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if u do go to ur county office bring all ur bank statements and any evidence u have. my friend had this happen and she took pictures of her card to prove she had it the whole time plus her work schedule showing she was at work when the withdrawals happened in another city. the more proof u have the better
I want to update everyone - I just got back from the county office. Filed the EBT Benefit Theft Report and they said I should hear back within 10 business days. The worker was actually really understanding and said they've seen a lot of this lately. She recommended I use the BenefitsCal app to track my benefits and turn on notifications for any transactions. I set up a new PIN for my replacement card that's totally different from anything I've used before. Fingers crossed I get the money back soon. Thanks everyone for your help!
Try checking the P-EBT portal online - it might show if cards have been issued for your daughters yet. The distribution schedule is confusing because they're sending them out based on different categories and counties. Also, the CalWORKs office often doesn't have direct access to P-EBT status info since it's technically run by a different department. BUT, the worker should NEVER have hung up on you! That's completely unprofessional. I'd honestly file a complaint if you got their name. You can ask to speak to a supervisor next time you call - just say "I need to speak with a supervisor regarding unprofessional conduct during my last call." They usually transfer you right away when you use those magic words.
i had same problem but with WTW worker last month. they kept giving me wrong information about my participation hours and when i tried to explain they couldn't hear me cause my baby was crying and they hung up! i had to go in person to get it fixed which is so hard with 3 kids. some of these workers just don't care at all how stressful it is for us
did u try the atm inside the bank or the one outside?? sometimes the outside ones dont work with ebt but the ones inside do. also they have limits like u cant take out more then like $500 at once
Quick update: I just checked the official California EBT website, and there's a system-wide notification about some ATMs experiencing technical issues this week. They're working on fixing it. In the meantime, definitely try the cash back option at stores. You can usually get up to $200 cash back at most places with a small purchase.
I work as a community advocate (not for the county) and help people with CalWORKs issues. This happens too often, unfortunately. Here's what you need to know: 1. Call the county office that handles your case immediately 2. When the automated system answers, press whatever option is for Spanish if available 3. When you reach a person, clearly state you need a Spanish speaker for your SAR7 interview 4. Explain that you had an interview but it was conducted in English, which you don't understand 5. Request a "reasonable accommodation" for language assistance (this exact phrase helps) 6. Ask them to note in your file permanently that you need Spanish services If they tell you that you missed your interview and might lose benefits, explain that you DID answer the call but couldn't participate due to the language barrier. Request what's called "Good Cause" for not completing the interview. Language access is your right! Don't let them discontinue your Cash Aid over this.
Thank you so much for these detailed steps! I'll make sure to use these exact phrases when I call. Is there a deadline I need to be aware of before they cut my benefits?
Yes, typically you have 10 calendar days from a missed interview or incomplete SAR7 to resolve the issue before they process a discontinuance. Since you DID answer their call, you have a strong case for good cause, but don't wait. Call first thing tomorrow morning if possible. If they do send a discontinuance notice, you'll also have appeal rights, but it's much easier to fix it before that happens.
Try going in person to the office if you can. Sometimes that's the only way to get problems fixed with CalWORKs. Bring a Spanish-speaking friend or family member if possible. And bring your SAR7 form and any letters they sent you. The workers at the front desk can usually find someone who speaks Spanish to help you. It's better than spending hours on the phone getting nowhere.
Honorah King
my worker told me one time theres a special code they put in the system for ppl who get theres late all the time. its like a priority code or something? my friend has it and she always gets hers on time now. maybe u should ask for that?
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Jake Sinclair
•You're referring to the payment issuance codes in the CalWORKs system. There are different codes that control payment timing and priority. If someone has experienced repeated payment delays, they can request a supervisor review and potentially have their issuance code modified to prevent future problems. This is definitely something worth asking about at the next office visit.
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Demi Lagos
Update: Just checked my account and the money IS there! I guess they did deposit it early because of the holiday. Thanks everyone for the advice. I'm still going to ask about that issuance code thing next time I go in to make sure I don't have to keep dealing with this every month.
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Vera Visnjic
•thats awesome!! glad u got ur money on time for once lol
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