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If I could give 10 stars I would If I could give 10 stars I would Such an amazing service so needed during the times when EDD almost never picks up Claimyr gets me on the phone with EDD every time without fail faster. A much needed service without Claimyr I would have never received the payment I needed to support me during my postpartum recovery. Thank you so much Claimyr!
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If you do end up getting married and your CalWORKs decreases, make sure you connect with your Welfare to Work specialist right away. With lower cash aid, you might qualify for more supportive services like additional childcare hours or transportation assistance. I actually ended up qualifying for their education program after my benefits decreased from getting married, and they're helping me get my medical assistant certification now. Sometimes one door closes and another opens!
Amara Torres
That's actually really good to know! I've been wanting to go back to school for nursing. Maybe this could be an opportunity to get more education support through WTW. I'll definitely ask about that. Thanks for sharing your experience!
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If you get desperate and the bank is closed, some check cashing places can do cash withdrawals from EBT cards. But WARNING - they charge really high fees, like $5-$10 per transaction. I had to do this once when my rent was due on a holiday weekend. It's not ideal but it's an option if you're truly stuck.
Jibriel Kohn
•I ended up going to the BofA branch like someone suggested and was able to withdraw the rest! The teller was actually really nice about it. But good to know about check cashing places as a last resort - thank you!
Great to hear you got it resolved! One more tip - you can actually call the number on the back of your EBT card and request a higher daily ATM withdrawal limit. It's not guaranteed they'll approve it, but if you explain your situation (needing to withdraw rent money once a month), they might increase your limit. Worth trying for next month!
Jibriel Kohn
•I had no idea this was even possible! Definitely going to call and ask about this. Would make things so much easier every month. Thank you for all your help!
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NebulaNinja
my cousin had this EXACT problem!!!! her son was having potty training issues too and she got a note from the doctor saying he had some kind of developmental delay with toilet training (i forget the fancy name they used) and they gave her an extension on her exemption for like 3 more months! worth asking about
thats what my sister did too! they called it something like 'elimination delay' or something. some kids just take longer and doctors know this stuff happens.
After reading through all the responses, I wanted to add a few more details that might help: 1. The specific program I mentioned earlier is called the "Family Stabilization Program" (FSP). It's part of CalWORKs and specifically designed to help families overcome temporary barriers to WTW participation. 2. For your situation, you'd request an FSP assessment specifically mentioning your child's potty training challenges as a temporary barrier to childcare placement. 3. The reduction amount others mentioned is correct - you'd lose approximately 1/3 of your grant during a sanction period. 4. If you do end up getting sanctioned, know that you can cure the sanction at any point by agreeing to comply with WTW requirements, and your full benefits would be restored the following month. 5. Document EVERYTHING - keep records of all your calls, who you spoke with, and what was discussed.
Thank you for such detailed information! I'm calling first thing Monday morning to ask specifically about the Family Stabilization Program assessment. I really appreciate everyone's help with this.
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Diego Fisher
Just wanted to add something important - if you have any barriers that make it hard to complete your 30 hours, tell your worker ASAP. Things like: - Physical or mental health issues - Domestic violence situation - Transportation problems - Childcare issues These might qualify you for a temporary exemption or modified WTW plan with fewer hours. Don't struggle in silence trying to meet requirements that aren't realistic for your situation. The 30-hour requirement can be adjusted based on your circumstances.
Evelyn Kim
•That's really good to know. My son has some appointments coming up with specialists for his developmental delays. Would that count as a barrier? I don't want to use it as an excuse but some weeks those appointments take up a lot of time.
To answer your follow-up question - yes, how you distribute hours throughout the week is flexible as long as you meet your total weekly requirement. Some people do more hours early in the week, others spread them out evenly. Regarding your son's specialist appointments - YES, that could potentially qualify you for an adjustment to your WTW plan. Document all appointments and speak with your worker about a "family stabilization" referral, which is specifically for parents dealing with children's special needs. Keep in mind that CalWORKs has supportive services that can help - they can provide transportation assistance (bus passes or mileage reimbursement) and childcare assistance while you complete your WTW activities. Don't miss out on these benefits!
Evelyn Kim
•Thank you so much for all this information! I'm feeling a lot less stressed now. I'm going to call tomorrow about the family stabilization thing - had no idea that existed. This has been really helpful!
Yara Sabbagh
Be careful bout reporting. My cousin's girlfriend didnt report her income right away and ended up with an overpayment. They made her pay back like $2000!!! The system is designed to TRAP US i swear!!!
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Miguel Ramos
•That's not exactly how it works. You don't have to report every single dollar right away - you report on your SAR7 which is due every 6 months. The exception is if your income goes over your Income Reporting Threshold (IRT), which they tell you on your approval notice. For a family of 2, that's usually around $2,400-ish per month. Working one day a month for $200 is nowhere near that threshold, so regular SAR7 reporting is fine.
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Sofia Hernandez
Thank you all SO MUCH for the helpful answers! I feel confident now to take that one day a month job without worrying about losing my cash aid. Its good to know they have that $225 disregard - i wish they explained this stuff better when we applied! Going to start looking for more part-time opportunities too since it sounds like I can actually work more and still keep some benefits while being better off overall.
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