Any updates? Did your benefits come through today?

I'm so glad you got it resolved! That's such a frustrating situation - having your ex apply elsewhere and list your kids without telling you, then having the system flag YOUR account because of HIS application. It's crazy that these systems can't tell the difference or at least send you a notice explaining what's happening. I'm definitely bookmarking that Claimyr service for future reference. Hope your landlord situation works out okay now that you have your payment!

Just wanted to add one more thing - if you absolutely cannot wait until Tuesday and your payment doesn't appear tomorrow (Friday), you might want to ask about Emergency Assistance. If your case is already approved and you're facing potential eviction, there are sometimes expedited payment options available. Not all workers will mention this unless you specifically ask.

I went through something similar last year and it was terrifying! The good news is that if BenefitsCal shows "approved" that usually means your eligibility worker finished processing everything even after the call dropped. The payment processing and eligibility determination are actually separate steps in their system. Since you submitted the correct document while on the phone and the worker confirmed they received it, there's a really good chance your payment will show up on schedule. The fact that your case status changed to "approved" is honestly the hardest part - that means all your paperwork checked out. Try not to stress too much tonight (easier said than done, I know!). Check your EBT balance early tomorrow morning before you do anything else. In my experience, the money usually appears even when the website is being slow to update the details.

This kind of thing is why people get discouraged and stop trying to get the help they need. I'm a social worker (not with CalWORKs) and I can tell you that what happened to you was completely inappropriate and against professional standards of conduct. Here's what I recommend: 1. Call the CalWORKs office and ask to speak with that worker's direct supervisor (get their name first). 2. Explicitly state that you want to file a formal complaint about the worker's conduct, not just get your benefits reinstated. 3. Use the exact phrases "professional misconduct" and "failure to provide reasonable accommodations for a person with a disability" in your complaint. 4. Contact your county's Welfare Rights Organization - they exist specifically to help with these situations. 5. Request a retroactive payment for the benefits you missed due to their error. I'm so sorry this happened to you. No one deserves to be treated that way when asking for help they're legally entitled to.

I'm so sorry you're going through this - what that worker said to you was absolutely unacceptable and cruel. As someone who's dealt with similar issues, I want to echo what others have said about filing complaints, but also share a few immediate steps: 1. If you haven't already, go to your local food bank TODAY. Most don't require paperwork and can help while you fight this. 2. When you call for the state hearing (1-800-952-5253), emphasize that the worker ADMITTED the SAR7 was complete - that's huge for your case. 3. Document everything - write down the worker's name, date, time, and exactly what was said while it's fresh in your memory. The fact that they acknowledged their mistake but still won't fix it immediately is infuriating. You shouldn't have to "wait your turn" when THEY made the error. Keep pushing and don't let them wear you down - you deserve better treatment than this. Hang in there. This community has your back and many of us have fought similar battles and won.

Only submit what they specifically request in your renewal packet. If they didn't specifically ask for bank statements, you don't need to include them. But always include proof of rent/mortgage, utilities, childcare costs, and any income - these are standard requirements. Since you mentioned having a 1-year-old with a WTW exemption, make sure that exemption is still documented in your case. Young child exemptions are automatic but sometimes need to be verified at renewal.

Good luck with your renewal! Just wanted to add that if you're doing it online through BenefitsCal, the system will actually show you a checklist of everything you need to submit before you can finalize it. It's really helpful because it won't let you submit until everything is complete. Also, if you have any trouble uploading documents (sometimes the system is glitchy), you can always drop them off at your local office and reference your online submission. The workers can match them up in the system. You've got this!