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?

I work at a legal aid clinic and see this issue constantly. What everyone is telling you is 100% correct - this is one of the fastest ways to trigger a fraud investigation and lose your benefits. The county uses automated data matching systems that compare tax filings with benefit records. When they find discrepancies (someone else claiming your kids while you receive aid for them), they assume YOU are committing fraud, not that it's a family arrangement. Even if you eventually prove the kids live with you, you'll likely face months of reduced or suspended benefits while they investigate, which could leave you unable to pay rent or buy food. I've helped families who lost their housing because of this exact situation. The "extra money" your ex is offering isn't worth potentially losing thousands in benefits or facing fraud charges. Claim your own children - you have every legal right to do so if they live with you more than half the year.

This is such an important thread - I wish I had found this information sooner! I made a similar mistake two years ago and it took me over a year to get everything straightened out. The county not only demanded repayment but also put me on "enhanced monitoring" which meant I had to report every single change in my situation within 10 days instead of the usual monthly reports. They also required additional documentation for everything - proof of where I shop for groceries, school attendance records, even receipts for children's clothing purchases. It was incredibly stressful and humiliating. The worst part is that even after proving my kids lived with me the entire time, it's still noted in my file and they scrutinize everything more closely now. Don't let anyone convince you this is "just a technicality" - the consequences are very real and long-lasting.

Just wanted to add another perspective as someone who's been through the CalWORKs system for 4 years - the county workers are trained to look for red flags, and tax discrepancies are one of the biggest ones. When I had my last redetermination appointment, the worker specifically asked me if anyone else had claimed my son as a dependent and warned me that they cross-reference this information. She said it's become such a common issue that they now ask about it directly during interviews. What really stuck with me was when she said "we understand families have complicated situations, but the law is the law - if your child lives with you, YOU should be claiming them on taxes, not making deals with other people." She also mentioned that even if you think you're being smart by splitting the refund, you're actually giving up money you're entitled to through credits like the Child Tax Credit and EITC that could be worth way more than whatever someone else is offering you. Save yourself the headache and potential fraud investigation - claim your own kids if they live with you. The system is designed to catch these things and it's just not worth the risk to your family's stability.

I'm new to this community but not new to CalWORKs unfortunately. Reading through all these responses really hits home - I went through something similar about 18 months ago. My sister convinced me to let her claim my daughter for "just one year" because she was getting a bigger refund and promised to split it with me. Biggest mistake I ever made. The county didn't just investigate - they suspended my benefits completely while they "reviewed my case." For three months I had no cash aid, no CalFresh, nothing. I had to borrow money from family just to keep the lights on and feed my kid. Even after I proved my daughter lived with me the whole time (school records, pediatrician letters, neighbor statements), they made me jump through hoops for months. What really got me was the attitude - like I was some kind of criminal trying to scam the system when really I was just a single mom trying to make ends meet. They treated every interaction like I was lying, even when I had mountains of proof. The worst part? My sister only ended up giving me $300 of what she promised, and I lost out on over $2,000 in benefits during the suspension period. Do the math - it cost me way more than I ever could have gained. Please don't make the same mistake I did. Your kids live with YOU, so YOU claim them. Period. The temporary money your ex is offering isn't worth the permanent stress and scrutiny you'll face if the county flags your case. Trust me, I'm still dealing with the aftermath and probably will be for years.

As someone who's been on CalWORKs for almost 2 years, I can't stress enough how right everyone here is. The county has gotten really aggressive about catching these tax discrepancies - they have automated systems that flag cases immediately when someone else claims your kids but you're getting benefits for them. What people don't realize is that when you sign your CalWORKs application, you're swearing under penalty of perjury that the information is true. So when you say your kids live with you but then let someone else claim them on taxes (which legally means they lived with that person more than half the year), you've technically committed perjury. The county can and will pursue fraud charges if they want to make an example. I've seen this happen to three different people in my neighborhood. One lost benefits for 6 months, another had to do community service, and the third is still paying back over $8,000 in "overpayments" - money the county says she wasn't entitled to because her kids supposedly didn't live with her. The thing is, your ex probably doesn't understand the legal implications of what he's asking you to do. When he claims them, he's legally stating they lived with him for over 6 months of the year. That directly contradicts your CalWORKs case. Even if you both know it's just a "paper arrangement," the government systems don't care about your personal agreements. My advice? Tell your ex that letting him claim the kids would jeopardize your family's basic needs like food and shelter. Any reasonable person should understand that your benefits are more important than his tax refund. If he really wants to help financially, he can pay child support instead of asking you to risk everything.

