Moving out-of-state with CalWORKs - cancel here or transfer my case?

You can't actually transfer CalWORKs from California to another state because each state has its own version of cash assistance with different names, rules, and benefit amounts. You'll need to do two things: 1. Report to your county office that you're moving out of state and request to close your California case (you can do this through BenefitsCal online) 2. Apply for TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) in your new state as soon as you get there Make sure you don't just stop reporting or disappear without officially closing your case, as this could potentially lead to an overpayment that you'd have to pay back if you continued receiving benefits after moving.

exactly what the other person said! I moved from CA to Arizona last year and had to close my CalWORKs and then apply for their version (called TCEA in Arizona). each state has different benefit amounts too. mine went down almost $200/month in Arizona just fyi 😡 make sure u report ur move ASAP so u dont get overpayment. u can do it on benefitscal or call. i reported online and then couldnt get anyone to confirm they got it for 2 weeks and almost had problems

the 48 month time limit is different for each state so you'll have to check. some states have shorter limits like 24 months. but your CA months probably won't count in the new state since they all track separately. what state r u moving to?

If you're having trouble getting through to your caseworker about closing your case, try using Claimyr. I was in a similar situation last year and couldn't get through for days. Claimyr helped me reach a live person at the CalWORKs office in less than 30 minutes. You can see how it works at https://youtu.be/jzISHxCPLwE - saved me so much stress when I needed to close my case before moving. The website is claimyr.com if you want to check it out.

MAKE SURE YOU GET PROOF that your CalWORKs case was closed!!! My sister moved to Nevada and thought her case was closed but they kept sending benefits for 2 months and then hit her with a $1400 overpayment notice at her forwarded address. The county said she was responsible because she didn't "properly" notify them even though she did!!! Always get everything in writing and screenshot any confirmation pages when you submit the move notice online.

On the bright side Colorado's TANF program sometimes has better benefits than California depending on your county! My cousin moved there and said the application process was actually faster. They have different names for everything though so it can be confusing. Their version of Welfare to Work is called Colorado Works and I think their monthly reporting is different too. Also don't forget about transferring your other benefits like CalFresh (SNAP in other states) and Medi-Cal (Medicaid). Those all have to be done separately!

To answer your earlier question - most states don't count time from other states toward their time limits. Colorado has a 60-month lifetime limit for their TANF program, and they won't count your CalWORKs months against that limit. For closing your California case properly: 1. Report your change of address and out-of-state move on BenefitsCal.com 2. Call your county office and specifically request case closure due to moving out of state 3. Ask for written verification that they've initiated the case closure 4. Keep checking your BenefitsCal account to confirm the case status changes to closed For Colorado, you can actually start the TANF application process online before you move through their PEAK system (Colorado's version of BenefitsCal). This might help reduce delays in getting benefits after you arrive.

Just adding that when I moved from California to Texas, I had to provide proof of my move to close my CalWORKs case properly. They accepted my new lease agreement and a statement explaining my reason for moving. I also printed a confirmation page from my BenefitsCal account showing I reported the move, and thankfully I did because they later claimed they never received notification! Always keep documentation of EVERYTHING you submit to them.

Regarding your question about when to close the case - ideally you should report your move as soon as possible, but request that they close the case effective on your actual move date. This way you'll receive benefits up until you leave California, but not after. Be very clear about your move date when you talk to them. Also, in Colorado you can apply for multiple benefits through their PEAK system with one application - it covers their TANF program, SNAP (food assistance), Medicaid, and more. Definitely easier than California's system in my opinion.

I just went through this same situation moving from California to Washington state last year! One thing I wish someone had told me - make sure to ask about your current month's benefits when you report the move. In my case, I moved mid-month and California still owed me a partial payment for the days I was still living there, but they initially said the case was "closed" so no more payments. I had to fight for 6 weeks to get that partial payment! Also, start gathering all your documents NOW (birth certificates, social security cards, proof of income, etc.) because you'll need them all again for the new state application. Colorado's system might be faster than California's but you still want to have everything ready to go. The transition period between states can be really tight financially so the more prepared you are, the better! Good luck with your move and taking care of your mom! 💙

Hey Victoria! I'm so sorry to hear about your mom - that's such a stressful situation to deal with on top of moving! 💕 I went through something similar when I had to move to Oregon for a family situation. One thing that really helped me was calling my county office early in the morning (like right when they open at 8am) - I had way better luck getting through than calling later in the day. Also, Colorado actually has a pretty good reputation for processing TANF applications faster than a lot of states. When you apply there, mention that you're coming from another state's program - sometimes they can expedite the process for people transitioning between states. Make sure you keep any confirmation emails or screenshots when you report your move online through BenefitsCal. I also took photos of any paperwork I submitted just in case. The documentation everyone mentioned is SO important - I learned that the hard way! You've got this! Moving states while on assistance is tough but totally doable with the right preparation. Keep us posted on how it goes! 🙏

