I'm really grateful for all the detailed experiences shared here! As someone who's new to CalWORKs, I had no clue about the 25% penalty for non-cooperation with child support - that's absolutely huge when you're already on a tight budget. What really stands out to me is how many people have gone through this exact same situation where their ex wants to pay directly to "avoid county fees," but then things eventually fall apart. The pattern is so consistent across everyone's stories that it seems like keeping the official case open is really the only safe choice. I'm curious - for those who decided to keep their cases open, how did your exes react when you explained the financial and legal reasons? Did any of them come to understand why the official system actually protects everyone involved, or did most remain focused on avoiding the processing fees? This thread has definitely convinced me that the security and enforcement power of the county system is worth way more than any small savings on fees. Thank you all for being so honest about your experiences - it's helping newcomers like me avoid some really costly mistakes!

I'm just starting my CalWORKs journey and this thread has been absolutely invaluable! As a newcomer to the system, I had no idea about the 25% penalty for not cooperating with child support - that's a devastating amount to lose when you're already trying to stretch every dollar. What really opened my eyes was reading how consistent these stories are. It seems like almost every ex uses the same "save money on county fees" argument, but the reality is those fees are usually tiny compared to the financial protection you lose by going private. And hearing how many people had their exes start out cooperative but then stop paying when life got complicated really drives home why that official enforcement is so crucial. I think the most important takeaway for me is that even when relationships seem good right now, you have to plan for what happens if circumstances change. The county system might not be perfect, but it's designed to protect families like ours when things don't go as planned. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences so honestly - you've probably saved me from making a really costly mistake! I'm definitely keeping any future child support case official, no matter what promises get made about direct payments.

This whole thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm new to CalWORKs (just got approved last month) and had no idea about any of this deposit timing stuff. My first payment came through but I never paid attention to when exactly it hit my card - I just checked in the afternoon and it was there. Now I'm realizing I should probably start tracking the timing like some of you mentioned, especially since I have rent due on the 3rd and that's also my deposit date. The idea of calling that EBT customer service line to get my deposit history is brilliant - way smarter than just hoping for the best every month. Question for everyone: do the deposit times stay pretty consistent month to month, or do they vary a lot? Like if I find out my benefits usually hit around 3 AM, can I count on that pattern continuing or does it change randomly? Thanks to everyone sharing their real experiences - this is exactly the kind of practical info that new recipients like me need to know but nobody tells you when you first sign up!

I'm dealing with this exact same situation! Just got approved for CalWORKs two months ago and the deposit timing has been my biggest source of stress. My first month I literally stayed awake until 3 AM checking my balance every 10 minutes because I had no idea when to expect it. What I've learned from my short experience is that the timing has been pretty consistent for me personally - both months it hit around 2:30 AM on my deposit date. But like everyone's saying here, it's definitely NOT midnight despite what some people claim online. The text alert suggestion through the EBT app is genius - I'm definitely setting that up tonight! And I had no clue about that EBT customer service number that can give you your deposit history. That seems way more reliable than calling the county office where you're on hold forever. Thanks to everyone sharing their real experiences in this thread. It's honestly such a relief to know other people go through this same stress and have found ways to manage it. The emergency fund idea is something I'm going to try to work toward too, even if it's just a few dollars at a time. One question - has anyone noticed if the timing changes when there are holidays around your deposit date? My next deposit falls right after New Year's and I'm wondering if I should expect any delays.

Just wanted to add something that might help with your rent situation - if you're really tight on timing and your landlord won't work with you on the due date, consider asking if they accept partial payments. Some landlords will let you pay half your rent on the 1st (maybe from savings or a small loan from family) and then the other half when your CalWORKs hits on the 7th. It's not ideal long-term, but it can help during those first few months while you're getting established and figuring out your budget rhythm. Also, don't forget that you might be eligible for utility assistance programs through LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program) which can help free up more of your CalWORKs money for rent. Your worker should be able to help you apply for that too.

One thing that really helped me when I first started on CalWORKs was creating a simple calendar where I marked my payment date (based on my case number) and all my bill due dates in different colors. This gave me a visual of exactly how many days I had between getting my benefits and when each bill was due. I also started keeping a small emergency fund - even just $20-30 set aside from each payment - for those months when timing gets weird due to weekends or holidays. It sounds like you're being really proactive about planning ahead, which is honestly half the battle. The first few months are definitely the hardest as you figure out the rhythm, but once you get a system that works for you, it becomes much more manageable!

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this stress! What that worker told you is absolutely false - there is NO 9-month limit on CalWORKs cash aid. I'm a newcomer to this community but I had to speak up because this kind of misinformation is so harmful. I've been researching CalWORKs policies extensively as I navigate the system myself, and the lifetime limit is definitely 48 months, not 9 months. Your grant dropping that dramatically without proper notice sounds like a serious administrative error. From reading all the responses here, it seems like LA County DPSS has major training issues with their frontline staff giving out completely incorrect information. It's unacceptable that you're having to stress about rent because of their mistakes. When you call back tomorrow, definitely follow the advice others have given about demanding a supervisor immediately. Don't let them give you any more made-up policies. You deserve your full benefits and proper explanations for any changes. This community seems incredibly knowledgeable and supportive - I'm glad you found this place to get real information instead of the nonsense that worker fed you. Stay strong and keep fighting!

I'm new to this community but had to jump in because what you experienced is absolutely outrageous! That 9-month limit story is complete fabrication - there is NO such rule in CalWORKs policy. I've been helping family members navigate the LA County system and have never heard anything so ridiculous. The fact that your grant dropped from $221 to $22 without any written notice is a serious violation of your due process rights. They're legally required to send you a Notice of Action before making any changes to your benefits, and clearly that didn't happen here. From reading all these responses, it's obvious this is a widespread problem with LA County DPSS workers giving out completely false information. It makes me wonder how many other families are being scammed out of their rightful benefits because of this misinformation campaign. When you call back tomorrow, don't even bother with the first person who answers - immediately ask for a supervisor and explain that you were given false information about CalWORKs policies. Tell them you know the actual lifetime limit is 48 months and demand they restore your full grant immediately since this was clearly their error. You might also want to consider filing a formal complaint about the worker who gave you that false information. People shouldn't be allowed to keep their jobs when they're literally making up policies that could make families homeless. Stay strong and don't let them intimidate you with fake rules! This community has your back and we know you're going to get this resolved.

Based on what you've shared, here's what I would do in your situation: 1. Call your worker ASAP (using Claimyr if you can't get through) and ask specifically about lump sum averaging for worker's comp settlements 2. Get documentation from your lawyer outlining what portions of the settlement are for medical expenses versus lost wages 3. Ask your doctor for updated documentation about your work limitations for your WTW exemption 4. Create a budget for how you'll handle expenses if you do lose benefits for one month 5. Report the settlement within 10 days of receiving it, but not before 6. If you have a bank account, be aware that the month after you receive the settlement, your resources will be checked to make sure you're still under the $10,000 limit The good news is that even in the worst-case scenario where you lose benefits for one month, you should be automatically reinstated the following month without having to reapply.

One more thing to consider - if your doctor has said you can't return to your old job, make sure you're also looking into vocational rehabilitation services through the Department of Rehabilitation (DOR). They can help with job training or education for work you CAN do with your injury limitations. This could be really important for your long-term financial stability since $8,500 won't last forever. Also, when you do report the settlement, ask your worker about any hardship exemptions or special circumstances that might apply since this is related to a work injury that's affecting your ability to earn income. Sometimes there are additional protections for people in situations like yours that workers don't automatically mention. Stay strong - it sounds like you're handling this the right way by asking questions and planning ahead!