Hey Zara! Congratulations on your approval! 🎉 I know how overwhelming it can feel when you're new to the system. One thing I don't think anyone mentioned yet - if you have trouble finding a Bank of America ATM for free withdrawals, you can also use ATMs at any Cardtronics location (they're usually in 7-Eleven stores, Walgreens, and some other places). Those are also fee-free for EBT Cash withdrawals. Also, just a heads up that your first month might be a little confusing timing-wise since you were approved mid-month. You'll probably get a partial payment for the rest of March (since you were approved on the 18th), and then your regular full monthly amount will start coming on the 3rd of each month going forward. And definitely keep calling that EBT number (1-877-328-9677) to check your balance in the first few days after the 3rd - sometimes there can be processing delays but you'll want to know if it's actually deposited or if there's an issue that needs to be resolved. You're doing great navigating this - being proactive and asking questions is exactly the right approach! Your little one is lucky to have such a resourceful mom. 💛

Hey Zara! Congrats on your approval! 🎉 Just wanted to add one more helpful tip that I wish someone had told me when I first started getting Cash Aid - if you ever need to dispute a transaction or report your card lost/stolen, write down the date, time, and location of every ATM withdrawal or purchase you make. I learned this the hard way when my card got skimmed at a sketchy ATM and I had to prove which transactions were mine vs. the fraudulent ones. Also, if you're ever in a situation where you need cash but all the free ATMs are far away, some grocery stores like Safeway and Lucky will let you get cash back with a small purchase using EBT Cash with no extra fees. Just buy something cheap like a banana and ask for cash back - way better than paying $3+ at a random ATM! The learning curve feels steep at first but you'll get the hang of it quickly. Everyone here has given you amazing advice - this community really is the best resource for navigating CalWORKs! Welcome aboard! 😊

I just want to say how helpful this entire thread has been! I'm not in the exact same situation but I've been considering applying for CalWORKs as a single mom and seeing all the different scenarios and advice here has been really eye-opening. The distinction between assistance units and households is something I never understood before, and all the tips about documentation and what to expect during interviews are invaluable. It's so great to see a community where people actually help each other navigate these complicated systems instead of judging. @CosmicCadet I hope your application goes smoothly - you seem really prepared now with all this advice! And thank you to everyone who shared their experiences, both good and bad. It really helps to know what to expect going into this process.

I'm going through a similar situation right now and this thread has been incredibly helpful! I just wanted to add that when you include your boyfriend in your CalWORKs application, make sure you both understand that you'll likely need to attend appointments together throughout the process - not just the initial interview. My caseworker required both me and my partner to come in for the eligibility review and when we had to recertify our benefits. It can be a hassle with work schedules but they want to verify that you're genuinely functioning as a household unit. Also, keep really good records of everything - dates you called, who you spoke with, what they told you. The system can be inconsistent and having documentation of conversations has saved me multiple times when workers gave me conflicting information. Best of luck with your application!

Hey everyone! I'm fairly new here but wanted to jump in because this conversation is so important. As someone who works with families navigating benefits, I see this confusion about CalWORKs income limits ALL the time. @Yara Khoury - you're definitely not alone in this! The $6k vs $3k confusion happens because different programs have wildly different income limits. It's honestly ridiculous how complicated they make it. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet - if your income varies month to month (like with freelance work), make sure your worker is calculating your eligibility correctly. They should be looking at your actual monthly income, not projecting based on one high-earning month. Also, if you just started earning more, there might be a grace period or transition benefits available. The system really does set families up to fail with these benefit cliffs. You shouldn't have to choose between earning enough to survive and keeping assistance that helps your family. Have you looked into any local emergency assistance programs while you figure this out? Many counties have short-term help for families transitioning off CalWORKs.

I'm new to this community but going through something very similar right now! I have 5 kids and just got my CalWORKs discontinued last month after my work hours increased. Like you, I was so confused about the income limits - my caseworker had told me different numbers at different times and I couldn't figure out what was accurate. What really helped me was going to my local legal aid office. They have advocates who specialize in benefits and they helped me understand that CalWORKs uses something called "prospective budgeting" - meaning they estimate your future income based on recent earnings. If you have irregular income, they're supposed to average it over a reasonable period, not just use your highest month. The legal aid advocate also helped me file an appeal and request a "continuing benefits pending" hearing, which means you can keep getting benefits while the appeal is being decided. You might still have time to do this if it hasn't been too long since your benefits stopped. I know how overwhelming this all is, especially when you're trying to take care of 7 people. The income limits really are impossibly low for California's cost of living. Hang in there and definitely try to get some advocacy help if you can - it made all the difference for me!

I've been dealing with this exact same issue since Thursday! My card works fine for purchases but keeps getting declined at ATMs even though I have over $800 in cash benefits. I was so worried something was wrong with my account. Reading all these comments has been such a relief - I had no idea this was a system-wide problem with their "upgrades." I'm definitely going to try the Bank of America ATM tomorrow and the grocery store cash back method. It's really frustrating that they don't send us any kind of notification when they're doing these system changes. We depend on this money for rent, bills, and basic necessities - the least they could do is give us a heads up instead of leaving us to panic and figure out workarounds on our own. Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences and solutions!

This is happening to me too! Started having problems on Saturday - my card works fine for buying stuff at stores but every ATM just says "declined" even though I have like $950 in cash benefits. I was getting really worried that my case got messed up or something. So relieved to read all these comments and know it's a system-wide issue with their upgrades. The EBT customer service is absolutely useless - I was on hold for over 3 hours yesterday and never got through. Going to try the Bank of America ATM and grocery store cash back methods tomorrow. It's so frustrating that they don't give us any warning when they're doing these system changes - we depend on this money for rent and basic needs and shouldn't have to stress about whether we can access our own benefits!

As someone new to this community, I'm so grateful to have found this discussion! I'm currently going through my first CalFresh recertification and was really anxious about how to handle my child support situation. My ex is supposed to pay $380/month but I maybe get $150 on a good month, sometimes nothing for months at a time. Reading everyone's experiences has been such a relief - I had no idea that CalFresh only counts what you actually receive rather than what's court-ordered. That makes so much sense but nobody ever explained it to me when I first applied. The advice about bringing bank statements and DCSS payment history is exactly what I needed to hear. What really strikes me is how supportive this community is. It's clear that dealing with unreliable child support is unfortunately common, but seeing how people help each other navigate these systems gives me so much hope. Thank you to everyone who shared their knowledge - this thread has completely changed how I'm approaching my recertification appointment next week!

As a newcomer to this community, I want to express how incredibly helpful this entire discussion has been! I'm currently navigating CalFresh benefits for the first time and had so many questions about how various income sources are handled, especially child support. The clarity everyone has provided about CalFresh only counting child support you actually receive (rather than court-ordered amounts) is such valuable information that I never would have found in official resources. It's reassuring to know the system recognizes the reality that court orders don't always translate to actual payments. What really impresses me about this community is the willingness to share real experiences and practical advice. The tips about documentation, Income Reporting Thresholds, and the differences between various programs have been educational beyond what any government website could provide. It's clear that many people here have walked similar paths and genuinely want to help others succeed. @f3839b0cf18f thank you for asking such an important question that has helped so many of us! Your proactive approach to gathering documentation shows you're handling this exactly right. To everyone who shared their experiences - this kind of peer support is invaluable when dealing with complex government programs. I'm grateful to have found such a knowledgeable and supportive community!