I've been using Chime for my CalWORKs Cash Aid for about 3 months now and wanted to add my perspective as someone who was really hesitant at first. I kept my old Chase account "just in case" for the first month, but honestly Chime has been flawless. The deposits hit 1-2 days early like everyone mentioned, which has been amazing for my budgeting. What really impressed me was during the recent holiday weekend when I was worried about delays - my payment actually came through even earlier than usual while my friend with Wells Fargo had to wait an extra day. One thing I haven't seen mentioned much: if you're worried about legitimacy, you can verify Chime's FDIC insurance status on the FDIC website (search for "The Bancorp Bank" which is Chime's partner bank). That gave me a lot of peace of mind when I was first considering the switch. The CW 2225 form is straightforward - routing 031101279 and your account number from Settings in the app. Just make sure it's your checking account, not savings. My county processed it exactly like they said (took 2 payment cycles), and I've had zero issues since. The no overdraft fees alone have saved me probably $100+ so far. When you're stretching every dollar, those fees can really hurt. Chime just declines instead of charging you - so much better! You made the right choice, Paolo! Don't stress about it.

I've been using Chime for my CalWORKs Cash Aid for about 8 months now and it's been absolutely reliable! Like others have mentioned, the deposits consistently come 1-2 days early which has been such a blessing for timing bills and rent. When I first switched, I was terrified because I'd heard horror stories online, but honestly those seem to be rare exceptions rather than the norm. The setup process was straightforward - just filled out the CW 2225 form with my Chime checking account info (routing 031101279 and my account number from the app). My caseworker said it would take 1-2 payment cycles to process, and that's exactly what happened. The best part has been avoiding all those overdraft fees! My old credit union was charging me $30+ every time I miscalculated before my deposit hit. With Chime, transactions just get declined if there's not enough money - no fees. That alone has probably saved me $200+ this year. One tip: download the Chime app notifications so you get an alert the moment your deposit hits. Also keep screenshots of your direct deposit setup just in case you ever need to reference it. Chime is FDIC insured through The Bancorp Bank, so your money is just as protected as with traditional banks. Their customer service through the app is actually way better than most big banks too - available 24/7 and actually helpful! You made a smart choice, especially as a single mom where every dollar and day matters. Don't let anyone's scare stories make you second-guess this decision!

I'm in a very similar situation with my 2-month-old! I submitted all the documents through BenefitsCal about 5 days ago and have been calling every day since with no luck getting through. Reading all these responses is giving me hope that persistence will eventually pay off. I had no idea about the diaper benefit or that they're supposed to process this within 10 days as a mandatory change. I'm definitely going to try the 8 AM calling strategy tomorrow and ask for email confirmation when I do get through. It's so frustrating that we have to work this hard just to get our babies added to benefits we're already receiving, especially when money is already tight with a newborn. Thanks to everyone for sharing their timelines and specific dollar amounts - it really helps to know what to expect and that the benefits do get backdated. Fingers crossed we all get our cases processed soon!

I just went through this same process with my newborn twins 2 months ago! Here's what I learned: After uploading through BenefitsCal, definitely call to confirm they received everything - don't just assume they did. It took me 6 days of calling at exactly 8 AM to finally get through, but it was worth it. When you do reach someone, ask them to process BOTH CalFresh and CalWORKs simultaneously - they don't always do this automatically and you might end up with one program updated but not the other. Also, specifically request the $30 per month diaper benefit for kids under 3 - it should be automatic but sometimes gets overlooked. My timeline was about 14 business days total, but everything got backdated to when I first reported the change. For twins, my CalWORKs increased by about $350 and CalFresh by roughly $180. Don't wait for your SAR7 - this is considered an immediate change that increases benefits. One tip that really helped: ask the worker to email you a summary of what they're processing and the expected timeline. Having it in writing saved me from having to explain everything again when I called for updates. The extra money really makes a difference, so keep pushing until you get through!

