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Does anyone know if this affects upcoming interviews? I have my CalWORKs recertification interview tomorrow but can't see any of my case details or the appointment information anymore. Should I still call at the scheduled time?
YES! Definitely call at your scheduled time. The workers still have access to the full system on their end, so your interview should proceed as normal. If possible, call about 15 minutes early just to make sure you get through given all these technical issues. Missing an interview can result in benefits being discontinued, so don't skip it because of the website problems.
UPDATE: My account is back to normal this morning! All my cases, history, and messages reappeared. For anyone else experiencing this, it does seem to be just a temporary glitch. Thanks everyone for your help and reassurance!
mines back too!! what a relief. im screenshotting EVERYTHING now tho just in case it happens again
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just wanted to say good luck!! i know how stressful this is when ur waiting on money for basic needs. the system totally sucks sometimes but dont give up!
Thank you! Really appreciate the support. I'll post an update once I figure it out.
UPDATE: I finally got through to someone this morning using the "benefits not received" option like someone suggested. The worker told me my SAR 7 was sitting in the queue and nobody had looked at it yet! She processed it while I was on the phone and said my benefits should be issued within 48 hours. She also said they're extremely short-staffed right now which is causing the delays. So relieved this is getting resolved before my rent is due!
Thanks for updating us! This is unfortunately very common with county offices right now. Glad you got it resolved before your rent was due. For future reference, if your benefits are delayed due to county processing issues (not because of anything you did), you can request a hearing and potentially get compensated for any late fees or other costs the delay caused you.
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To actually answer your question more specifically: For a family of 3, there are three income tests for CalWORKs: 1. Gross income limit (around $2,813/month for 2025) 2. Net income after deductions must be under the Minimum Basic Standard of Adequate Care (MBSAC) 3. Net income after deductions must be lower than the Maximum Aid Payment (MAP) For deductions, they allow: - $450 for work expenses for each employed person - 50% of remaining earned income - Child care costs (with limits) After these deductions, your net countable income must be below the MAP for your family size, which for a family of 3 is about $1,057 if you live in a higher-cost county (Region 1) or $1,008 in a lower-cost county (Region 2). This is public information they absolutely should have shared with you!
Thank you SO MUCH for breaking this down! This is exactly what I needed. So it sounds like if both my partner and I work, we'd each get the $450 deduction plus half our remaining income wouldn't count? That's way more generous than I thought. Do you know if the child care deduction is before or after the 50% reduction?
The childcare deduction is taken after the 50% earned income deduction. And yes, you both would get the $450 deduction if you're both working! The system actually has decent work incentives built in, which is why it's so frustrating when workers don't explain it properly.
I've been through this exact situation. The reality is that the income limits for CalWORKs are complicated because there are different tests, and sometimes workers don't want to give a simple answer that might not apply to your specific situation. But they SHOULD have explained that to you instead of just refusing to answer! Are you just trying to figure out if you should apply, or are you already receiving benefits and worried about income changes? The rules are slightly different depending on your situation.
We're not on CalWORKs yet but considering applying. My partner just got a job offer and we're trying to figure out if we should accept it or ask for fewer hours so we can still qualify. We're in a really tough spot financially right now with rent increasing, and the childcare assistance through CalWORKs would be a huge help while we get back on our feet.
In that case, I would absolutely apply regardless! The initial income limits are actually pretty generous with the deductions, and the childcare benefit is incredibly valuable. Even if you're close to the limit, it's worth applying because they'll do the exact calculations for your situation. Don't turn down work hours before knowing for sure - you might qualify anyway with the deductions.
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@OP - Just checking if you were able to file your report? One more thing I forgot to mention is that when this happened to me, I asked my worker about emergency assistance while waiting for the investigation, and they helped me with a small emergency payment since my rent was due. Don't be afraid to tell them if you're at risk of eviction - there are sometimes emergency funds available specifically for these situations.
I finally got through to someone at the EBT customer service line and reported it. They canceled my card and are sending a new one. I also got the EBT-2259 form and will be dropping it off tomorrow. The worker I spoke with wasn't very helpful about emergency assistance though. She just said I have to wait for the investigation to complete. I might try calling again tomorrow and hope for someone more helpful. Thanks for all your advice!
Has anyone noticed the welfare office acts like we're lying when this happens?? My friend had to call FIVE TIMES before anyone took her seriously about her cash aid being stolen. They kept asking her the same questions over and over like they were trying to catch her in a lie. Meanwhile she couldn't feed her kids!!
