Hi Alana! I'm so glad you found this community - everyone here has given you amazing advice! I went through CalWORKs approval about 8 months ago and just wanted to add one more thing that really helped me. If you're worried about making rent in 2 weeks, definitely ask about the "immediate need" or emergency assistance programs when you call tomorrow. My county had something called CAL-LEA (California Low-Income Energy Assistance) that helped with utilities, and some counties also have emergency rental assistance funds specifically for families waiting on benefit approvals. Also, when you go apply for CalFresh tomorrow, bring a rent receipt or lease if you have it - this helps prove your housing costs for the expedited processing that Aiden mentioned. The 3-day expedited CalFresh was honestly what kept us fed while waiting for everything else to process. One last tip - if you can, try to go to the office about 30 minutes before they open and be one of the first people in line. The workers are usually less rushed early in the day and more willing to take time explaining programs like the childcare assistance. You're handling this really well and asking all the right questions. The system is overwhelming but you've got a great support network here! Sending positive thoughts that everything processes quickly for you! 🤞✨

Hi Alana! I just wanted to chime in as someone who works at a county social services office (different county, but the processes are pretty similar across California). A few insider tips that might help: 1) When you go in tomorrow, ask to speak with a supervisor if the front desk staff can't give you specific information about your case status. Sometimes the eligibility workers have better access to real-time case updates. 2) Bring your ID and ask them to print you a "case summary" or "application status report" - this will show exactly what documents they have on file and what (if anything) is still pending. This prevents the "we're missing documents" runaround that others mentioned. 3) For the emergency rental assistance, the specific program to ask about is called "Cal-OES" (California Office of Emergency Services) rental relief, and many counties still have ERAP (Emergency Rental Assistance Program) funds available. 4) Your CalFresh application can definitely be processed simultaneously - ask them to "link" your cases so when one updates, they both get reviewed. The childcare assistance is huge - don't let them gloss over it. Insist on getting the CCP-1 form and ask about "transitional childcare" which can continue even after you get stable employment and no longer need cash aid. You're doing everything right by being proactive. The squeaky wheel gets the grease with these programs, unfortunately. Keep advocating for yourself! 💪

I've been following this thread and wanted to share something that might help - I had a very similar situation happen to me about 3 months ago. My benefits suddenly showed $0 for the month but I was still active, and like you, I had no changes in income or household size. What ended up happening was that during a routine system update, my case got flagged for "manual review" even though nothing actually needed to be reviewed. The system automatically held my payment while this fake review was pending, but nobody bothered to tell me about it! I finally got through using that Claimyr service someone mentioned above (it really does work - got me through in about 15 minutes after I'd been trying for days). The worker was able to see immediately that my case had been flagged in error and released the hold right away. My payment was on my EBT card the next business day. The frustrating part is that this could have been avoided if they had just sent me a simple notice saying "your case is under routine review, payment may be delayed." But apparently they don't always do that for administrative holds. Keep trying to get through - this really sounds like a system error that will be easily fixed once you reach the right person!

I'm really sorry you're going through this stress! This sounds so similar to what happened to me about 8 months ago. I was showing as active but had $0 benefits for the month with absolutely no explanation or notice. I was terrified because I had no idea what was going on. After reading through all these responses, it really does seem like system errors and administrative holds are more common than we realize. In my case, it turned out my caseworker had left a note in my file about needing to "verify something" but never actually contacted me about it. The system automatically held my payment until this mysterious verification was completed. What finally worked for me was going to the office first thing in the morning and asking to speak with a supervisor instead of just any available worker. The supervisor was able to look at my case history and see that the hold was unnecessary - they cleared it immediately and I had my benefits within 24 hours. I know it's scary when you have bills due, but based on everything you've described, this really sounds like an administrative error rather than an actual problem with your case. The fact that you're still showing as active is definitely a good sign! Keep us posted on what you find out - these threads help so many people who face the same confusing situations.

I'm just starting my CalWORKs application and was panicking about this exact same thing! Reading through all these experiences has been such a huge relief. I thought not knowing my daughter's father would automatically disqualify me, but it's clear that being honest and willing to cooperate is what really matters. It's so helpful to see that the caseworkers understand these situations happen and that many people have successfully gotten their benefits approved despite not having complete information about the father. I feel so much more confident now about being upfront when they ask me these questions. Thank you everyone for sharing such personal experiences - this community support makes navigating these systems feel so much less scary when you know others have walked this path before!

