I just want to echo what everyone has said about being persistent if you get pushback initially. When I helped my neighbor (she's 71) apply for CalWORKs for her grandson, the first worker kept insisting she needed to do job search activities and kept trying to include her in the assistance unit. We had to ask for a supervisor who immediately knew the rules about senior caretakers. One thing I'd add - when you go to the appointment, write down the worker's name and ask them to note in the case file that your mom is applying specifically as a "non-needy caretaker relative over age 60" and is therefore exempt from WTW requirements. This creates a paper trail in case there are issues later. Also, don't be surprised if the process takes a while. My neighbor's case took about 6 weeks to get approved because it had to go through additional reviews since senior caretaker cases are less common. But once it was approved, she got retroactive payments back to when she applied. Your mom is doing such an important thing raising your niece, especially after such a loss. The system should be supporting families like yours, not making it harder!

I want to add something that might help during the application process - if your mom encounters any issues with the county office or feels like she's not getting the right information, she can also contact the California Department of Social Services directly at their state level. They have a complaint process and can sometimes help resolve local office issues. Also, make sure your mom keeps copies of EVERYTHING - the application, any documents she submits, and notes from any conversations with county workers. If there are delays or problems later, having that documentation can be really important. One more resource that might be helpful is 211 - you can dial 2-1-1 from any phone to get connected to local resources and services. They often know about community organizations that specifically help seniors navigate benefit applications and might be able to connect you with additional support. Your mom sounds like an amazing person for stepping up to care for your niece during such a difficult time. I hope the application process goes smoothly and she gets the assistance she deserves!

I'm also pretty new to CalWORKs (got approved about a month ago) and this thread has been incredibly eye-opening! My caseworker gave me almost no information about direct deposit - just said it was "available if I wanted it" but didn't explain any of the actual process or timeline. After reading everyone's experiences, I'm definitely going to pursue it. The tips about black ink, getting stamped copies, and verifying routing numbers with the bank first are so valuable. I had no idea about potential delays from simple things like using the wrong pen color! Quick question for those who've been through this - when you submit the form, do you need to bring your actual bank account holder ID, or is the voided check/bank letter sufficient? My county office website isn't clear about what documents I need to bring with me beyond the completed form. Also really appreciate all the ATM withdrawal info. I had no idea about the rolling 24-hour limit vs midnight reset - that definitely could have caused problems when I need to pay bills. The tip about Costco ATMs being fee-free is amazing too since I shop there anyway. This community is seriously a lifesaver for navigating all this confusing bureaucracy!

This has been such an incredibly helpful thread! I just got approved for CalWORKs two weeks ago and was completely overwhelmed by the whole system. My caseworker basically rushed me through everything and I left with more questions than answers. After reading through all these experiences, I feel so much more prepared to tackle the direct deposit process. The checklist that's emerged from everyone's advice is gold: black ink, multiple copies, stamped receipts, verify routing numbers with the bank, call ahead to notify them about incoming deposits, and follow up every 2 weeks with early morning calls. I had no idea about so many of these details - like the rolling 24-hour ATM limits, the combined $1000 limit for CalWORKs and CalFresh, potential fraud alerts for large withdrawals, or even simple things like routing numbers potentially changing. These are exactly the kinds of real-world details you need but never get from official sources. Planning to submit my direct deposit form this Friday and I'm actually feeling confident about it now instead of anxious. This community is amazing - way better than any official resource I've found. Thank you to everyone who took the time to share their experiences, both successful and frustrating. It makes such a difference for those of us just starting this journey!

This is such a common and frustrating issue! I just went through something very similar last month. My EBT cash showed $38 but kept getting declined everywhere - grocery store, ATM, even trying to get cash back at the pharmacy. I felt so embarrassed standing there with my card being rejected while people waited behind me in line. Turns out there was a hold on my account because I was late submitting my quarterly income report. What really got me was that I HAD submitted it, but apparently one of the pay stubs was too blurry for them to process, so they rejected the whole thing without clearly telling me why. I only found out when I finally got through to my caseworker after calling for three days straight. The silver lining is that once I actually reached someone who could look at my account, they were able to see all my uploaded documents and lift the hold immediately. My benefits were working again within a couple hours. Since you already uploaded your pay stubs to BenefitsCal this morning, you're definitely on the right track! I'd recommend trying to call your worker first thing tomorrow morning around 7:30-8am before the lines get crazy busy. If you can't get through, definitely try that Claimyr service people mentioned - I wish I had known about it when I was dealing with my situation. Don't give up - that money is yours and they have to fix it once you get the right person to look at your case!

