Just be prepared to send in a TON of verification documents. They made me send my pregnancy verification 3 different times claiming they never received it!!! Keep copies of EVERYTHING and get names of workers you talk to. The system is broken!!

You mentioned being $87 over the income limit for CalFresh. Just want to check - did they apply all possible deductions? Make sure they counted your housing costs (rent/mortgage, utilities), childcare expenses, and any medical expenses for elderly or disabled household members if applicable. Sometimes eligibility workers miss these deductions, especially if you didn't provide detailed information about your expenses on the application.

Same thing happened to me! I was panicking this morning when my deposit didn't show up at the usual time. Mine finally came through around 6:15pm, so definitely seems like it was just a holiday delay. For anyone still waiting, keep checking throughout the evening - they seem to be processing in batches. Really stressful when you're counting on that money for bills though. Glad to see others got theirs too!

This whole thread has been so helpful! I'm new to CalWORKs (just got approved last month) and had no idea that holiday delays were a normal thing. When my deposit didn't show up this morning I thought maybe my case got closed or something went wrong with my paperwork. Reading everyone's experiences really put my mind at ease. I'll definitely keep that Claimyr service in mind for future issues - sounds way better than sitting on hold for hours. And good to know about the emergency payment option too, though hopefully I'll never need it. Thanks everyone for sharing your knowledge and helping us newcomers understand how this all works!

That's my backup plan if nothing else works. Good to know they can do it same day at least. I was worried I'd have to wait weeks for a new card to come in the mail.

Just wanted to add that if you're having trouble with the automated phone system, sometimes it helps to speak more slowly and clearly when entering your PIN. The voice recognition system can be finicky, especially if there's background noise. Also, make sure you're calling from a quiet place and using a landline if possible - cell phone audio quality can sometimes cause issues with automated systems. I had this same problem and it turned out I was speaking too fast when prompted to enter my new PIN. Once I slowed down, it worked perfectly. Hope this helps!

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!!! 🍀

I'm so sorry this happened to you! This is such a stressful situation. I went through something similar a few months ago and wanted to share what worked for me. After you file the police report and contact your worker, ask specifically about "Immediate Needs" payments - some counties can provide emergency funds within 24-48 hours for situations like this. Also, when you talk to your landlord, bring copies of ALL your paperwork (police report, EBT theft report, etc.) and ask if they have any emergency rental assistance programs they work with. Many landlords would rather work with you than deal with eviction costs. One more tip: when you get your new EBT card, set up text alerts for ALL transactions. That way if someone tries to use it again, you'll know immediately instead of finding out days later. The BenefitsCal app also lets you check your balance and transaction history in real-time. Hang in there - the system does work, it just takes time. Keep all your documentation organized and follow up regularly with your worker. You've got this! 💪

Thanks for updating us! This is actually a common issue - many banks place holds on government deposits, especially if it's a new account or there have been overdrafts in the past. For future reference, you can often ask your bank for an exception to the hold policy for recurring government benefits. Some banks will reduce or eliminate the hold time if you explain it's for essential living expenses.

@Isabella Costa - if your payment is still delayed after what happened with NeonNebula's bank hold situation, I'd definitely try calling your bank first to see if they're holding your deposit. If that's not the issue, then maybe try that Claimyr service Chloe mentioned to get through to someone at the office faster. The emergency payment option Ravi talked about might also be worth looking into if you're in a tight spot financially. Hope yours shows up soon!