Unfortunately, this can happen because they have to investigate all claims thoroughly. That said, you should always be treated with respect. If you feel you're being treated unfairly, ask to speak with a supervisor. You can also contact your county's Civil Rights Coordinator or file a state hearing request if you believe your case isn't being handled properly. Document every conversation with dates, times, and names of who you spoke with.
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Did anyone else notice that the OP mentioned CalFresh but posted in the CalWORKs forum? These are two different programs with different rules. CalFresh is food assistance, CalWORKs is cash aid. Income reporting requirements are similar but the benefit calculation and eligibility differs! Just checking if you're asking about CalFresh or CalWORKs?
Oops! I meant CalFresh (food stamps). I don't receive CalWORKs. I didn't realize I posted in the wrong section, sorry! But the advice has been helpful anyway.
Just to clear up some confusion in this thread: 1. When you go over IRT, you must report within 10 days 2. The county must give you at least 10 days notice before reducing/stopping benefits 3. Changes usually take effect the following month after you report 4. You'll get a Notice of Action with the exact date of any benefit changes 5. One paycheck over IRT doesn't automatically disqualify you - they recalculate based on your ongoing monthly income 6. Various deductions (rent, utilities, childcare) can help you still qualify even with higher income The most important thing is to report on time to avoid potential overpayments. Your EBT card will continue to work until any change date listed on your Notice of Action.
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My son has had the same card for 3 yrs now and they just reload it each month. BUT when we moved counties, they issued a new card for some reason? I was confused about that. Anyone else have to get new cards when moving between counties in CA?
Yes, moving between counties typically triggers a new card issuance because your case is transferred to the new county's system. Each county in California administers CalWORKs somewhat independently (though under the same state rules), and they often need to close your case in the old county and open a new one in the new county. This is why people sometimes experience benefit delays when moving between counties.
make sure when u get the replacement u activate it right away!! my benfits got stollen once cuz i left the new card sitting in pile of mail for 2 weeks n someone must of took it from my mailbox!!! calworks wouldnt replace the stolen money either they said i was negligent
That's horrible! I'll definitely activate it immediately and check my mail carefully. Did you ever get any of that money back?
nope! they said once the money is gone its gone. they woudlnt even investigate! just said i shuold have been more carefull with my card. so make sure u check ur mail daily when expecting the new 1
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One more thing - technically you can report your pregnancy now if you want to receive the Pregnancy Special Needs payment ($47/month). You'd need to provide medical verification of your pregnancy and expected due date. Some people choose to wait until closer to their due date or after birth to notify CalWORKs, but reporting now could get you that additional assistance during your pregnancy.
I think I'll definitely look into the pregnancy special needs payment since every bit helps. I have a doctor's appointment next week so I'll ask for verification then. Thank you!
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one thing i learned is calfresh n calworks are done by different workers sometimes. so if ur only doing calfresh make sure u say that when u call
Update: I just called and got through! They were able to do my interview now instead of at 3:30pm! The worker I spoke with was super nice about it and said they encourage people to call earlier if they can because sometimes their afternoon schedule gets backed up anyway. All approved for CalFresh again! Thanks everyone for the advice!!
That's great news! I'm glad it worked out for you. This is why I always tell people to at least try calling earlier - the worst they can say is no, but often they'll accommodate you. How long did they say it would take for your benefits to be loaded on your card?
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I want to clarify something important about assets since you mentioned a savings account. For CalWORKs, the asset limit is $10,000 per household (or $15,000 if someone in the household is disabled or over 60). So your $342 savings is well under the limit and won't affect your eligibility at all. In fact, I'd encourage you to keep saving when possible - building that emergency fund is important and CalWORKs rules are designed to allow for some reasonable savings. Just make sure to report it accurately on your redetermination paperwork.
Thank you! That's such a relief. My previous caseworker made it sound like I couldn't have any savings at all without losing benefits. Appreciate you clearing that up.
has anyone had a redetermination since benefitscal replaced the old system? i heard the questions are different now and they require more verification documents than before... wondering what to expect for mine next month
Yes, I had mine through BenefitsCal in January. The questions are better organized but cover the same information. You can actually upload your verification documents directly through the portal now instead of bringing physical copies. Makes the whole process much smoother if you're doing a phone interview.
Honorah King
I just wanna say I'm really sorry about your job loss. This happened to me in January and it was really stressful. Hang in there! ❤️
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Vera Visnjic
•Thank you, I appreciate that. It's definitely been a shock for everyone at my workplace.
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Brielle Johnson
make sure u keep all ur paystubs from the job even after it closes!!! they might ask for them later and its a pain when u cant get them from hr anymore!!
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