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THEY ALWAYS DO THIS!!!! The system is designed to make things as difficult as possible. They approve you but then make it impossible to get your benefits. I had a similar issue last year and ended up having to make FOUR trips to the county office before I finally got my card. Each time they told me something different. Make sure you bring EVERY document you can think of - ID, social security cards, birth certificates, approval letters, everything. Otherwise they'll just send you home to get whatever document they suddenly decide they need.
I understand your frustration, but in most counties, you only need your photo ID to pick up an EBT card at the office if you're already approved. They should be able to look up your case in their system. Bringing your approval notice can help, but they shouldn't need birth certificates or social security cards just to issue a card for an already-approved case.
Maybe in YOUR county! In Riverside they made me bring everything plus proof of address. Then they said my lease wasn't good enough and I needed a utility bill too. Everyone's experience is different and better to be over-prepared than waste a trip!
UPDATE: We went to the county office this morning and got our EBT card! You all were right - there was an issue with our address in the system. They had our old apartment number even though we submitted the correct address on our application. The case worker was able to issue us a card on the spot and the benefits were already loaded on it. They also confirmed we'll be getting retroactive payments from our application date, which is a huge relief. Thanks everyone for your help!
Thanks for the reminder about the SAR7! The worker mentioned that but there's been so much information to take in. Is there a way to submit that online through BenefitsCal or do we have to mail it in?
Yes, you can submit the SAR7 through BenefitsCal now! It's much easier than mailing it. You can upload any required verification documents right there too. I always take screenshots of my confirmation page as proof that I submitted it, just in case.
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Does anyone know if they count unemployment benefits as income for CalWORKs? My husband just got laid off and will be getting UI while looking for a new job. We have 4 kids so we'd be a family of 6. Sorry to piggyback on your post OP but figured it's related to income questions!
Yes, unemployment benefits do count as unearned income for CalWORKs eligibility. Unlike earned income (from a job), unearned income doesn't get the same disregards. However, with your husband losing his job, you're much more likely to qualify now. You should definitely apply if you haven't already. With a family of 6 and only one income plus unemployment, you're likely within the limits.
Update: I went ahead and applied through BenefitsCal yesterday! It took about an hour to complete the application. Thankfully I had all our documents ready (pay stubs, birth certificates, etc). The system estimated we might be eligible for both CalWORKs and CalFresh. I have an interview scheduled for next week. Thanks everyone for your help and encouragement!
That's great news! For your interview, make sure to mention any childcare costs, housing costs, and medical expenses. All of these can impact your eligibility and benefit amount. Also, be sure to ask about the CalWORKs Welfare to Work program - since you mentioned you both work part-time, your current employment might already satisfy the WTW requirements. Good luck, and let us know how it goes!
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my friend works for the county (not saying which one lol) and she said they changed their interview policy in February but the automated systems and letters didnt get updated until late March. so basically everyone who applied in that gap period got messed up notices. its not your fault at all, they should fix this without making you reapply!
One more thing I forgot to mention - when you go to the office, bring a written statement explaining exactly what happened with dates and times. Include: 1. Date you applied 2. Date and time of scheduled phone interview 3. Date and time they actually called (2 days late) 4. Name of the worker who called (if you have it) 5. Date you submitted all verification documents 6. Date you received the denial notice Hand this to the supervisor directly along with copies (not originals) of any documentation. This creates a paper trail they can't ignore. Always get the name and ID number of anyone you speak with.
Great idea! I'll write everything up tonight. I do have the worker's name from when she called late - it was written on the document checklist she gave me. Should I also bring a copy of my phone records showing they never called on the actual interview date?
Yes, absolutely bring those phone records! That's perfect evidence. Also, if you still have the original notice showing the phone interview date, bring that too. The more documentation you have showing the contradiction, the stronger your case.
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The county ALWAYS tries to cut people off their benefits!!! They look for ANY reason!! One month over and they act like you're rich forever. My sister had the EXACT same thing happen and they cut her off completely and she had to reapply and it took MONTHS to get back on!!! The system is BROKEN!!!
While the system can be frustrating, this isn't actually how the CalFresh program is supposed to work. One month of higher income shouldn't permanently disqualify someone if their regular income is within the limits. It sounds like there might have been other factors in your sister's case or possibly a worker error. The OP should definitely report the income change properly but also advocate for proper income averaging.
After reading all the comments, I want to summarize the correct steps for the OP: 1. Report the income change immediately (even though it's late, better late than never) 2. Clearly explain it was a one-time project and provide documentation of regular income 3. Specifically request "income averaging" or "anticipatory budgeting" 4. Bring the past 3 months of pay stubs to show the normal income pattern 5. If they still calculate benefits incorrectly, request a hearing Your benefits may be reduced for the month the $5,000 was received, but should return to normal levels after that if your husband's income returns to normal.
Thank you SO much! I'm going to call first thing Monday morning and get this reported. I'll definitely ask for income averaging and bring all our documentation. I really appreciate everyone's help on this!
Brianna Muhammad
i dont understand why they even bother with such small amounts?? like why not just give people an actual helpful amount that makes a difference? $36 doesnt even fill my gas tank ONE time to get to work. the whole system makes no sense sometimes.
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Laura Lopez
•The small cash grant is basically a gateway to the more valuable benefits like childcare, CalFresh, and Medi-Cal. The program is designed with work incentives in mind - as you earn more, the cash grant decreases, but you maintain eligibility for the support services that help you stay employed (like childcare). It's not a perfect system for sure, but understanding how to maximize all the connected benefits is key.
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Victoria Brown
Make sure you also ask about the $30 monthly diaper stipend since your child is under 5! It's an additional benefit on top of your regular grant amount that many workers forget to mention. Every little bit helps!
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