I work with families navigating CalWORKs, and here's what you should know about direct deposit: 1. The standard processing time is 1 payment cycle (your worker is correct) 2. March's payment will be a check as scheduled 3. April's payment should go to direct deposit 4. You can verify it's set up by calling the EBT customer service line (not the county office) and asking if direct deposit is showing as active on your account If you want to be proactive, call your worker in late March just to confirm everything is on track for April's direct deposit. Document who you speak with and what they tell you, just in case there are any issues later.

Just wanted to add my experience - I set up direct deposit in January and it worked exactly like everyone is saying. Got my last paper check that month, then direct deposit started the next cycle. The key thing is to make sure you save that direct deposit confirmation paperwork they give you (or take a photo of it) because if there are any issues later, having that reference number makes it way easier to resolve. Also, once it kicks in, the money usually hits your account on the 1st or 2nd of the month instead of waiting for the mail on the 10th, so it's definitely worth the wait!

I'm so glad you finally got through to someone and got this sorted out! This exact same thing happened to my sister - she submitted her redetermination in September and it just sat there until December when she finally got a worker who actually looked at her file. It's absolutely ridiculous how backed up they are. One thing that helped her was asking the worker to put a note in her file about the processing delay so if it happens again there's already documentation that it wasn't her fault. Also, she started taking photos of every document before submitting just in case the receipt gets lost. I hope your benefits come through quickly and you can catch up on everything. Having kids and dealing with this stress is just awful. Sending you good vibes that everything works out!

I'm so sorry you and your kids had to go through this stress! It's unacceptable that your redetermination sat unprocessed for months. I went through something similar last year where my paperwork got "lost" in their system for 6 weeks. Since you mentioned being behind on rent and bills, make sure to ask about their Homeless Prevention Program when you call back - sometimes they can help with emergency rental assistance while you're waiting for benefits to resume. Also, contact 211 (dial 2-1-1) for local food banks and emergency assistance programs that can help bridge the gap. Document everything - the worker's name who helped you, case numbers, dates, what they promised. If your benefits don't show up in those 3-5 days, escalate immediately. You've already been through enough! Keeping my fingers crossed that everything comes through quickly for you and your family.

UPDATE: I finally got through to someone! There was a glitch in their system that affected a bunch of people who get the diaper allowance. The worker said they're fixing it and I should see the payment in 3-5 business days. She also said they're supposed to come with the regular Cash Aid payment on the 1st, but sometimes it processes separately. Thanks everyone for your help!

wait theres a diaper allowance with calworks?? ive been on cash aid for 4 months with my 1 yr old and nobody told me about this! how much is it and how do u apply?

So glad you figured it out! This is exactly why I always recommend calling right when they open at 8am - much shorter wait times. The school attendance verification thing is so confusing because they never explain why one program needs it and the other doesn't. At least now you know for next time. Hope your CalFresh gets reactivated quickly once you submit that form!

This exact same thing happened to me about 6 months ago! CalWORKs pending, CalFresh canceled during renewal. I panicked thinking I'd lost my food benefits permanently. Turned out they needed an updated utility bill that somehow only affected my CalFresh case. The whole thing was resolved within a week once I submitted the right document. Definitely call first thing in the morning - the wait times are so much better at 8am. And don't worry, they can usually backdate your benefits if it's their error or a missing verification issue. Keep us posted on how it goes!

have u tried contacting ur local legal aid office? they help with calworks issues for free. my friend got help from them when her worker was saying she was over the income limit when she wasnt

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this - it's incredibly stressful when you're already struggling financially and the system that's supposed to help you is making things worse. One thing that hasn't been mentioned yet is contacting your state assemblymember or state senator's office. They have constituent services staff who specifically handle problems with state agencies like CalWORKs. I had a similar issue where my worker was being completely unreasonable, and after calling my assemblymember's office, someone from their team contacted the county director directly. My case was reassigned within a week and the new worker immediately accepted the same documents the previous worker had rejected. You can find your representatives at findyourrep.legislature.ca.gov - just enter your address. Their staff deal with CalWORKs issues all the time and they know exactly who to contact to get things moving. Also, while you're working on getting a new worker, you might want to ask about the CalWORKs Immediate Need payment that someone mentioned earlier. Even if your regular benefits are delayed, you may qualify for emergency assistance to help with your rent deadline. Hang in there - you have rights and there are people who will help you enforce them!