I'm actually in a very similar situation right now - just got my SSDI approval letter last week ($1,180/month) and I'm on CalWORKs with my three kids. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly helpful because I was honestly panicking about losing everything. Based on what everyone's shared, it sounds like the key is being proactive about asking for the child-only case rather than waiting for the worker to figure it out. I'm planning to call tomorrow (wish me luck getting through!) and specifically mention that I want them to evaluate a child-only case for my kids when my SSDI starts. One question I have - for those who went through this transition, did you notice any difference in how quickly they processed things if you submitted everything through BenefitsCal versus calling? I already uploaded my approval letter to BenefitsCal but I'm wondering if I should also try to speak with someone directly to make sure they handle the restructuring correctly. Also @Quinn Herbert - your experience gives me so much hope! The idea that the child-only grant could actually be higher than what we're getting now as a family case is amazing. Did you have to deal with any of the work requirements or WTW stuff for the child-only case, or does that go away once you're excluded from the assistance unit?

I'm going through something similar right now and this thread has been SO helpful! I just wanted to add that when I called my county office about my upcoming SSDI payments, the worker told me something important - make sure you ask about keeping your Medi-Cal coverage too. Apparently when they restructure your case for the child-only CalWORKs, sometimes the Medi-Cal gets discontinued by mistake even though SSDI recipients are supposed to keep it. She said to specifically ask them to check that your Medi-Cal stays active when they exclude you from the CalWORKs assistance unit. I almost forgot to mention this but saw @Emma Taylor asking about the process and wanted to make sure everyone knows to check on ALL their benefits, not just the cash aid and CalFresh. The last thing anyone needs is to lose health coverage during this transition! Also echoing what others said about Claimyr - I used it yesterday and actually got through to my worker after trying on my own for over a week. Worth the small fee to not waste hours on hold.

One more thing - depending on what day of the month it is, they might not issue the increased benefits until next month's regular payment. If it's after the 15th (which I think it is), they might approve your case change but the actual increase won't happen until your next payment date. However, they sometimes issue a supplemental payment for the partial month. Ask specifically about that when you call - use the exact phrase "supplemental payment for adding a household member mid-month" so they know you're aware of the policy.

I'm going through something similar right now - my teenage daughter just moved back from her mom's place and I'm waiting for my case to update too. From what I've learned lurking in this community, the "pending" status is normal and can take several days even when workers say they'll process it same-day. One thing that really helped me was calling the county's CalWORKs hotline instead of trying to reach my specific worker. They have access to see exactly where your case is in the review process and can sometimes put a "rush" flag on it if you explain the eviction situation. Also, if you haven't already, make sure you have proof that your son is actually living with you now - utility bills, school enrollment, anything dated after he moved back. Sometimes that's what holds up the approval. The system definitely doesn't update automatically at midnight, so don't stress about checking it constantly. But do call first thing tomorrow morning and ask to speak with a supervisor if your worker isn't available. Good luck with your landlord situation - I know how scary those notices can be!

this happend to me back in january, total nightmare!!! make sure u check ur mail EVERY day after u report it cuz they sent me a form I had to send back in 10 days but i didnt see it till too late and had to start the whole process over again!!!!

I'm so sorry this happened to you! This is absolutely terrifying and I can't imagine how stressed you must be. I went through something similar about 6 months ago - not as much money stolen but still devastating. A few things that helped me: 1. When you go to your appointment tomorrow, bring a written statement explaining your immediate needs (rent due date, kids' food needs, etc.) - sometimes having it in writing helps them process it faster 2. If you have any text messages or emails from your landlord about rent, bring those too 3. Ask about getting a rushed replacement card - mine took 3 days instead of the usual 7-10 when I emphasized it was theft-related Also, I know this sounds crazy but start keeping a small notebook to write down every person you talk to, their name, the date/time, and what they told you. It helped me so much when I had to follow up because I could reference exactly who said what. You're doing all the right things and I really hope they help you tomorrow. Keep us updated - we're all rooting for you! 💙

i dont trust banks they can freeze ur account for no reason and then what??? at least with ebt card i know the money is there.

This post is so helpful! I've been putting off switching to direct deposit because I was worried about the process being complicated, but after reading everyone's experiences I'm definitely going to do it this week. Had no idea the benefits arrive earlier too - that's a huge bonus since I'm always stressed about timing with rent. Quick question for anyone who's done this - do you still get the same notification when your benefits are deposited, or do you just have to check your bank account? My EBT card always sends me a text when money gets added and I rely on that to know when my benefits hit.

Just wanted to update on my earlier comment - most offices do take walk-ins, but go EARLY (like before they open) because there's usually a line. And bring entertainment for your 4-year-old because the wait can be 2-3 hours. Also, there's an important distinction between the regular CalWORKs recertification (annual) and the SAR7 (semi-annual report). Which one are you trying to complete? Because the process is different for each and that might affect what's happening with your case.

I went through this exact same nightmare last year! Here's what finally worked for me after three missed interviews: The key was realizing they were calling from a restricted/blocked number AND my phone carrier was automatically filtering government calls as potential spam. I had to contact my phone company (Verizon) and ask them to disable all spam filtering temporarily. Also, try this number trick that saved me: Call your county's main switchboard (not the CalWORKs line) and ask to be transferred to the "CalWORKs supervisor on duty." Tell them about the missed interviews and that your benefits are at risk. Supervisors have more authority to get things moving quickly. One more thing - when you do get through, ask them to schedule your interview for the FIRST appointment slot of the day (usually 8am). Workers are less likely to be running behind schedule early in the morning, so you're more likely to actually get your call. Document everything with screenshots and notes. If they try to cut your benefits, you'll have evidence that you were available and they failed to call. Don't let them make this your fault when their system is clearly broken!