Reading through everyone's experiences here has been both helpful and eye-opening! I'm relatively new to CalWORKs myself and honestly had no idea that missing notification letters were such a widespread problem. It's both reassuring and concerning to see so many people dealing with similar issues. @CosmicCommander I'm so glad you were able to get to the bottom of it and that it was just missing verification documents rather than something more complicated! The fact that you never received the letter requesting those documents but they still discontinued your benefits really shows how broken the communication system is. What's really striking to me is how much unnecessary stress and panic these notification failures cause for families who are already struggling. We shouldn't have to become detectives just to figure out why our benefits got cut off, especially when proper notice is supposed to be a legal requirement. I'm definitely taking notes from all the great advice shared here - keeping detailed records, taking screenshots of everything, setting up text alerts, and being persistent about getting answers. It's unfortunate that we have to be so vigilant just to maintain benefits we're entitled to, but at least this community helps us learn from each other's experiences and know we're not alone in dealing with these challenges. Thanks to everyone for being so open about sharing your stories - it really does make a difference for those of us navigating this system!

This whole situation really highlights how flawed the county notification system is! I'm new to CalWORKs and reading through everyone's experiences here has been both helpful and terrifying. It's crazy that so many families are dealing with benefits being discontinued without proper notice. @CosmicCommander I'm so relieved you got it sorted out! The fact that they sent a verification request letter that you never received but still discontinued your benefits shows how broken their communication system really is. It's especially frustrating when you're already stressed about finances and suddenly your lifeline disappears with no explanation. All the advice in this thread is gold - keeping detailed records, taking screenshots, setting up text alerts, and being persistent about getting real answers. It's unfortunate that we have to be so vigilant just to maintain benefits we're entitled to, but at least we have this community to learn from each other's experiences. I'm definitely going to be more proactive about checking my case status regularly and documenting everything. Thanks to everyone for sharing their stories - it really helps to know we're not dealing with this broken system alone!

This is such a wonderful success story! @CosmicCadet, congratulations on your new job and for successfully navigating the system! It's so encouraging to see how this community came together with practical advice - from the specific CW 89 form number to the Claimyr service suggestion to warnings about getting things in writing. Your experience really highlights how important it is to be proactive and call ahead when possible. For anyone else reading this who might face a similar situation, this thread is a goldmine of actionable advice. Thanks for taking the time to update us on how it worked out - these kinds of follow-ups are incredibly valuable for future community members who might be dealing with the same challenges! 🌟

What an incredible thread to read through! @CosmicCadet, huge congratulations on landing that new job - that's fantastic news! 🎉 As someone who's been helping folks navigate the benefits system for a while, I'm really impressed with how this community rallied around you with such practical, detailed advice. The CW 89 form recommendation from @NebulaKnight was spot-on, and @Fatima Al-Mazrouei's warning about getting documentation in writing is so important - I've seen too many cases where workers accidentally cancel the wrong benefits. Your proactive approach of calling ahead really paid off! For anyone else reading this later, this thread is a perfect example of why it's worth taking the time to understand the specific forms and procedures rather than just hoping things work out at the interview. The benefits system can definitely be confusing, but stories like this show that with the right information and a little persistence, you can successfully navigate it. Thanks for sharing your positive outcome - it's exactly these kinds of success stories that help build confidence in our community! 💪

This thread has been incredibly eye-opening! I'm also on SSI and have been struggling with a really low CalFresh amount ($38/month) that barely covers anything. Reading everyone's experiences about medical expense deductions has made me realize I've been missing out on reporting so many qualified expenses. I had no idea that things like over-the-counter medications, medical equipment, and even transportation to appointments could count toward increasing benefits. I spend probably $80+ per month on various medical costs that I never reported because nobody ever told me about this deduction when I applied. The part about Medicare Part B premiums really caught my attention too - I pay that monthly but never connected it to my CalFresh calculation. It's honestly frustrating that caseworkers don't automatically ask about or explain these deductions, especially for SSI recipients who could really benefit from knowing about them. I'm definitely going to gather all my medical receipts and call my county office to request a recalculation. Thank you to everyone who shared their knowledge and experiences - this community support is exactly what people need when navigating these complicated benefit systems!

