Hi Megan, congratulations on your new job! This thread has been incredibly helpful - I'm actually in a very similar situation and will be starting a new position next month that will put me over the CalWORKs income limit. Reading through everyone's experiences and advice has been so valuable. I especially appreciate all the specific details about using the exact wording "voluntary discontinuance" rather than just reporting income, timing the termination for the day before the first paycheck, and making sure to get everything in writing. The tip about keeping detailed logs and screenshots is brilliant too. It's really reassuring to see how supportive this community is in helping each other navigate these processes properly. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - it's going to help both Megan and me handle our transitions much more smoothly!

Congratulations on the new job, Megan! This thread has been incredibly informative - I'm bookmarking it for future reference. One additional tip I'd like to share from my experience: if you have any automatic deposits or payments set up related to your CalWORKs benefits (like if you get your payments on an EBT card), make sure to ask about when those will stop and if you need to do anything to close out those accounts. I had a small remaining balance on my EBT card after my case closed and it took months to figure out how to access those final funds. Also, if you're currently receiving any utility assistance or other ancillary benefits through CalWORKs, make sure to ask specifically about each one because they might have different termination timelines or separate applications to continue them if you still qualify. The worker won't always volunteer information about what other programs might still be available to you, so it's worth asking directly. You're handling this so responsibly - wishing you all the best with your new position!

As someone who's new to this community and currently receiving CalWORKs, I can't thank everyone enough for sharing their experiences here. Reading through all these detailed accounts has been absolutely eye-opening and honestly quite frightening. I had no idea that letting someone else claim your children on taxes could trigger such severe consequences with benefits. What really stands out to me from everyone's stories is how quickly the automated systems catch these discrepancies, but then how long and difficult it becomes to prove your innocence while your benefits are suspended. The fact that people have lost thousands in benefits, faced fraud investigations, and been put on enhanced monitoring even after proving their children live with them shows this isn't just a temporary inconvenience - it's a life-altering mistake. The detail about the Semi-Annual Report specifically asking whether anyone else claimed your child really hit home too. I never realized that answering that question incorrectly could be considered fraud. And learning about the Child Tax Credit and EITC has made me realize I'd probably get more money claiming my kids myself than accepting whatever split arrangement someone else offers. For anyone else facing similar pressure from exes or family members - these stories make it crystal clear that no temporary money is worth risking your family's stability and your access to benefits that you depend on for basic needs like food and housing. Thank you to everyone who had the courage to share difficult experiences to help others avoid the same traps.

As a newcomer to this community, I'm absolutely shocked reading through all these experiences. I had no idea that something that seems like a simple family arrangement could have such devastating consequences. The stories about automated fraud detection systems, benefit suspensions lasting months, and people owing back thousands of dollars are terrifying. What really stands out to me is how the system seems designed to assume guilt first and make families prove their innocence later - all while cutting off the benefits they depend on for basic needs like food and housing. The fact that even after proving your kids live with you, you get permanently flagged with enhanced monitoring and ongoing scrutiny shows this follows you forever. I'm also shocked to learn about the tax credits I could be missing out on. After reading about the Child Tax Credit and EITC, I realized I could potentially qualify for way more money than any split arrangement would offer. So not only would I avoid all these risks by claiming my kids myself, I'd actually come out ahead financially. Thank you to everyone who shared such personal and difficult experiences. This community's willingness to protect others from making the same mistakes is incredible. These real-world stories have completely opened my eyes to how serious this issue is and why it's never worth the risk.

Congratulations on your twins! I'm really glad to see that you got through to a worker and confirmed you'll be getting retroactive payments back to mid-December. That's such a relief when you're dealing with newborn expenses! I wanted to share something that might help - when I first started on CalWORKs with my baby, I found it really helpful to keep a notebook with all the dates and what different workers told me. Sometimes you get different answers from different people, so having it written down helped me advocate for myself better. Also, since everyone's mentioning the diaper allowance - definitely push for that! With twins going through 20 diapers a day, that extra money will make a huge difference. And don't be afraid to ask your worker to explain exactly what you qualify for in simple terms. They work for you, not the other way around. Best of luck with everything!

