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So is this your first time on Cash Aid? You should know they have this 48-month time limit thing where you can only get CalWORKs for 48 months total in your life. Just thought I'd mention it since you said you're new to it. Not sure if this is helpful but I wish someone had told me that when I first applied lol.
thats true but if u have babies under 24 months sometimes u can get exempt from welfare to work requirements! def ask about that OP!!!!
To answer your question from earlier - backpay usually comes as a separate lump sum payment. And specifically, you should ask your worker about your "beginning date of aid" and confirm whether you'll receive "retroactive benefits" or "restoration of aid" for December and January. Also, since you mentioned this is your first time on CalWORKs and you have newborn twins, make sure to ask about: 1. The Special Needs Diaper Allowance - extra money for children under 3 years old 2. CalWORKs childcare benefits if you plan to work or go to school 3. Exemption from Welfare to Work requirements - you may qualify for an exemption with newborn twins These additional benefits can make a big difference in your budget!
Thank you so much for this detailed info! I had no idea about the diaper allowance. I finally reached a worker today and they confirmed I'll get payments back to mid-December when my application was complete with the birth certificates. They're sending the retroactive payment separately next week!
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Omg the whole system is SO frustrating!! I swear they make it confusing on purpose. Last month they told me my Cash Aid would be deposited on the 3rd but it didn't show up until the 7th and I couldn't get ahold of ANYONE to explain why. My rent was late and I got charged a fee. I hate how they expect us to budget when we can't even find out when our money is coming! The EBT phone line is useless half the time. And don't get me started on the reporting requirements...
That's exactly what I'm worried about! I need to pay my rent on time and I can't afford any late fees. It's so frustrating.
Just to add one more option - if you have a smartphone, you can download the ConnectEBT app (the official app for managing your EBT card). Some counties now show upcoming deposits in that app. Not all counties have this feature enabled, but it's worth checking. You can also try texting your county office - LA County has a text service where you can get some basic case info. Lastly, if you're having trouble getting through by phone, you can always visit your local DPSS office in person. They can print out a payment schedule for you that shows your upcoming payment dates for the next few months.
I didn't know about the ConnectEBT app! I'll try that too. Thank you for all these suggestions. I'll update here once I figure it out in case it helps someone else too.
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they want the gross income for reporting! not what u actually bring home after taxes!!! thats how they got me with an overpayment lol
Correct! The Income Reporting Threshold (IRT) is always based on gross income before any deductions. That's a common misunderstanding that causes a lot of overpayment issues.
also think about ur medi-cal!! when u stop calworks ur medi-cal should continue but sometimes they mess up and terminate that too. make sure u tell them u still want medi-cal reviewed separately if u need it!!
That's a really good point I hadn't even thought about. I definitely still need Medi-Cal at least until my new job's health insurance kicks in after 90 days. I'll make sure to mention that specifically when I terminate the CalWORKs.
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The WORST part about CalWORKs is how they never tell you ANYTHING. Like they expect us to be mind readers?! I swear they deliberately make it hard to contact them so they can save money when people give up trying. Did your job put you over the income limit? Because that could explain it, but they're still supposed to TELL YOU with a Notice of Action!!!
Definitely not over the income limit - I only make about $750/month at this job and my IRT is $2,800. I agree about the communication though - it's so frustrating not knowing what's happening with money you depend on!
UPDATE: I finally got through to someone! Used that Claimyr service someone mentioned and got connected to a real person in about 15 minutes. The worker confirmed my payment was on hold for an income review but said there was no reason for the delay since everything was properly reported. She manually released the payment and said it should be in my account within 48 hours. She also noted in my file that I'm well below my IRT so this shouldn't happen again. Thank you all for your help and suggestions!
Glad to hear you got it resolved! This happens more often than it should with income changes. One tip for the future: whenever you report new income, ask your worker to note in your file that it's below the IRT and no payment hold is needed. Sometimes that prevents the automatic system flags. Good luck with the new job!
SEE? That's exactly what happened to me! The system automatically puts payments on hold even when you do everything right. At least your worker was helpful - mine gave me attitude like I did something wrong. So infuriating!
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Here's what you need to do: 1) Call your worker and specifically ask if your sanction has been officially CURED in the system (not just that the cure process has started). 2) Ask them to verify you've submitted all required participation verification. 3) Request a clear timeline for when you can expect the $200 incentive payment. 4) Ask them to send you something in writing confirming all of this. The participation incentive is an established program, but the timing and process varies by county.
