I'm new to this community and this thread has been such a lifesaver! I just got approved for CalFresh a few weeks ago and had no clue that calling early for interviews was even allowed. I've been so stressed about my upcoming recertification because I never know when my manager at the restaurant will change my shifts last minute. Reading @Annabel Kimball's success story and seeing all the supportive advice from everyone here makes me feel so much more prepared. @Charity Cohan that regulation information is incredibly valuable - knowing that accommodation is actually required by policy and not just luck of the draw with workers gives me confidence to speak up for myself. Thank you all for creating such a helpful and supportive space where we can learn from each other's real experiences!

I'm completely new to this community and this entire thread has been so incredibly helpful! I just submitted my CalFresh application yesterday and was already anxious about the interview scheduling since I'm a single parent working evening shifts at a grocery store. Reading @Annabel Kimball's success story and all the practical advice from everyone here has completely changed my perspective on how flexible the system can actually be. @Charity Cohan thank you so much for sharing that regulation information - knowing that MPP Section 63-300.46 requires them to accommodate household needs gives me the confidence to advocate for myself when my interview gets scheduled. It's amazing to see how supportive this community is in sharing real experiences and actionable knowledge that actually helps people succeed in navigating these systems. I feel so much more prepared now knowing I can call early if needed and that there's actual policy backing reasonable accommodation requests!

This entire thread is absolutely invaluable - thank you everyone for sharing your experiences and strategies! I'm currently in week 2 of waiting after my CalWORKs phone interview and was getting really anxious about the lack of communication from my county office. Logan, congratulations on finally breaking through and getting that specific information about employer verification! It's infuriating that they had you waiting over 3 weeks without telling you what was actually holding up your case. I've been taking notes on all the strategies mentioned here: calling at 8am sharp, asking specifically "what verification are you waiting for?" instead of accepting vague "processing" responses, requesting supervisors when needed, and knowing about expedited processing for housing emergencies. The tip about contacting county supervisor offices as a last resort is brilliant - I never would have thought of that option. It's honestly heartbreaking how many of us are dealing with this same broken system when we're already struggling financially, but this community support makes such a difference. The fact that we have to become experts at working around government dysfunction just to access basic assistance is wrong, but at least now we have real strategies that actually work. I'm planning to call first thing Monday morning armed with all this knowledge. Thank you all for proving that persistence pays off and we're not alone in this fight!

This thread has been incredibly eye-opening and helpful! I'm currently in week 4 of waiting after my CalWORKs interview and was starting to panic that I'd done something wrong with my application. Reading Logan's success story gives me so much hope - the fact that it was just employer verification holding things up (without them telling you!) is exactly what I was worried about happening to me. I've tried calling multiple times but keep getting disconnected after 2+ hour waits. I'm definitely going to try that 8am sharp strategy and ask specifically "what verification are you waiting for?" instead of accepting the usual "still processing" response. The tip about mentioning "immediate need" for housing emergencies is crucial too since my rent is already late. It's absolutely ridiculous that we have to strategize this hard just to get basic information about our own cases when we're already stressed about bills and kids' needs. But this community sharing their knowledge and experiences means everything. Thank you everyone for proving that persistence works and we're not alone in dealing with this broken system - I feel so much more equipped to advocate for myself now!

Hey is anyone still having trouble withdrawing cash from the ATMs or is it just me only?

Hey Chippale! I'm still having issues too as of yesterday. The Bank of America ATMs seem to work better than other ones, but I can still only get like $200 at a time instead of larger amounts. The grocery store cash back method has been my main workaround - I can get $100-200 depending on the store. From what everyone's been saying, this system upgrade thing is still ongoing so we're probably stuck with these workarounds for a little while longer. Have you tried the BofA ATMs or cash back at stores yet?

