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Not yet, it's next week. I'll update after we find out what happens. Really appreciate all the helpful info from everyone here.
Good luck with your recert appointment next week! Just want to add that you should also ask about any transitional benefits or support services they might have available. Some counties offer short-term rental assistance or utility help for families transitioning from welfare to work. Also, if your wife's hours or income change after the recert, make sure you understand exactly when and how to report those changes so you don't run into issues later. The whole system can be overwhelming but it sounds like you're being proactive about everything which is great. Hope everything works out for your family!
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UPDATE: I just got through to a supervisor at my county office. There's currently a system-wide issue affecting some CalWORKs payments in several counties. They're aware of the problem and are working to resolve it. Payments should be processed within 24-48 hours. If you're experiencing a financial emergency because of this delay, ask specifically for an "Emergency Payment Request" - supervisors have the authority to issue these even when the system is down. Hope this helps those in the same situation!
THANK YOU for this update!!! I'm going to call first thing tomorrow and ask for that Emergency Payment Request. My landlord is already texting me about the rent being late. Did they say what caused the system issue?
They didn't give specific details, but the supervisor mentioned it was related to the monthly batch processing at the state level. Apparently, some cases got caught in what they called a "verification loop" where the system was waiting for confirmation that wasn't actually needed. Be sure to mention you have an urgent need (rent due) when you request the emergency payment.
I'm so sorry you're going through this stress! The same thing happened to my neighbor last month - her CalWORKs cash aid just didn't show up on the 1st with no warning. She was panicking about rent too. After hours of calling, she found out it was a "system verification hold" that required a supervisor to manually release. The county worker couldn't even explain why it happened, just said sometimes the computer flags cases randomly. She got her money 3 days later but had to borrow from family to avoid late fees. Definitely keep calling and ask to speak to a supervisor immediately - don't let them put you off. Document the time and date of every call attempt in case you need to file a complaint later. Hoping yours gets resolved faster than hers did!
Thank you for sharing your neighbor's experience! It's both reassuring and frustrating to know this happens to other people too. I'm definitely going to push to speak with a supervisor tomorrow morning and I'll make sure to document everything like you suggested. Did your neighbor have to pay any late fees on her rent, or was her landlord understanding about the county's mistake? I'm hoping mine will be reasonable if I can show it's not my fault.
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the whole system is DESIGNED to nickel and dime us poor people i swear!!!! why do we only get 4 free withdraws when rich people get unlimited?? and why do we have to pay ANYTHING to access OUR OWN MONEY?? the county should be required to give us our full benefits without any bank taking a cut thru fees!!!!
I feel you ❤️ The system is definitely stacked against us. Every dollar counts when you're on benefits. But at least knowing about the BofA free withdrawals helps a little bit. I try to just be grateful that we have *something* to help, even if it's not perfect.
Just wanted to add that some 7-Eleven stores also let you do cash back with no fees when you buy something small! I discovered this when I was desperate for cash late at night and the Bank of America ATM was out of order. Bought a bottle of water for $1.50 and got $40 cash back with no extra charge. Not all 7-Elevens do this though, so you have to ask first. Also congrats on finally getting your benefits sorted out - 3 months of verification issues sounds absolutely exhausting! Hope things get easier for you now.
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UPDATE: Going inside the bank worked!!! The teller was able to process a cash withdrawal from my EBT card with no problem. She said sometimes the ATM network has issues with EBT cards but counter transactions use a different system. Thank you all for the suggestions! Crisis averted and rent will be paid today!
So glad it worked out! I'm going to remember this trick for next time!
This is such a helpful thread! I've been on CalWORKs for 6 months and had no idea that bank tellers could process EBT cash withdrawals manually. I've been struggling with ATM issues too - sometimes they work fine, other times they don't, and I never knew there was an alternative. Definitely bookmarking this info for future reference. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and solutions!
Same here! I've been dealing with random ATM failures for months and just assumed it was my fault or that I had to wait it out. This is such valuable information that should honestly be more widely known. It's frustrating that we have to learn these workarounds through community forums instead of being told upfront about all our options. Really grateful for communities like this where people actually help each other navigate these systems!
Molly Hansen
The CalFresh calculation is really complicated! They take your total gross income, subtract a standard deduction based on household size, then subtract 20% of earned income, then subtract child care expenses, then subtract housing costs (but only up to a certain amount)... it's no wonder the amounts seem random sometimes. Definitely get that budget worksheet when you finally reach someone!
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PrinceJoe
•I had no idea it was that complicated! I'll definitely ask for that worksheet. Thanks everyone for the help, I feel a little less crazy now knowing there might be an actual explanation for this.
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Brady Clean
Make sure when you call that you specifically mention you need to know why your CalFresh dropped from $850 to $397 even after your sanction was removed. Sometimes the workers don't volunteer information unless you ask very specific questions. Also, it's possible that the $850 might have included some retroactive benefits that made it temporarily higher. Did you receive any lump-sum payments or back benefits around the time you were getting $850?
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PrinceJoe
•Now that you mention it, I think there might have been some back pay involved when I first got the $850. I remember there was an issue with my application that took extra time to resolve, and then I got a larger payment. So maybe the $850 wasn't my normal amount to begin with? Ugh this is all so confusing.
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Keisha Brown
•That makes total sense! If the $850 included back pay, then your regular monthly amount was probably closer to what you're getting now (adjusted for the smaller household size). When they processed your sanction removal, they would have calculated your ongoing monthly benefit based on your current 3-person household, not the 4-person household you had when you first applied. So really, the $397 might actually be the correct amount for your current situation. Still worth getting that budget worksheet to confirm everything is accurate though!
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