I'm so glad you found this thread helpful! I was in a very similar situation about a year ago - my partner was already on my CalWORKs case with our kids and I was so worried about how marriage would affect our benefits. Like everyone else has shared, absolutely nothing changed because he was already counted as part of our assistance unit. The key thing that helped me understand it was realizing that CalWORKs cares about who actually lives together and shares expenses, not whether you have a piece of paper from the courthouse. Since your boyfriend's Amazon income is already being reported and he's already listed in your household, you're already being treated as a family unit by the system. I reported our marriage through BenefitsCal within the 10-day window and it was really quick and easy. Just make sure to keep reporting his income changes like you normally do, especially during Amazon's busy seasons when he might get overtime. One thing I'd add that I don't think anyone mentioned - if you do decide to change your last name, start with Social Security first and then work your way through the other agencies (DMV, bank accounts, etc.). It makes the whole process smoother. Don't stress about this - you're already handling everything properly! Focus on enjoying your engagement and planning that summer wedding. You deserve to celebrate without worrying about your family's security. Congratulations! 💕

I'm so happy to see all the supportive and helpful responses you've gotten! As someone who went through this exact situation about 18 months ago, I can add my voice to everyone else's reassuring experiences. My partner was already on my CalWORKs case with our 3 kids when we decided to get married, and I was honestly losing sleep over whether it would affect our benefits. But just like everyone else has shared, absolutely nothing changed with our benefit amounts! Since your boyfriend is already counted as part of your assistance unit and his Amazon income is already being reported, getting married is really just making your relationship official legally - it doesn't change the financial reality that CalWORKs is already working with. I reported our marriage through BenefitsCal within the 10-day window and it was super straightforward. The system already treats you as a family unit, so that marriage certificate is just paperwork as far as benefits are concerned. The timing advice about coordinating with your SAR7 period is really smart - we did that and it made everything much simpler administratively. Also, if you're planning to change your name, definitely start gathering those documents (birth certificate, etc.) early because the whole name change process takes longer than you'd expect! Don't let anyone's scary stories worry you - you're already being honest about everything and handling your case properly. Focus on enjoying your engagement and planning that summer wedding! You've got this! Congratulations! 💕

As someone who just got approved for CalWORKs last week and is still waiting for my card to arrive, this entire thread has been both nerve-wracking and incredibly helpful! @Anastasia Sokolov I'm so sorry you had to go through that panic - the thought of being locked out when you need to feed your kids is absolutely terrifying for any parent depending on these benefits. Reading through everyone's responses has been like getting a crash course in EBT troubleshooting that I never knew I needed. I had no idea about the 4 wrong PIN attempt lockout system, but it's actually reassuring to know it's just a security feature and that your benefits stay safe in the account even when locked. I'm definitely going to follow all the amazing advice shared here before I even get my card: write down my PIN in a secure place, save the EBT customer service number in my phone, download the Connect EBT app, and remember those off-peak calling times. The Claimyr service tip sounds like it could save so much stress during emergencies too! Thank you for being willing to share such a stressful situation - your experience is going to help so many of us newcomers know exactly what to do instead of panicking. This community's knowledge sharing and support is absolutely incredible!

As someone who just submitted my CalWORKs application a few days ago and is nervously waiting for approval, this thread has been both terrifying and incredibly educational! @Anastasia Sokolov I can't even imagine the panic you must have felt when you couldn't access your benefits with hungry kids depending on you - that's honestly my biggest fear about relying on these benefits for the first time. But I'm so grateful you shared this experience because it's taught me (and clearly so many other newcomers) exactly what to expect and how to handle these situations. I had absolutely no clue about the PIN lockout system or that your benefits stay secure even when the card is locked - that's actually really reassuring to know it's just a security measure! Reading through everyone's responses has been like getting a masterclass in EBT management that I wish they covered during the application process. I'm already taking notes on all the tips: writing down my PIN securely once I get my card, saving the EBT customer service number, downloading the Connect EBT app, remembering those off-peak calling times, and definitely checking out that Claimyr service to avoid those awful hold times. Thank you for turning what must have been such a frightening experience into a learning opportunity for all of us. This community's support and practical knowledge is amazing - it makes navigating this whole system feel so much less overwhelming for newcomers like me!

