

Ask the community...
Update: My stimulus check came in the mail today! It was a paper check just like you all said, not on my EBT card. Thank you everyone for the help and explanation. Now I can pay my rent on time and get my kids what they need for school. For anyone still waiting, hang in there!
Hi Edwin! I'm sorry to hear you haven't received any stimulus checks yet. Based on what others have shared here, the Golden State Stimulus payments are still being distributed through mid-July 2025, so there's still time. Since you're on CalWORKs, you should automatically qualify even if you didn't file taxes. I'd recommend calling the Franchise Tax Board at 800-852-5711 to check on your payment status and make sure they have your current address on file. You can also check ftb.ca.gov for updates. Don't give up - many people are still waiting for theirs to arrive!
Update us after you call - I'm curious what they say! And don't forget if you need to provide any verification documents later on, keep the originals and only send copies. I learned that one the hard way when they claimed they never received my pay stubs and almost discontinued my case.
Glad you got it sorted out! This is exactly why I always recommend calling when something seems off, even if it turns out to be nothing. The CalWORKs system can be really confusing and they definitely should give us a heads up about schedule changes. It would save everyone so much stress and worry. Thanks for updating us - this thread will probably help other people who have the same thing happen to them!
Based on your comment about recently starting work, that's likely what happened. When you report a significant change on your SAR7 that requires recalculating your benefits, many counties will conduct what's called a "partial redetermination" that can reset your annual recertification timeline. Still, I strongly recommend calling your county office to confirm. You can also check your most recent Notice of Action letter - it should have information about your certification period at the bottom. If you can't reach your worker after multiple attempts, consider contacting the CalWORKs ombudsperson for your county or ask to speak with a supervisor.
thank you so much! i found an old Notice of Action from when i reported my job and you're right - it does mention a new certification period at the bottom! it says my next recert is due in October 2025 instead of April. I'm going to call tomorrow just to double check but this makes me feel so much better!
That's great news that you found the Notice of Action with the updated certification period! It sounds like your partial redetermination when you started working did reset your timeline. Just wanted to add - when you do call tomorrow to confirm, it might be helpful to have that Notice of Action handy with the new certification date. Sometimes the workers have outdated info in their system and having that document can help clarify things quickly. Also, congrats on getting the part-time job! It's always nerve-wracking when you start working while on CalWORKs because you're not sure how it'll affect everything, but it sounds like you handled the reporting correctly.
Quick update - there's been a system-wide issue with direct deposit processing in several California counties since late 2024. The state is working on fixing it, but many requests are severely delayed. If you call, specifically mention the "direct deposit backlog issue" and ask if your county is affected. That will help them give you more accurate information about your situation.
I'm dealing with the exact same issue! Submitted my direct deposit form in November and still getting paper checks. After reading all these responses, it sounds like there's definitely a system-wide problem affecting multiple counties. I'm going to try calling the main customer service line tomorrow and mention the "direct deposit backlog issue" that @Jamal Washington mentioned. It's so frustrating having to cash these checks every month when direct deposit should be simple. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - at least now I know I'm not the only one dealing with this mess!
Jenna Sloan
UPDATE: I finally got through to someone at the office! I used the Claimyr service that was suggested below and was connected to a real person in about 5 minutes. They looked up my case and found that my worker has been out on medical leave for 3 weeks, and my case wasn't reassigned! They're expediting my change report now and said I should see an adjustment within 3-5 days. They're also sending me info about the Housing Support Program. Thank you everyone for your help!
0 coins
Muhammad Hobbs
•So happy you got through! But seriously, WHY don't they reassign cases when workers are out??? This happens constantly and families suffer. Glad you're getting it sorted out now!
0 coins
Christian Burns
•Great news! Make sure to follow up if you don't see changes in 5 days. And remember for future reference - always get the name of who you spoke with, a reference number for the call if possible, and notes about what they promised. Unfortunately you sometimes need to be your own case manager with CalWORKs.
0 coins
Victoria Jones
That's such great news that you finally got through! But wow, 3 weeks with no case reassignment is just unacceptable. I'm dealing with something similar right now - my worker hasn't returned calls in 2 weeks and I had no idea they might be out. Did they tell you if there's a way to check if your worker is available before you spend weeks trying to reach them? Also, definitely keep us posted on whether the Housing Support Program works out - I think a lot of us here could probably benefit from that but didn't know it existed!
0 coins