I'm so sorry about your mom's situation - that must be incredibly stressful! 💙 I haven't gone through this exact situation myself, but I wanted to add something I learned from a friend who moved from California to Colorado last year. She said Colorado's county offices vary a lot in how quickly they process applications, so if possible, try to find out which county you'll be living in and maybe call them before you move to ask about their typical processing times. Some counties there can get you approved in 2-3 weeks while others take longer. Also, I know everyone's mentioned documenting everything with California, but don't forget to keep copies of your CalWORKs approval letters and payment history - Colorado might ask for proof of your previous assistance when you apply, and having that documentation ready could speed up your application. Wishing you and your family all the best during this difficult time. You're doing the right thing by taking care of your mom! 🙏

I'm really sorry to hear about your mom's health situation - that's such a difficult thing to deal with while also worrying about benefits! 💙 Just wanted to add one more thing that might help - when you're ready to apply in Colorado, consider visiting the local Department of Human Services office in person for your initial application if possible. While you can start online through PEAK, sometimes going in person can help speed things up, especially if you explain that you're transitioning from another state's program due to a family emergency. Also, Colorado has something called "emergency assistance" that might bridge the gap if there's a delay between when your California benefits end and Colorado benefits begin. It's worth asking about when you apply! Make sure to ask California specifically about your final payment timing too - some people get their last payment deposited even after they've moved, while others get it cut off immediately. Getting clarity on this upfront can help you budget for the transition period. You're handling such a tough situation with a lot of grace - your mom is lucky to have you! Keep us updated on how everything goes with closing your case and the move. We're all rooting for you! 🙏✨

Victoria, I'm so sorry about your mom's health situation - that must be incredibly stressful on top of everything else! 💙 I wanted to add one more important thing that hasn't been mentioned yet - make sure you ask California about what happens to any pending WTW (Welfare to Work) requirements when you close your case. If you're in the middle of completing work activities or have upcoming appointments, you'll want to get written confirmation that your case closure due to out-of-state move won't count against you as "non-compliance." Also, since you mentioned your caseworker doesn't respond, try contacting your county's CalWORKs supervisor directly. Every county office has a supervisor who handles escalated issues, and they're usually more responsive than individual caseworkers. You can ask the main number to transfer you to a supervisor to discuss your urgent move situation. One last tip - Colorado requires proof of residency to apply for benefits, but they usually accept things like a hotel receipt or temporary housing agreement if you don't have a permanent address right away. Don't let that delay your application if you're still figuring out housing when you first arrive! Wishing you and your mom all the best during this difficult time. You're doing such a loving thing by moving to care for her! 🙏

Hey Victoria! 💙 I'm so sorry to hear about your mom - sending you strength during this incredibly difficult time. I haven't personally gone through an out-of-state move with CalWORKs, but I wanted to share something that might help with getting through to someone at your county office. I've had success using the "technical issues" option when calling - sometimes those lines are less busy than the general inquiry lines. You could say you're having trouble accessing your online account to report your move (which might be true anyway with all the stress you're dealing with!). Also, if you have any local CalWORKs advocacy organizations in your area, they sometimes have direct numbers to county supervisors that aren't published publicly. It might be worth doing a quick Google search for "[your county] CalWORKs advocacy" or "welfare rights organization" - they often help people navigate exactly these kinds of urgent situations. Everyone's advice here has been spot-on about documenting everything. I'd also suggest taking photos of your current EBT card and any other CalWORKs documents before you pack them away, just as backup in case anything gets lost during the move. Your mom is so lucky to have someone who cares enough to uproot their life to help her. Take care of yourself too during this transition! 🙏

Victoria, I'm so sorry to hear about your mom's health situation - what a difficult and stressful time for you and your family! 💙 I wanted to add something that might help with your transition that I don't think anyone else has mentioned yet. When you close your California case, make sure to ask them for a "case closure letter" or "benefit termination notice" that specifically states your case was closed due to moving out of state (not for any other reason like non-compliance or income changes). This letter can be really helpful when you apply in Colorado because it shows you were in good standing when your benefits ended, and some states use this information to expedite applications for people transitioning between programs. Also, Colorado has a really helpful customer service line for their PEAK system where you can actually talk to someone about application questions before you submit. The number is on their website and I found them much easier to reach than California's system! One last thing - if you're having trouble with your current caseworker, you can also try going to your county office in person and asking to speak with the "eligibility supervisor" or "duty worker" about your urgent move situation. Sometimes face-to-face gets better results than phone calls. You're doing such a loving thing by moving to care for your mom. Wishing you both all the best during this transition! 🙏✨