligibility hasn't changed. 5. Your reporting period and paperwork due dates may change, so pay close attention to any notices you receive. The most important thing is to report your move ASAP. Don't wait until after you've moved because that can cause delays. And keep documentation of EVERYTHING - when you reported, who you talked to, etc.

Email should be fine as long as you get confirmation they received it. But honestly, I'd do both email AND a letter if possible, just to be safe. Also remember to update your address on BenefitsCal.com after you move.

When I moved counties my worker said I needed to report it on a SAR7 form but I wasn't due to submit one for like 2 more months so I was confused???

I moved from Alameda to Contra Costa last year and the ICT process was HORRIBLE!!! My case got stuck in limbo for almost 2 months with NEITHER county taking responsibility. I kept calling Alameda and they said "we transferred it" then I'd call Contra Costa and they'd say "we don't have it yet." Meanwhile my benefits stopped completely!! I finally got through to a supervisor in Contra Costa after trying for WEEKS to get anyone on the phone. If you're having trouble reaching anyone, I used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me through to a real person instead of waiting on hold forever. They have a video that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/jzISHxCPLwE Seriously saved my sanity during that nightmare period. My advice is to start the transfer process AT LEAST a month before you move if possible!

Just wanted to add that when I did an ICT from Kern to Fresno, my Welfare to Work participation requirements changed a bit because each county has slightly different approved activities. So if you're in the WTW program, be prepared to possibly have changes to your plan when you get to the new county.

make sure u bring ALL ur documents when u move!! birth certificates, social security cards, ID, all that stuff. san diego is super strict about verification compared to some other counties

Thank you all SO MUCH for the advice! I'm going to call my worker's office tomorrow (even though she's on vacation someone else should be covering) and also send an email AND a letter with my case number, new address and moving date. I'm also going to start gathering all my documents now so I have everything ready. I'll report back how it goes!

I went through an ICT from Orange County to San Bernardino about 6 months ago and wanted to share what worked for me. The key thing that saved me was getting everything in writing and keeping a paper trail. I sent my notification letter via certified mail AND email, then followed up with phone calls. One thing I learned is that you should ask for the name and contact info of your new caseworker in San Diego as soon as possible. Sometimes the counties don't communicate well with each other, so having a direct contact in the receiving county can help if things get delayed. Also, don't be surprised if San Diego asks you to provide some documents again even though Sacramento should have transferred everything. I had to resubmit a few things but it wasn't a big deal since I had copies ready. The whole process took about 3 weeks for me, which was pretty smooth compared to some of the horror stories I'd heard. Good luck with your move! Moving is stressful enough without worrying about benefit interruptions.