Just wanted to add that if you're still having trouble reaching anyone, you can also try visiting your local EDD office in person if there's one near you. I know it's a hassle, but sometimes face-to-face is the only way to get clear answers. Bring the letter they sent you and any pay stubs from your current job. They can usually sort out wage reporting issues pretty quickly when you're right there in front of them. Also, don't stress too much - wage discrepancies happen all the time and it's usually just paperwork that needs to be corrected, not anything you did wrong!

As someone who went through this exact situation last year, I can tell you that dealing with both CalWORKs and EDD reporting can be super overwhelming at first! The good news is that everyone here has given you really solid advice - these are definitely two separate systems that don't talk to each other. From my experience, the EDD letter is most likely about wage verification from your employer, especially if you've had multiple jobs this year. Don't panic about it affecting your CalWORKs benefits as long as you're staying on top of your SAR7 reporting and watching your IRT. One thing that really helped me was creating a simple spreadsheet to track all my income reporting - when I reported to CalWORKs, when I submitted pay stubs, what my current IRT is, etc. It saved me from making mistakes later on. Also, if you do end up using that Claimyr service someone mentioned, it's definitely worth it. I used it once when I was dealing with a similar EDD issue and it saved me literally 3 hours of being on hold. Sometimes you just need to talk to a real person to get clarity on what they actually need from you. Keep all your documentation organized and don't stress too much - you're being proactive by asking questions here, which means you're already on the right track!

Does anyone know if this affects the increase we're supposed to get this month? I heard CalWORKs payments are going up by like $25 for a family of three starting in February.

This is exactly why I always check my account multiple times on payment day! Mine was delayed by about 4 hours last month too. For anyone still waiting, I've noticed that different banks process the deposits at different times even when CalWORKs releases them. Chase usually gets mine by 2am, but my friend with Bank of America sometimes doesn't see hers until late afternoon. The system definitely needs to be more consistent, but at least most delays seem to resolve within the same day. Hang in there everyone! 💪

Thank you all SO MUCH for this amazing info and support! I'm going to apply for CalWORKs today through BenefitsCal. I'll definitely mention our overcrowded housing situation and ask about the homeless assistance program. And I'll request that good cause exemption for the one father. I'm feeling hopeful for the first time in months. Even if the cash amount isn't huge, the childcare assistance alone would be life-changing so I could work more hours or take some classes. I'll update once I get through the process. Wish me luck!

You're so smart to apply today! Just wanted to add - when you're gathering your documents, make sure to bring proof of your rent payment (like receipts or bank statements showing the $800 payments) even though you're just renting a room. They need to see your actual housing costs to calculate your benefits correctly. Also, if you have any medical expenses for you or the kids (even just copays or prescriptions), bring those receipts too because they can deduct medical costs from your income which might increase your grant amount slightly. One last thing - don't be discouraged if your first caseworker seems rushed or unfriendly. Some are amazing and some are just overwhelmed. If you run into issues, you can always ask to speak with a supervisor. You've got this mama! 💪

i don think ur gonna get that bonus tbh. when u miss the SAR they close evrything and u gotta start from scratch. thats how the county rolls lol. u should focus on getting ur regular benefits back first tho.

I'm so sorry you're going through this stress! As someone who's dealt with similar CalWORKs issues, I wanted to add that you should also ask about requesting a "good cause" exemption for missing the SAR 7 deadline. Sometimes they can restore benefits without making you go through the full reapplication process if you can show you had good cause for the delay (even if it was just forgetting). Also, definitely keep documenting everything - save emails, write down names and dates of who you speak with, and get any promises in writing. The system can be really inconsistent between workers, so having documentation helps if you need to escalate later. Fingers crossed your new application gets approved quickly and you can get that job bonus! 🤞

the same exact thing happened to me but with my job income. i quit my full time job and started a part time one but they still counted my old income even tho i gave them my new paystubs. the whole system is rigged i swear

So glad you got it resolved by going in person! This is exactly why I always recommend talking to a supervisor when the regular worker makes mistakes like this. The system is supposed to consider current income, especially when you provide documentation of a change BEFORE they make their decision. It's frustrating that you had to waste 3 hours waiting, but at least they admitted their error and are fixing it. Hopefully other people dealing with similar income changes will see this and know that persistence pays off. Make sure you get a copy of everything they processed today for your records!