Thanks everyone for the advice! I called the county today using that Claimyr service and actually got through! The worker said I need to submit verification for my boyfriend and his kids (birth certificates, social, ID) and come in for an appointment. She said his kids can be added but he'll be considered non-needy since he's not the dad of my kids. She also said I should apply for emergency CalFresh since we have more mouths to feed now. I'm going to my appointment next week!

That's awesome that you got through and have an appointment set up! Just wanted to add a couple things that might help when you go in: 1. Bring multiple forms of address verification for everyone (utility bills, lease agreement, school enrollment records if the kids are in school) since proving they all live with you is super important. 2. Ask specifically about the Emergency Aid program while you're there - it can provide immediate help with things like deposits or moving expenses since you just had people move in. 3. Make sure to ask about the timeline for when the benefits would start if his kids get approved. Sometimes there's a delay and knowing when to expect changes helps with budgeting. 4. If any of his kids have special needs or medical conditions, mention that too as it might qualify you for additional support programs. The fact that you reported it right away and are being proactive about getting everything documented properly will definitely work in your favor. Hope your appointment goes smoothly!

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!!!!

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.

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!