So glad you got everything sorted out! Your thoroughness definitely paid off - doing all those steps ensures there's no chance of missing important communications. Thanks for sharing the update, it's really helpful to see what actually worked. I'm sure other people will benefit from your experience, especially about the SAR 7 form requirement that not everyone knows about. Good luck with your redetermination interview!

This is such a comprehensive thread! As someone who's had to navigate these systems before, I really appreciate seeing all the different approaches laid out clearly. The combination of updating online AND submitting the SAR 7 form is definitely the way to go - I learned that lesson the hard way when I only did the online update and my worker didn't get the memo. One small tip to add: if you're using a prepaid phone that might change numbers frequently, consider getting a Google Voice number that forwards to your actual phone. That way you can give CalWORKs the stable Google Voice number and just update where it forwards to without having to go through this whole process every time. It's been a lifesaver for me since I switch between different phone plans sometimes. Great job being so thorough with your updates, @Clay - that's exactly the right approach to avoid any issues with your benefits!

This has been such an amazing thread to read! As someone who's been on CalWORKs for about 7 months, I had heard about the 60-month limit but never understood what actually happens when you reach it. @Mateo Sanchez I'm so relieved things worked out for you and that you might have those exempt months! Your persistence really paid off. The WTW 40 form is completely new information to me - it's incredible that such an important document isn't something they tell you about upfront. Reading everyone's real experiences here has been more educational than any official paperwork I've received. I'm definitely going to request my own WTW 40 form to see where I stand, and I'm saving that Claimyr service info too since getting through to workers seems to be a universal struggle. Thank you to everyone who shared their knowledge and experiences - knowing that kids still get benefits after timing out (even with reduced amounts) takes away so much of the anxiety around that scary notice. This community is proving to be such a lifeline for understanding how these systems actually work!

This thread has been such a lifesaver! I've been on CalWORKs for about 14 months and had no idea about so many of these crucial details. @Mateo Sanchez I'm so glad you got through to your worker and potentially found those exempt months - your story gives me hope that the system can actually work when you know what to ask for! The WTW 40 form is completely new to me and sounds like something they should automatically provide to everyone. It's frustrating how much important information seems to be hidden or not clearly explained. I'm definitely requesting my own WTW 40 form next week and bookmarking that Claimyr service. Reading everyone's experiences here about what actually happens at the 60-month limit has been so reassuring - knowing the kids still get benefits even when the adult portion is removed takes away a lot of the fear. Thank you to everyone who shared their knowledge, especially about checking for exempt months and the automatic CalFresh increase. This community fills in so many gaps that the official system leaves!

This entire thread has been so reassuring to read! I just joined this community and I'm about 2 weeks into a new part-time job at a local restaurant (serving about 12 hours/week at $15/hr plus tips). I completely forgot about the 10-day reporting rule until I saw this post and now I'm kicking myself for not reporting it sooner. My income should be well under my IRT ($2,156 for my family size) since I'm probably only making around $700-800/month including tips, but I've been so anxious about calling my worker. Reading @Matthew Sanchez's experience and seeing how well it turned out when he was honest about the delay has given me the courage to stop procrastinating. The dual reporting strategy everyone keeps mentioning (BenefitsCal online first, then calling) makes so much sense - I never would have thought to create that paper trail. And I had no idea about work hours potentially counting toward WTW requirements! That could be a game-changer for meeting my participation hours. Thank you all for sharing such detailed, real-world experiences. This is exactly the kind of community support that makes navigating CalWORKs feel manageable instead of terrifying. I'm reporting online tonight and calling my worker tomorrow morning!

This thread has been such an incredible resource! I'm dealing with almost the exact same situation - just started a part-time job at a local grocery store about 3 weeks ago (around 15 hours/week at $15.50/hr) and completely missed the 10-day reporting deadline. Like so many others here, I've been absolutely terrified that they'd immediately cut my benefits. Reading through everyone's experiences, especially @Matthew Sanchez's positive outcome, has been such a relief! My income is definitely under my IRT ($2,203 for my household size) - I'm only making about $930/month - so seeing how reasonable the workers were when people were honest about delays gives me so much confidence. The dual reporting strategy everyone keeps mentioning (BenefitsCal online first for the timestamp, then calling your worker) is brilliant advice I never would have thought of on my own. And I had absolutely no clue that work hours could count toward WTW requirements - that's going to be huge since I've been struggling to find enough approved activities! Thank you all for creating such a supportive space and sharing your real experiences instead of just scary hypotheticals. This community really shows how much better we can navigate this system when we help each other out. I'm definitely reporting online tonight and calling my worker tomorrow morning!