This is such great advice everyone is giving! I went through the same thing 2 years ago and was terrified of losing benefits. One thing that really helped me was asking my new employer if they could start me at slightly fewer hours the first month while I got everything sorted with CalWORKs - that way I could ease into it and make sure all my paperwork was processed correctly. Most employers are understanding about this kind of situation. Also, once you start working, you might be eligible for the CalEITC (California Earned Income Tax Credit) on top of the federal one, which can be a nice bonus at tax time. The transition period can feel overwhelming but you're making the right choice for your family's future!

Miguel, congratulations on the job offer! Everyone here has given you excellent advice. I just wanted to add one more thing that helped me when I was in a similar situation - make sure to ask your caseworker (when you finally reach them) about any other support programs you might qualify for as a working parent. Sometimes there are local programs for things like transportation assistance or work clothing vouchers that can help with the transition. Also, if your job offers health insurance later on, don't feel pressured to drop Medi-Cal right away - you can often keep both for a while to make sure the employer coverage is good for your kids. The CalWORKs system is actually designed to support people transitioning to work, even though it doesn't always feel that way. You're taking a great step for your family's future!

I just wanted to add something that might help - if you're dealing with cash income from your job, ask your employer if they can provide you with a written statement too. Sometimes having documentation from both you AND your employer makes the county more likely to accept it without questioning. Also, if you have any text messages or emails from your boss about work/payment, screenshot those as backup evidence. I learned this the hard way when they initially rejected my self-written statement but accepted it when I came back with employer verification. The county workers seem to trust it more when it comes from multiple sources. Good luck getting this sorted out quickly!

I work at a nonprofit that helps families navigate CalWORKs issues, and I see this SAR 7 problem constantly. One thing that hasn't been mentioned yet - if you're really struggling to get everything together in time, you can request what's called a "good cause" extension. You have to show that there were circumstances beyond your control that prevented you from completing the SAR 7 on time (like not receiving proper notice, medical emergency, etc.). It's not guaranteed, but it can give you extra time to gather documents. Also, consider reaching out to your local legal aid office - many have CalWORKs specialists who can help advocate for you if the county gives you any pushback. Don't let them intimidate you - you have rights in this process!

I'm new to this community and CalWORKs, but this thread has been incredibly helpful! The callback system sounds really frustrating and unreliable based on everyone's experiences. It seems like the consensus is to not rely on callbacks for anything time-sensitive. @Anastasia Popov - I hope you were able to get your SAR7 submitted on time! The advice about the $500 earned income disregard was news to me too - that's such important information that should be more clearly communicated to people starting work while on benefits. For anyone else dealing with similar issues, it sounds like the key takeaways are: call mid-week mornings when possible, always have a backup plan (going in person or submitting online), and submit paperwork by the deadline even if you can't talk to someone first. You can always clarify details later, but missing deadlines can cause much bigger problems. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and advice - this is exactly the kind of real-world knowledge that helps newcomers like me navigate the system!

I'm new to both this community and CalWORKs, but this entire thread has been incredibly eye-opening! The callback system sounds so unreliable and stressful, especially when you're dealing with important deadlines like SAR7 submissions. @Anastasia Popov - I really hope you were able to get your paperwork submitted on time! It's so frustrating that you had to deal with that kind of anxiety when you're already taking the positive step of starting work. The advice everyone shared about the $500 earned income disregard is something I had no idea about - it seems like crucial information that should be explained more clearly upfront. Reading through everyone's experiences, it's clear that having multiple backup plans is essential when dealing with the system. The insider tip from @Ethan Wilson about mid-week mornings being less busy is particularly valuable, and the consensus about submitting paperwork on time even if it's not perfect makes a lot of sense. As someone just starting to navigate all of this, I'm really grateful for communities like this where people share honest, practical advice based on real experiences. It's reassuring to see how supportive everyone is, especially when the official systems can be so unreliable. Definitely bookmarking this thread for future reference!