I work with families navigating CalWORKs, and here's what you should know about direct deposit: 1. The standard processing time is 1 payment cycle (your worker is correct) 2. March's payment will be a check as scheduled 3. April's payment should go to direct deposit 4. You can verify it's set up by calling the EBT customer service line (not the county office) and asking if direct deposit is showing as active on your account If you want to be proactive, call your worker in late March just to confirm everything is on track for April's direct deposit. Document who you speak with and what they tell you, just in case there are any issues later.

Just wanted to add my experience - I set up direct deposit in January and it worked exactly like everyone is saying. Got my last paper check that month, then direct deposit started the next cycle. The key thing is to make sure you save that direct deposit confirmation paperwork they give you (or take a photo of it) because if there are any issues later, having that reference number makes it way easier to resolve. Also, once it kicks in, the money usually hits your account on the 1st or 2nd of the month instead of waiting for the mail on the 10th, so it's definitely worth the wait!

I'm so glad you finally got through to someone and got this sorted out! This exact same thing happened to my sister - she submitted her redetermination in September and it just sat there until December when she finally got a worker who actually looked at her file. It's absolutely ridiculous how backed up they are. One thing that helped her was asking the worker to put a note in her file about the processing delay so if it happens again there's already documentation that it wasn't her fault. Also, she started taking photos of every document before submitting just in case the receipt gets lost. I hope your benefits come through quickly and you can catch up on everything. Having kids and dealing with this stress is just awful. Sending you good vibes that everything works out!

I'm so sorry you and your kids had to go through this stress! It's unacceptable that your redetermination sat unprocessed for months. I went through something similar last year where my paperwork got "lost" in their system for 6 weeks. Since you mentioned being behind on rent and bills, make sure to ask about their Homeless Prevention Program when you call back - sometimes they can help with emergency rental assistance while you're waiting for benefits to resume. Also, contact 211 (dial 2-1-1) for local food banks and emergency assistance programs that can help bridge the gap. Document everything - the worker's name who helped you, case numbers, dates, what they promised. If your benefits don't show up in those 3-5 days, escalate immediately. You've already been through enough! Keeping my fingers crossed that everything comes through quickly for you and your family.

UPDATE: I went to the office this morning and waited for 3 hours, but finally got to speak with a supervisor. Turns out they approved my replacement but there was some kind of "system error" when it was supposed to transfer to my EBT card. They had to manually reprocess it and promised the money would be on my card within 24 hours. The supervisor gave me her direct number to call if it doesn't show up by tomorrow. I asked why nobody told me about this error when I called before, and she just shrugged and said the regular workers probably couldn't see that note in the system. So frustrating! Will update tomorrow if the money actually shows up.

This is exactly why I always tell people to go to the office in person when dealing with EBT theft replacements! The phone system is completely useless and the front desk workers often can't see the full picture of what's happening with your case. I'm glad you got a supervisor who could actually identify the system error - that's probably what was causing the delay for everyone else too. Definitely keep that supervisor's direct number handy for future issues. And once your money shows up, I'd recommend taking screenshots of your EBT balance and transaction history just in case there are any other "system errors" down the line. Hope it all works out by tomorrow! 🤞

UPDATE: I finally got through to someone! There was a glitch in their system that affected a bunch of people who get the diaper allowance. The worker said they're fixing it and I should see the payment in 3-5 business days. She also said they're supposed to come with the regular Cash Aid payment on the 1st, but sometimes it processes separately. Thanks everyone for your help!

wait theres a diaper allowance with calworks?? ive been on cash aid for 4 months with my 1 yr old and nobody told me about this! how much is it and how do u apply?

So glad you figured it out! This is exactly why I always recommend calling right when they open at 8am - much shorter wait times. The school attendance verification thing is so confusing because they never explain why one program needs it and the other doesn't. At least now you know for next time. Hope your CalFresh gets reactivated quickly once you submit that form!

This exact same thing happened to me about 6 months ago! CalWORKs pending, CalFresh canceled during renewal. I panicked thinking I'd lost my food benefits permanently. Turned out they needed an updated utility bill that somehow only affected my CalFresh case. The whole thing was resolved within a week once I submitted the right document. Definitely call first thing in the morning - the wait times are so much better at 8am. And don't worry, they can usually backdate your benefits if it's their error or a missing verification issue. Keep us posted on how it goes!