Congratulations on your new job! This is such an exciting step forward. I just wanted to share my experience from when I went through this exact same situation about a year ago. The most important thing to remember is that you absolutely DO NOT have to pay back any benefits that are already on your EBT card when you report your job change. Those benefits were correctly issued based on your circumstances at the time, so they're completely yours to use even after your case is updated. You need to report your new job within 10 days of your actual start date (March 3rd in your case), not when you got the offer. When you submit your SAR 3 form - whether online through BenefitsCal, by phone, or in person - make sure to include your exact start date and estimated monthly income from your offer letter. Here's something that might surprise you: don't automatically assume you'll lose all your CalFresh benefits! I thought I would too, but I actually still qualified for a reduced amount because of my rent, utilities, and transportation costs. The income limits are higher than many people think once all the allowable deductions are factored in. My advice is to keep detailed documentation of when and how you report (screenshots, confirmation numbers, etc.) and be thorough about listing ALL your monthly expenses when you submit your change report. These deductions can really make a difference in your final benefit calculation. You're being incredibly responsible by planning this out in advance. The system is designed to support people transitioning to work, not penalize them for getting jobs. You've got this!

Congratulations on your new job! This is such an exciting milestone and you're being really smart to plan ahead like this. I went through this exact situation about 6 months ago and had all the same worries you're having now. Here's what I learned: you absolutely do NOT have to pay back any benefits that are already on your EBT card when you report your job change. Those benefits were issued correctly based on your situation at the time, so they're 100% yours to use even after your case gets updated. The key is to report your job within 10 days of your actual start date (March 3rd), not when you got hired. You can submit your SAR 3 form through BenefitsCal online, call your county office, or visit in person. Make sure to include your exact start date and estimated monthly income from your offer letter. One thing that really surprised me was that I didn't lose ALL my CalFresh benefits like I expected - I still qualified for a reduced amount because of my rent and utility costs. The income limits are actually higher than many people realize once deductions are factored in, so don't assume you'll automatically lose everything! When you report, be really thorough about listing all your monthly expenses - rent, utilities, transportation costs for the new job, phone bill, etc. These deductions can make a significant difference in your benefit calculation. Also, I'd recommend taking screenshots of your BenefitsCal account before and after you report, showing your benefit amounts and case status. This gives you solid documentation of when you reported and what your benefits were at that time. You're handling this exactly right by being proactive and asking questions. This is a really positive step forward and the system is designed to support transitions like this, not penalize people for getting jobs. Best of luck with your new position!

Emma, I'm so happy to read your update! What an incredible relief that must be after all that stress and uncertainty. It's absolutely maddening that your approval was sitting there for a week while you were worried sick about utilities and your kids' needs - the communication gaps in this system are just unacceptable. Your experience perfectly illustrates why this community is so valuable. Everyone's advice about going in person really made the difference, even though it meant dealing with transportation challenges and waiting 2.5 hours with kids. That takes real determination, and I'm so glad it paid off. As someone who's been through this process myself, I know how overwhelming that waiting period can be. Your story will definitely help other families who are in that same stressful situation right now. The fact that they're expediting your first payment due to the utility situation is great - not all workers go that extra mile. Congratulations on your approval, and I hope your EBT card arrives quickly! Thank you for updating everyone - success stories like yours give hope to so many people navigating this challenging system.

Emma, I'm so relieved to see your update! This entire thread has been incredibly helpful for me as someone who's completely new to both this community and the CalWORKs process. Your journey really highlights how important it is to be persistent and advocate for yourself, even when the system makes it difficult. It's absolutely ridiculous that your approval was sitting there for a week while you were stressed about utilities and your kids' needs - the communication breakdowns in this system are just unacceptable. But your determination to go in person despite having to manage transportation and wait 2.5 hours with kids really shows what kind of advocacy we sometimes need to do for our families. Reading through everyone's experiences and advice has been like a crash course in navigating CalWORKs. Learning about the 45-day timeline, emergency assistance options, the importance of documenting everything, and how in-person visits can be more effective than endless phone calls will definitely help me when I start my own application process. Thank you for taking the time to update us with your success story - it gives so much hope to newcomers like me who might be feeling overwhelmed by this system. I hope your EBT card arrives quickly and everything gets much easier for you and your kids from here! This community is amazing for how everyone shares real experiences and genuinely supports each other through these challenges.