Quick question - did you have to do a new WTW plan with Riverside county? When I transferred, they made me come in for a whole new orientation and sign a new WTW plan even though I was already in compliance with my old county. Just wondering if that's standard or if I got extra steps for some reason.

this is why im scared to move counties even tho i could get cheaper rent elsewhere... the system is so broken! glad u got it fixed tho!!

I used Claimyr on a Friday evening once and yes, they connected me to the after-hours emergency services for CalWORKs! They can't solve everything on weekends, but emergency benefit theft actually does qualify for urgent response in many counties. It depends on your county though. When I used it, I got through to someone who could flag my account for urgent review first thing Monday morning, which meant I got help immediately when the offices opened instead of waiting all day. They also issued a temporary emergency voucher that I could use at certain stores until my new card arrived.

One more thing I forgot to mention - while you're waiting for your Cash Aid to be replaced, make sure to call your landlord ASAP and explain the situation. Ask if they can give you a few days extension without late fees. Some landlords will work with you if you're proactive about communicating the problem. Also, bring a printout of your EBT transaction history showing the suspicious transactions when you meet with your worker on Monday. The more documentation you have, the faster they can process your claim. And definitely mention your immediate need for rent money - they can sometimes process emergency assistance within 3 business days for housing emergencies.

I went through this exact thing in January! My check came on the 4th, about 3 days late. The worker told me it takes time to 'process through the system' but never warned me about the delay. I got hit with a late fee too and CalWORKs wouldn't help cover it. After the 3rd month it finally started going directly to my bank account, and now it's actually better because I get it a day earlier than I used to with the EBT card.

Just checking back - were you able to reach someone about your check? If you can't get through by phone, you can also go in person to your county office. Bring your ID and case information. They can sometimes issue an emergency replacement check if you explain about your rent situation.

Your child starting kindergarten shouldn't affect your CalWORKs amount. The grant is based on family size and income, not school status. However, if you were also receiving childcare assistance through CalWORKs and now need fewer hours of coverage, that's a separate benefit that could change. One other possibility - did you receive any child support recently? CalWORKs deducts child support from your grant (though you should get the first $100 for one child or $200 for two or more children without it affecting your grant). Your best bet is still to contact your worker for a detailed explanation. Ask specifically for your "Assistance Unit's Maximum Aid Payment" and any deductions they're applying.

After you figure this out, make sure to request a "Benefit Verification Letter" that shows your exact benefit amount. You can keep this as proof for future reference. Also, if you find out there was a mistake and they owe you money, make sure to ask for retroactive payments to cover any months they underpaid you. They won't automatically offer this!

I had the same question last month!!! I ended up going IN PERSON to my county office (hate doing that but nothing else worked) and they printed out the current benefit chart for me. Turns out my family of 4 WAS getting the correct amount. If BenefitsCal isn't working for you and phone calls are useless, sometimes physically going there is the only way to get answers. Bring something to do though because the wait times are ridiculous.

To clarify what others have said: 1. COVID emergency allotments were for CalFresh only and ended in March 2023 2. CalWORKs has regular annual cost-of-living adjustments (usually small increases) 3. The most recent CalWORKs increase was in July 2024 4. Los Angeles is a Region 1 county (higher payment standard) Aside from checking BenefitsCal, you should have received a Notice of Action about 30 days before any change to your grant amount. The notice explains the change, when it happens, and shows the calculation. If you didn't get one, that could be a problem with your contact information on file. Also, while your SAR7 is due next month, remember that updates to CalWORKs payment standards don't require any action from you - they're automatic. You only need to report changes to your income, household composition, or other circumstances on the SAR7.