I'm so sorry you're going through this - it's such a stressful situation when you can see the money there but can't access it! Based on everything you've described and all the helpful experiences shared in this thread, it definitely sounds like you have a verification hold on your cash benefits due to that "pending verification" status in BenefitsCal. The good news is that you already uploaded your pay stubs this morning, so you're doing everything right! The pattern I'm seeing from everyone's stories is that these holds require manual intervention to remove - the system won't automatically lift them even after you submit the required documents. I'd definitely recommend trying to call your caseworker very early tomorrow morning (around 7:30-8am like Yara suggested) before the phone lines get swamped. If you can't get through after a few tries, that Claimyr service that several people have had success with sounds like it could be really helpful as a backup option. Don't feel bad about being late with the income verification - those reporting requirements can be really confusing and it sounds like you've been dealing with a lot. Based on everyone's experiences here, once you actually reach someone who can look at your account, they should be able to confirm your documents were received and lift the hold pretty quickly. That $20 might seem small to them, but I know every dollar counts when you're struggling. Hang in there and don't give up - that money is rightfully yours!

This thread has been so helpful! I'm a single dad with a 3-year-old daughter, currently receiving CalWORKs benefits, and I've been offered a position at a warehouse that would be $15.75/hour for about 32 hours a week (roughly $2,016 monthly gross). Reading everyone's experiences has given me the confidence to seriously consider this job. I was especially relieved to learn about the income disregard calculation - I had no idea they don't count all your earnings against your benefits! And knowing that childcare assistance is available is huge since my daughter would need daycare while I'm working. One question I have is about the timing of everything - how quickly do the benefit changes take effect after you report your new job? I want to make sure I understand the timeline so I can budget properly during the transition period. Also, does anyone have experience with warehouse work specifically while on CalWORKs? I'm wondering if the physical demands or potential overtime opportunities create any special considerations I should be aware of when reporting to my worker. Thank you all for sharing your stories - it's made such a difference knowing that taking this job could actually improve our financial situation rather than hurt it!

As someone who went through this exact transition about a year ago, I can't emphasize enough how much better off you'll be taking that job! I was making almost the same hourly rate ($16.25) for similar hours with 2 kids, and I was so scared about losing benefits. Here's what actually happened: My cash aid went down from about $700 to around $350, BUT my total monthly income went from $700 to over $1,400 because of my work earnings plus the reduced cash aid. The income disregard calculation really does protect a big chunk of your earnings. The best part was the childcare assistance - I ended up with quality care for my kids that I never could have afforded otherwise. And like others mentioned, your CalFresh might actually increase to help offset the cash aid reduction. One practical tip: Start looking for childcare providers NOW, even before you officially start the job. The approval process can take a few weeks, and you want to have everything lined up. Also, keep detailed records of all your paystubs and communications with your worker - it makes everything smoother. You're making the right choice for your family's future. The transition might feel uncertain at first, but within a couple months you'll wonder why you ever hesitated. Take that job!

This has been such an incredible learning experience reading through everyone's stories! I'm currently applying for CalWORKs in Santa Cruz County with my two kids (family of 3) and had absolutely no idea about the regional payment differences until I found this thread. From what I've gathered, Santa Cruz should be Region 1, so I should expect around $983 for a family of 3 if I get approved, right? The application process has been pretty intimidating - there's so much paperwork and so many requirements to keep track of. But seeing how supportive and knowledgeable everyone is here gives me confidence that I can navigate this system successfully. I'm definitely going to bookmark this thread and come back to it once I start receiving benefits to make sure I'm getting the correct amounts. Thank you all for creating such a valuable resource for people like me who are new to CalWORKs and trying to understand how everything works!

I'm so grateful I found this thread! I'm currently navigating CalWORKs in Riverside County with my 3 kids (family of 4) and had no idea there were regional payment differences until reading all these helpful comments. Based on what everyone has shared, Riverside should be Region 2, so I should expect $1,181 for a family of 4, right? I've been getting around $1,120 per month and never questioned it, but now I'm realizing I might be missing out on about $61 each month! I'm definitely going to call my worker tomorrow and ask for that detailed benefit calculation breakdown that everyone keeps mentioning. The phone system struggles you all describe are so real - I've spent countless hours on hold only to get disconnected. But reading how everyone here helps each other figure out their benefits gives me hope that I can get this sorted out. Thank you all for sharing your experiences and creating such a supportive space for people trying to understand this complex system!