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Congratulations on your pregnancy, Liam! 🎉 This thread has been such a goldmine of information - I'm new to this community but had to jump in because everyone's shared experiences are so incredibly helpful! I just went through this process in San Mateo County (Region 1) when I had my son 3 months ago. I got $161 extra per month added to my CalWORKs case, plus the $30 diaper benefit which thankfully was added automatically. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is to ask about the Emergency Assistance program when you call - if you have any unexpected expenses related to the birth (like extra medical bills or if you need emergency baby supplies), they sometimes have one-time emergency funds available. I didn't know about this until after the fact, but it could be helpful to know about just in case. Also, since you mentioned being due in September, that timing actually works out well because it's right before the new benefit year starts in October. Your case will get reviewed anyway, so all the baby-related changes should process smoothly together. The advice everyone's given about calling the main CalWORKs line (1-877-847-3663) instead of waiting for your caseworker is spot on. I saved myself weeks of frustration by doing exactly that. And definitely make that checklist of everything to ask about - cash aid increase, diaper benefit, WTW exemption, written confirmation, updating Medi-Cal, housing updates if applicable, and WIC coordination. Best of luck with the rest of your pregnancy! This community is amazing for real-world advice that actually helps. 💕
Welcome to the community and thanks for sharing your experience in San Mateo County! $161 is right in line with what others in Region 1 have reported. That's such a valuable tip about the Emergency Assistance program - I had no idea that existed! Definitely adding that to my ever-growing list of things to ask about. It's reassuring to know there might be help available if unexpected expenses come up with the birth or baby needs. You're absolutely right about the September timing working out well with the October benefit year - I hadn't really thought about that advantage but it makes total sense that everything would process together more smoothly. This whole thread has been incredible - I started with one simple question and now I have a complete roadmap thanks to everyone sharing their real experiences. The main CalWORKs number (1-877-847-3663), written confirmations, the comprehensive checklist of benefits to ask about - all of this practical advice is worth more than any official pamphlet! I'm feeling so much more confident and prepared now. Thank you for adding even more helpful details to this amazing discussion! 🙏💕
Congratulations on your pregnancy, Liam! 🎉 This entire thread has been absolutely incredible to read through - I'm blown away by how supportive and informative this community is! I'm also new here but wanted to share my recent experience adding my baby to CalWORKs in Santa Clara County (Region 1) just 6 weeks ago. I received $167 extra per month for my newborn, and fortunately the $30 diaper benefit was included automatically without me having to fight for it. One additional tip I haven't seen mentioned - when you go to report the birth, ask if they can schedule your next SAR-7 review to align better with your new family situation. Sometimes they can adjust the timing to make reporting easier, especially since you'll have a lot of changes happening at once. Also, don't forget to ask about transportation assistance if you need to get to medical appointments with the baby - some counties have programs that help with bus passes or gas vouchers for families with newborns. The advice everyone has given about keeping copies of everything and getting written confirmation is so crucial. I learned that lesson the hard way with other benefits! And that main CalWORKs line (1-877-847-3663) really is a game changer compared to waiting for your assigned worker. You're so smart to plan ahead - September babies are lucky! This community has given you an amazing foundation of knowledge. Best wishes for a healthy pregnancy and smooth benefit updates! 💕
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I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who responded here - this thread has been incredibly helpful! I was getting so anxious about the "no pending benefits" message, but hearing from so many people who experienced the exact same thing (and still got approved) is really reassuring. Special thanks to Alice Pierce for the official explanation from someone who actually works in the system - that completely put my fears to rest. I'm going to follow everyone's advice and call first thing Monday morning when the county office opens. I'll definitely mention my rent situation and ask about immediate need assistance during the interview. I'll also check my mail and junk email daily for any notices. This community is amazing - it's so helpful to have real people sharing their actual experiences with these confusing government systems. I'll update this thread once I hear back from them in case it helps other people going through the same thing!
I'm so glad this thread was helpful for you! It's really frustrating how the BenefitsCal system creates so much unnecessary anxiety when people are already dealing with financial stress. Your plan sounds perfect - calling first thing Monday morning is definitely the way to go. Just wanted to add that when you do get through to someone, don't hesitate to ask them to confirm they can see your application in their system and get an estimated timeline for your interview. Sometimes they can give you a better sense of where things stand than what the website shows. Also, if the first person you talk to isn't helpful, it's totally okay to call back and try again with someone else - different workers can sometimes give different levels of assistance. Fingers crossed you hear back from them soon, and definitely keep us updated on how it goes! This thread will probably help so many other people who are going through the same confusing experience.
