So glad they finally called you! 2+ hours late is absolutely ridiculous but unfortunately totally normal for CalWORKs. I've been through this same situation multiple times and it's always nerve-wracking when you're waiting for such an important call. For anyone else reading this who might be in a similar situation - Alberto's experience is pretty typical. Most workers do eventually call the same day, just very late. The key is to be patient if you can afford to wait, but also be prepared to advocate for yourself if they mark you as a no-show. Congrats on getting approved Alberto! Hope your benefits come through quickly so you can get caught up on your bills. The stress of waiting for CalWORKs approval while behind on rent and utilities is no joke. 💪

This is such a common problem and it's so frustrating! I'm glad you finally got your call and got approved. For future reference, I always keep a log when waiting for CalWORKs interviews - write down the exact time you started waiting, any calls you received or didn't receive, and when they finally called. This documentation has saved me twice when workers tried to claim I was unavailable. Also, pro tip for anyone dealing with this: if you have other appointments you can't miss (like picking up kids), you can usually call the CalWORKs office in the morning and ask if they're running behind schedule. Sometimes they'll give you a heads up if they know they're going to be hours late. It doesn't always work but worth a try! The system really needs to respect people's time better. We shouldn't have to put our entire day on hold for a phone call that might or might not come when scheduled. 😤

This happens ALL THE TIME w/ CalWORKs!!! The system is broken and nobody cares about us!! Last month they froze my card without warning because they "needed to verify my childrens SSNs" WHICH THEY ALREADY HAD FOR 3 YEARS!!!! I had to pay late fees on my rent because of their mistake and guess what? THEY DON'T REIMBURSE FOR THAT!!!

I'm glad you got it sorted out! That 48-hour security hold thing is so frustrating - they really need to send notifications when they put these holds on accounts. At least you know your money is there and should be accessible tomorrow. For future reference, I've found that calling the EBT customer service line early in the morning (like right at 8am) usually gets you through faster than calling later in the day when everyone is trying to reach them.

I'm so sorry this happened to you again! As a fellow CalWORKs recipient, I know how scary and stressful this is. Just wanted to add a couple things that helped me when I went through this last year: 1. When you submit your paperwork, ask for a confirmation number or receipt that shows they received everything. This helps you track your case if it gets delayed. 2. Keep calling every few days to check status - don't just wait for them to contact you. The squeaky wheel gets the grease with these offices. 3. If you're comfortable with it, consider asking family or friends if they can help with groceries this week while you wait. I know it's hard to ask, but sometimes people want to help and just don't know how. You're doing everything right by acting quickly and filing all the reports. Hang in there - you'll get through this! The system is frustrating but they do eventually make it right.

I'm really sorry you're going through this - EBT theft is such a violation and it's awful that criminals are targeting people who are already struggling. Based on what others have shared here, it sounds like you're on the right track with getting everything reported quickly. One thing I wanted to mention that I learned the hard way - when you get your replacement card, consider setting up account alerts if your county offers them. Some counties will send you text alerts when transactions happen on your card, so you can catch theft faster. Also, I started taking photos of ATMs before I use them to check for anything that looks off or newly attached. The waiting is the worst part, especially when you have bills due. But it sounds like the emergency aid option might help bridge the gap. Definitely keep pushing for that since you have rent coming up. Counties don't always volunteer information about what's available, so you have to advocate for yourself. Sending you strength while you deal with this mess - you shouldn't have to be an expert on fraud protection just to access your basic benefits!

UPDATE: I finally got through to someone today! I tried that Claimyr service that someone recommended here, and it actually worked. Took about 45 minutes but I got connected to a real person who looked at my case. Turns out they had recorded my last two paychecks as weekly income instead of bi-weekly, which is why my benefit amount was so much lower! The worker fixed it and said I should see the corrected amount plus the back pay for last month on my next payment. So relieved! Thanks everyone for your help and suggestions!

I'm so glad you were able to get this resolved! This is exactly the kind of systemic issue we're seeing with the BenefitsCal transition - simple data entry errors that have huge impacts on families. Your experience highlights how important it is for everyone to keep detailed records of their income reporting. For anyone else dealing with similar issues, weekly vs bi-weekly income calculation errors are unfortunately common right now. Always double-check that your pay frequency is recorded correctly in the system, and don't hesitate to ask the worker to verify how they're calculating your income when you're on the phone with them. Thanks for updating us - it gives hope to others who are struggling with the same problems!

UPDATE: Had my interview this morning! The worker actually was really understanding about our situation. She said my son's medical needs definitely qualify us for a temporary exemption (3 months to start) and gave me the CW 61 form to have his doctor fill out. She's also referring us to the Homeless Assistance Program for help with housing! Thank you everyone for your advice - it really helped me know what to say and what to ask for. I feel so much relief knowing I'll have time to focus on getting us stable without WTW pressure right now.

Congratulations on getting the exemption! That's such a relief. I wanted to add one tip from my experience - when you get the CW 61 form filled out by your son's doctor, ask them to be really specific about why your presence is required for his care. The more detailed they are about his needs and your role as caregiver, the stronger your case will be for renewals. Also, keep copies of everything they give you - the county has a habit of "losing" paperwork. Wishing you and your little one all the best with finding stable housing through the HAP program!