UPDATE: Going inside the bank worked!!! The teller was able to process a cash withdrawal from my EBT card with no problem. She said sometimes the ATM network has issues with EBT cards but counter transactions use a different system. Thank you all for the suggestions! Crisis averted and rent will be paid today!

This is such a helpful thread! I've been on CalWORKs for 6 months and had no idea that bank tellers could process EBT cash withdrawals manually. I've been struggling with ATM issues too - sometimes they work fine, other times they don't, and I never knew there was an alternative. Definitely bookmarking this info for future reference. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and solutions!

This thread is so helpful! I'm new to CalWORKs (just got approved last month) and had no idea this was a common issue. I was planning to rely on getting my cash right at midnight for rent next month, but now I know to plan differently. Does anyone know if there's a pattern to when these delays happen? Like is it more common at the beginning of the month or on certain days of the week? I want to try to predict when I might need to give my landlord extra notice about potential delays.

I'm so glad I found this thread! I just started receiving CalWORKs benefits two weeks ago and this exact thing happened to me yesterday. I was panicking thinking something was wrong with my case or that my benefits got cut off. It's really reassuring to know this is a common system issue and not something I did wrong. I tried calling the county office but like everyone else mentioned, I was on hold forever. Next time I'll definitely wait until morning before stressing out about it. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this is exactly the kind of real-world info they don't tell you when you first sign up for benefits!

I'm also dealing with CalWORKs right now and this thread has been so helpful! I had a question about the BenefitsCal portal - when your case is under review like this, does it usually show any kind of status update or does it just stay as "active" until they make their decision? I've been checking mine obsessively every day but it never seems to change, even when I know they're processing something. Also, has anyone had luck with emailing their worker instead of calling? Mine has an email listed but I wasn't sure if that's actually a good way to follow up or if phone calls are better. Thanks for sharing all your experiences - it really helps those of us who are new to navigating this system!

I just wanted to add something that might help ease your mind a bit - I work as a case aide in a neighboring county and can tell you that when SAR7s come in both late and incomplete, the review process is actually pretty straightforward once all documents are received. The 3-day timeline exists because the worker needs to document why the report was late and verify that all required information is now complete, but it's mostly administrative. Since you got your school attendance verification and paystub in within 24 hours, that shows good faith effort on your part. The fact that your BenefitsCal still shows "active" is actually a good sign - if they were planning to discontinue you, there would usually be some kind of pending action visible. Most workers try to process these quickly because they know families are stressed about it. Just hang in there - based on what you've described, this should resolve in your favor!

Just checking back - were you able to get cash back at a store or get through to someone at the county? If multiple locations are having the same issue, it's likely an account-specific problem rather than a general system outage.

So glad you were able to get your rent money! The ATM issue is really frustrating but at least the cash back workaround saved the day. You might want to call the EBT customer service line (when you have more time) to report that the ATMs aren't working - sometimes they don't know about these issues unless people report them. Also keep an eye on whether this happens again next month, because if it does it might be worth getting a replacement card just in case there's something wrong with the magnetic strip that only affects ATM transactions.

Congratulations on your new job! 🎉 That's such amazing news! I went through almost the exact same situation when I got hired at Costco last year, so I totally understand your concerns. The good news is that everyone here has given you really solid advice - the money already on your EBT card is absolutely yours to keep. They can't take it back or deactivate your card just because you got a job. One thing I wanted to add that might help - when you do report your income (and I agree with reporting early even though you're under your IRT), ask your worker specifically about the "30 and 1/3" rule. This is part of the earned income disregard calculation, but sometimes workers forget to mention it. Basically, after your first 4 months of work, they only count 1/3 of your earnings against your grant instead of 50%. It's a little complicated, but it could mean you keep benefits longer than you might expect. Also, since you're starting at Target, see if they offer any employee discount on groceries or household items. Every little bit helps when you're transitioning budgets! And don't forget to update your address with them if you move - I made that mistake and it caused issues with my W-2. You're asking all the right questions and being so responsible about this. That attitude is going to make you a great employee! Best of luck with your first week! 💪

Congratulations on your Target job! 🎉 That's such exciting news and you're being so smart to ask these questions beforehand. I just wanted to add something that helped me during my transition from CalWORKs to work - consider setting up direct deposit with Target as soon as possible. It usually takes a pay period or two to get set up, so your first check might be paper, but having direct deposit makes budgeting so much easier when you're balancing work income with benefits. Also, since you mentioned you have $340 left on your EBT card, that money is definitely yours to keep! But here's a practical tip - consider using some of it to stock up on non-perishables and household essentials before your benefits potentially change. Things like rice, beans, pasta, cleaning supplies, toiletries, etc. It's not because you'll lose the money, but because having a well-stocked pantry can really help stretch your budget during those first few months when you're adjusting to your new income. Target also usually has pretty good employee benefits once you're eligible - health insurance, 401k, paid time off. Make sure to ask about the eligibility requirements during orientation so you can plan ahead. You're going to do great! The fact that you're asking all these questions shows you're really committed to making this work for your family. Best of luck on your first day! 💪