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Have you tried going to your local CalWORKs office in person? Sometimes they can help with P-EBT issues even though it's technically a different program. I always have better luck dealing with things face-to-face than over the phone.
I haven't tried that yet. Our office is pretty far from me and I don't have transportation until next week, but that might be my next step. Thanks for the suggestion!
UPDATE: I talked to a supervisor at the P-EBT hotline today about a similar issue for another family I'm helping, and they told me there's a new expedited process for these address errors. If you can provide: 1. Your child's student ID number 2. The last 4 digits of their Social Security Number 3. A copy of their school registration showing your current address They can now process an emergency address correction within 3-5 business days instead of the usual 10-15 days. The supervisor mentioned they're aware of the P.O. Box issue specifically and have created a special code for it in their system. Be sure to mention "system error code P-EBT 2206" when you call - this flags it as one of the known database errors.
This is so helpful! I'm going to try calling with this specific information tomorrow. Thank you for sharing this update!
For anyone still confused about this payment: 1. It's officially called the Child Poverty Reduction Supplement (CPRS) 2. One-time payment for CalWORKs households with children 3. Payment amounts: $47 (1-2 children), $52 (3-4 children), or $61 (5+ children) 4. Distribution dates vary by county and sometimes by case number 5. It will appear on your EBT card with your regular Cash Aid 6. You should receive a notification, but many aren't going out 7. You can check BenefitsCal for the payment (listed as "CPRS Payment") 8. This is separate from your regular monthly benefit Hope this helps clear things up!
i just checked my account and i got the money!!!! showed up this morning!! check ur accounts everyone
Glad you got it fixed! Did they say anything about this happening again in the future or how to prevent it? I'm paranoid now and thinking I should withdraw all my cash the minute it hits my card each month...
They said this was a rare technical glitch during system maintenance that shouldn't happen again. But tbh I'm with you - I'm definitely going to withdraw my rent money as soon as it deposits from now on. Can't risk going through this stress again!
I just checked with my friend who works for the county (not my county, but still knows the system). She said there was a CalWORKs Cost of Living Adjustment that went into effect in October 2024, AND there was a separate supplemental payment that went out to families with certain circumstances. If you were just approved in December, your base amount should already include the COLA. But you might also qualify for the supplemental payment, which is separate. You need to speak directly with a benefits specialist or supervisor, not just the front-line workers. Be persistent and specifically ask for a supervisor if the regular workers can't help.
This makes sense! I think my worker meant I would get the supplemental payment, not just the regular COLA. I'll ask for a supervisor or benefits specialist specifically. Thank you so much.
good luck actually reaching anybody! i spent THREE DAYS trying to get through to my county office last month. kept getting disconnected after waiting 45+ minutes each time! the system is BROKEN
That's exactly why I ended up using Claimyr. I was in the same situation - couldn't get through after multiple attempts. They connected me to a real person at my county office within 15 minutes. Definitely worth looking into if you're having trouble reaching someone.
Zainab Ismail
Im so confused bc I thought CalWORKs is different from CalFresh? My friend had her food stamps stolen but I didnt know they could steal the cash aid part too? Do they come on same card?
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Ava Garcia
•Yes, your CalFresh (food benefits) and CalWORKs (cash aid) both come on the same EBT card, but they're separate accounts on that card. When you use it at an ATM or for cash purchase, it takes from your cash account. When you buy food at a grocery store, it uses your food account. Thieves can steal from both accounts if they get your card info and PIN.
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Dmitry Ivanov
UPDATE: I just got a call from my caseworker with more info. Apparently they caught the person INSIDE THE STORE trying to use a cloned version of my card! That's how they were able to shut it down so fast. I didn't even know they could clone these cards?! My worker said I should opt into text alerts for any transactions over $25 moving forward. Didn't even know that was an option but I signed up right away.
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QuantumQuester
•wait how do u get the text alerts?? i want that!
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Dmitry Ivanov
•You have to call the EBT customer service number and ask for "transaction alerts" to be set up. You can choose the minimum amount you want to get alerts for. The worker recommended $25 but I set mine for any transaction over $10 just to be safe.
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