This entire thread has been such a game-changer! I'm also on SSI and was only getting $29/month in CalFresh - I had completely given up on trying to figure out why it was so low. Reading everyone's experiences about medical expense deductions has opened my eyes to so many costs I never realized I could report. I spend about $60/month on prescription copays, plus I have to buy special diabetic supplies that aren't fully covered by insurance. I also pay for a monthly bus pass to get to my medical appointments, which based on what others have shared here, sounds like that would qualify too. What really frustrates me is that when I first applied, the caseworker asked if I had any medical expenses and I said yes, but she never explained what actually counted or gave me any forms to document them. I just assumed my insurance covered everything that mattered for CalFresh purposes. I'm definitely calling my county office tomorrow to ask about the SSI medical expense deduction form that someone mentioned. After reading all these success stories, I'm actually hopeful that my benefits might increase enough to make grocery shopping less stressful. Thank you to everyone who took the time to share their experiences and knowledge - this is exactly the kind of community support that makes such a difference when you're trying to navigate these systems alone!

Andre, that's such fantastic news about getting your approval text! I'm so excited for you - I know how nerve-wracking that waiting period can be, especially when rent is looming. It sounds like you got one of the good workers who actually follows through! Since you already have your CalFresh EBT card set up, you're definitely ahead of the game - they can just load the cash aid right onto that same card which should speed everything up. I'd start checking your balance Thursday evening just in case it processes early, and definitely Friday morning. The backdated payment from your application date 3 weeks ago is going to be such a lifesaver for catching up on bills! Make sure to screenshot that approval text for your records. Welcome to the CalWORKs family - this community is amazing and we're all here to support each other. Can't wait to hear when those funds finally hit your account! 🎉

Andre, this is absolutely amazing news! Congratulations on getting your approval text! 🎉 I'm so happy for you - I can only imagine the relief you must be feeling right now after all that stress and uncertainty. It sounds like you really lucked out with a worker who actually followed through when she said she'd try to approve it that day. Having your CalFresh EBT card already set up is definitely going to work in your favor - they'll just need to activate the cash aid portion on your existing card, which should make the whole process much faster. I'd suggest checking your balance starting Thursday evening just in case they process it a day early, and definitely Friday morning too. The backdated payment from your application date 3 weeks ago is going to be such a blessing for getting caught up on rent and other bills! Make sure to save that approval text and take screenshots - it's always good to have documentation for your records. This whole thread has been so heartwarming to follow, and it's incredible to see how supportive this community is. We're all celebrating this victory with you and rooting for you! Can't wait to hear when those funds finally hit your account. Welcome to the CalWORKs family - you've got this! 💪

I'm so grateful for this thread! I've been dealing with a similar situation with my 11-year-old who's been getting bullied at school. The amount of detailed, practical advice here is incredible. Based on everything I've read, it sounds like the key steps are: 1. Create a list of charter schools in your county 2. Call each one asking specifically about independent study/homeschool programs AND NSLP participation 3. Use the exact wording Declan suggested: "If my child enrolls in your independent study program, will they still be considered a student for P-EBT purposes since you participate in NSLP?" 4. Report any school changes to CalWORKs within 10 days The success stories here are so encouraging - especially hearing how kids' grades and confidence improved once they were removed from bullying situations. That's exactly what I'm hoping for with my daughter. Does anyone know if there's a specific department at CalWORKs I should call to ask about this before making the switch? I want to double-check everything before we make any changes to avoid any issues with our benefits. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences - this has been the most helpful resource I've found on this topic!

I'm in a very similar situation with my 8 and 12-year-old and this thread has been incredibly helpful! I've been hesitant to homeschool because of the P-EBT benefits, but reading all these success stories gives me so much hope. I wanted to add one resource that might help others - when I called my county's special education department (even though my kids don't have IEPs), they actually had a list of charter schools that work with homeschooling families and could tell me which ones participate in NSLP. It saved me from having to call every charter school individually. Also, for anyone worried about the academic transition, my neighbor homeschools through a charter program and says her kids are actually ahead academically now compared to where they were in traditional school. The one-on-one attention and ability to move at their own pace made such a difference. The bullying situation is so heartbreaking - I've watched my 8-year-old's personality change this year because of what she's dealing with at school. But seeing all these families successfully make the switch while keeping their food benefits gives me confidence that we can protect our kids without sacrificing the assistance we need. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences!