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One more thing I forgot to mention - make sure you're clear with the county that you need both the identity theft resolved AND immediate aid. These are two separate issues, and sometimes workers conflate them. The fraud investigation can proceed on its own timeline, but they can't deny you emergency benefits if you qualify right now based on your current situation. Request what's called a "presumptive eligibility determination" - this is when they approve you for benefits based on the assumption that you'll be determined eligible once the investigation concludes. If you have kids and no income, you should qualify. They'll likely issue one month of aid while continuing to investigate. Did you apply for regular Unemployment Insurance too? That won't affect your CalWORKs eligibility, and you should be able to receive both since you were working before losing your job.
Thank you for this clarification. The worker definitely made it sound like I couldn't get ANY help until the fraud case was completely resolved. I'll specifically ask for the presumptive eligibility determination. Yes, I did apply for UI as well but haven't been approved yet. The company that laid me off is disputing some claims, so that's another mess I'm dealing with. It feels like everything is going wrong at once.
I'm so sorry you're going through this nightmare! Identity theft with benefits is unfortunately becoming more common. A few additional things that might help: 1. Contact your local Legal Aid office - they often have attorneys who specialize in benefits cases and can advocate for you for free. They know exactly which forms to file and how to pressure the county to act faster. 2. If you're in immediate crisis, look into your county's General Relief program. It's separate from CalWORKs and can provide emergency cash assistance while you're waiting for this to resolve. 3. Document EVERYTHING in writing. After every phone call, send a follow-up email to your caseworker summarizing what was discussed and any promises made. This creates a paper trail that's crucial if you need to escalate. 4. Contact your county Board of Supervisors office - they often have constituent services that can help cut through red tape when residents are getting the runaround from county departments. Stay strong and don't give up! The system is designed to be frustrating, but you have rights and there are people who can help you navigate this. Your kids need you to keep fighting for what you're entitled to.
This is incredibly helpful advice, thank you! I didn't know about Legal Aid having benefits specialists - I'm going to call them first thing Monday morning. The General Relief program sounds like exactly what I need while waiting for this mess to get sorted out. I've been so overwhelmed trying to figure out where to turn next, but your suggestions give me a clear action plan. I really appreciate you taking the time to write all this out. It helps to know there are people who understand how broken this system can be but also know ways to work within it.
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Once you submit your SAR-7 and paystubs online, I'd recommend taking a screenshot or printing the confirmation page. In my experience working with benefit programs, having proof of submission can be crucial if there's any dispute later about whether you submitted on time. Also, don't forget to include information about any changes in your household composition, housing costs, or other income sources - not just your new job. The SAR-7 requires reporting all changes that occurred during the report month.
Thank you for the advice! I'll definitely take screenshots of everything. And thanks for the reminder about reporting all changes - I also moved to a cheaper apartment last month so I should mention that too.
Hassan, definitely get that moving expense and rent change reported along with your Target paystubs! Since you moved to a cheaper place, that could actually help your case since lower housing costs might mean you qualify for more benefits. When you're filling out the SAR-7 online, there should be a section for housing expenses where you can update your new rent amount. Also, if you have any receipts from your move (truck rental, deposits, etc.) keep those handy in case they ask for verification. The combination of new job income + lower rent might actually work out better for your benefit amount than you think!
That's really good to know about the lower rent potentially helping with benefits! I honestly had no idea that moving to a cheaper place could actually increase my CalWORKs amount. I've been so stressed about the job income affecting my eligibility that I didn't even think about how the reduced housing costs might balance things out. Do you know if I need to provide a copy of my new lease agreement when I report the housing change, or is just putting in the new rent amount enough?
@Luis Johnson For housing changes, they usually want some kind of verification - could be a lease agreement, rent receipt, or even a letter from your landlord stating the monthly rent amount. When I had to report a housing change, they asked for my lease within 30 days of submitting the SAR-7. But honestly, requirements can vary by county, so when Hassan calls his caseworker or (uses that Claimyr service Benjamin mentioned ,)he should ask specifically what housing verification they need. Better to have it ready than get hit with another delay!
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Great to hear you got the forms printed and are making progress! Just a heads up - when you submit your SAWS 2 PLUS, make sure you include verification for any bank accounts you have, even if the balance is low. They'll want to see statements for the month you're reporting. Also, if you have any changes to your household composition or living situation since your last recert, make sure to note that clearly on the forms. The county workers are really strict about cross-referencing everything between the SAR 7 and SAWS 2 PLUS, so consistency is key. You're doing great getting this done early instead of waiting until the last minute!
Thank you for the reminder about bank statements! I almost forgot about that. I have two accounts - my checking and a small savings account with like $50 in it. Should I include statements for both even though the savings barely has anything? Also, when you say "the month you're reporting" - is that the current month or the month that just ended? My recert is due next week so I want to make sure I get the right timeframe.
Yes, definitely include statements for both accounts! Even if your savings only has $50, they want to see everything. For the timeframe, they typically want the most recent full month that ended before you submit - so if you're submitting next week, you'd include statements for February. But double-check your recert letter because sometimes they specify which month they want. Better to have too much documentation than not enough! Also, if you get direct deposit for any benefits, make sure those deposits are clearly visible on your bank statements so they can see exactly what's coming in.
If you're still having trouble getting through to your caseworker by phone, try calling right when they open in the morning - usually 8 AM. I've found that's when you're most likely to get through before the phone lines get jammed. Also, some counties have walk-in hours for urgent issues like recertification deadlines. You might want to check your county's website to see if they offer that option. It sounds like you're on the right track with downloading and filling out the forms though! Just make sure to submit them with plenty of time before your deadline in case there are any issues.
That's a really good tip about calling right at 8 AM! I've been calling in the afternoon when they're probably swamped. I'll definitely try first thing in the morning if I need to reach them about anything else. My county does have walk-in hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9-11 AM, but since I have the forms now I think I'll just submit everything in person to make sure they get it. Thanks for the advice!
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Great to hear you got it sorted out! Just a heads up - make sure to keep copies of all your court documents and maybe take a photo of your plane tickets/hotel receipts too. Some workers are more thorough than others when you get back, so having everything documented makes the whole process smoother. Hope your court case goes well!
That's really good advice about keeping documentation! I'm definitely going to take pictures of everything just to be safe. My worker seems pretty reasonable but you never know if someone else might review my case later. Thanks for the tip and the well wishes - I'm hoping everything goes smoothly with the court stuff too.
Just wanted to add - if you're using cash aid for hotel expenses, try to stay somewhere that accepts EBT for payment or has an ATM nearby. Some smaller hotels in rural areas might not have easy ATM access. Also, I'd recommend withdrawing some cash before you leave California just in case you run into any issues with your card while you're in Georgia. Better safe than sorry, especially when you're dealing with court stress on top of everything else.
AstroAce
I'm new to this whole CalWORKs thing and just started doing DoorDash a few weeks ago. Reading through all these comments is honestly overwhelming but also really helpful! I had no idea about the mileage tracking or that I could deduct expenses. I've just been reporting my gross earnings like an idiot. Should I be worried that I'm going to get in trouble for reporting wrong on my first SAR7? I literally just submitted it last week with my total DoorDash earnings and didn't mention any expenses because I didn't know I was supposed to. Now I'm freaking out that they're going to think I was trying to hide something or get more benefits than I deserve. Do I need to call them and tell them I made a mistake?
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Mateo Martinez
•Don't panic! You're not in trouble for reporting correctly based on what you knew at the time. When you submitted your SAR7 with gross earnings, that's what most people do initially because the system is confusing and they don't explain the self-employment rules clearly. You should definitely call and let them know you have business expenses to report - this will actually HELP you by potentially lowering your countable income. When you call, just say "I recently learned that I can deduct business expenses from my 1099 income and I'd like to update my report." They might send you the same self-employment form that @Luca Marino is getting. Start tracking your miles and expenses now so you re'prepared for next time!
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Kai Santiago
I've been doing gig work for over a year and went through this exact same confusion! The self-employment designation for 1099 work is actually standard across most benefit programs, not just CalWORKs. When you get that form, make sure to include EVERYTHING - gas, car maintenance, oil changes, portion of your phone bill used for the apps, car washes, even parking fees when you're waiting for orders. I use an app called MileIQ to track my driving automatically. Also pro tip: if you use your car for both personal and work driving, you can only deduct the percentage used for work. Keep a simple log of your work hours vs total driving time. The paperwork is annoying but once you get it set up, it's actually much better for your benefits calculation. Don't let them intimidate you - you're entitled to these deductions!
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