As someone who's dealt with this exact situation multiple times, I can confirm everything others have shared here. The fraud protection system is actually pretty sensitive - I've had my card blocked just for using it at a different grocery store chain than usual, even within California! One thing I'd add is that when you call EBT customer service, be prepared with your full SSN, card number, and be able to verify some recent transactions. They ask a lot of security questions before they'll remove the block. Also, if you're planning to be out of state for more than a few days, ask them how long the "travel authorization" lasts - sometimes it's only good for 30 days and you might need to call again for longer trips. The whole system definitely needs better upfront communication, but at least the protection has gotten better since the skimming got so bad. I lost $400 in cash aid to skimmers at a gas station ATM last year and it took 3 weeks to get it replaced. So while the travel blocks are annoying, I'd rather deal with a phone call than lose all my benefits again.

I'm really glad this worked out for you! This whole thread has been incredibly educational - I had no idea about the travel notification requirements either. It's honestly shocking that this information isn't clearly communicated when you receive your EBT card. For anyone else reading this who might travel frequently, it sounds like calling ahead before your trip might be the smartest approach to avoid getting stuck without access to your benefits. The fraud protection makes total sense given all the skimming horror stories, but the lack of clear guidance from the state is really problematic. Also want to echo what others said about keeping that EBT customer service number (1-877-328-9677) saved in your phone and having all your card info ready when you call. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this is exactly the kind of practical knowledge that helps families navigate these systems successfully!

I went through something similar last year! The stress is absolutely overwhelming when you have little ones depending on you. Since you still have about 12 days before the actual cutoff date, you're in a much better position than I thought from your original post. Here's what worked for me: I went to the office super early (like 7:30 AM) without an appointment and explained it was an emergency situation with young children. They were able to fit me in that same day because of the urgency. Bring everything - your ID, the discontinuance notice, any recent pay stubs, rent receipts, and utility bills. Also, when you're there, ask about getting a copy of your case file to see what address they have on record for you. If there's a mismatch, that's solid proof you should have received the forms elsewhere. The good news is that if you can get everything submitted before the effective date, your benefits should continue without any interruption. You've got this - just take it one step at a time and don't be afraid to advocate for yourself and your babies! 💪

I'm so sorry you're going through this stress with two little ones! I've been in a similar situation and know how terrifying it feels. Since you discovered you still have time before the actual cutoff date, here's what I'd do RIGHT NOW: 1. Check BenefitsCal online immediately - log in and see if your renewal forms are available digitally 2. Call your county office first thing in the morning and explain you never received forms and have a 2-month-old baby 3. If you can't get through by phone, show up at opening time and ask for emergency assistance Bring EVERYTHING: your discontinuance notice, ID, recent pay stubs, rent receipt, utility bills, and any documentation of your address change. Ask specifically about "good cause" since you never received the forms. The key is getting everything submitted before that effective date on your notice - that way you avoid any gap in benefits entirely. You've got about 12 days which is actually doable if you act fast! Also document everything - get names, times, confirmation numbers. And don't let them brush you off - you have babies to feed and house, so be persistent but polite. Sending you strength mama - you can get through this! 💕

Hey! I'm actually heading to Vegas next week too and this thread has been so helpful! One thing I wanted to add - if you're flying Southwest, they have a partnership with some credit unions that offer fee-free ATM access even out of state. Might be worth checking if your EBT card is linked to any of those networks. Also, I learned from a friend that some of the bigger grocery stores in Vegas (like Smith's or Albertsons) let you get cash back when you buy something with your EBT card, which could save you ATM fees altogether. Just buy a small item and ask for cash back - way cheaper than ATM fees! Make sure to double-check which stores allow cash back with CalWORKs benefits though, since some only do it for CalFresh. Hope you have an amazing time with your family!

This is such great info! I'm new to the CalWORKs program and had no idea you could use benefits out of state. Reading through everyone's experiences has been really educational. I especially appreciate the tips about avoiding sketchy ATMs and keeping receipts - those are things I wouldn't have thought about as a newbie. Quick question though - if I'm traveling out of state, do I need to notify my caseworker beforehand or is it okay to just go as long as it's a short trip? I don't want to accidentally mess up my case by not following proper procedures. Thanks everyone for sharing your knowledge with those of us who are still learning the system!

