updaTE????? did u figure out why they took ur money?? im worried now they gonna do this to me next month 😭😭😭

That's such a relief that you got it sorted out! This is exactly why I always keep copies of EVERYTHING I send to the county. They "lose" paperwork constantly and then blame us for not submitting it. I scan all my documents and keep them in a folder on my phone so I can resend them immediately when they mess up. For anyone reading this - always keep detailed records of what you submit and when. Take photos of your pay stubs, bank statements, everything. The county workers are overworked and make mistakes all the time, but WE'RE the ones who suffer when they do.

UPDATE: I want to share some good news. I just spoke with a CalWORKs supervisor about a similar situation. They confirmed that with the new policies implemented in 2025, counties are required to make THREE attempts to contact you for recertification before they can take negative action. If they miss the appointment, they must document their attempt and reschedule within 3 business days. Make sure you keep calling and specifically request to speak with a supervisor about a missed recertification appointment. Tell them you need it documented in the case notes that THEY missed the appointment, not you. If your benefits do get discontinued, you have the right to submit for "restoration of aid" without having to completely reapply if it's within 30 days of discontinuance.

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this - it's incredibly frustrating when you're already stressed about keeping your benefits and then they make it worse by missing their own appointments. I've been through similar situations and here's what helped me: Keep detailed records of every call attempt, including dates, times, and how long you waited on hold. If you have a smartphone, take screenshots of your call log showing the duration. When you do get through, immediately ask them to note in your case file that THEY missed the scheduled appointment, not you. Also, if you haven't already, try calling different county offices if your area has multiple locations - sometimes one office answers faster than others. And don't let them rush you off the phone once you do connect - make sure they reschedule your appointment AND confirm they've documented their mistake in your case notes. You're doing everything right by being proactive. The system is broken, but you have rights and protections. Keep fighting for what you need for your family!

I'm really grateful for all the responses! Nice to know I'm not the only one who was sweating this morning. I wish they would at least send us a text alert when the deposit is processed so we're not constantly checking our cards.

Same thing happened to me! Usually get mine on the 28th but it didn't come until today around 1pm. I was starting to panic because I have bills due tomorrow. It's so stressful when the timing changes like this - we depend on that consistency to budget and plan payments. At least we all got it eventually but the anxiety is real when you're counting on that money!

just so u know when they finally fix it they OWE U all the money from the months they didnt pay!!! dont let them tell u different!!! my friend had 6 months of back benefits when they finally fixed her case and she got like $4800 all at once! make sure they pay u for EVERY month u were eligible!!!

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this - it's absolutely infuriating and you shouldn't have to go through months without support for you and your kids. A few additional suggestions that have helped others in similar situations: Try calling the CalWORKs State Hearing Division directly at 1-800-743-8525 and requesting an "expedited fair hearing" due to hardship. They can sometimes put pressure on the county to resolve cases faster. Also, if you have any local food banks or churches, many have emergency assistance programs that can help with rent or utilities while you're fighting this. The 211 helpline (dial 2-1-1) can connect you to local emergency resources. One more thing - when you do finally get through to someone, ask them to put a "flag" on your case for urgency due to having minor children and no income. This sometimes helps prioritize your file. You're not alone in this struggle, and don't give up. The system is broken but your persistence will pay off eventually. Hang in there! 💙

Another thing to check - did you update your address recently or change your EBT card? Sometimes when info changes, the system gets confused about where to send the benefits and they show as pending until it resolves. This happened when I got a replacement card.

Just wanted to follow up - did your benefits come through? If you called and the system said pending, that typically means payment was authorized and just waiting for overnight processing. Curious if things worked out as expected or if you're still having issues.