Wait your benefits actually came through? I'm still waiting on mine and it's almost 9AM! I called the EBT customer service number and they said everything looks normal on my account but nothing has deposited yet. This is making me so anxious I can't even focus on getting my kids ready for school. 😫

Just as an update for anyone who might search for this in the future - my worker told me that LA County processes CalWORKs payments in batches by case number groupings. That's why some people get theirs at midnight and others not until morning. She said there's no way to know exactly when your specific payment will post each month, but if your case is in good standing, it should arrive by noon on the payment date at the latest.

Regarding your missing paystub - you should include a note explaining the situation, but they really do need verification of ALL income. Ask your employer if they can provide some kind of printout or even an email confirming your hours and pay for that missing week. Also, make sure you're reporting your income correctly. On the SAR7, you need to report the income you RECEIVED in the report month, not necessarily what you EARNED. So if your paycheck for work done in late April wasn't given to you until May 3rd, that counts as May income, not April income. This trips up a lot of people.

Just to clarify about the paystubs - if you absolutely cannot get the missing paystub by the deadline, submit what you have with a detailed note explaining: 1. The exact dates you worked 2. How many hours each day 3. Your hourly rate 4. Why the paystub is missing 5. When you expect to receive it Then CALL your worker right after submitting to explain the situation. This shows good faith effort to report properly. When you get the missing paystub, submit it immediately as an update. Also - don't forget that if your new income puts you above the Income Reporting Threshold (IRT) for your household size, you must report it within 10 days, even outside of your regular SAR7 period. Your IRT amount should be listed on your last approval notice.

This whole system is RIDICULOUS!!! They already KNOW about the COLA increases because it's THEIR SYSTEM but they still want to punish us if we don't report what THEY ALREADY KNOW!!! Then they hit us with overissuances and act like we're trying to commit fraud. I'm so sick of being treated like a criminal for trying to navigate this impossible system.

Just to clarify something important: even though the COLA is a "known" change, the different benefit systems (CalWORKs, CalFresh, SSI) don't automatically talk to each other as well as they should. The best practice is: 1. If the COLA puts you over your IRT - report immediately (required for CalWORKs) 2. If the change is more than $50/month - report for CalFresh (technically required) 3. If under both thresholds - you can wait until your next SAR7, but reporting now prevents any possible issues Report it through BenefitsCal and get a confirmation number as proof. This covers you completely.

Another thing to check - make sure your Semi-Annual Report (SAR 7) and annual recertification are up to date. Sometimes benefits stop because of missing paperwork, and people think it's related to program changes when it's actually just a reporting issue. If you haven't submitted a SAR 7 recently, that could be why your benefits changed. Just something else to consider.

I've been speaking with several families about this issue. What many don't realize is the pandemic money was part of the American Rescue Plan Act funding that had a specific end date. The state did make a permanent adjustment to the Maximum Aid Payment (MAP) rates to partially offset this, but it's much less than the pandemic supplement was. If you're experiencing hardship because of this change, ask your worker specifically about: 1. The CalWORKs Housing Support Program 2. Special Needs supplements 3. The Homeless Assistance Program if you're at risk of losing housing 4. WTW supportive services if you're participating in Welfare to Work Also check if you're receiving the full CalFresh amount you're eligible for, as many CalWORKs families don't receive their maximum food benefits.

while ur waiting, call 211 and ask about emergency diaper banks in ur area. they can usually give u a week supply of diapers to get by until ur benefits come back on

I just want to update you - I checked the Welfare & Institutions Code, and for discontinued cases where the client provides verification within 30 days of discontinuance, they are required to process it and restore benefits without requiring a new application. The CW 2219 form helps, but technically they should be able to reactivate your case just with the birth certificate since it's what they requested. If you continue having trouble, mention "W&I Code Section 11265.4" to your worker when you speak with them.