I'm new to this community but your post really caught my attention because I'm going through something very similar right now! I reported an income change about a week ago when I started a new position that increased my monthly income from around $2,100 to $4,200, and just like you, my CalFresh benefits loaded yesterday even though I haven't heard back from my worker yet. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly educational and reassuring. It sounds like you absolutely did everything correctly by reporting your income change immediately through BenefitsCal - that timely reporting within the 10-day window is what protects you from overpayment issues. The consistent message from everyone who's been through this is that benefits loaded after your proper report are safe to use until you receive an official Notice of Action. Your income jump from $1,900 to $3,800 with 2 kids sounds like it will probably result in losing CalWORKs Cash Aid but you might still qualify for reduced CalFresh since those programs have different income limits and calculation methods. The waiting period seems to average 2-4 weeks based on what others are sharing, which is frustrating but apparently normal given how understaffed the county offices are. I'm definitely going to try calling my worker again tomorrow and might look into that Claimyr callback service someone mentioned if the regular phone lines keep dropping calls. It's so helpful to have this community of people who've been through the exact same situation recently! Congratulations on your new job! Even though navigating all these benefit changes is stressful, doubling your income is a huge accomplishment and a step toward financial stability. We're both moving in the right direction even if the transition feels overwhelming right now.

I'm new to this community but your post really speaks to me because I just went through this exact situation about a month ago! I started a new job that increased my income from $2,000 to $3,600 monthly and reported it immediately through BenefitsCal, just like you did. Then I had the same panic when my benefits loaded and I hadn't heard anything back from my worker. Everything everyone is telling you here is absolutely spot on - you did everything right by reporting within that 10-day window, and that timely reporting protects you from overpayments. I was terrified to touch my EBT card for the first week, but my worker eventually explained that benefits loaded after a proper report are yours to use until they officially process your case and send you that Notice of Action letter. It took exactly 3 weeks for me to get my official letter, and just like others have mentioned, I lost my CalWORKs Cash Aid but kept reduced CalFresh benefits. With your income going from $1,900 to $3,800 for a family of 3, you'll probably see the same outcome I did. The waiting is definitely the hardest part - I must have refreshed my BenefitsCal account a hundred times looking for updates! But keep those screenshots of your submission safe and don't stress about using what's on your card. You followed the rules perfectly. And congratulations on doubling your income! I know all these benefit changes make it feel complicated, but you're making huge progress toward financial independence. That's something to be really proud of even while navigating this stressful transition period.

What a relief to see this story end well! As someone who's been on CalFresh for about two years now, I've always been paranoid about making mistakes on my paperwork. Your experience really shows that the county workers are more reasonable than we often expect them to be. I had a similar scare last year when I realized I might have miscalculated some irregular babysitting income, but I was too scared to report it thinking they'd assume I was trying to cheat the system. Reading about how you handled this - especially the part about documenting your attempts to reach them - gives me confidence that I should have just been upfront about it. The advice about using that call service is gold too. I've wasted so many hours on hold just to get disconnected. Definitely going to bookmark that for future reference. Thanks for being brave enough to share both your mistake and the resolution. Stories like this make this community invaluable for those of us trying to navigate these systems honestly!

This thread has been incredibly educational and reassuring! As someone who just started the CalFresh application process last week, I was already worried about potentially missing something important on my forms. Reading about Mei's experience and seeing how supportively everyone responded really shows what a valuable community this is. The breakdown of different types of reportable income has been especially helpful - I had no idea that small investment accounts counted as income that needed to be reported. Like Mei, I probably would have thought of my tiny savings account interest as "not real income" since it's only a few dollars a month. The practical advice about documenting everything, using call services to get through to workers, and being proactive about corrections is going to be so useful. It's clear that honesty and transparency really do make a difference in how these situations are handled. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and expertise here. Knowing that mistakes can be corrected when you handle them properly takes away so much of the anxiety around these applications!