This thread is so helpful! I'm new to CalWORKs (just got approved last month) and had no idea this was a common issue. I was planning to rely on getting my cash right at midnight for rent next month, but now I know to plan differently. Does anyone know if there's a pattern to when these delays happen? Like is it more common at the beginning of the month or on certain days of the week? I want to try to predict when I might need to give my landlord extra notice about potential delays.

I'm so glad I found this thread! I just started receiving CalWORKs benefits two weeks ago and this exact thing happened to me yesterday. I was panicking thinking something was wrong with my case or that my benefits got cut off. It's really reassuring to know this is a common system issue and not something I did wrong. I tried calling the county office but like everyone else mentioned, I was on hold forever. Next time I'll definitely wait until morning before stressing out about it. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this is exactly the kind of real-world info they don't tell you when you first sign up for benefits!

I'm also dealing with CalWORKs right now and this thread has been so helpful! I had a question about the BenefitsCal portal - when your case is under review like this, does it usually show any kind of status update or does it just stay as "active" until they make their decision? I've been checking mine obsessively every day but it never seems to change, even when I know they're processing something. Also, has anyone had luck with emailing their worker instead of calling? Mine has an email listed but I wasn't sure if that's actually a good way to follow up or if phone calls are better. Thanks for sharing all your experiences - it really helps those of us who are new to navigating this system!

I just wanted to add something that might help ease your mind a bit - I work as a case aide in a neighboring county and can tell you that when SAR7s come in both late and incomplete, the review process is actually pretty straightforward once all documents are received. The 3-day timeline exists because the worker needs to document why the report was late and verify that all required information is now complete, but it's mostly administrative. Since you got your school attendance verification and paystub in within 24 hours, that shows good faith effort on your part. The fact that your BenefitsCal still shows "active" is actually a good sign - if they were planning to discontinue you, there would usually be some kind of pending action visible. Most workers try to process these quickly because they know families are stressed about it. Just hang in there - based on what you've described, this should resolve in your favor!

I'm currently going through a transfer from Sacramento to Stanislaus County and this thread has been incredibly helpful! Reading everyone's experiences has given me so much confidence about the process. One thing I wanted to add that helped me specifically - when I called Sacramento County last week, I asked them to email me a "transfer timeline" showing all the key dates and steps in their process. They were able to send me a simple outline that shows when they'll send my paperwork, when San Bernardino should receive it, and what the typical processing timeframes are. Having those specific dates written down has made me feel so much more in control. Also, I started a shared Google doc with my mom where we're tracking all the important phone numbers, case numbers, and contact information for both counties. That way if something comes up and I'm not available, she can help me follow up on things. @Amara Eze - your situation sounds so similar to mine with the family health reasons for moving. It's really inspiring to see how thoughtfully you're approaching this whole process. Based on everything I've learned from this thread, it sounds like you're setting yourself up for success by being so proactive and organized. Sending positive thoughts for your mom's health and hoping your February payment comes through perfectly on schedule! This community really is amazing - I've learned more from this one thread than from hours of trying to get information from case workers.

I went through a transfer from San Joaquin to Imperial County about 9 months ago and wanted to share one more tip that really saved me - ask Sacramento County for their "internal transfer tracking number" in addition to your regular case number. This is different from the transfer case number others mentioned, and it's what their system uses to track where your file is in the transfer pipeline. When I called to check on my transfer status, having this internal tracking number meant the workers could immediately see if my case was still in "preparation phase," "transmitted to receiving county," or "waiting for acceptance." Without it, they had to dig through multiple screens and sometimes couldn't find my transfer status at all. Also, since you're moving mid-February, I'd suggest calling your current Sacramento worker around February 10th to confirm your payment will still process normally even with the address change. Most of the time it's fine, but if there are any system flags about the address change, it's better to catch them before your payment date. The good news is Sacramento to San Bernardino is one of the most common transfer routes in the state, so both counties have pretty streamlined processes for it. Your EBT card will absolutely continue working throughout - I never had a single issue with that part. You're being so thorough with your planning, and after reading all these success stories, I'm confident your transfer will go smoothly! Hope your mom gets the care she needs in San Bernardino.

This whole thread has been such a valuable resource! I'm about 5 months into receiving CalWORKs and fortunately haven't encountered the 104 error yet, but reading everyone's experiences has really opened my eyes to how many technical issues can pop up with the EBT system. It's honestly pretty alarming that they can put security holds on your account without any notification - when you're depending on those benefits for rent, utilities, and groceries, even losing access for one day can create a real crisis. I had no idea these kinds of problems existed when I first got my EBT card. The whole system seems designed in a way that makes it really difficult to get help when things go wrong too - those long customer service wait times are brutal when you're dealing with an urgent situation. I'm definitely going to ask about direct deposit at my next caseworker appointment after seeing how many people have had success with that option. Also saving the EBT customer service number and that Claimyr callback service info just in case. Thanks to everyone who shared their stories and practical solutions - this is the kind of real-world guidance that actually helps people navigate these challenges!

I'm really grateful this thread exists! I just started receiving CalWORKs benefits about a month ago and honestly had no clue that error code 104 or these security flags were even a thing. Reading through everyone's experiences has been both super helpful and pretty nerve-wracking - the idea that they can just freeze your access to your own money without any warning is really scary, especially when you're already in a tight financial situation. It's frustrating that none of this gets explained during the application process - they give you all these forms about reporting changes and eligibility rules, but nothing about potential EBT technical issues that could leave you unable to pay rent or buy groceries! I'm definitely going to ask my caseworker about setting up direct deposit at my next appointment after seeing how many people have had success with that option. Also saving that EBT customer service number and the Claimyr callback service info just in case I ever need it. Thank you to everyone who shared their stories and solutions here - this is exactly the kind of real-world guidance that new recipients like me need but never get told about officially!

This whole thread is incredibly helpful! I'm a newer CalWORKs recipient and had no idea about so many of these workarounds and rights. The BenefitsCal system has been such a source of stress for me - I thought I was doing something wrong when it kept glitching out. Reading about the state hearing process and "good cause" extensions is really eye-opening. I wish this information was easier to find when you first get on CalWORKs. It feels like they expect you to just magically know all these backup plans and legal protections. I'm definitely going to start documenting everything with screenshots and keeping both digital and physical copies of all my documents. Better to be overprepared than lose benefits over technical issues that aren't even my fault. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this community is such a lifeline when dealing with these complicated systems!

I'm so glad I found this thread! I'm pretty new to CalWORKs and BenefitsCal has been giving me nightmares. Just last week I spent hours trying to upload my verification documents and kept getting kicked out of the system. I had no idea about so many of these tips like taking screenshots for proof or that there are "good cause" extensions available. The suggestion about trying different browsers is something I definitely need to try - I've only been using Chrome. And I never thought about file size being an issue with uploads! One question for those who have been through this before - when you go to the office in person, do they usually have long wait times? I'm trying to decide if I should take a whole day off work or if mornings are better than afternoons. I really want to avoid the stress of missing deadlines due to technical issues, especially after reading about people losing benefits over system glitches. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and solutions - this is exactly the kind of real-world advice that's impossible to find on the official websites!