Harold, I'm glad you found all this helpful advice! As someone who's dealt with similar situations, I just wanted to add one more tip - if you do run into any issues with your card tomorrow, don't hesitate to try a different ATM location before calling customer service. Sometimes it really is just that one machine acting up. Also, since you mentioned you're running low on funds, you might want to check if there are any local resources or community assistance programs in the area where your aunt lives, just as a backup plan. Many communities have emergency assistance programs that can help with basic needs if you get stuck. Sending good thoughts for your aunt's recovery and hoping your transaction goes smoothly tomorrow. This community is always here if you need more help!

Harold, I'm seeing lots of great advice here! Just wanted to add that if you're planning to stay in Texas for an extended period while helping your aunt, you might want to consider opening a local bank account if possible. Some banks offer free checking accounts, and you could transfer money from your EBT withdrawals to avoid repeated ATM fees. Also, regarding the 30-day rule that others mentioned - if your aunt's health situation requires you to stay longer unexpectedly, make sure to call your CalWORKs worker to explain the circumstances. They're usually understanding about family emergencies, especially when it involves caring for elderly relatives. One more practical tip: many Texas grocery stores like H-E-B have ATMs that work with EBT cards and sometimes have lower fees than standalone bank ATMs. Might be worth checking if there's one near your aunt's place. Hope your aunt's health improves soon and that you can access your funds without any trouble tomorrow! Take care of yourself too while you're caring for her.

This whole thread is a goldmine of practical advice! I've been on CalWORKs for about a year now and have definitely experienced the frustration of unreachable caseworkers. One thing I learned that might help - if you're in a county that uses the BenefitsCal system, you can actually check the status of your case online to see if any actions are pending or if your worker has left notes about your situation. It won't solve the communication problem, but at least you can see if they're aware of your attempts to contact them. Also, I keep a simple notebook just for CalWORKs stuff - date, time, who I talked to (or tried to), what it was about, and what happened. Sounds old school but it's saved me twice when there were discrepancies about what was reported or when. Sean, definitely try that 8am call strategy - it's worked for me more times than not. And don't beat yourself up about this situation - the system is designed poorly, not you!

I'm going through almost the exact same situation right now! Been trying to reach my worker for over a week about reporting some changes before my SAR7 deadline. What's been working for me is calling right at 7:58am and staying on the line - sometimes I get through to someone even if it's not my assigned worker. Also, I discovered you can send secure messages through the BenefitsCal portal and they're supposed to respond within 2 business days (though that doesn't always happen). The key thing someone told me is to always send a follow-up email summarizing any phone conversations you do manage to have - that way there's a paper trail. I've also started taking photos of my call log showing all the attempted calls as backup documentation. It's ridiculous that we have to work this hard just to follow their rules, but at least we're not alone in this struggle! Definitely try that 8am call strategy everyone's mentioning - it seems to be the magic time when people actually pick up.

This is such a frustrating situation and I completely understand your anger! The lack of transparency about how differently these programs handle child support cooperation is really unacceptable. You shouldn't have to find out about losing your healthcare through a termination notice when you already knew about and accepted the CalWORKs penalty. From everything I've read here, your immediate priority should be requesting that fair hearing with "aid paid pending" - this will keep your Medi-Cal active throughout the entire hearing process while you explore your options. Even if the good cause exemption seems like a long shot without safety concerns, documenting how well your current arrangement works for the kids could still make a difference. The advice about talking to your ex first is crucial - explain that this isn't your choice and you're only considering cooperation to keep your healthcare coverage. When both parents can present a united front about what's working for the children, LCSA workers sometimes handle things more reasonably. It's absolutely backwards that the system punishes families who are already managing things responsibly. Your arrangement sounds like it's been stable and beneficial for your kids, which should matter more than bureaucratic requirements. Don't let them destroy what you've built - there are ways to navigate this while protecting both your healthcare and your co-parenting relationship. Stay strong and act quickly on that hearing request. You've got this!

