Update: I finally got this resolved today! After three more calls and asking to speak with a supervisor, they found the original Good Cause paperwork in my case file. The supervisor admitted they're having major issues with the child support cooperation flags in the new system. They're issuing me an emergency supplemental payment for the missing $523 that should be on my EBT card within 3 business days. If anyone else is dealing with this, definitely ask for a supervisor review and use the specific phrase "immediate need payment due to agency error" - that seemed to get things moving faster. Thanks everyone for your help and suggestions!

This is so frustrating but unfortunately not surprising. I went through something similar when my county switched systems last year - had an old overpayment from 2015 suddenly start getting deducted from my monthly grant without any warning. For anyone dealing with this, here's what I learned: Document EVERYTHING. Write down the date and time of every call, the name of whoever you speak with, and exactly what they tell you. Take screenshots of your benefit amounts and any online account information. Also, if you're having trouble getting through by phone, try going to your local office in person early in the morning. Sometimes face-to-face contact gets better results, especially for urgent payment issues. Bring all your paperwork with you. The system conversion has been a nightmare for so many families. It's really unfair that we have to deal with these agency errors affecting our ability to pay rent and buy groceries. Stay strong everyone and keep advocating for yourselves!

One more thing I forgot to mention - if you end up needing to apply for an exemption from cooperation (like if there's domestic violence involved), that process can take longer. But if you're just providing the information they need, it should be relatively quick to lift the penalty. Just make sure when you call that you get confirmation they've received everything they need. The LCSA and CalWORKs don't always communicate well with each other, so you might need to follow up with both offices to make sure the information gets where it needs to go.

Just checking back - were you able to get through to your worker? Did they give you any timeline for fixing this?

Great advice from everyone here! I'm new to CalWORKs and was actually wondering about this exact same thing. My intake worker mentioned the IRT but I didn't really understand what it meant. Reading through all these responses has been super educational - especially the part about it being gross income, not net. I would have definitely made that mistake! One quick question - if I'm working part-time and my hours vary week to week, should I be calculating the IRT based on my highest earning month or my average? Sometimes I might go over the threshold one month but be under it the next. Thanks for all the helpful info everyone!

This is such a helpful thread! I'm also on CalWORKs and was confused about the IRT until I read through all these responses. One thing that helped me was asking my worker to write down both my CalWORKs and CalFresh IRT amounts during our phone call, because like you said, it's hard to remember everything when you're dealing with kids at the same time! I also learned the hard way that if you're getting any kind of irregular income (like occasional babysitting money or selling stuff online), that counts toward your IRT too. It's not just regular job income. The county workers don't always explain all the different types of income that count, so it's good to ask specifically about anything you're unsure about. Hope your new job goes well!

I'm new to CalWORKs too and just went through my interview last week. Reading through all these responses has been so educational! I didn't realize there were so many factors that could affect the grant amount. One thing I wanted to add that hasn't been mentioned yet - when I was at my interview, the worker gave me a paper that listed all the documents they still needed from me. She said if I didn't get everything in within 30 days, it could affect my benefit amount. Maybe check if there are any outstanding document requests that could be causing the reduction? Also, I noticed you mentioned having $1,200 in savings. I'm not sure if that affects the cash aid amount, but I know there are resource limits for CalWORKs. You might want to ask about that too when you call. Really hoping you get this figured out soon! The stress of not knowing if you're getting the right amount when you're already struggling financially is just awful. Keep us posted on what you find out - this thread is helping me understand the system better as a new recipient too.

I just want to add my support and say don't give up on getting this resolved! I'm also new to the CalWORKs system and it's been really overwhelming trying to understand everything. Reading through all the advice here has been incredibly helpful. One thing I learned from my own experience is to keep detailed records of everything - dates you called, who you spoke with, what they told you, case numbers, etc. It really helped when I had to follow up multiple times about an issue with my case. Also, if you do end up needing to escalate beyond your worker, each county has a CalWORKs program manager or supervisor who can review your case. Sometimes getting a fresh set of eyes on your file can catch errors that were missed initially. The fact that so many experienced members here think your amount seems low gives me confidence that you're right to question it. Trust your instincts and keep advocating for yourself and your family. The system is complicated but you have the right to receive the correct benefits. Wishing you the best of luck with your call tomorrow! Please do update us - your experience will definitely help other newcomers like me who are still figuring out how everything works.

Hey Emma! Congratulations on your new baby! 🎉 What you received is completely normal - it's called a retroactive payment and it happens whenever you add a child to your CalWORKs case after their birth date. Since your baby is 6 weeks old but you only reported the change 2 weeks ago, they calculated what your benefits should have been for those 4 weeks as a household of 2 instead of 1, and paid you the difference. The $244 sounds exactly right for that timeframe! Your regular monthly payment will also increase going forward - probably from $291 to around $375-$400 depending on your county's benefit schedule. Definitely ask your worker about the $30 monthly diaper allowance for children under 3 - it's called the "special needs diaper allowance" and you have to specifically request it since most workers don't mention it automatically. With how expensive diapers are, it really helps! You can absolutely spend that money with confidence - it's rightfully yours and not a system error. The amount and timing are consistent with standard CalWORKs procedures. You should get a notice in the mail soon confirming all the changes to your case. Welcome to parenthood and enjoy this blessing! 💕

Congratulations on your new baby! 🎉 What you received is your retroactive payment - this is completely normal when adding a child to your CalWORKs case. Since your baby is 6 weeks old but you only reported the change 2 weeks ago, they're paying you back for those 4 weeks when you should have been receiving benefits for 2 people instead of 1. Your regular monthly payment will definitely increase going forward too - expect it to jump from $291 to around $375-$400. You should get an official notice in the mail soon explaining all the changes. And definitely ask about that $30 monthly diaper allowance for children under 3! You have to specifically request it - just call and say "I want the special needs diaper allowance for my infant." Most workers don't mention it unless you ask. You can absolutely spend that money - it's rightfully yours and the amount is exactly what these retroactive payments typically are. Don't stress about it being a mistake! Welcome to CalWORKs parenthood! 💕