I went through this exact same situation about 6 months ago and it was so stressful! The BenefitsCal website showed "no pending benefits" for almost two weeks, but I actually got approved and received my first payment within a month of applying. What really helped me was keeping a simple log of when I applied, what confirmation number I got, and when I checked the site - that way when I finally got through to a real person, I had all the details ready. Also, don't forget to check your physical mailbox every day - my interview notice came in a plain white envelope that almost looked like junk mail. The county worker I eventually spoke with told me their system updates are often 3-4 days behind what's actually happening in their processing queue. Since you mentioned having kids, make sure to ask about the additional family member benefits during your interview - sometimes they don't automatically calculate those properly on the first pass. Hang in there, the waiting is the worst part but it sounds like you did everything right with your application!
This is such great practical advice, especially about keeping a log of all the details! I wish I had thought to do that from the beginning - now I'm trying to remember exactly when I submitted everything. The tip about the plain white envelope is super helpful too because I probably would have assumed it was junk mail. I'm definitely going to be extra careful checking my mailbox over the next few days. It's also good to know about asking specifically about the additional family member benefits during the interview. I have two kids (ages 3 and 7) so I want to make sure they calculate everything correctly. Did you find that having kids helped speed up the process at all, or was it pretty much the same timeline? Thanks for sharing your experience and the encouragement - it really helps to hear from someone who went through the exact same website issues and still got approved!
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I'm so glad I found this thread! Just got approved for Cash Aid last week and I've been having the exact same issues with ATMs. My caseworker literally just said "your benefits will be loaded on your card" and that was it - no explanation about daily limits, fees, or which banks actually work! I tried three different ATMs yesterday and had completely different experiences at each one. Wells Fargo declined me entirely (which seems to be a common problem based on what everyone's saying), Chase let me get $200, and Bank of America worked the best. The EBT Edge app that people mentioned here is a total game changer - I had no idea it existed! Just downloaded it and found several fee-free ATMs near me. And I definitely didn't know about getting cash back at grocery stores instead of paying those ridiculous ATM fees. It's honestly ridiculous that we have to learn all this stuff from each other instead of getting proper guidance when we're approved. We're already dealing with enough stress without having to play detective just to access our own benefits! Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences - this has been more helpful than anything official I've received.
Welcome to the club! 😅 It's honestly shocking how they just throw us into this system with zero guidance. I'm pretty new to Cash Aid myself and had to learn everything the hard way too. The EBT Edge app has been a total lifesaver - wish someone had told me about it from day one instead of me stumbling around different ATMs getting declined and charged fees left and right. Bank of America ATMs definitely seem to be the most reliable from what I've experienced. Also don't forget about the cash back option at grocery stores - it's free and you can usually get up to $300 which is way better than those $4 ATM fees adding up! We really shouldn't have to figure this stuff out on our own but at least we can help each other navigate this confusing system.
This is such a helpful thread! I'm in a similar situation - just got my first Cash Aid payment and had no clue about any of these ATM limitations. My caseworker didn't explain anything either, just handed me the EBT card and said "good luck" basically. I've been trying different ATMs all week and getting so frustrated. Wells Fargo has been completely useless - declined every time. I had better luck at a local credit union but they still limited me to $200. Reading through everyone's experiences here, I'm definitely going to: 1. Download that EBT Edge app ASAP 2. Try Bank of America ATMs since multiple people said they work better 3. Start getting cash back at grocery stores instead of paying those crazy ATM fees 4. Call the customer service number (877-328-9677) to find fee-free locations It's honestly sad that we have to crowdsource this basic information instead of getting proper guidance from our caseworkers. Thank you everyone for sharing your trial-and-error experiences - you've saved me a lot of time and frustration! Has anyone had luck with credit union ATMs? There's a big one near me but I haven't tried it yet.
I've had mixed results with credit unions! Some work great with EBT cards while others don't accept them at all. The one near my place (Golden State Credit Union) lets me withdraw up to $400 per transaction with no fees, which has been amazing. But I tried another credit union across town and they completely blocked my EBT card. It really seems to vary by location and their individual policies. Definitely worth trying since credit unions usually have lower fees than big banks when they do work! Just have a backup plan in case they don't accept EBT. The EBT Edge app should show you which ones are fee-free in your area too.