Congratulations on your twins! What a blessing, though I know it must be financially stressful right now. I'm so glad you were able to get through to a worker and confirm that you'll receive retroactive payments back to mid-December when your application was complete with the birth certificates. I just wanted to add that with newborn twins, you should also look into WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) if you haven't already. It provides formula, baby food, and other nutrition assistance specifically for families with young children. Since you mentioned the twins' father doesn't provide support, every bit of help counts. Also, many counties have emergency assistance programs for families with newborns that can help with one-time expenses like cribs, car seats, or other baby essentials. It might be worth asking your worker about any emergency aid or one-time assistance programs available in your county. You're doing great advocating for yourself and your babies - keep asking questions and don't let them rush you off the phone until you understand everything you're entitled to!

I've been a CalWORKs eligibility worker for 8 years and wanted to give you some insider perspective on what actually speeds up the process: 1. Upload EVERYTHING when you apply - don't wait. Even if a document isn't perfect (like a blurry photo), submit what you have. We can always ask for better copies later, but having something on file moves your case forward. 2. Your phone interview is crucial. Have all your documents in front of you and a quiet space. If you have to reschedule, do it ASAP - don't just miss the appointment. 3. We're required to process applications with minor children within 30 days, not 45. The 45-day rule is for other cases. 4. If you're truly facing eviction (have an actual notice), tell your worker immediately. We have expedited processing for homeless/at-risk families that can get you approved in 7-10 days. 5. Check your BenefitsCal account daily. We often request additional documents through the system and many applicants don't see these requests for weeks. The average processing time I see for complete applications with all docs is 18-22 days. Incomplete applications take 35-40 days because we're waiting for verification. You're doing the right thing applying now. Don't feel ashamed - this is exactly what the program is for. Focus on getting all your paperwork together and you should have benefits within 3 weeks.

I just wanted to share my recent experience since it might help. I applied for CalWORKs 3 weeks ago after losing my job and got approved last Friday. I'm a single parent with one 5-year-old. My timeline: Applied online on a Tuesday, got a call to schedule my phone interview on Friday (for the following Wednesday), had my interview, and was approved exactly one week later. Total time was 19 days from application to approval. The key things that helped me: - I uploaded everything I had immediately, even though I was missing one document (my final paystub which came later) - During my interview, I mentioned that I was worried about making next month's rent, which seemed to flag me as priority - I responded to every request for additional info within 24 hours They backdated my benefits to my application date, so I got the full amount once approved. The first payment showed up on my EBT card 2 days after approval. One tip: when they assign you to Welfare to Work, ask about their job placement services. My WTW counselor connected me with temp agencies that specialize in placing CalWORKs participants, and I actually have a promising interview next week. Don't lose hope - I know it feels scary waiting, but the system really does work. Just stay on top of any requests they send you and be completely honest about your situation during your interview.

I've been following this conversation and wanted to add my experience as someone who's been on CalWORKs for over a year. Everyone here has given excellent advice! I was terrified to file my first year on benefits because I thought it would somehow mess up my Cash Aid, but it was actually one of the best financial decisions I made. A few additional tips that might help: - If you're nervous about the process, many VITA sites will let you sit with the volunteer while they prepare your return so you can ask questions and understand what's happening - Keep a copy of your completed tax return in your CalWORKs paperwork file - it can be helpful if you ever need to verify income for redetermination - The Child and Dependent Care Credit is another one to ask about if you paid for childcare while working The bottom line is that CalWORKs and taxes are completely separate systems. Your Cash Aid won't show up as income on your tax return, and your tax refund won't affect your monthly benefits. With kids and some work income from those 3 months, you're almost certainly going to get money back rather than owe anything. Don't let the confusion keep you from filing - you deserve every credit and refund you're entitled to!

I'm so glad I found this thread! I'm in almost the exact same situation - been on CalWORKs for about 5 months with my two kids after getting laid off from my warehouse job. I worked for about 4 months last year before everything happened, then got unemployment for a while before applying for Cash Aid. Reading through everyone's experiences has been such a huge help. I was honestly avoiding even thinking about taxes because I was so worried I'd accidentally mess up my benefits or report something wrong. But now I understand that the CalWORKs Cash Aid doesn't count as taxable income and that I should definitely file because of the potential tax credits. The VITA program sounds like exactly what I need - free help from people who understand these situations. I've never heard of the Earned Income Tax Credit before, but if it could mean getting money back even with my low income, that would be incredible right now. Every little bit helps when you're trying to get back on your feet. Thank you to everyone who shared their stories and advice. It's made such a difference to hear from real people who've navigated this successfully. I'm going to start looking for VITA locations near me this week!