I'm really sorry you're going through this - it's so frustrating when the system doesn't clearly explain these important differences upfront! I'm dealing with a similar situation right now and was also blindsided by how differently Medi-Cal handles cooperation compared to CalWORKs. From reading all the responses here, it sounds like your best bet is to request that fair hearing with "aid paid pending" ASAP - this will keep your coverage active during the entire hearing process which could give you months to figure things out. Even if the good cause exemption is tough without safety issues, documenting how well your arrangement works for the kids might still help your case. The advice about talking to your ex first is so important - explain that this isn't your choice and you're only considering cooperation to keep healthcare coverage. Our co-parenting relationships are too valuable to let the county mess them up by contacting them out of nowhere. It's really backward that they punish families who already have functional arrangements, but don't give up hope! It sounds like there are people here who've successfully navigated this while keeping both their healthcare and family relationships intact. You've got a good support system here to help you through this mess.

This is such an important thread for anyone dealing with CalWORKs and CalFresh! I've been on the system for about a year now and I wish someone had told me this when I first started. The BenefitsCal system is really misleading because that "received" status makes you think everything is handled automatically, but it's basically just confirming your upload worked - not that anyone is actually reviewing it. I learned this lesson the hard way about 6 months ago when my quarterly report sat unprocessed for almost a month. Like others mentioned, I now take screenshots of everything I submit and set calendar reminders to call within a week. It's frustrating that we have to manage the county's workflow for them, but it's better than losing benefits unexpectedly. For anyone new reading this: definitely adopt the follow-up calling strategy everyone's talking about. Also, if you're having trouble getting through on the phone, try calling right when they open in the morning - I've had better luck getting connected that way. And always ask for the worker's direct extension if they'll give it to you, because calling the main line can be a nightmare. Thanks for sharing your experience and the positive update, Lena! Stories like this really help the community understand how to navigate this confusing system.

This is such a valuable thread for newcomers like me! I just got approved for CalWORKs benefits a few weeks ago and had no idea about any of this. The way everyone describes the BenefitsCal system makes so much sense now - I was wondering why it felt like such a basic upload system when everyone talks about how "digital" and "streamlined" it's supposed to be. Reading through all these experiences, it's clear that the "received" status is basically just confirming your file uploaded correctly, but doesn't mean anyone is actually looking at it or prioritizing it for review. I'm definitely going to implement the strategies everyone mentioned here - taking screenshots, setting follow-up reminders, and calling within 5 business days of any submission. It's pretty disappointing that a system designed to make things easier actually requires the same level of phone follow-up as the old paper system, but at least now I know what to expect. Lena, thank you for sharing your story and especially for updating us with the resolution! Knowing that they were able to fix it quickly once you got through and that you'll receive the full month's benefits is really encouraging. This community is amazing for learning how things actually work in practice versus how they're supposed to work on paper.

I switched to direct deposit about 3 months ago and it's been such a relief! The whole process was pretty straightforward - I got the CA 183 form from my county office, filled it out with my bank info, and attached a voided check. Like others mentioned, it took about 2 payment cycles to kick in, but once it did, the money shows up consistently on payment day (usually by early morning). One tip I'd add is to make sure you have enough in your account to keep it open during the transition period - some banks require minimum balances and you don't want your account to get closed right when direct deposit is starting! Also, I keep the confirmation letter they sent me in a folder with all my other CalWORKs paperwork just in case there are ever any questions. The peace of mind of not having to worry about mail delivery or lost checks has been totally worth the small hassle of setting it up.

I've been on the fence about direct deposit for months but reading all these experiences has really helped me decide! My biggest concern was what happens if there's a problem, but it sounds like most people have had smooth experiences once it's set up. I'm particularly glad to hear about the timing tips - submitting the form right after getting my current payment and allowing 3 weeks for processing. That takes away a lot of my anxiety about potentially missing a payment during the transition. I'm going to download the CA 183 form from the CDSS website tonight and get my bank to print me a deposit slip tomorrow. Thanks to everyone who shared their real experiences - it's so much more helpful than trying to figure this out from official websites alone!