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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).
thx 4 the update!! good 2 know they doin somethin right for once lol
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.
Glad it worked out! For future reference, you can also use the BenefitsCal app to check your balance and transaction history anytime. It updates in real-time and can help ease worries about whether funds are available.
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just wanna say im sorry this happened to u. when my benefits got stolen last yr i had to feed my kids ramen for a week before they replaced the money. the system totally sucks and they treat us like were liars. hope u get ur money back quick
Thank you ❤️ I'm so worried about feeding my kids too. Gonna try to borrow some money from my sister to get through until this gets fixed.
ALSO make sure your mailing address is up to date with the county!! A lot of benefit theft happens because people are stealing cards right out of mailboxes when they get sent out. If you've moved or aren't getting mail reliably, you can have your EBT card held at the county office for pickup instead of mailed.
My address is up to date but I live in an apartment complex with those group mailboxes so maybe someone got into those? I'll definitely ask about pickup options.
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My SAR7 was due this month and I haven't turned it in yet will I still get the extra amount???
You need to submit your SAR7 immediately! The extra allotment will only be issued to households with active CalFresh benefits. If your benefits are discontinued due to not submitting your semi-annual report, you won't receive the supplement. If you submit your SAR7 now and they process it before the 18th, you should still get it.
Update: I finally got through to my worker! The extra CalFresh benefits are DEFINITELY coming on the 18th for everyone regardless of which system your county uses. And like many of you said, it's ONLY for CalFresh (food), not for CalWORKs Cash Aid. Thanks everyone for your help! She also reminded me my next SAR7 is due next month, so glad I checked in.
good to hear! how long did u have to wait on hold? every time i call the dss i wait like 2 hours and then get disconnected 😡
Honestly it was brutal. Called 6 different times, finally got through after waiting 1hr 45min. But at least I got answers!
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When my exemption ended, I just filled out a WTW2 form showing my work hours and brought in my pay stubs. I was already working 32 hours so didn't need anything else. But my friend who worked 22 hours had to do job search workshops for the rest. The most important thing is DON'T MISS ORIENTATION even if you're working! They can sanction you for that. Also make sure you're reporting your income correctly on your SAR7 forms. Sometimes people think having a job means they can't get CalWORKs anymore but that's not true - they just adjust your grant amount based on earnings.
yep and dont forget to ask about the earned income disregard!! they dont count the first $450 of income plus 50% of the rest when calculating ur cash aid
No one answrd the part about keeping ur kid with u. I was in same boat. You can ask for "reasonable accommodations" for your WTW plan based on your childcare needs. Put it in WRITING to your worker. They can be flexible with the type of activities but not really with the total hours. Be super clear that u need activities u can do while watching ur kid or from home because of childcare issues. They have online options for some of the extra hours. Worst case u could do like 1 day of activities without ur kid if u have someone who can watch them just for that day each week. Good luck!
Thank you for addressing that part specifically! Having my son with me is the most important thing. I'll definitely put my request in writing. Did they give you any problems when you asked for accommodations?
Kayla Morgan
UPDATE: I just called my county office to ask about this situation (I work with CalWORKs recipients). The worker explained that California recently implemented an expanded educational support program for teens in alternative education programs like Independent Studies. The payments include: - Basic educational support: $600 for 16-17 year olds - Enhanced educational support: $1,200+ for 18-19 year olds still completing high school requirements - Additional incentives for maintaining good grades (like your daughters' 4.0 GPAs) This is still being rolled out county by county, which is why some people haven't heard about it. You should still verify with your specific worker, but it sounds like this may be legitimate!
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Lilly Curtis
•Thank you so much for checking! That makes me feel much better. I'll still verify with my worker tomorrow but at least now I have an idea of what might be happening. I wish they would have explained this to us when we enrolled in the Independent Studies program!
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James Maki
idk but i wouldnt question free money lol just spend it quick before they figure out if its a mistake 😂
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Lindsey Fry
•This is terrible advice. CalWORKs overpayments must be repaid even if they were the county's error. They can and will reduce future benefits to recoup the money, or even pursue legal action for larger amounts. Always verify unexpected benefits before spending.
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