Hey QuantumLeap! I went through this exact situation about 8 months ago and want to share what worked for me. First, definitely get that CW 2190A form like others mentioned - but here's something important: submit it AT LEAST 30 days before your 48-month limit hits. Don't wait until the last minute! Also, since you're working at Target, make sure your hours are being properly reported. If you're working 20+ hours per week, those months might not count toward your time limit under the "federal participation" rules. My worker had miscounted 4 months where I was working enough hours - getting that corrected bought me crucial extra time. One more tip: if your county has a CalWORKs advocacy organization or legal aid clinic, reach out to them NOW. They can help you navigate the extension process and make sure your worker is following all the rules. Some counties are better than others at explaining your options, and having an advocate can make a huge difference. You've got this! Don't let them rush you through without getting all the information you're entitled to.

I'm a newcomer here but this thread is exactly what I needed to find! I'm at 45 months and just got the "you're approaching your time limit" letter in the mail. Like everyone else, my worker never explained ANY of these options - just said I need to "prepare for the end of benefits." Reading through all these responses has been eye-opening. I had no clue about the CW 2190A form, work hour exemptions, or that there were specific circumstances for extensions. I'm a single dad with two kids and work nights stocking at a grocery store (usually 30+ hours), so it sounds like I might have some options I didn't know about. The part about requesting a case review for time calculations really caught my attention - I was in a job training program for about 4 months last year and wonder if those months were incorrectly counted against my limit. Going to call my worker tomorrow (or try Claimyr if I can't get through) to request my detailed time calculation and that extension form. This community has already been more helpful than my entire county office! Thank you all for sharing your knowledge and experiences.

I'm in a similar situation and wanted to share what I learned when I applied. You're right that it's worth trying! One thing to keep in mind is that CalWORKs has a time limit (usually 48 months lifetime), so you might want to think about whether now is the best time to use those benefits or if you'd rather save them for when you're deeper into your education. Also, since your partner works for Amazon, make sure to report his income accurately including any overtime or bonuses - they'll verify it anyway. The good news is that California has relatively higher income limits compared to other states, and with your high rent costs, you might be surprised at what you qualify for. If you do apply and get approved, definitely look into the CalWORKs education programs. They can help with books, supplies, and sometimes even childcare while you're in school. The combination of benefits plus educational support could really help you reach your goals. Start with the pre-screening tool on BenefitsCal.com to get an idea of what you might qualify for before doing the full application.

Based on your situation, I'd strongly encourage you to apply! With a household of 4 and rent at $2,300, you're likely spending over half your income on housing alone, which actually helps with CalWORKs eligibility calculations. A few key points for your situation: - CalWORKs considers your entire household income, but they also factor in your family size and high housing costs - Since you're unmarried but living together with shared children, you'll apply as one household unit - The child support requirement typically doesn't apply when the father lives in the home and is part of the CalWORKs case - Being a student can actually work in your favor - CalWORKs has educational incentives and you may be able to meet work requirements through school participation For CalFresh (SNAP), the income limits are generally higher than CalWORKs, so even if you don't qualify for cash aid, you might still get food assistance. I'd recommend using the pre-screening tool on BenefitsCal.com first to get a rough idea of eligibility. Even partial benefits could help significantly with your budget. The application process takes time, so starting sooner gives you a better chance of getting help when you need it most. Don't let uncertainty stop you from trying - the worst they can say is no, but you might be pleasantly surprised by what support is available!

I'm glad you were able to get through and that it was just a system issue! For future reference, if you ever face a situation where your benefits are delayed and it causes you to be late on rent, you can request a letter from your eligibility worker explaining the delay. Many landlords will accept this as documentation and waive late fees. Also, if you ever face a complete discontinuance without proper notice, you have the right to request a state hearing and can get aid paid pending the hearing result in many cases.

I'm so glad you were able to get this resolved! System glitches like this are way too common and it's awful that families have to stress about basic needs because of technical issues. For anyone else reading this who might face similar problems, I'd also recommend documenting everything when this happens - take screenshots of your BenefitsCal account showing no pending payments, keep records of when you called and couldn't get through, etc. This documentation can be really helpful if you need to escalate the issue or request aid paid pending like Oscar mentioned. It's frustrating that we have to be our own advocates just to get the benefits we're entitled to, but sadly that's the reality of navigating this system.

Hey is anyone still having trouble withdrawing cash from the ATMs or is it just me only?

Hey @Chippale! Based on this thread, it seems like EBT card withdrawal issues happen pretty regularly for different reasons. Have you tried calling the EBT customer service line at 1-877-328-9677 first to check if there's a hold on your account? As others mentioned, trying multiple ATMs can sometimes trigger a fraud alert that locks your card temporarily. If your account looks fine, you could try the cashback option at grocery stores or convenience stores - buy something small and get cash back. That seems to work even when ATMs don't. Also check if you've hit any daily withdrawal limits or if the specific ATMs you're using have restrictions. If you're still stuck after trying these options, definitely call that EBT number - they can tell you exactly what's going on with your card and unlock it if needed. Hope this helps!

I'm glad you got it sorted out! That 48-hour security hold thing is so frustrating - they really need to send notifications when they put these holds on accounts. At least you know your money is there and should be accessible tomorrow. For future reference, I've found that calling the EBT customer service line early in the morning (like right at 8am) usually gets you through faster than calling later in the day when everyone is trying to reach them.

Hey is anyone still having trouble withdrawing cash from the ATMs or is it just me only?