To summarize what everyone's saying: While there's no automatic system that will immediately cut your benefits if your mother claims your child on taxes, it creates a contradiction that could cause problems. For CalWORKs, you're saying you have primary responsibility for your daughter. For IRS purposes, your mother would be claiming she provides more than half of your daughter's support. If you want to avoid potential complications with your benefits, the safest approach is to make sure your tax filing is consistent with what you report to CalWORKs. This means you should be the one claiming your daughter as a dependent.

Smart decision! I went through something similar and learned that consistency across all government systems is crucial. Your mom probably means well, but the potential risk to your stability just isn't worth it. One thing to consider - if your mom is providing significant support through childcare and purchasing items for your daughter, make sure you're accurately reporting any cash assistance she gives you on your SAR7 forms. The county needs to know about all sources of support, but as long as your daughter lives with you primarily and you're her main caretaker, you should be fine claiming her on taxes yourself. Also, once you complete your WTW program and get stable employment, you might be able to revisit the tax situation with your mom if circumstances change. But for now, protecting your Cash Aid is the priority.

This entire thread has been such a masterclass in how to handle benefit reporting mistakes properly! As someone who's been helping people with public benefits applications for several years, I see situations like Mei's all the time, and I'm so impressed with how you approached it. What really stands out to me is how this demonstrates the importance of community support when navigating these systems. The range of advice here - from the practical steps about documentation and call services, to the professional insights about good faith reporting, to the emotional support from people who've been in similar situations - shows how valuable peer knowledge can be. For anyone new to this thread or facing similar concerns, the key lesson here is that the system is designed to work with people who are trying to do the right thing. Yes, there are rules and requirements, but there's also human discretion that takes intent and effort into account. Mei, your willingness to share both the scary parts and the positive resolution is going to help so many people who might otherwise let fear prevent them from correcting honest mistakes. That $42 reduction is such a reasonable outcome for what could have felt like a catastrophic error when you first realized it. This is exactly the kind of real-world guidance that makes this community invaluable!

What an incredible thread to read through! As someone who's been on CalFresh for about 8 months now, I wish I had found this community earlier. Mei, your story perfectly captures that heart-stopping moment when you realize you might have made a mistake on something so important. I had a similar panic moment a few months ago when I wasn't sure if I had reported my work-study income correctly (turns out I had, but the anxiety was real!). Reading about your methodical approach - trying multiple contact methods, documenting everything, and being completely honest with the worker - is exactly the roadmap I would have wanted during my own stress spiral. The outcome you achieved really demonstrates what several people mentioned about good faith efforts making all the difference. A $42 monthly reduction for voluntarily reporting $160 in additional monthly income is honestly better than I would have expected, and it shows the system can work fairly when you approach it with transparency. Thanks for sharing both the scary parts and the resolution - knowing that honest mistakes can be corrected without devastating consequences takes away so much of the fear around these applications. This thread is going to be incredibly helpful for anyone facing similar situations!

I'm so sorry you're going through this stressful situation, but you're definitely not alone! I was in a very similar position two years ago with my twin boys (age 4 at the time) living at my aunt's house. The constant tension about parenting decisions was exhausting for everyone. Here's what I learned that might help you: Start by calling your CalWORKs worker and specifically asking about ALL housing assistance programs available - don't just accept "we don't have anything" as an answer. Ask about Housing Support Program, Diversion Services, TANF Emergency Aid, and the Family Stabilization Program. I had to call three different times before I got connected to someone who actually knew about these programs. Also, look into your county's Continuum of Care program - they often have rapid rehousing assistance that can help with deposits and short-term rental assistance even if you're not technically homeless. Being in an unstable family situation often qualifies. One practical tip: when apartment hunting, bring a folder with all your documentation (CalWORKs verification letter, pay stubs, references) and a brief letter explaining your situation and why you'd be a great tenant. This shows landlords you're organized and serious. The stress you're feeling is completely valid - kids pick up on family tension way more than we realize. Moving out isn't selfish, it's protecting your children's emotional wellbeing. You've got this, mama! Keep us updated on how the housing search goes. 💙