I'm so glad you asked this question! I was in a similar situation a few months ago when I had to travel to help my grandmother in Utah after she fell and broke her hip. Your EBT card will definitely work in Arizona - I had no problems accessing my cash aid while I was out of state for about 10 days. The system is connected nationwide so you shouldn't have any issues with that part. The main thing to watch out for is the ATM fees, which were pretty brutal - I ended up paying $3-6 per transaction depending on which ATM I used. What I learned (the hard way!) is to take out larger amounts less frequently rather than making multiple smaller withdrawals. Since you're only going for 2 weeks to help with the new baby, you're well under the 30-day limit so there shouldn't be any problems with your CalWORKs case. I'd suggest keeping all your ATM receipts just in case, and maybe even taking a photo of them with your phone as backup. One tip I wish someone had told me - some grocery stores will let you get cash back when you buy something, which can be way cheaper than using ATMs. Worth asking when you're shopping for baby supplies! Your sister is so lucky to have you coming to help during those first crazy weeks. New babies are exhausting but so worth it! Have a safe trip and enjoy meeting your new niece!

I've been following this thread and wanted to add my experience since I just went through this exact situation! I traveled to Arizona last month to help my cousin after she had her baby, and I was super nervous about the EBT card working there. Good news - your card will absolutely work! I used it at ATMs in Phoenix and Tucson without any problems. The fees were definitely higher though, usually around $3.50-4.50 per withdrawal. What saved me money was going to a Walmart and getting cash back when I bought baby supplies - only paid like $0.50 instead of those crazy ATM fees! Since you're only going for 2 weeks, you're totally fine with the residency rules. I was there for 12 days and had zero issues with my case. Just keep your receipts and maybe screenshot your account balance before you leave CA for your own records. One thing that really helped me was downloading the Walmart app before I went - you can find stores near you that do cash back with EBT, which saved me probably $20+ in ATM fees over my trip. Also, having cash ready was super helpful for those late-night diaper runs! Your sister is going to be so grateful to have you there. Those first weeks with a newborn are intense and having family support makes all the difference. Congratulations on becoming an aunt! Enjoy every moment with that little one.

Hi Lauren! Welcome to the community and congratulations on your new job - what an exciting fresh start! I'm also relatively new to navigating CalWORKs, and wow, this thread has become such an incredible resource! Everyone has given you amazingly detailed advice about the childcare payment process. I just wanted to add one thing I learned that might help - when you're gathering all those documents for your mom's provider application, make sure her ID isn't expired or close to expiring. I had to delay my aunt's application because her driver's license was expiring in 2 weeks and they required it to be valid for at least 30 days. Also, if your mom doesn't have a bank account yet, she'll need to set one up for direct deposit - they don't do paper checks anymore in most counties. You're being so proactive getting all this sorted before Monday, and with all the fantastic guidance here, you're definitely going to succeed. This community really shows how much easier these programs become when people share their real experiences. Best of luck with your new job - your baby is so lucky to have such a dedicated mom and caring grandma!

Hi Lauren! Welcome to our community and congratulations on getting approved for CalWORKs and landing your new job - that's such a huge achievement! I'm also fairly new to navigating these benefits, but I wanted to jump in and say how amazing all the advice has been in this thread. Everyone has covered the key points so thoroughly - from the CF 777 form to payment rates to keeping copies of everything. One thing I learned recently that might help is to ask your worker for a written timeline of when each step should be completed, so you can follow up if anything gets delayed. Also, don't be discouraged if you have to call multiple times or visit the office - persistence really pays off with these programs. The monthly payment amounts everyone mentioned ($1,080-1,300) will make such a difference for your family, and it's wonderful that your mom can provide care while you work. This community has been such a lifeline for me in understanding how everything works, so definitely come back if you have questions once you get started. Best of luck with your job on Monday - you're so well prepared thanks to everyone's help here!