I just want to echo what everyone else has said - definitely report the inheritance! I went through a similar situation last year when I received about $3,800 from my dad's estate. I was so scared about losing benefits that I almost didn't report it, but I'm so glad I did. Yes, my CalWORKs payment was $0 for that month because it put me over the income limit, but the next month everything went back to normal. The most important thing is to report it in writing (not just a phone call) and keep copies of everything. I also kept detailed receipts for how I spent the money - car repairs, past-due bills, etc. - just in case they ever asked. The temporary loss of one month's benefits was way better than the stress of worrying about them finding out later. You're being smart by asking about this ahead of time instead of just hoping for the best. This community has been such a lifesaver for getting real advice from people who actually understand what we're going through!

As someone new to this community, I'm really impressed by how helpful and supportive everyone has been in sharing their real experiences with inheritance reporting. I'm not currently dealing with this situation myself, but reading through all these stories has been incredibly educational about how CalWORKs actually works in practice. The clear consensus from everyone who's been through this is that reporting the inheritance is absolutely the right thing to do, even though it means one month of reduced benefits. What strikes me most is how many people have successfully navigated this exact situation and had their benefits resume normally the following month. @Bethany, you've received such valuable advice from people who've actually lived through this process - it sounds like reporting it immediately in writing and using the money for necessary car repairs is definitely the smart approach. This community is such an amazing resource for getting honest, practical guidance from people who truly understand the system!

This thread has been absolutely incredible to witness! @Zainab Mahmoud, I'm so sorry to hear about your mom's stroke - what a difficult situation to navigate while managing benefits and caring for a young daughter. I've been following along and wanted to add one small but important tip that I learned during my own interstate move: when you apply for Nevada benefits, make sure to specifically ask about their "good cause" exceptions for work requirements. Since you'll be caring for your mom after her stroke, this could be really important for maintaining your benefits without penalty. Also, regarding the gap in benefits that everyone's mentioned - some local churches and Sikh temples in the Las Vegas area offer free community meals and food pantries that don't require any paperwork or verification. This could help bridge any food gaps while your SNAP benefits transfer over. The level of detailed, practical advice in this thread is amazing - from specific Nevada programs to documentation strategies to local Las Vegas resources. You've gotten such a comprehensive roadmap for your move! You're showing incredible strength managing all of this during such a stressful time. Your mom is lucky to have such a dedicated daughter looking out for her. Wishing you both all the best with the transition! 💙

I'm so glad this thread has been helpful for you @Zainab Mahmoud! As someone who's also navigating the California benefits system, I wanted to add one more resource that might be useful during your transition. The National Center for Benefits Outreach and Enrollment has a state-by-state comparison tool that shows different benefit amounts and requirements across states. It might help you prepare mentally for the changes you'll see moving from California to Nevada. You can find it by searching "NCBOE state comparison" online. Also, since you mentioned your daughter has upcoming appointments, consider asking her current doctors if they can provide referrals to specialists in the Las Vegas area. Having those referrals ready can help ensure continuity of care once you get Nevada Medicaid approved. The strength and love you're showing by uprooting your life to care for your mom is truly inspiring. This community's response to your situation has been beautiful to witness - so much practical wisdom and genuine support. You're going into this move much better prepared thanks to everyone's input. Sending you and your family positive thoughts for a smooth transition and your mom's recovery! 💙

As someone new to this community, I wanted to add my experience since I just completed this process a few months ago. I was in almost the exact same situation - single mom with a 4-year-old, getting about $375 monthly from my daughter's father plus he'd help with daycare and clothes occasionally. I was so scared about disrupting our arrangement that I delayed applying for CalWORKs for almost 6 months while we struggled. What finally pushed me to apply was when my daughter got sick and I realized we had no healthcare coverage - the informal support doesn't help with medical emergencies. Here's what actually happened: I chose to take the adult portion sanction rather than cooperate with child support enforcement. My daughter receives $395/month in cash aid, we get about $280/month in CalFresh benefits, full Medi-Cal coverage, and childcare assistance that allows me to work 35+ hours per week. When I add it all up, we're receiving over $800 in total benefits monthly compared to the informal $375 we had before. The most surprising part was that her father wasn't upset at all. He actually said he was glad I was getting the help we needed and that it took pressure off him to be our only source of support. Sometimes we create scenarios in our heads that are much worse than reality. My advice: don't let fear keep you from accessing benefits your children are entitled to. The healthcare coverage alone has been life-changing - we can actually go to the doctor when needed now. Document any informal payments you're receiving, be honest with your worker, and remember that providing stability for your kids is worth navigating some temporary uncertainty.

