Will letting someone else claim my kids on taxes affect my CalWORKs Cash Aid eligibility?

This is a really important question because it ABSOLUTELY affects your benefits. When you apply for CalWORKs, you declare that your children live with you and you're claiming them as dependents. If someone else claims them on taxes, it creates a contradiction that can trigger a fraud investigation. The tax system and benefit system do communicate with each other. I've seen cases where people lost benefits entirely and had to repay thousands in overpayments because of this exact situation.

my cousin got into big truble for this last yr. her ex claimed the kids and she got a notice 4 months later saying she had an overpayment of like $4500 cuz she wasnt sposed to be getting benefits for kids that "dont live with her" according to taxes. she had to fight it for like 5 months to prove the kids actually lived with her even tho she let him claim them

i let my kids dad claim them last year and nothing happened with my calfresh but now im worried reading these comments lol

The problem is that when someone claims a child as a dependent on their taxes, they're declaring that the child lives with them for more than half the year. If you receive CalWORKs for those same children, you're declaring they live with you. These contradictory statements can trigger what's called an "IEVS match" (Income and Eligibility Verification System) where tax data is compared to benefit data. You have a few options: 1. Only allow him to claim the children if you have court documentation showing a legal right to do so despite the children living with you (some custody agreements specify this) 2. Report to your eligibility worker if you do let him claim them (but this could reduce your benefits) 3. Decline his offer and claim the children yourself as you're legally entitled to do if they live with you The monetary offer he's making isn't worth the risk of benefit termination and potential overpayment recovery.

Has anyone tried calling the county to ask about this without giving their name? I'm curious if they have a clear policy. Sometimes I feel like different workers tell you different things.

OMG THE COUNTY WILL ABSOLUTELY FIND OUT!! I made this mistake in 2024 and I'm STILL dealing with the fallout! My ex claimed our daughter on his taxes even though she lives with me 100% of the time and I get CalWORKs. Six months later I got a Notice of Action saying I was overpaid almost $6,000 because my daughter "wasn't in the home" according to tax records!!!! I had to get proof from her school, doctor, and even neighbors writing statements that she lives with me. It was a NIGHTMARE and I'm still fighting it. DON'T DO IT!!!

There's another important aspect to consider: the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). If you qualify for CalWORKs, you likely qualify for EITC when filing taxes, which could be worth more than what your ex is offering to give you. By letting him claim the children, you're potentially losing out on tax credits that would benefit you more than his offer. Additionally, there's a specific question on the Semi-Annual Report (SAR7) about whether anyone else has claimed your child as a dependent. If you answer no but someone else has, that's considered misrepresentation.

wat if ur not on the lease where u live? can they still check if kids live with u?