I'm so sorry this is happening to you and everyone else in this thread! As someone new to this community, I'm absolutely shocked to learn that system errors like this can affect so many families at once without any warning. Reading through all these experiences has been both heartbreaking and eye-opening - the fact that they can just discontinue benefits for hundreds of families with children and leave everyone scrambling is completely unacceptable. I'm really impressed by how this community has come together to share practical solutions and support each other through this crisis. The advice about mentioning the "April 2025 batch processing error" and using the Claimyr service seems to be helping people get through much faster than the regular phone lines. It's clear that once people reach the right person and use that specific phrase, most cases are being resolved within 24-48 hours. For anyone still trying to get through, I'd also suggest asking specifically about emergency assistance programs while you're waiting for your regular benefits to be restored - several people mentioned that counties have options for urgent situations like rent due dates. Don't give up - it sounds like they're working through these cases as quickly as possible once they identify them as part of the system error. Wishing everyone a quick resolution to this nightmare situation!

I'm completely new to this community but had to join after discovering this thread while frantically searching for answers about my own CalWORKs situation. My benefits didn't deposit yesterday either and my case shows discontinued on BenefitsCal with absolutely no explanation or prior notice. I have a 2-year-old daughter and was in full panic mode thinking I had somehow missed crucial paperwork or deadlines. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been both an enormous relief and incredibly infuriating - relief because it's clearly a widespread system error affecting hundreds of families (not our fault!), but infuriating because they can just cut off essential benefits without proper safeguards or notifications. The stress this causes when you're already living on the edge financially is unimaginable. Thank you so much to everyone who's shared practical solutions, especially @GalacticGladiator for the "April 2025 batch processing error" phrase and @Omar for the Claimyr service recommendation. I'm definitely going to try calling today using these tips since I've already wasted hours getting disconnected from the regular phone lines. It's amazing to see how this community rallies together to help each other navigate these bureaucratic nightmares. As a newcomer, I'm really impressed by the knowledge and support everyone provides. I'll absolutely update once I get through to someone - hoping we all get our cases resolved quickly so we can focus on our kids instead of worrying about basic necessities!

I'm so sorry you're going through this - EBT theft is becoming way too common and the system makes it so hard to get justice. Based on what everyone else has shared, definitely file for that state hearing ASAP since you only have 90 days. The fact that you reported it immediately and have location proof showing you weren't at the ATM should work in your favor. One thing I'd add is to also check if there were any other suspicious transactions around the same time - sometimes thieves will test the card first or hit multiple ATMs. Also, if you haven't already, try to get a detailed transaction history from the EBT customer service line (1-877-328-9677) showing the exact time/location of the theft versus your normal usage patterns. Having that side-by-side comparison can really help show it wasn't you. Don't give up - from what I'm reading here, a lot of people win these cases at the hearing level even after getting denied initially. The system is definitely designed to discourage appeals, but you have strong evidence and deserve to get your money back!

I'm really sorry this happened to you - it's so frustrating when you do everything right and still get denied! I went through something similar with my EBT card being skimmed at a gas station. The most important thing right now is filing for that state hearing within 90 days like others mentioned. When I did mine, I also requested a "fair hearing packet" which included forms and instructions that made the process clearer. One tip that helped me - try to get a printout of ALL your EBT transactions for the past few months, not just around the theft date. This helped show my normal spending patterns versus the theft. Also, if you used your phone or any apps that track location during the time of the theft, screenshot those too. Every piece of evidence helps! The whole system is designed to make you give up, but don't let them win. You have solid proof it wasn't you, so keep fighting. And definitely look into legal aid - many of them specialize in CalWORKs issues and know exactly how these hearings work.

Hey! I'm also new to working while on CalWORKs and this thread has been super helpful. Just wanted to add that when I started my job, my worker told me to keep ALL my paystubs and any documentation about hours worked - they want to see everything during your next eligibility review. Also, if you have any gaps in employment or your hours vary a lot week to week (which sounds like might happen with your 22-25 hour range), make sure to explain that when you report. They prefer consistent reporting over surprises. Good luck with the Target job - retail can be tough but the experience is valuable!

Great job on landing the Target position! One thing I'd add that hasn't been mentioned yet - make sure you understand how your work schedule might affect your WTW (Welfare to Work) requirements. Since you're working 22-25 hours per week, those hours should count toward your participation requirements, but you'll want to confirm with your worker that they have this documented correctly. Also, Target often offers benefits like employee discounts and sometimes health insurance options for part-time workers after a certain period - these benefits don't count as income for CalWORKs purposes, so don't worry about reporting those. One last tip: if your Target location offers direct deposit, I'd recommend setting that up. Having consistent pay dates makes it easier to track your monthly income totals for IRT purposes. Keep doing what you're doing - being proactive about understanding the rules will definitely pay off!