Thank you! I'll definitely do this. I didn't realize there were so many steps involved. The worker definitely made it sound simpler when I was there in person.
oh also make sure ur not confusing the WTW participation payment with the diaper stipend if u have kids under 3. they're different things but both around the same amount
My kids are 5 and 7, so definitely the WTW payment. I didn't even know there was a diaper stipend! That would have been helpful a few years ago lol
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No, it was definitely theft - I could see the transactions on my EBT account history at stores I've never been to in another city. My balance went from $714 to $0 in one day with 4 different withdrawals.
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Dont forget they count GROSS income for IRT not net!!! Thats what got me in truble. I was only thinking about what I toke home after taxes but they count before taxes for the IRT!
Omg thank you for pointing that out!! I was definitely thinking about net income after taxes. That's really important to know.
Looks like you've gotten great answers! Just to summarize since there's been a lot of information: 1. Your IRT is about YOUR income (wages, unemployment, etc.), not the benefits you receive 2. CalWORKs and CalFresh have separate IRTs - you need to report if you exceed either one 3. The IRT is based on GROSS monthly income (before taxes/deductions) 4. You must report within 10 days of knowing your income will exceed the IRT 5. Starting a new job doesn't need to be reported mid-period unless it puts you over the IRT Hope that helps clarify everything!
Thank you so much for summarizing! This thread has been so helpful. I feel much more confident about my reporting requirements now.
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what ever u do DONT CALL THEM!!! if they made a mistake in your favor just keep it lol. I got extra $$ once and called like an idiot and they took it back the next month. sometimes its better not to ask questions just sayin
That's actually not good advice. If it's an error and they find out later (which they almost always do during reconciliation), they'll consider it an overpayment and you'll have to pay it back regardless. Better to know what it is so you can plan accordingly. If it's rightfully yours, great! If not, at least you won't be surprised when they reduce future payments to recoup it.
Update: So I finally got through to my worker! It IS the diaper benefit! She said they've been rolling it out and doing retroactive payments for eligible families. Since my daughter has been on my case for 12 months, I got $360 ($30 x 12). Going forward it'll just be included in my regular payment. Thanks everyone for your help!
Great news! This is exactly why it's always good to check. Glad you got confirmation and now you can use that money without worrying. The diaper benefit has been super helpful for many families - glad you're getting it too!
Yayyy!! Free money we didnt even know about lol. Get those diapers girl!
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Dealing with this EXACT situation right now!!! Why is everything so complicated with the county?? I applied for CalWORKs in January then got a job two weeks later. Called to cancel and they said they'd note it in my file. But then I got a letter saying I needed to come in for an interview anyway!!! I called again and they said I needed to write a letter to withdraw. Like WHY couldn't they have told me that the first time?? The whole system is designed to make you give up I swear.
omg this is why i tell everyone to get EVERYTHING in writing from them!! they will tell u different things every time u call its maddening
Update: My sister was able to withdraw her application! She used that Claimyr service someone mentioned and got through to a caseworker in about 20 minutes. They took her withdrawal over the phone but also told her to send an email confirmation to the general county email with her case number and personal info. They said she'll get a confirmation letter in about a week. Thanks everyone for your help!
nice!! glad it worked out! tell her congrats on the new job!!
Jamal Washington
I'VE BEEN TRYING TO REACH MY CASEWORKER FOR 2 WEEKS to fix an issue with my card not working at ATMs!!!! They NEVER answer!!!! Left 12 MESSAGES!!!!! Anyone know how to actually get someone on the phone????? so frustrating!!!!!
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Mei Wong
•Try Claimyr. I was in the same boat—couldn't reach anyone for days and my benefits weren't showing up on my card. Claimyr got me connected to an actual worker in like 20 minutes when I'd been trying for ages. They call and wait on hold for you then call you when they get someone. Saved me a ton of stress. Their site is claimyr.com and there's a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/jzISHxCPLwE
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Aisha Abdullah
Thanks everyone for the super helpful info! I'm going to use the BofA ATMs to avoid fees and try the cash back at stores. Looks like I need to learn the difference between using the CASH vs FOOD options on the card. Will the cashier know which one to select if I just tell them I want to use Cash Aid? Also still wondering about my PIN - will the card come with instructions on setting that up?
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Ethan Davis
•Your PIN should have been set up when you got the card (it's usually mailed separately from the card for security). If you don't have it, call the EBT customer service number on the back of the card and they can help you set a new one. And yes, just tell the cashier you want to use it as CASH not FOOD and they'll know what to do. You'll need to press the correct buttons if using it at an ATM though - always select CASH/CREDIT not FOOD/EBT when withdrawing Cash Aid.
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