Can I ask how you got your benefits stolen? I'm terrified of this happening to me. Did you report it to the police too or just to the county? I keep hearing about people getting their EBT cards skimmed.

Update us after you go to the office! I'm curious if they give you a check or actual cash. When I had to get an emergency payment once, they actually gave me a cash voucher that I had to take to the cashier window. The whole process was confusing.

One important update: when you request the appeal, make sure you specifically say you want "aid paid pending" in writing. This means they have to continue your old benefit amount until the hearing if you request it within 10 days of the notice date. It's your right, but they don't always tell you about it! Also, double-check if they're incorrectly counting any exempt income. Child support that's assigned to the county shouldn't count against your grant.

let us know what happens! this stuff makes me so nervous cuz i might need to add someone to my case next month

That's definitely a deduction they should have applied! The childcare expenses alone could make a significant difference in your benefit calculation. When you get through to them, make sure to tell them about those expenses. And definitely ask about enrolling in the Stage 1 Childcare program - they should pay your childcare costs directly while you're working, which would save you that $350/week!

UPDATE: I finally got through to someone at the county office! You all were right - I qualify for CalWORKs childcare assistance even with the tiny cash grant. The worker is sending me the forms today. This will save us around $1,500 a month in childcare costs! They're also reassessing my Cash Aid amount since they didn't factor in my childcare expenses. Thank you all so much for your help and advice!!

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

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.

Just a quick update for everyone in this thread - I spoke with my CalWORKs worker yesterday about this exact issue. The county has officially shifted to a new deposit schedule using an automated system that processes payments throughout the night rather than during the standard 9-5 workday. This is actually good news as it means funds are available earlier than before. Your benefits won't disappear if you don't withdraw them immediately - they remain on your card until you use them (though remember unused benefits don't affect your eligibility or future payment amounts).

UPDATE: I waited until morning and my money was still there! Didn't have to go out in the rain at 6am after all. Thanks everyone for the advice and peace of mind! The closest 7-11 ATM worked with no fees too.