

Ask the community...
I'm brand new to this community and just started receiving CalWORKs benefits last month. This thread has been incredibly helpful and reassuring to read! As someone who's still learning how the system works, I had no idea that payment delays like this were fairly common. If this had happened to me, I definitely would have been in full panic mode just like you were initially. What I really appreciate about this community is how everyone shares their real experiences and practical advice. The tips about checking BenefitsCal for active case status, knowing that most delays resolve by noon, and especially the advice about building even a small emergency buffer of $20-30 are exactly what I need to hear as a newcomer to this system. It's such a relief to know there's a supportive community of people who truly understand the stress and anxiety that comes with depending on these benefits. Thank you for sharing your experience and for updating us when your payment came through - it really helps newcomers like me know what to expect!
Welcome to the community! I'm also pretty new here (started receiving benefits about 2 months ago) and this thread has been such an eye-opener for me too. Before joining this community, I honestly had no idea how common these payment delays were - I thought any disruption meant there was a serious problem with my case. What really helped me was reading through everyone's real experiences and seeing how these situations usually resolve themselves. The emergency buffer advice that keeps coming up throughout this thread is something I'm actively working on now. Even knowing that having just $15-25 set aside could prevent that heart-stopping panic makes it feel like a manageable goal to work toward. This community has been amazing for getting practical advice from people who actually live this reality every day. The support and understanding here is unlike anywhere else - everyone truly gets what it's like to depend on these benefits and the constant worry that comes with it. I'm so glad you found this space too!
I'm really new to this community and just got approved for CalWORKs about 3 weeks ago, so I'm still learning how everything works. Reading through this whole thread has been both eye-opening and really comforting! I had no clue that payment delays like this were so common - if it happened to me right now, I'd probably be having a complete meltdown just like you did this morning. What really stands out to me is how supportive everyone is here and all the practical advice being shared. The emergency buffer tip that keeps coming up makes so much sense - even $20-30 could save so much stress in situations like this. I'm definitely going to start working on building that up, even if it's just a few dollars at a time. It's also really helpful to know the warning signs that it's just a processing delay (active case on BenefitsCal, paperwork submitted on time) versus something more serious. As someone brand new to navigating this system, having a community where people actually understand the anxiety of depending on these benefits is incredibly valuable. So glad your payment came through and thanks for updating everyone - it really helps us newcomers know what to expect!
Welcome to the community! I just joined recently too and this thread has been such a lifesaver for understanding what to expect with CalWORKs payments. Like you, I would have been absolutely panicking if this happened to me - the anxiety of depending on these benefits for essential expenses is so real. What I love about this community is how everyone shares actual experiences rather than just generic advice. The emergency buffer tip that everyone keeps mentioning is brilliant - I'm going to start putting aside even just $5-10 when I can to build up that safety net. It's amazing how much peace of mind even a tiny cushion can provide. Thanks for sharing your perspective as another newcomer! It's reassuring to know there are others who are just starting to navigate this system and finding support here. This community really seems to understand the unique stress that comes with these situations.
I'm new to this community but had to chime in because I'm currently dealing with a very similar situation. My CalWORKs benefits were also discontinued unexpectedly after what seemed like a successful recertification process last month. Like you, I got the approval notice and then suddenly everything was cut off with just a text alert. Reading through all the responses here has been incredibly helpful - especially the advice about going in person and asking for specific things like the case narrative and speaking with a supervisor. I wanted to add that when I finally got through to someone (after using that Claimyr service another member mentioned - it actually worked for me too), they told me there's been a lot of these "system glitches" happening lately where cases get flagged for discontinuance even when everything was properly submitted. The worker I spoke with said they've had to manually override a lot of these automated discontinuances recently. She recommended that anyone experiencing this should specifically mention "system error" when they go in person, as that apparently triggers a different review process that can be resolved same-day in many cases. I'm still waiting for my benefits to be reinstated (they said 3-5 business days), but at least I have some hope now. Your post and everyone's responses have given me a much better roadmap for following up. I hope your visit to the office tomorrow goes smoothly and you get this sorted out quickly!
Thank you for sharing your experience! It's really helpful to know that there have been a lot of "system glitches" lately causing these automated discontinuances - that actually makes me feel better knowing it's not just me and that there's apparently a specific process for handling these errors. I'll definitely mention "system error" when I go to the office tomorrow and push for that same-day resolution. The fact that your worker said they've had to manually override a lot of these recently gives me hope that mine might be a similar situation. I'm sorry you're still waiting for your reinstatement but it sounds like you're on the right track. Fingers crossed we both get this resolved quickly! This whole thread has been such a lifesaver - I feel so much more prepared now than I did when I first posted.
I'm new to this community but your situation sounds incredibly frustrating and unfortunately all too familiar. I went through something similar about 6 months ago where my benefits were cut off right after recertification approval with no warning or explanation. Reading through all the excellent advice here, I wanted to add one thing that helped me: when you go to the office tomorrow, if possible try to bring someone with you as a witness/advocate. Sometimes having another person there helps ensure you get proper attention and they take your situation seriously. If you can't bring someone, at least take detailed notes of everything they tell you - names, dates, what they say the issue is, etc. Also, I noticed several people mentioned system errors being common lately. In my case, it turned out my recertification interview had been properly completed but the worker forgot to clear an old "pending verification" flag in the system, which triggered an automatic discontinuance weeks later. Once they identified and cleared that flag, my benefits were restored within 24 hours. The fact that you have your approval notice in writing is huge - bring multiple copies of that with you tomorrow. Don't let them tell you that approval doesn't matter if there was a "subsequent issue" - if they approved you without mentioning any problems, the burden should be on them to explain exactly what changed. You've got this! Based on everyone's experiences here, it sounds like most of these post-recert discontinuances do get resolved once you can get in front of someone who actually knows how to navigate their system. Keep us posted on how it goes!