I'm new to this community and currently going through my CalWORKs application process too! This entire thread has been incredibly helpful - I was having the exact same fears about the father situation. It's so reassuring to see that cooperation is really the key factor, not having perfect information. Reading everyone's real experiences shows that caseworkers understand these situations are common and they're not trying to set anyone up for failure. I have my interview coming up next week and I was dreading the child support questions, but now I feel so much more prepared to just be honest about what little information I do have. Thank you all for being so open about your experiences - it really helps newcomers like me understand that we're not alone in these complicated family situations and that the system does account for that. This community support makes such a difference when you're trying to navigate these processes for the first time!

As someone who recently went through this exact situation, I can definitely confirm that CalWORKs accepts online education! I just finished an online medical coding program last year while receiving Cash Aid. The trick is getting everything documented properly upfront. Here's what I learned: 1) Schedule a dedicated appointment just to discuss your education plan - don't try to squeeze it into a regular check-in, 2) Bring documentation showing your program is accredited and has good job placement rates, 3) Emphasize the cost savings to CalWORKs (no childcare or transportation costs), and 4) Request everything in writing before you enroll. Medical billing is such a smart choice because the job market is strong and most positions are remote-friendly, which is perfect when you have young kids. I actually make more now than I ever did before CalWORKs, and I work from home! Don't let anyone discourage you - the state policy clearly allows online education. If your worker pushes back, ask them to show you the specific regulation that prohibits it (spoiler: there isn't one). Also definitely ask about supportive services funding - they can cover way more than just tuition. Good luck with your program!

I'm currently going through the exact same process with CalWORKs and online education! Just wanted to add my perspective as someone who's been navigating this system for the past few months. I initially faced pushback from my worker about online classes, but after bringing documentation and citing specific policies, I got approved for a fully online healthcare certification program. One thing that really helped was creating a comparison chart showing the costs - online education saved CalWORKs hundreds of dollars per month compared to childcare and transportation for in-person classes. They love seeing those numbers! Also, don't forget to ask about the Emergency Aid program if you need help with enrollment deposits or equipment before your regular supportive services kick in. The medical billing field is booming right now, especially with remote work becoming standard. I've seen job postings offering $18-22/hour starting wages for certified medical billers, and many are fully remote. Stay persistent and document everything - if your first worker says no, ask for the policy in writing and don't be afraid to speak with a supervisor. The state regulations are on your side!

Gemma, glad to hear you successfully got your $100 out! Just wanted to add something that might help you and others - if you ever need to make a larger withdrawal (like for moving expenses or security deposits), some ATMs have daily limits that are lower than the $1000 CalWORKs limit. I found this out the hard way when I needed $400 for my security deposit and the ATM would only let me take out $300. You can usually do multiple transactions at the same ATM to get around this (like two $200 withdrawals), but just be aware that after your first free withdrawal of the month, you'll pay that $1 fee for each additional transaction. Sometimes it's worth it though if you need the cash all at once. Also, since you mentioned you're new to the program - make sure you understand the difference between your CalWORKs cash benefits and CalFresh food benefits if you're getting both. They're completely separate accounts on the same card, and you can't use CalFresh money to get cash (learned that one the embarrassing way at an ATM once!). This thread has been so helpful - definitely bookmarking it for future reference. Welcome to the community!

Hey Gemma! Welcome to CalWORKs and congrats on getting approved! I've been on the program for about 2 years now and remember how overwhelming it felt at first with all the different rules and procedures. Just wanted to add one more tip that's been super helpful for me - if you're ever traveling or need to use an ATM in a different city, you can use the EBT Edge website or app to find nearby fee-free ATMs. It has a location finder that shows you all the Bank of America and other participating ATMs in your area. Really handy when you're somewhere unfamiliar and don't want to get stuck paying extra fees. Also, I noticed you mentioned needing the money for rent - just a heads up that some apartment complexes and landlords are now starting to accept EBT cards directly for rent payments through online portals. It's still pretty rare, but worth asking about since it could save you the step of having to withdraw cash and get money orders. My complex started doing this last year and it's been so convenient. Everyone here has given you excellent advice about safety and fees. This community really is amazing for getting real-world tips that you won't find in the official paperwork. Don't hesitate to ask questions - we've all been where you are now! Hope everything goes smoothly with your rent payment today.