This thread has been a lifesaver! I've been on CalWORKs for about 5 months and had absolutely no clue that direct deposit was even possible. My caseworker never brought it up during any of our meetings - it's really frustrating how this seems to be such a widespread issue with orientation not covering all the available options. I've been hemorrhaging money on ATM fees every month (probably around $18-22) which is money I really can't afford to lose. Reading through everyone's experiences here has me convinced that I need to get that CW8572 form filled out immediately. The idea of being able to pay my rent and utilities online instead of having to get money orders is honestly exciting! I really appreciate all the detailed advice about keeping the EBT card active during the transition period and double-checking that names match exactly between accounts. One question for those who've made the switch - roughly how long did it take from submitting the form to actually receiving confirmation that it was processed? I want to make sure I follow up if I don't hear anything within a reasonable timeframe. Thanks to everyone for sharing their real experiences - this community knowledge is so much more valuable than the sparse info we get through official channels!

This thread has been so incredibly helpful! I just got approved for CalWORKs about 2 weeks ago and like everyone else here, my caseworker definitely didn't mention direct deposit during orientation. I've already been hit with ATM fees just trying to access my cash benefits and it's so frustrating when you're already trying to make every dollar count. Reading through all these experiences has convinced me that I absolutely need to get that CW8572 form submitted. The idea of being able to pay rent online and avoid those ATM fees sounds amazing! I really appreciate all the specific advice about keeping the EBT card active during the transition and making sure the name matching is exact. It's honestly pretty disappointing that such an important option isn't being explained during the official process, but I'm so grateful this community exists to share real-world knowledge. One thing I'm curious about - has anyone had experience with online banks or credit unions for direct deposit? I bank with an online-only bank and want to make sure there won't be any issues with them accepting government deposits. Thanks everyone for making this thread so informative - you've all been way more helpful than my actual caseworker!

This is such valuable information, thank you for sharing your experience! I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - had $485 stolen from my EBT card last week. I filed the police report and uploaded everything to BenefitsCal but haven't heard back yet. Your post gives me hope that persistence pays off. I'm definitely going to try calling right at 8am tomorrow like you suggested. It's so frustrating that we have to jump through all these hoops when we're already struggling, but I'm grateful to know the process can work. Did they give you any advice on preventing this from happening again? I'm paranoid about using my card anywhere now!

Wow, thank you so much for sharing this detailed timeline! I'm actually going through the exact same thing right now - someone drained $623 from my Cash Aid on March 21st and I've been panicking about how to handle it. Your step-by-step breakdown is incredibly helpful, especially the tip about calling right at 8am. I filed my police report yesterday and uploaded everything to BenefitsCal, but I was worried about the timeline since I have bills due next week too. It's reassuring to know they're actually replacing stolen benefits now - I had heard mixed things about whether CalWORKs would help with electronic theft. Going to start calling first thing tomorrow morning and won't stop until I reach someone. Really appreciate you taking the time to update everyone with your experience!

I'm new to this community but wanted to share what worked for me recently! I was having the exact same problem trying to find out when my next CalWORKs payment was coming. After trying all the phone numbers people mentioned here, I finally had luck with a different approach. I went to my local DPSS office first thing in the morning (around 8:30 AM) and asked them to print out my payment schedule. The worker was super helpful and gave me a sheet showing all my upcoming payment dates for the next 3 months for both CalWORKs and CalFresh. She said they can always do this for you in person, even if you can't get through on the phone. It took about 15 minutes total including the wait. The office address finder is on the LA County DPSS website if you need to find your local office. Hope this helps other people who are struggling with the phone system!

Hi StarGazer101! I'm new to this community but I've been dealing with CalWORKs for about 6 months now and had the same exact problem. What finally worked for me was calling the LA County line (866-613-3777) right when they open at 8 AM - way less busy then! When you get through, ask specifically for your "issuance calendar" - that's the official term they use for upcoming payment dates. The automated system sometimes doesn't give all the info, but if you can get to a person, they can tell you exactly when your next deposit will hit. Also, I've noticed that CalWORKs payments usually come 1-2 days earlier than they tell you, so if they say the 3rd, it might actually show up on the 1st or 2nd. Keep us posted on what works for you - this info could really help other parents in the same situation!

Welcome to the community! I can totally relate to feeling overwhelmed by this whole process - the child support cooperation requirement was one of the most confusing parts when I first got approved for CalWORKs. Just to add to all the great information already shared here: make sure you keep copies of ALL your paperwork from both CalWORKs and DCSS. I learned this lesson when there was a mix-up with my case and I had to prove what forms I had signed and when. Also, something that really helped me was writing down every phone call I made to DCSS - the date, time, who I spoke with, and what they told me. The system can be frustrating with different representatives sometimes giving different information, so having that record saved me a lot of headaches later. The $100 disregard really is "extra" money that won't affect your CalWORKs grant amount, which is important to remember. And while it seems small compared to what your ex is paying, it can actually help with those little expenses that CalWORKs doesn't quite cover - things like school supplies, kids' clothes, etc. Stay patient with the process! It's slow but it does work eventually, and having that support system in place will be worth it in the long run.

I'm going through this exact same process right now and this thread has been incredibly helpful! I got approved for CalWORKs about a month ago and just like Diego, my caseworker rushed through the child support paperwork without really explaining how it all works. One thing I wanted to add that I learned from my local LCSA office - if your ex is already paying through wage garnishment from a previous order, the transition to DCSS can sometimes be faster than the 6-8 weeks people are mentioning. In my case, they told me it should only take about 3-4 weeks because the employer already has the garnishment set up, they just need to redirect where the payments go. Also, I found out that you can actually call your ex's employer's payroll department directly to confirm they received the new garnishment order from DCSS. Obviously this only works if you know where he works, but it gave me peace of mind knowing the paperwork had gone through. For anyone still waiting - I know the $100 seems really small when you know they're paying much more, but my caseworker did explain that it's designed this way so the county can recoup what they're paying out in Cash Aid. Once you're working and off CalWORKs, you get to keep all of it, so think of it as temporary. Hang in there!

I just wanted to echo what the case worker and others have said - definitely still apply even though you can't separate your kids! I was in almost the exact same situation last year with 3 kids and thought we made too much. What really helped us was keeping track of ALL our monthly expenses for a few weeks before applying. Things I didn't think to include at first: after-school care costs, gas for driving to work, medical copays, even the monthly cost of school lunches (before we qualified for free ones). Every legitimate expense helps reduce your countable income. We ended up qualifying for $200/month which doesn't sound like much but it's been a huge help with our grocery budget, especially for buying healthy foods for the kids. The application through BenefitsCal was way easier than trying to call - took about 30 minutes and I got a response within a week. Don't let that other mom's misinformation discourage you from applying the right way. There's real help available for working families, you just have to go through the proper channels. Good luck!

I'm going through something very similar right now! My neighbor told me the same thing about applying just for kids, and I was so hopeful until I started researching it more. It's frustrating when you get conflicting information, especially when you're already stressed about making ends meet. What I've learned from calling around and talking to other families is that while you can't separate the kids from your household, there might still be hope! I found out our local food bank partners with the school district to provide weekend backpacks of food for kids - no income verification needed. Also, some grocery stores in our area have started doing "family packs" at reduced prices specifically for families with school-age children. I'm planning to apply for CalFresh for our whole household after reading everyone's advice here about the deductions. Even if we only qualify for a small amount, it would help. Have you looked into whether your kids' school has any additional food programs beyond just the free lunch? Some schools have pantries or take-home programs that parents don't always know about. Hang in there - it sounds like there are more options available than we initially realized, even if that original tip didn't pan out!