Just wanted to add that if you're having trouble reaching your county office during the transition, you can also visit in person if possible. I know it's not convenient, but when my county switched last fall, the phone lines were completely overwhelmed for about 2 weeks. Walking into the office was actually faster than trying to call. Also, if you have kids getting school meals through the National School Lunch Program, make sure your school knows about any temporary benefit disruptions during the switch - sometimes there can be a day or two delay in the data sync between systems, and you don't want your kids to lose their free lunch eligibility even briefly. One more tip: Screenshot your current benefit amount and payment schedule from CalWIN before the switch. I've heard of a few cases where benefit amounts got miscalculated during the data transfer, and having that proof made it much easier to get it corrected quickly.

I went through this transition about 6 months ago and wanted to share a few things that might help. First, don't panic - your benefits won't just disappear overnight. The counties are required to give at least 30 days notice before the switch. Here's what I wish someone had told me: 1. Your case worker should give you a specific date when CalWIN will stop working for your county 2. You can actually create your BenefitsCal account early (even before the official switch) to get familiar with it 3. Your case number might change slightly - mine went from starting with "04" to starting with "C4" but all my history was still there The BenefitsCal system is honestly much better once you get used to it. You can upload documents right from your phone, and it shows your benefit history going back years. The mobile app actually works properly unlike the old CalWIN mobile site that never loaded right. One warning though - during the first few weeks after your county switches, expect the customer service lines to be extra busy. Everyone's calling with questions about the new system. If you can, try to get any urgent business handled before the switch happens. Good luck with your redetermination! The transition might seem scary but once it's done, the new system is actually easier to use.

This thread has been so eye-opening! I'm fairly new to CalWORKs (about 4 months in) and I had no idea how many people go through this exact same confusion. Reading everyone's stories makes me feel so much less alone in trying to figure out this system. I actually had a similar scare about 6 weeks ago, but mine was even more embarrassing - I was trying to use my EBT card at a gas station to get cash back and kept getting declined. I thought my benefits were cut off or something was wrong with my case. Spent the whole day stressed out calling my caseworker and leaving frantic voicemails. Turns out I was at a gas station that doesn't allow EBT cash transactions at all! I had to go to an actual ATM to access my CalWORKs money. Nobody ever explained to me that not all places that accept EBT cards will let you get cash back from your cash benefits. @Paolo Romano I'm so glad you found your money! And thank you to everyone sharing all these practical tips. The idea about creating a community EBT guide sounds amazing - between all of our experiences we could probably help so many people avoid these stressful situations. It's honestly incredible how much more helpful this community is than any official resources I've gotten from the county!

This whole thread is so validating and helpful! I just joined this community a few weeks ago and I'm about 2 months into getting CalWORKs. I actually bookmarked this thread after reading through everyone's experiences because I know I'm going to need to reference these tips again. What really struck me is how @Mateo Rodriguez mentioned getting 2-3 calls per week from clients with this exact confusion - that really shows this isn't a "user error" problem, it's a system design problem. The fact that so many people independently go through the same panic suggests the orientation process is seriously lacking. I love all the practical solutions people have shared - the sticky note idea, saving the EBT number with button instructions, testing both account types right away. These are the kinds of real-world tips that actually help families navigate the system successfully. The community EBT guide idea that @Chloe Martin and others mentioned sounds incredible. I'd definitely be interested in helping contribute to something like that. Between everyone's experiences here, we could probably create something more useful than any official materials. It could include things like: how to check both balances, where you can/can't use cash benefits, what to do if money is actually missing vs just on the wrong account, and maybe even common error messages and what they mean. @Paolo Romano thank you so much for sharing your experience and starting this conversation - this thread is going to help so many people avoid that same panic!

Just to clarify on the CalFresh increase after job loss - yes, you SHOULD get more food stamps when your income decreases. However, it's not automatic. You need to report your job loss as a change in circumstances. If you already provided your final pay stub, that's a good start, but make sure they've actually processed it as a change. And regarding the CalWORKs timeline - regular applications should be processed within 30 days, but they often take the full time. That's why pushing for expedited CalFresh (3 days) is so important in your situation.

So glad to hear you got through and are getting the expedited CalFresh processed! That's a huge relief. Just a heads up - once your CalFresh benefits get loaded, you might want to prioritize buying non-perishable staples first (rice, beans, pasta, canned goods) since those will stretch furthest if there are any delays with your regular CalWORKs application. Also, many stores have sales on diapers around the holidays, so keep an eye out for deals to make that diaper stipend go further. You're doing great advocating for your family - it's exhausting having to fight for basic assistance when you're already struggling, but you pushed through and got results. Hope things start looking up soon!

I'm new to CalWORKs too and this thread has been super helpful! Just wanted to add that I called my county office yesterday and they told me that even though BenefitsCal shows your reporting months, you should always double-check with your worker because sometimes the system displays the wrong dates. They also mentioned that if you move to a different county while on CalWORKs, your reporting schedule might change, so it's worth asking about that too if it applies to anyone. I'm going to set up phone reminders for 30 days, 15 days, and 5 days before my SAR7 is due - better safe than sorry! Good luck with your first report @Ethan Wilson, you've got this!

Hey @Ethan Wilson! I've been on CalWORKs for about 8 months now and totally understand the confusion - the system can be overwhelming at first. Here's what I wish someone had told me when I started: BenefitsCal does show your SAR7 due dates, but you have to dig for it. Log in and go to "My Case" then look for "Upcoming Tasks" or "Required Actions." Your reporting months should be listed there. One thing that really helped me was creating a simple calendar reminder system. As soon as I got my approval letter, I highlighted the months I needed to report and set multiple phone alerts. I do reminders at 45 days out (when I should receive the form), 15 days out, and 5 days before it's due. Also, don't stress too much about the paperwork being "huge" - most of it is just instructions and examples. The actual SAR7 form you fill out is usually just 2-3 pages. Take it one section at a time and call your worker if you're unsure about anything. You're being proactive by asking these questions early, which is exactly the right approach. The fear of losing benefits is real, but staying organized and asking for help when needed will keep you on track!

I'm really glad to see this thread and how it worked out for Miguel! As someone who's been navigating CalWORKs for a few years now, I can say that processing delays are unfortunately pretty common, especially during busy periods. What I've learned is that persistence really pays off - calling early and often, keeping detailed records, and not being afraid to advocate for yourself. The workers are usually helpful once you get through to them, but the system itself can be slow. For anyone facing similar situations, don't hesitate to escalate to a supervisor if your worker isn't responsive. And always, always keep those receipts! They're your lifeline when things get complicated.

This is such a perfect example of why staying proactive with CalWORKs paperwork is so crucial! Miguel, I'm really glad you got this resolved and that your worker was able to process everything on time. Your experience highlights something I've learned over the years - that stamped receipt is absolutely golden when dealing with any kind of processing delays. For anyone else who might be reading this thread in the future, I'd also suggest keeping a simple log or calendar note of when you submit important documents like SAR 7s. Write down the date, time, and if possible, the name of the person who processed your submission. It might seem like overkill, but when you're dealing with time-sensitive benefits that your family depends on, having that extra documentation can save you a lot of stress and potential complications down the road. Thanks for sharing your update - it's so reassuring to see these situations work out, and your experience will definitely help others who find themselves in similar circumstances!