For anyone still having this issue - I just called the CalWORKs office, and they confirmed there was a system-wide delay with cash availability today. The funds should all be fully accessible by 5pm today. They said this sometimes happens when benefits payment dates fall on weekends or holidays, creating a backlog in the system. If you need documentation for your landlord or other bills, you can request a 'Verification of Benefits Delay' from your caseworker, which explains the issue was systemic and not due to any problem with your specific benefits eligibility.

I'm having the same issue too! Tried 4 different ATMs this morning and none of them would let me withdraw cash even though my balance shows the money is there. This is so frustrating when you have bills due today. I'm going to try the grocery store cash back method that everyone's suggesting - hopefully that works! Thanks for posting this, at least now I know it's not just my card that's broken.

UPDATE: Just got off the phone with my worker! She confirmed that I will get my October benefits through the restoration process since I completed recertification within the same month I was discontinued. The money should be on my EBT card within 3 business days. She said this is standard procedure when someone completes recertification in the same month they were cut off. For anyone dealing with this in the future - make sure to specifically ask about "restoration of benefits" like @person_2 suggested. My worker knew exactly what I was talking about when I used that term! Thanks everyone for the advice. Such a relief!

So happy to hear you got it sorted out! This thread is super helpful - I had no idea about the "restoration" process. I'm going to screenshot this whole conversation in case I ever run into this situation. The fact that they don't automatically tell people about restoration is really frustrating. Thanks for sharing the update and helping other people who might be in the same boat!

Congratulations on your approval! One thing I always recommend after recertification is to check your benefit amount calculation carefully. The Notice of Action you receive should show exactly how they calculated your grant amount. If your income changed at all, make sure the new amount makes sense. I've seen too many cases where data entry errors led to incorrect benefit amounts, and it's much easier to fix these right away than months later. Also remember that if your income increases before your next report is due, you only need to report it if it exceeds your Income Reporting Threshold (IRT), which should be listed on your approval notice.

So happy for you! I'm going through my recertification right now and this gives me hope. Quick question - when you uploaded all those extra pay stubs to BenefitsCal, did you have any trouble with the file sizes? I keep getting error messages when I try to upload my documents and I'm worried they won't have everything they need for my interview next week. Also, did they give you any timeline on when your benefits would actually restart? Mine got suspended during the review period and my kids and I are really struggling without the assistance.

To summarize what everyone is saying (there's a bit of confusion in some responses): 1. Federal tax refunds are EXEMPT income for CalWORKs purposes and exempt as a resource for 12 months after receipt 2. You should still REPORT the refund when you receive it, but clearly mark it as "tax refund" so it's properly coded as exempt 3. Your main focus should be on accurately reporting your self-employment income throughout the year on your SAR 7 forms 4. For your renewal, you'll need to complete a self-employment form (CW 10) detailing your income and business expenses 5. Keep all receipts and documentation - with cash work and no 1099s, good record-keeping is crucial Hope this helps clarify things!

Just wanted to add one more thing that might be helpful - when you file your taxes, make sure you keep a copy of your tax return! Your CalWORKs worker might ask for it during your renewal to verify your self-employment income matches what you've been reporting all year. Also, since you mentioned you do cleaning and babysitting, you might want to look into whether any of your regular clients should be giving you 1099s. If you make $600+ from any single household in a year, they're supposed to issue one. Not saying you need to chase people down for them, but just something to be aware of for next tax season. The earned income tax credit you mentioned is awesome - that's money back in your pocket that doesn't count against your CalWORKs at all. You're doing everything right by staying on top of this stuff before your renewal!