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I'm so sorry you're dealing with this stress, Emma! System errors like this are unfortunately becoming more common with CalWORKs. Since you mentioned rent is due next week, you might want to contact your local CalWORKs office about emergency aid options while this gets resolved - some counties have emergency assistance programs for situations exactly like this. Also, if you haven't already, document everything (date/time of calls, worker names, confirmation numbers) in case you need to escalate this further. The fact that your CalFresh loaded normally but Cash Aid didn't definitely suggests a system glitch rather than an eligibility issue. Hoping your benefits show up tomorrow as promised!
This whole situation really highlights how vulnerable we are when these systems fail! I'm new here but have been dealing with CalWORKs for about 6 months now. Emma, I'm so glad you got through to someone and it's getting resolved. For anyone else reading this thread, I learned the hard way to always take screenshots of your BenefitsCal account showing your approval status - it helped me when I had a similar issue last month. Also, if you're ever in this situation again, try calling right at 8 AM when they open, that's when I usually have the best luck getting through. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences, it really helps to know we're not alone in dealing with these frustrating system glitches!
I'm really glad to see this got resolved for you, Emma! This is exactly why this community is so valuable - when the system fails us, at least we have each other for support and advice. System errors seem to be happening way too frequently lately, and it's scary how quickly our benefits can just disappear without warning. I've been on CalWORKs for about a year now and this thread taught me so much - I had no idea about emergency same-day releases at local offices or about Claimyr. I'm definitely saving all these tips for future reference. It's also really helpful to see how persistent everyone had to be to get through to workers. For anyone else reading this who might face similar issues - document everything and don't give up! The system is broken but there are people who will help if you keep pushing.
I completely agree, Ava! As someone who's been navigating CalWORKs for the past few months, threads like this are incredibly valuable. Emma's situation really shows how quickly things can go wrong even when you've done everything right - approved through October 2025 and then suddenly no deposit! It's terrifying how much we depend on these systems working properly. I'm definitely taking notes on all the advice shared here, especially about going to the local office for emergency releases and calling right at 8 AM. The fact that this turned out to be a system error affecting multiple cases makes me wonder how many other families are dealing with similar issues right now. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and tips - it's reassuring to know there's a supportive community here when these bureaucratic nightmares happen!
Paolo Longo
This is such a helpful thread! I just want to add that if you're having trouble reaching your eligibility worker by phone, you can also try sending them a secure message through your county's online portal if they have one. Some counties have gotten better about responding to those within 24-48 hours. Also, when you do get through to your worker, ask them to explain what verification documents you need to submit on a regular basis and when they're due. I started keeping a calendar reminder for all my CalWORKs deadlines after going through this same cash aid hold situation twice! It's so much less stressful when you know what's coming up and can stay ahead of the deadlines. The fact that your CalFresh still works is actually a good sign - it means your case isn't closed, just temporarily held for that specific verification. Once you get that school attendance form processed, everything should go back to normal!
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Olivia Clark
•This is really solid advice about keeping track of deadlines! I wish someone had told me this when I first started receiving benefits. I've been scrambling to figure out what documents I need and when they're due. One thing I'd add is to also ask your worker for their direct phone number and extension if possible. Some workers are better about returning calls than others, but having that direct line can save you from going through the main county number every time. Also, if your worker is out or unavailable, ask to speak with their supervisor or another worker in the unit who can access your case. The online portal suggestion is great too - my county just started offering that and it's been a lifesaver for submitting documents without having to go in person or deal with fax machines that never seem to work!
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Aisha Mohammed
I'm dealing with something similar right now! My EBT card works perfectly for CalFresh but I haven't been able to access my Cash Aid for almost a week. Reading through all these responses is making me realize I probably have a verification hold too. I think I remember getting a letter about needing to submit some kind of income verification, but honestly I get so many letters from the county that I sometimes lose track of what needs to be turned in when. Does anyone know if they give you a specific deadline on those verification requests, or is it just "submit as soon as possible"? Also, I'm curious - if your Cash Aid gets put on hold like this, do you still accrue the benefits for those days, or do you lose that money completely? Like if it takes a week to get the hold removed, will I get that week's worth of benefits or is it just gone? Thanks to everyone sharing their experiences - it's really helpful to know this is a common issue and not something more serious with my case!
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