Good news! Just got both my February and March transportation payments today on my EBT card! Check yours if you haven't already - looks like they're fixing the issue now.
Nothing for me yet... typical that some people get it and others don't. Guess I'll be calling again tomorrow 🙄
@Keisha Johnson Don t'give up! Sometimes the payments get processed in batches. Try using that Claimyr service @Amina Diallo mentioned earlier - it really does help you get through to someone faster. When you do talk to your worker, ask them to check if your case got flagged for any reason that might be delaying the payment. Also make sure they have your correct EBT card number on file. Hope you get yours soon!
I'm so glad I found this thread! I'm also missing my February transportation payment and was starting to panic. I'm in Orange County and my WTW worker finally called me back today after I left multiple messages. She confirmed it's the same system issue affecting multiple counties. She said they're processing the back payments in waves and mine should show up by Friday. In the meantime, she told me to keep all my receipts for any transportation costs I had to pay out of pocket - gas, bus passes, etc. - and they can potentially reimburse those too. It's frustrating but at least now I know it's not just me and there's an actual fix coming. Hang in there everyone!
Thanks for sharing this update! I'm new to CalWORKs and this is my first time dealing with something like this. It's really reassuring to hear that other counties are experiencing the same issue and that there's actually a solution in progress. I was starting to think I had done something wrong with my paperwork. Question - when you say they can reimburse out-of-pocket transportation costs, do we need to submit those receipts through our WTW worker or is there a separate process? I've been using rideshare to get to my job training and those receipts are adding up fast!
This thread has been absolutely incredible to follow! As someone who moved from California to Oregon while on benefits a few years ago, I can confirm that almost everything shared here is spot-on advice. The interstate benefit transfer process is definitely stressful, but seeing this community come together to share such detailed, practical guidance is really heartwarming. @Zainab Mahmoud - I just wanted to add one small thing that helped me during my transition: consider taking photos of all your important documents with your phone as backup, in addition to getting physical copies. During my move, I had some paperwork get lost in transit, and having phone photos saved me when Nevada needed verification of my previous benefits. Also, the advice about Nevada 211 and starting your application online before moving is golden. I wish I had known about these resources when I was going through my transition! Your dedication to caring for your mom while managing all of this logistics is truly admirable. This thread shows what an amazing support system this community can be. Wishing you the smoothest possible transition and hoping your mom's recovery goes well! 💙
This thread has been such an incredible resource! I'm not facing a move myself, but reading through all this detailed advice about interstate benefit transfers has been really educational. @Zainab Mahmoud, I'm so sorry about your mom's stroke and hope her recovery goes well. The amount of practical information everyone has shared here - from the specific 5-day reporting requirement to Nevada's Family Caregiver Support Program to tips about uploading documents digitally - could literally serve as a step-by-step guide for anyone facing a similar situation. It's amazing how this community came together to help you navigate such a complex and stressful process. The fact that people shared their personal experiences with different state programs, benefit amounts, and even specific Las Vegas resources shows what a caring and knowledgeable group this is. Wishing you and your daughter a smooth transition to Nevada! You're doing an incredible thing taking care of your mom, and it sounds like you're going to be well-prepared thanks to everyone's advice here. 💙
Carmen Diaz
Just wanted to add something that might help for future months - if you're consistently having issues with rent timing, some landlords will work with you on payment dates if you explain your situation. I talked to mine about how CalWORKs deposits on specific dates and she agreed to let me pay on the 2nd instead of the 1st. Not all landlords will do this obviously, but it's worth asking since it eliminates all the stress about midnight withdrawals and ATM fees. Also, if you're in a really tight spot tonight and the deposit doesn't come through in time, some food banks also have emergency rental assistance funds - not just food. The one near me helped cover part of my rent once when my CalWORKs got delayed due to a system error. Hope everything works out for you!
0 coins
Anastasia Sokolov
•That's really good advice about talking to landlords! I never thought about asking to change my rent due date - I just assumed it had to be the 1st like everywhere else. My landlord seems pretty reasonable so maybe I should bring this up. It would definitely eliminate all this stress about timing and fees. And I had no idea food banks sometimes help with rent too! There's one about 15 minutes from me that I've gotten groceries from before. If my deposit doesn't come through tonight I'll definitely call them tomorrow morning to see if they have any emergency assistance. Thanks for sharing your experience - it's so helpful to hear from people who've actually navigated these situations!
0 coins
Roger Romero
Hey Emma, I hope everything worked out with your rent! I'm dealing with a similar situation right now and this whole thread has been super helpful. I'm curious - did your midnight withdrawal setting change work? And did your funds actually show up at midnight or was it delayed like some people mentioned? I'm in Orange County and trying to figure out if I should set my alarm for midnight or just wait until morning. Also, for anyone else reading this - I called my local 211 helpline yesterday and they told me about some emergency rental assistance programs I didn't even know existed. Might be worth a call if you're in a bind with rent timing issues. The whole CalWORKs system can be so stressful when you're cutting it close with bills!
0 coins
Ezra Beard
•I'm really hoping Emma's situation worked out too! This thread has been so educational - I had no idea there were so many different aspects to consider with the midnight withdrawal settings. The 211 helpline tip is gold, thank you for sharing that! I'm also curious about the timing differences between counties since it seems like there's a lot of variation. For anyone else in this situation, it might be worth keeping a log of when your deposits actually hit versus when they're supposed to, just so you can plan better for future months. The stress of not knowing if you'll be able to pay rent on time is something nobody should have to deal with, but at least this community helps us figure out the workarounds and resources available.
0 coins