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!

ok update - i just txted my cousin who works for san benito county (next to monterey) and she said right now ALL counties are backed up with benefit theft claims cuz theres been a huge spike in EBT fraud. so monterey aint the only slow one fyi

I'm so sorry this happened to you! I went through the same thing in Monterey County about 6 months ago. The wait was absolutely nerve-wracking, especially with bills piling up. What really helped me was documenting everything - I kept a log of every phone call, who I spoke with, and what they told me. Also, if you haven't already, make sure you request a card replacement in addition to the benefit replacement. They're separate processes and you'll need the new card to access your benefits once they're restored. One more thing - see if your local food bank or churches have emergency assistance programs while you wait. I found a few places that helped with groceries so I could save whatever little money I had left for rent. Hang in there, you'll get through this!

Wow, this is exactly what I'm dealing with right now too! My CalWORKs got cut off two weeks ago in Riverside County and I'm still trying to figure out what happened. Reading through all these responses is so helpful - I had no idea about the expedited processing option or that I could get my worker's direct number. The address issue you mentioned is concerning because I moved about 6 months ago and thought I updated everything properly. Now I'm wondering if that's why I didn't get any notices either. I'm definitely going to call tomorrow and specifically ask them to verify they have my correct address in ALL their systems. Thanks for sharing your experience and keeping us updated! It gives me hope that this can actually get resolved relatively quickly if I stay on top of it. I'm also going to check out that Claimyr service someone mentioned since I've been trying to call DPSS for days with no luck.

I went through this exact same situation in Riverside County about 8 months ago and it was incredibly stressful! My benefits got cut off without warning and when I finally got to speak with someone, they told me they had sent multiple notices to an address I hadn't lived at in over a year. What really helped me was going to the office in person with ALL my documents - lease, utility bills, pay stubs, everything - even if they didn't specifically ask for them. The worker was able to see exactly what was missing from my file and we got it sorted out right there. I also made sure to get a receipt showing I had submitted everything. One tip I wish someone had told me: ask for a supervisor if the first worker you talk to seems unhelpful or gives you conflicting information. I wasted two weeks getting the runaround from one worker who kept telling me different things, but the supervisor was able to expedite my case once she reviewed it. My benefits were restored in about 12 days and I did get retroactive payments for the time I was without them. Hang in there - I know how scary it is when you have kids to feed and rent to pay, but it will get resolved!

UPDATE: I finally got through to someone at the county office! They confirmed they received my pregnancy verification but it was sitting in a queue waiting to be processed. The worker I spoke with went ahead and updated my case while I was on the phone. My benefits will increase starting next month AND they're giving me back pay for this month since I was already past 6 months when I submitted my verification. Thank you all for your help! For anyone dealing with this same issue - definitely keep calling until you reach someone. The squeaky wheel gets the grease!

That's such great news! I'm so glad you were persistent and got it resolved. It's frustrating that these benefits don't update automatically like they should, but your experience gives me hope for my own case. I'm currently 5 months pregnant and want to make sure I'm prepared to follow up right when I hit 6 months. Did they mention anything about what specific documentation they need beyond just the pregnancy verification form? And was there a particular time of day you found better for getting through on the phone?

thats so good they fixing it!! the system is always messing up peoples benefits its like they dont even care that were real people who need to pay bills and feed are kids!

I'm so glad you got this resolved! This is exactly why we need better communication from the county when these system errors happen. Nobody should have to panic about rent money because of a software glitch. It's ridiculous that they can just cut people's benefits by 90% without any notice or explanation. Thank you to everyone who shared helpful advice - especially about Claimyr and knowing our rights to emergency hearings. This community really helps when the system fails us.