I just wanted to follow up and ask if your money showed up yet? I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you!

So glad to hear your money finally showed up! This gives me hope for others dealing with the same situation. It's really helpful that you shared the exact label it appeared under ("REPL BENEFITS") - I'll remember that for future reference. The 3 business day timeline after approval seems to be pretty consistent based on what others have shared here. Thanks for updating us with the resolution!

I went through something very similar last year! The key thing is to act quickly and get all your documentation together. Since your combined income is around $3,108/month, you're likely over the CalWORKs limit but should still qualify for CalFresh. Here's what I'd recommend doing right away: 1. Call and report both incomes immediately (don't wait for SAR7) 2. Gather all recent paystubs for both you and your husband 3. Ask specifically about transitional benefits when you talk to your worker 4. Request a fair hearing if they try to discontinue benefits without proper notice The income limits change slightly each year, so make sure you're getting current numbers from your worker. Also, remember that CalWORKs has earned income disregards that might help reduce how much of your income counts against your benefits. Don't panic - even if CalWORKs ends, there are other programs that can help bridge the gap while your husband's hours potentially increase. You've got this!

I'm new to this community but wanted to share what I learned when I was in a similar situation with my family of 4. The discontinuance letters can be really scary, but don't panic! A few things that helped me: - When you call, ask them to explain exactly WHY they're considering discontinuing benefits. Sometimes it's just because they need updated income verification, not because you're automatically over the limit. - Make sure you understand the difference between gross income (what you earn before taxes) and net income (after deductions). Some calculations use gross, others use net. - If you do lose CalWORKs, ask about the Cal-OAR (California Ongoing Assessment of Recipients) program - it provides job training and support services even after cash aid ends. - Document everything! Keep notes of who you talk to and when, because sometimes different workers give different information. Your combined income of around $3,100 does put you close to the CalWORKs limit, but there are still deductions and disregards that might help. The earned income disregard alone could make a significant difference in your benefit calculation. Don't give up hope - there are often more options available than the initial letter suggests!

I work with a legal aid organization that helps with benefit issues. Here's what you need to know about EBT theft: 1. California passed a law (AB 1168) that requires counties to reissue stolen benefits, but the implementation has been spotty 2. You have 90 days from the theft to report it 3. You can request what's called a "hardship waiver" of the 10-day investigation period if you're facing eviction or utility shutoff 4. If denied replacement, you have the right to appeal through a state hearing One thing not everyone knows: if your regular worker isn't helping, ask to speak with the county's EBT Coordinator specifically. They handle theft cases and can often expedite the process. Don't let them dismiss your claim - this is happening to many CalWORKs recipients and is a recognized problem the state is trying to address.

I'm so sorry this is happening to you - EBT theft is becoming a huge problem and it's devastating for families. A few things that might help while you're waiting for your replacement benefits: 1. Contact your local food bank immediately - they don't require paperwork and can help bridge the gap 2. Call 211 and ask about emergency rental assistance programs in your county - many have funds specifically for people waiting on benefit replacements 3. If you have kids under 5, WIC offices sometimes have emergency formula/baby food even if you're not enrolled For preventing future theft, I've started taking a photo of every ATM card reader before I use it - if something looks different or loose, I don't use that machine. Also, some people I know withdraw their entire benefit amount the second it hits (like 12:01 AM) and then immediately pay bills or buy money orders. The system absolutely should protect us better. You're not doing anything wrong - these criminals are getting more sophisticated and targeting people who can least afford the loss. Keep pushing your worker for that expedited review and don't let them make you feel like this is your fault.

Update: I called the county and reported my income change. The worker said my benefits will be reduced but not completely cut off. They're sending me a notice with the new amount. Thanks everyone for the help! And they did say I was right to report since I was over the IRT.

Great that you reported it and everything worked out! For anyone else reading this thread, I want to add that if you're having trouble finding your IRT amount, it's usually printed right on the front page of your CalFresh approval notice under a section that says something like "You must report if your income goes over $X.XX per month." You can also find it on your SAR7 form. If you can't locate either document, you can always call and ask your worker what your current IRT is - they should be able to tell you right away. Better to ask than risk an overpayment later!

Update: My sister was able to withdraw her application! She used that Claimyr service someone mentioned and got through to a caseworker in about 20 minutes. They took her withdrawal over the phone but also told her to send an email confirmation to the general county email with her case number and personal info. They said she'll get a confirmation letter in about a week. Thanks everyone for your help!

That's awesome that your sister got it sorted out! I'm dealing with something similar - applied for CalWORKs but then my hours got increased at my part-time job and now I might not qualify anymore. Reading through all these responses, it sounds like I should probably call to withdraw too rather than risk getting approved and then having overpayment issues later. The written confirmation step seems super important based on what everyone's saying. Thanks for sharing the update!