Welcome to the community, Jay and everyone else who's new! This thread really shows the best of what this community can offer - real experiences, practical solutions, and genuine support when people are dealing with stressful benefit issues. Sean's story is a great example of why you should always trust your instincts when something doesn't seem right with the system. The fact that he acted quickly and went in person with all his documentation probably saved him from weeks of being without benefits while trying to straighten things out through phone calls and online submissions. For newcomers, I'd also add that it's worth familiarizing yourself with your local office's walk-in hours and procedures now, before you need them. That way if you ever face a situation like Sean's, you'll know exactly where to go and what to bring. The screenshot advice is spot-on too - I've found that visual proof of what you submitted and when can be incredibly helpful when explaining discrepancies to caseworkers. Thanks again Sean for sharing your positive outcome, and welcome to all the new community members!

Welcome to the community, Giovanni and everyone else who's just starting their CalWORKs journey! This thread has been such an incredible resource - I'm also relatively new here and Sean's experience really opened my eyes to how important it is to stay on top of your case even when you think everything is going smoothly. The online system can definitely be tricky, but what I love about this community is how people share real solutions that actually work. All the advice about keeping documentation, taking screenshots, and knowing your local office procedures is gold. It's amazing how one person's challenging experience can become such valuable guidance for so many others. Sean, thank you for sharing both the problem and the successful resolution - it really helps newcomers like us feel more prepared to advocate for ourselves if similar issues come up!

This thread has been absolutely incredible to follow! As someone who's been on CalWORKs for about a year now, I had heard whispers about the 60-month time limit but never really understood what it meant or how it worked. @Mateo Sanchez I'm so happy you got through to your worker and discovered those potential exempt months - what a huge relief that must be for you and your kids! Reading everyone's experiences here has taught me more about the system than any official communication ever has. The WTW 40 form is something I never knew existed, and it sounds like every CalWORKs recipient should request one to understand where they stand. I'm definitely going to ask for mine at my next appointment. It's both frustrating and comforting to see how many of us are learning these crucial details through community support rather than clear information from the county. Thank you to everyone who shared their knowledge - this is exactly the kind of real-world guidance that makes such a difference when navigating these complex systems!

This thread has been absolutely incredible and so educational! As someone who's been receiving CalWORKs for about 5 months now, I had absolutely zero knowledge about the 60-month time limit or how exemptions work. @Mateo Sanchez I'm so thrilled that you got through to your worker and potentially discovered those exempt months - what an amazing turn of events! The WTW 40 form is completely new information to me and it sounds like something every single CalWORKs recipient should know about from the very beginning. It's honestly shocking how much vital information isn't clearly explained during the application process or in ongoing communications. Reading through everyone's real-world experiences here has been more informative than any official documentation I've received. I'm definitely going to request my own WTW 40 form at my next appointment and I'm saving that Claimyr service information too since reaching workers seems to be such a universal struggle. The fact that children continue receiving benefits after the adult times out (even with the reduced amount) is such important information that should be clearly communicated to everyone. Thank you to everyone who shared their knowledge and experiences - this community is proving to be an absolutely invaluable resource for understanding how these complex systems actually work in practice rather than just what's written in the official materials!

I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who responded to this question! I was in a very similar situation a few weeks ago when I needed to travel to Nevada to help my mom after her hip surgery, and I was so worried about accessing my benefits while I was there. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful and reassuring. It's amazing how many of us have been in this exact situation - needing to travel to help family while worrying about our CalWORKs benefits. From what I learned from my trip and what everyone has shared here, the key points seem to be: 1. Your EBT card definitely works out of state 2. Be prepared for higher ATM fees ($3-5 per withdrawal) 3. Withdraw larger amounts less frequently to minimize fees 4. Keep all your receipts 5. You're fine as long as it's under 30 days 6. Consider cash back at grocery stores as an alternative to ATMs One thing I'd add is that I found Costco and Sam's Club ATMs (if you have membership) sometimes had lower fees than regular bank ATMs. Also, calling your worker ahead of time really does help avoid any confusion later. It's so heartwarming to see how many people are traveling to help family members - that's what family is for! Hope your trip goes smoothly and congratulations on your new niece!

I just want to add something that might be helpful - if you're planning to be in Arizona for 2 weeks, you might want to look into which banks have reciprocal agreements that could reduce ATM fees. Some credit unions participate in networks like CO-OP or Allpoint that let you use certain ATMs without the usual out-of-network charges. Also, since you'll be helping with a newborn, you might find yourself needing cash at odd hours when banks are closed. It's worth mapping out a few different ATM locations near where you'll be staying so you're not scrambling to find one when you need it, especially with a tired new mom and baby to think about! The fact that you're making this trip to help your sister shows what an amazing support system she has. Those first weeks with a newborn are such a whirlwind, and having someone there who can help with practical things (like knowing where to get cash!) will be invaluable. Wishing you both all the best!

This entire thread is incredibly valuable - thank you to everyone who shared their experiences! I'm experiencing something similar where my payment hasn't come through this month despite having an active case. Reading through all the responses, it's clear that missing verification requests (that we never received) are a huge part of the problem. The fact that they can just stop payments without proper notification is really unfair to families who depend on this assistance. I'm going to try several of the strategies mentioned here: - Calling right at 8am when they open - Checking if there are any unreceived verification requests - Using the BenefitsCal app to upload documents instead of email - Keeping a detailed log of all my attempts to contact them - Looking into my county's legal aid resources It's frustrating that we have to become experts at navigating their broken system, but I'm so grateful for communities like this where people actually help each other with real solutions. The mutual support here is exactly what we need when the official system fails us. Hoping everyone gets their payment issues resolved quickly! We shouldn't have to choose between rent and food because of their administrative failures.

This thread has been such a lifesaver! I've been dealing with the exact same issue for almost two weeks now - my CalWORKs case shows active but zero payment deposited. Reading everyone's experiences makes me feel less alone in this struggle. What really stands out to me is how many people discovered they had missing verification requests that were never properly communicated. It's like they set us up to fail and then blame us when payments get stopped! I'm definitely going to try the strategies everyone mentioned - calling right at opening, using the BenefitsCal app for uploads, and keeping detailed records of everything. The tip about taking photos of all documents and getting receipt numbers is something I wish I had known from the start. Thank you especially to those who came back with updates after getting their issues resolved. It gives the rest of us hope that there IS a way through this mess, even if we have to jump through ridiculous hoops to get there. We really shouldn't have to become welfare system experts just to access basic assistance, but I'm grateful we have each other to share what works. Solidarity to everyone still fighting for their payments! 💪

UPDATE: I finally got through to someone at the county office! They confirmed they received my SAR7 and said that since I submitted it before the end of the month, my benefits won't be discontinued. The worker did say that my payment might be a couple days late next month because of the late submission, but at least I'm not losing my benefits entirely. She also made a note in my file that I didn't receive the reminder notice in the mail. Thanks everyone for your help and advice - this group is seriously a lifesaver!!

So glad you got through and everything worked out! That's such a relief about your benefits not being discontinued. A couple days late is way better than losing them completely. It's really good that the worker noted about the missing reminder notice too - definitely keep that documented in case you have issues in the future. This is exactly why I love this community - we all help each other navigate this confusing system. Hope your payment comes through soon and you can get your rent sorted!