As someone new to this community, I wanted to share my experience since I'm currently going through this exact situation. I'm a single mom with a 6-year-old, and I've been getting about $350 monthly from her dad plus he helps with school supplies and occasional grocery runs. Reading through all these detailed experiences has been incredibly helpful - especially seeing the actual numbers breakdown that several people shared. What really opened my eyes was realizing that even with the adult portion sanction, the combined benefits (children's cash aid, Medi-Cal, CalFresh, childcare assistance) often add up to $700-900+ monthly versus the informal support most of us receive. I've been putting off applying because I was terrified of messing up our co-parenting relationship, but this thread has helped me understand that I'm potentially sacrificing my daughter's access to healthcare and food security to avoid a conversation that might not even be as difficult as I'm imagining. Several people mentioned their exes being more understanding than expected. What really resonates with me is the point about focusing on what our kids need rather than our own anxiety about change. My daughter deserves healthcare coverage, and I need reliable childcare help to maintain steady work. The informal arrangement, while well-meaning, doesn't provide that security. For anyone else reading this who's in a similar situation - document any informal support you're receiving now, be honest with your worker about your circumstances, and remember that temporary uncertainty is worth it for your child's long-term stability. I'm submitting my application next week. Thank you all for sharing your stories so openly!

This thread has been so helpful! I'm new to CalWORKs and was dreading having to figure out the SAR7 process. Reading through everyone's experiences and tips has given me a much better understanding of what to expect. I especially appreciate the advice about taking screenshots of the confirmation page - that's something I never would have thought of but makes total sense given all the system glitches people mention. I'm going to bookmark this thread for when my first reporting period comes up. Thanks to everyone who shared their knowledge!

This whole thread is exactly why I love this community! As someone who's been navigating CalWORKs for a few years now, I can confirm that the SAR7 timing issue trips up SO many people. The system really should display a message like "Your SAR7 will be available starting [date]" instead of just... nothing. One thing I'd add that hasn't been mentioned yet - if you're in a county that uses the mobile app, sometimes clearing your app cache or logging out and back in can help if the SAR7 still isn't showing up when it should be. I've had to do this a couple times when the app seemed "stuck" on old information. Also, for anyone reading this who might be in a similar situation in the future - some counties have different reporting schedules (quarterly vs monthly), so make sure you know which one applies to you. Your worker should tell you, but it's worth double-checking because missing the wrong deadline thinking you're on a different schedule is a nightmare to fix!

Hi everyone! I'm brand new to this community and just started my CalWORKs application last month. Reading Sean's story was honestly both terrifying and reassuring at the same time - terrifying because I had no idea the online system could have these kinds of processing delays even when you do everything right, but reassuring because of how helpful everyone has been and how Sean was able to resolve it by being proactive. As a complete newcomer to all of this, I'm taking notes on all the amazing advice in this thread - keeping documentation, taking screenshots at every step, knowing your local office hours, getting receipts and case numbers, and most importantly, trusting your instincts when something seems off. The fact that Sean went in person with all his paperwork and got it sorted out before losing benefits is exactly the kind of real-world guidance I was hoping to find here. Thank you Sean for sharing both the scary part and the successful resolution, and thanks to everyone for creating such a supportive space for newcomers like me who are still learning how to navigate this system!

Hi everyone! I just joined this community today after finding it while researching CalWORKs procedures, and wow - this thread couldn't have come at a better time! I'm completely new to the system and honestly feeling pretty overwhelmed by all the requirements and deadlines. Reading Sean's experience was initially quite scary since I had no idea the online system could have these kinds of processing gaps where you fix an issue but still receive discontinuance notices. But seeing how proactive he was in going to the office with all his documentation and how supportive everyone here has been really gives me confidence that I can navigate this too. I'm definitely taking notes on all the incredible advice - keeping screenshots of every step, printing confirmation emails, knowing your local office hours ahead of time, and most importantly, being your own advocate when something doesn't seem right. It's so reassuring to know there are experienced community members here who genuinely want to help newcomers like me succeed. Thank you Sean for sharing both the stressful part and the positive resolution, and thanks to everyone for creating such a welcoming and informative space!