I'm really inspired by all the amazing advice and success stories shared here! As someone who's been through the CalWORKs system, I wanted to add that it's also worth checking with your local 211 helpline - they often have updated lists of emergency rental assistance programs that work alongside CalWORKs housing programs. Sometimes there are city or county-specific funds that your regular worker might not know about. Also, when you do find potential apartments, don't be afraid to explain your situation honestly to landlords. I was surprised how many were actually understanding when I explained that I was working to provide a more stable environment for my children. Some even appreciated that I was being proactive about addressing family conflict rather than just staying in a bad situation. One more tip: if you have any documentation of your good payment history (like receipts for contributing to household expenses at your mom's place, or perfect attendance at work), bring those along too. It helps show you're reliable even if your income is mostly from benefits. You're absolutely doing the right thing for your family. The fact that you're planning ahead and asking questions shows you're a thoughtful parent who prioritizes your children's wellbeing. That tension at home isn't healthy for anyone, especially little kids. Keep pushing forward - there are definitely options available once you know where to look! 💪

I'm new to this community but wanted to share some additional resources that might help you during this process. Many counties have CalWORKs advocacy programs that can provide free assistance during fraud investigations - they can help you understand your rights, prepare for interviews, and even accompany you to meetings if allowed. Also, if you're feeling overwhelmed by all the documentation and preparation, consider reaching out to your local legal aid society. They often have experience with these cases and can help you organize your information effectively. Some even have workshops specifically about welfare fraud investigations. One more practical tip: start keeping a detailed written record of all your interactions with investigators, caseworkers, and anyone else involved in your case. Write down dates, times, who you spoke with, and what was discussed. This can be really valuable if you need to appeal any decisions or if there are discrepancies later. The stress of going through this while worrying about your kids' wellbeing is incredibly difficult, but you're taking all the right steps by being proactive and seeking advice. Remember that this situation, while serious, is temporary and manageable. Focus on what you can control - your preparation, honesty, and cooperation - and try not to catastrophize about outcomes you can't predict yet.

I'm new to this community but wanted to share some hope from my own recent experience. I just went through a CalWORKs fraud investigation that was also initiated by an ex who was trying to get back at me. The whole process took about 4 months from start to finish, but I want you to know that it IS possible to get through this without losing everything. A few key things that made a difference in my case: 1. I created a detailed timeline of every day I worked and exactly how much I earned, even when I could only estimate amounts. Having this organized before my interview showed I was taking responsibility seriously. 2. My cousin provided a written statement confirming that the work was truly irregular - sometimes I'd work 3 days one month, then not at all for 6 weeks. This helped establish it wasn't regular employment I was deliberately hiding. 3. During my interview, I immediately acknowledged that I should have reported all income, regardless of the amounts or irregularity. I explained that I genuinely thought cash work under a certain threshold didn't need immediate reporting, but I took full responsibility for not understanding the rules correctly. They classified it as an inadvertent overpayment rather than intentional fraud. I'm paying back $1,950 over 18 months through benefit deductions, but I kept my CalFresh, Medi-Cal, and my children's portion of Cash Aid throughout the entire process. The investigator actually told me that my honesty and preparation made their job easier, and that they could tell I wasn't someone trying to cheat the system - just a parent trying to make ends meet who didn't fully understand the reporting requirements. Stay strong - you're handling this the right way by being proactive and seeking advice. The waiting is the hardest part, but most people in situations like ours do get through it without criminal charges or losing all benefits.

This is really scary when you're depending on that payment! I'm having the same issue - my payment is supposed to deposit tomorrow (the 1st) and there's absolutely nothing showing as pending in my bank account or BenefitsCal. I submitted my SAR7 early and got confirmation it was processed. What's making me even more anxious is that I have utilities due on the 3rd and was counting on this payment. From reading everyone's responses here, it sounds like this might be a widespread system delay rather than individual account problems, which is somewhat reassuring but still doesn't help with the immediate stress of bills coming due. I'm going to try calling my caseworker directly first thing tomorrow morning if the payment doesn't show up. Has anyone tried checking their EBT balance to see if that updated even if the cash aid didn't?

I'm going through the exact same thing! My payment is supposed to deposit tomorrow and there's nothing showing as pending anywhere. I've been checking my bank app obsessively since yesterday thinking maybe I missed it. What's really getting to me is that my car payment is due on the 4th and I literally have $12 in my account right now. I tried calling the customer service line around noon and sat on hold for 45 minutes before it just disconnected me. Reading through all these comments is actually making me feel a bit better knowing it's not just my account - sounds like there's definitely some kind of system issue happening. I'm going to try that Claimyr thing if my payment doesn't show up by tomorrow afternoon. This whole situation is just so stressful when you're living paycheck to paycheck and have zero buffer money.