One more important thing: Since your financial situation is changing, this is a good time to check if you're eligible for other benefits too. With your increased CalWORKs grant, make sure: 1. Your CalFresh (food stamps) amount is correctly adjusted (it might decrease slightly with higher income) 2. You're signed up for CalWORKs childcare assistance if you need it for your WTW activities 3. You're receiving the Cal-Learn bonus if applicable Don't forget you're also required to report this change on your next SAR7 form. Good luck with your WTW plan!

Stey ontop of everything they make u do, and dont miss NOTHING or theyll sanction u so fast its crazy. i had a flat tire once and missed one appointment and boom - sanctioned for 3 months before i got it cleared. the system is designed to trip us up i swear. but atleast the money is better when ur not sanctioned so hang in there

Pro tip: if you can, try to do as much as possible online through their portal. Sometimes you can submit rebudget requests there. Might save you a phone call altogether!

idk if this helps but I had to do a rebudget last year cuz I got a new job. they asked for my offer letter and first paystub. the lady I talked to was actually pretty nice about it. dont stress too much, youll be fine!

they made me wait 45 DAYS after my interview before approving me!!! kept saying they needed more verification for this and that. hope yours goes better!!

UPDATE: Had my interview this morning and it went way better than expected! The worker was actually really nice and didn't lecture me about missing the SAR7 before. She just reminded me about reporting deadlines and the Income Reporting Threshold (which I guess is higher now in 2025?). She said since I'm already working, I still need to attend WTW orientation but it can be done online now. The only issue is they need verification of my kids' school enrollment and my landlord needs to fill out a housing form. They said I should get a notice within 7-10 days. Thanks everyone for your help! I feel so much more prepared than I was yesterday.

I had something similar happen and they let me set up a 24-month payment plan. They actually take a percentage of your grant instead of a fixed amount, which is pretty fair. Keep in mind that even if you close your case, the overpayment doesn't go away. They can collect it through tax intercepts, wage garnishment, or if you ever get benefits again in the future. As for your concern about working more hours - just make sure you report your income properly going forward. If your income goes over your IRT (Income Reporting Threshold), you have to report it within 10 days, not just wait for your next SAR7. If you do that, you won't end up with another overpayment. BTW, did they reduce your benefits as a recoupment (taking money to pay back the overpayment) or did they reduce it because your income is higher now?

One more thing I forgot to mention - if you're having trouble with the overpayment, you can contact your local legal aid office. They provide free legal help for people with CalWORKs issues, including overpayments. Google "legal aid" plus your county name to find them. Also, if paying back the overpayment would cause you "undue hardship" (like not being able to pay rent or utilities), you can request a hardship waiver. It's not easy to get, but worth trying if you're in a really tough spot. Don't give up on benefits completely - the system is complicated, but once you understand the reporting rules, it gets easier to avoid these situations in the future.

Did u check if maybe you authorized any automatic bill payments? Sometimes if u set up auto-pay with ur EBT card for certain bills they'll take it out at weird times. Happened to me once with my phone bill and i freaked out thinking it was stolen.

Make sure when you file the EBT-2259 form that you provide as much detail as possible. Include the police report number, the exact amount stolen, the date and time of the theft, and that you had possession of your physical card the whole time. Ask for emergency replacement benefits due to hardship while they investigate. By law, they're supposed to help expedite benefits when there are children in the household who have critical needs. Also, as soon as you can, go into BenefitsCal and change your PIN number, and request a brand new EBT card.

this is classic dpss nonsense, they do this to make it harder for people to actually get benefits. they hope youll just give up! dont let them win - call and DEMAND a phone interview. they have to give you one if you say you cant get there. ive been dealing with these tactics for YEARS with riverside county. the whole system is designed to be as difficult as possible

One more thing to know - once your case is approved, you can request a case transfer to your local office. While they might not change your interview location easily, after approval you have more rights to request a transfer based on accessibility. Just make sure you complete the initial application process first (interview and document submission), then submit a formal written request for case transfer once approved. Include documentation of your transportation barriers if possible.

they need to fix these stupid ebt cards!! my friend said they should just let us use venmo or cashapp for benefits instead of these cards that get hacked all the time. system is so broken

After reviewing the replies, I want to clarify something important: When you go to your county office, specifically ask for a supervisor if your regular worker isn't available. Explain that this is an emergency situation involving benefit theft and minor children. Use those exact words. Also, when completing the CW 2215 form, make sure to include: - Exact date and time you discovered the theft - Last legitimate transaction you made - Any details about places you've used your card recently These details help strengthen your case and potentially speed up the investigation. The county is required to provide emergency assistance while investigating theft claims when there are minor children in the home. Be persistent about this point.

anyone else notice that sacramento county ALWAYS does this right when rent is due??? like they know exactly what theyre doing cutting ppl off at the end of the month smh

Just wanted to add - if you're going in person tomorrow, write down exactly what happened and what you need resolved. When you check in, ask if there are any CalWORKs supervisors available. Sometimes they can resolve issues on the spot, especially when it's clearly an error in their system. Also, if you have any documentation showing your income has been consistent (pay stubs, employer letters, etc.), bring multiple copies so they can keep one for their records. If they restore your benefits but say the payment will take days to process, ask specifically about emergency payment options. Sacramento County can issue same-day payments in true emergency situations, though they don't advertise this option. Keep us updated on how it goes! Many people are dealing with the same issue right now.

Update on your options while waiting for replacement benefits: 1. CalWORKs Immediate Need: If you haven't received CalWORKs benefits in the current month, you might qualify for Immediate Need payment (up to $200). 2. Emergency special payment: Some counties have special funds for emergency situations - specifically request this from your worker. 3. Homeless Assistance Program: As I mentioned earlier, if you're at risk of eviction, you may qualify for temporary help. 4. Payment plan with landlord: Show your landlord the filed police report and CF 303 form as proof you're actively addressing the issue. Also, to prevent future theft, create a new PIN that's hard to guess (not birthdays or simple sequences), check your balance frequently, and consider using the BenefitsCal app's card freeze feature between uses.

My friend works for the county and she says they're supposed to process these claims super fast now because of all the theft happening. Like within 10 days if u have all the proof. Good luck!!! 🍀