Thanks everyone for the helpful information. I'm going to stop by the county office next week to ask about the childcare assistance and diaper allowance that was mentioned. Good to know there's no actual stimulus coming so I won't plan my budget around that. And I'll definitely look into that Claimyr service since I always have trouble reaching my worker by phone.

I'm new to this community but I've been on CalWORKs for about 8 months now with my 3-year-old daughter. Reading through all these responses has been really eye-opening! I had no idea about some of these additional benefits like the diaper allowance - definitely going to ask about that at my next appointment. It's frustrating how much confusing information gets passed around, but I really appreciate everyone taking the time to clarify things. I've been struggling to reach my caseworker too (the phone system is awful), so I'm going to check out that Claimyr service someone mentioned. Connor, I hope your visit to the county office goes well! Let us know what you find out about the childcare assistance - I'm working part-time too and childcare costs are eating up most of my paycheck. Thanks to everyone for being so helpful and sharing real information instead of just rumors.

Los Angeles is in Region 1, which receives the highest grant amounts because of the higher cost of living. The official new MAP levels haven't been published yet, but based on the 5% increase, a family of 3 in Region 1 with no income would go from approximately $1,030 to about $1,081. You can check the current rates on the CDSS website, and they'll post the new rates there before July. Just search for "CalWORKs Payment Standards" and look for the most recent chart. The new rates won't be posted until closer to the implementation date.

This thread has been so informative! I'm a single mom with one toddler in Fresno County and I've been on CalWORKs for about 4 months now. Getting $492/month currently which is really tough to stretch, so hearing about this 5% increase gives me some hope. I was actually starting to panic because I heard rumors that they might be cutting benefits due to budget issues, so this is such a relief! My caseworker hasn't said anything about it either - seems like that's a common theme here. I'm not working right now because I'm taking care of my 18-month-old full time, so hopefully I'll get the full increase amount. Does anyone know if Fresno County is usually quick with sending out those Notice of Action letters, or do they tend to be on the slower side? I want to make sure I don't miss it!

So glad you got this resolved! This is exactly why I always tell people to call the Alternative Payment Program directly instead of just relying on your regular CalWORKs worker. They're two different systems and sometimes things fall through the cracks. The TrustLine issue is super common - happened to my neighbor too. Make sure your mom keeps copies of all her attendance sheets and any correspondence about payments. Once the system gets going it's usually pretty reliable, but that first payment setup is always a nightmare. Hope the backpay comes through quickly!

I'm new to this community but going through the exact same thing right now! My grandmother has been watching my 4-year-old for about 5 weeks while I'm in the WTW program and we haven't seen a single payment yet. Reading all these responses is eye-opening - my worker never mentioned TrustLine at all, and now I'm wondering if that's what's holding everything up. I called three times this week and keep getting told "it's processing" with no real timeline. It's putting so much stress on my grandma because she's been buying snacks and supplies for my daughter out of her own pocket. I'm definitely going to try calling the Alternative Payment Program office directly tomorrow and ask specifically about TrustLine status and the provider number. Thank you all for sharing your experiences - it helps to know I'm not alone in dealing with this mess of a system!

I work as a community advocate and deal with CalWORKs cases regularly. You absolutely should report the disability approval to your worker ASAP, even before receiving payments. Here's why: 1. **Documentation trail**: Getting it on record now protects you from overpayment claims later 2. **Planning ahead**: Your worker can help you understand exactly how the disability will affect your benefits before payments start 3. **Exemption opportunities**: You may qualify for disability exemptions from work requirements - ask about this! The key thing everyone's mentioning about the $90 disregard is correct - SDI counts as unearned income, so after that $90 monthly disregard, it reduces your CalWORKs dollar for dollar. But you can stay on CalWORKs with $0 cash aid and keep Medi-Cal, childcare, and other supportive services. Pro tip: When you call, ask your worker to put a note in your case file about the disability approval date and that you're waiting for payments to begin. This creates a paper trail showing you reported proactively. Don't let the phone system discourage you - keep trying or consider using services like Claimyr that others mentioned to get through faster. This is too important to put off!

I just went through this exact situation a few months ago! You definitely need to report the SDI approval to your CalWORKs worker ASAP, even though you haven't received payments yet. I made the mistake of thinking I could wait until the money actually hit my account, and it created a mess that took weeks to sort out. Here's what I learned: Call your worker tomorrow and tell them you were approved for disability in July but are still waiting for payments. Ask them to document this in your case notes - this creates a paper trail showing you reported proactively. When your payments do start coming (mine took 4 months!), you'll already have everything set up properly. Also, don't panic about losing all your benefits. SDI counts as unearned income, so after the $90 monthly disregard, it reduces your CalWORKs cash dollar-for-dollar. But here's the good news - you can stay on CalWORKs with $0 cash aid and keep your Medi-Cal, childcare, and other supportive services. That was actually better for me because the disability paid more than CalWORKs anyway. One more thing - definitely ask about disability exemptions from your WTW requirements when you call. If your condition affects your ability to work, you might qualify for Good Cause which can exempt you from workfare hours. This was huge for me when I was dealing with my health issues. The phone system is brutal but don't give up! Some people mentioned Claimyr which helps you get through faster. Whatever you do, don't wait - protecting yourself from overpayments is worth the hassle of making that call.

One important recommendation: While you're waiting for your case to be resolved, you might qualify for emergency CalFresh (food stamps) if you haven't already maxed out your benefits. You can apply for an emergency allotment that can be approved within 3 days if you meet the criteria. Also, contact local food banks and community resource centers immediately. Many have emergency assistance programs specifically for situations like yours. For your EBT card security going forward: 1. Change your PIN as soon as you get a new card 2. Check your balance frequently (ideally daily) 3. Never share your PIN with anyone 4. Consider withdrawing your cash benefits all at once when they're deposited Wishing you the best with resolving this quickly.

I'm so sorry this happened to you! EBT theft is unfortunately becoming more and more common. I work at a community resource center and we see cases like yours every week. A few additional tips that might help: 1. Document EVERYTHING - take screenshots of your account balance showing $0, write down the exact date/time you discovered the theft, and keep records of all your calls and case numbers. 2. If you have trouble reaching your CalWORKs worker, you can also file the theft report online through your county's website in some counties, or visit any county office location - you don't have to go to the specific office where your worker is located. 3. While waiting for resolution, check if your area has any emergency rental assistance programs. Many cities and nonprofits have funds specifically to help prevent evictions. 4. Consider asking your landlord for a few extra days if possible - explain the situation and show them your theft report documentation. Many landlords are understanding when they see you're actively working to resolve the issue. Stay strong - I know this is incredibly stressful but you're taking all the right steps to get this resolved!