Reading through all these responses has been eye-opening - I had no idea this was such a widespread problem or that the consequences could be so severe. I'm a single mom who's been on CalWORKs for about 8 months now, and my ex has made similar offers in the past that I've always turned down, mostly just out of instinct that it didn't feel right. What really stands out to me from everyone's stories is how the county assumes YOU are the one committing fraud, not that it's just a family arrangement. That seems so backwards - like they're guilty until proven innocent. And the fact that even after you prove your kids live with you, you still get put on enhanced monitoring or have it noted in your file permanently? That's terrifying. The part about automated systems flagging these discrepancies immediately really caught my attention too. It sounds like there's no flying under the radar anymore - they WILL catch it, it's just a matter of when. And then you're stuck trying to prove something that should be obvious while your benefits get suspended. For anyone else reading this who might be tempted by similar offers from exes or family members - don't do it. The temporary money is never worth the permanent headaches and scrutiny. These stories have convinced me to stick with my gut instinct and always claim my own kids. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences, especially the really difficult ones. It takes courage to admit these mistakes, but it's helping other families avoid the same traps.

I'm so glad you posted this question because I almost made the same mistake last year! My ex was pressuring me to let him claim our 4-year-old daughter, offering me $800 from his refund. I was really tempted because money was tight, but something felt off about it. After reading all these responses, I'm horrified at what could have happened. The stories about benefit suspensions, fraud investigations, and people owing back thousands of dollars are absolutely terrifying. It never occurred to me that letting someone else claim my child could make the county think she doesn't live with me anymore. What really hit me was when someone mentioned the Semi-Annual Report question about whether anyone else claimed your child as a dependent. I fill out that SAR7 every six months and never thought about how answering that question wrong could be considered fraud. To the original poster - please don't do it. The stress, investigations, and potential loss of benefits that everyone has described here sound like absolute nightmares. Your kids live with YOU, so you should be the one claiming them and getting those tax credits. The money your ex is offering might seem helpful now, but it could end up costing your family so much more in lost benefits and legal troubles. Thank you to everyone who shared their difficult experiences. It's clear this community really looks out for each other, and these warnings could save families from making devastating mistakes.

As a newcomer to this community, I just want to say thank you to everyone who shared their experiences here. Reading through these stories has been both heartbreaking and incredibly educational. The level of detail and real-world consequences you've all described - from benefit suspensions to fraud investigations to owing thousands in repayments - really shows how serious this issue is. What strikes me most is how the system seems designed to assume the worst about families who are already struggling. The fact that automated matching systems can flag cases immediately, but then it takes months or years to prove your innocence while your benefits are suspended, seems so unfair to families who depend on those benefits for basic needs like food and housing. I'm grateful for communities like this where people are willing to share difficult experiences to help others avoid the same mistakes. The warnings about enhanced monitoring, permanent file notes, and ongoing scrutiny really drive home that this isn't just about temporary money - it's about how you'll be treated by the system going forward. For anyone facing similar pressure from exes or family members, these stories make it clear: your children's stability and your family's access to benefits is worth more than any temporary financial arrangement. Thank you all for looking out for each other and providing such valuable real-world guidance.

I'm new to this community and to CalWORKs, but reading through all these responses has been incredibly eye-opening and honestly pretty scary. I had no idea that letting someone else claim your kids on taxes could trigger such serious consequences with benefits. The stories about fraud investigations, benefit suspensions, and people owing back thousands of dollars are absolutely terrifying. What really stands out to me is how many people mentioned that the county assumes YOU'RE committing fraud rather than understanding it might just be a family arrangement. The fact that automated systems flag these discrepancies immediately but then families have to fight for months to prove their kids actually live with them while benefits are suspended seems so backwards and unfair. The detail about the SAR7 form asking specifically if anyone else claimed your child as a dependent really hit home too - I never realized that answering that question incorrectly could be considered fraud. And hearing about enhanced monitoring and permanent file notes even AFTER people prove their case shows this isn't something that just goes away. To the original poster - please don't risk it. Your kids live with you, so you should claim them and get those tax credits yourself. The Child Tax Credit and EITC that others mentioned could be worth way more than what your ex is offering anyway. These stories make it clear the temporary money isn't worth potentially losing your family's stability and benefits. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences - you're helping so many families avoid these devastating mistakes.