That's amazing news! I'm still trying to get through. Did they just fix it while you were on the phone? How long did it take for your account to update after they fixed it?

My worker did it while I was on the phone! She had me wait about 5 mins while she processed it. She said the system updates overnight so I'll see the change tomorrow. The key was calling right when they opened at 8am!

I think what happened is that it was probably an overpayment they're trying to recoup and not actually taking back your reimbursement? My cousin had this happen where they gave her back stolen benefits but then took some for an overpayment from 2 months before that she didn't know about. Check if you got any notices about overpayments recently.

Just an update for anyone following this thread - I wanted to clarify that when benefit theft reimbursements are processed incorrectly and then automatically recouped, the county office MUST follow the emergency issuance timeframes. This means: 1. They have 3 business days to verify the error 2. They have to reissue the funds within 1 business day after verification So total maximum time should be 4 business days, not weeks. If they tell you otherwise, ask to speak with a program specialist who handles benefit theft cases specifically. This is covered under ACL 22-84 which updated the benefit theft replacement policies in 2022.

Congrats! But be careful cuz they might come back asking for more proof later. happened to my sister. She did the self declaration thing for her babysitting money and they approved it but then 3 months later they said she needed to provide statements from the parents she babysat for. Just saying keep any documentation you can just in case.

I'm glad this worked out for your in-laws! Just wanted to add one important tip: make sure they report any significant changes in your father-in-law's income if it goes above the Income Reporting Threshold (IRT). Your approval notice should list what their specific IRT amount is. If his cash income ever exceeds that amount in any month, they need to report it within 10 days - even outside the regular SAR7 reporting period. Failing to report income over the IRT can result in an overpayment that they'd have to pay back.

Yes, definitely bring the court order for child support. They'll want to see it, and they'll ask if you're cooperating with child support enforcement. CalWORKs requires you to work with the child support agency unless you have good cause not to (like domestic violence concerns). Also, don't forget to ask about the diaper benefit if your children are under 3 years old - it's an extra $30 per month per eligible child on CalWORKs.

Good luck tomorrow! Remember to ask about childcare assistance if you need it for work or school. And get the name and direct phone number of your worker before you leave - will save you tons of headaches later!

Just to add some clarification on the reporting rules: 1. You must report new employment within 10 days of getting your first paycheck. 2. If your income exceeds your IRT (Income Reporting Threshold), you must report within 10 days. 3. Otherwise, you must report all income on your Semi-Annual Report (SAR 7). And about paybacks - yes, if you delay reporting and receive benefits you weren't eligible for, you'll have to repay the overpayment. However, as someone mentioned, CalWORKs has an earned income disregard, so you might still be eligible for partial benefits even with your new job.

Thanks everyone for the advice! I'm definitely going to report within 10 days of getting my first paycheck. I found my IRT letter and it says $1,790 for my household, which is more than I'll make at this part-time job. I'll make copies of my paystubs and upload them to BenefitsCal right away. Really appreciate all the help - definitely don't want to deal with overpayments or fraud accusations!