Just wanted to add my experience for anyone who might search for this issue in the future! I had the exact same 104 error about 3 weeks ago and it was such a nightmare. What made it even worse was that it happened on a Friday evening, so I couldn't reach anyone until Monday. I ended up having to borrow money from family for groceries over the weekend. When I finally got through to EBT customer service on Monday (took about 2 hours of calling), they said the flag was triggered because I had withdrawn money from an ATM in a different city when I was visiting my sister. Apparently their system flagged it as "suspicious location activity" even though it was totally legitimate! They cleared it immediately once I explained, but those 3 days of not being able to access my benefits were really stressful. I switched to direct deposit right after that incident and haven't had any issues since. For anyone dealing with this - definitely push for direct deposit if you can. It's so much more reliable!

This thread is such a lifesaver! I'm about 4 months into CalWORKs and honestly had no idea these EBT security issues existed until now. Reading everyone's experiences has been both informative and a little scary - the thought that my benefits could get locked without warning is really concerning, especially when I'm already living paycheck to paycheck. I had a minor issue with my PIN last month but nothing like the 104 error. Definitely going to ask my caseworker about direct deposit at my next recertification meeting after seeing how many people have dealt with these card problems. Also saving that EBT customer service number and the Claimyr callback service info just in case. Thank you to everyone who took the time to share their stories and solutions - this is exactly the kind of real-world advice that actually helps people navigate this complicated system!

I'm new to this community but currently dealing with a similar CalFresh discontinuance situation. Reading through everyone's experiences has been incredibly helpful! My case got cut off 2 weeks ago and I've been panicking about having to start completely over with a new application. Based on everything shared here, I feel much more prepared to call my county office tomorrow. I'm going to try calling right at 8 AM, ask specifically for "case restoration" (not reopening), and mention that they used my outdated phone number for the interview. I have all my recent pay stubs and bank statements ready to go. One thing I wanted to add - I noticed a few people mentioned Claimyr as an option for getting through the phone lines faster. Has anyone here actually used their service for CalFresh issues specifically? I'm curious if it works as well for county benefit offices as it does for other government agencies. The hold times have been brutal when I've tried calling on my own. Really appreciate everyone sharing their restoration success stories - it gives me hope that I can get this sorted out without starting from scratch. Will update once I get through to someone!

I'm going through this exact same situation right now! My CalFresh got discontinued about 10 days ago because I missed my recertification interview - they called my old landline number that I haven't had in over a year, even though I updated my contact info multiple times on BenefitsCal. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been so helpful and reassuring. I was really worried I'd have to start completely over with a new application, but now I know about the 30-day restoration window. I'm definitely going to call first thing tomorrow morning at 8 AM and ask specifically for "case restoration" - seems like that terminology really makes a difference based on what everyone has shared. I've got all my recent pay stubs and bank statements organized and ready to go. Really hoping I can get through on the first try like some of you did! The outdated phone number thing seems pretty common based on these responses, which is frustrating but also gives me confidence that it should count as "good cause" for missing the interview. Thanks to everyone who shared their restoration success stories - it's exactly what I needed to hear to feel prepared for tomorrow's call. Will definitely update once I get through to someone!

This thread has been absolutely invaluable! I'm currently waiting for a decision on my 15-year-old daughter's SSI application (we applied 8 months ago), and reading through everyone's detailed experiences has helped me understand exactly what to expect if/when we get approved. The consistency in everyone's advice about reporting immediately really stands out - it's clear that's the most critical step. I had heard about interim assistance reimbursement before but never understood how it actually worked until reading these explanations. Knowing that it's handled automatically between SSI and the county (rather than something I'd have to navigate myself) is such a relief. Katherine, congratulations on your daughter's approval! Your question started such an informative discussion. The specific numbers people shared about benefit changes and the tips about getting written confirmation are incredibly helpful. I'm definitely saving this thread to reference when our time comes. For those who've been through this transition - did you find that your CalWORKs worker was generally knowledgeable about the SSI interaction, or did you need to educate them about the process? I'm wondering if I should come prepared with information about interim assistance reimbursement when I eventually make that call. Thank you all for creating such a supportive community where families can learn from each other's real experiences!

This thread has been such an incredible resource! I'm a single parent with a 12-year-old son who has autism, and we're about 6 months into the SSI application process while receiving CalWORKs. Reading through everyone's detailed experiences has answered so many questions I didn't even know to ask. What really stands out to me is how consistent everyone's advice is about reporting the approval immediately - that seems to be the golden rule. The explanation of interim assistance reimbursement being handled automatically between agencies is such a relief too. I had been worried about potentially owing money back personally. Katherine, huge congratulations on your daughter's approval! Your question sparked such an informative discussion that's going to help so many families. The specific dollar amounts people shared really help paint a clear picture of what the financial transition looks like. One thing I'm curious about - for those who went through this process, did you find it helpful to have any documentation ready beyond just the SSI approval letter when you called your CalWORKs worker? I want to make sure I'm as prepared as possible when our time hopefully comes. Thank you all for being so generous with sharing your real experiences. This community truly shows how much we can support each other through these complex systems!

Congratulations on your pregnancy! 🎉 As someone who just went through this process recently, I wanted to share what worked for me. First, definitely report it ASAP - I know everyone keeps saying this but it's really important. I was nervous about calling too, but my worker was actually really understanding when I explained I was waiting for my doctor to confirm everything was okay. Here's what I wish I'd known earlier: - Ask for the CW 61 form right when you call so your doctor can fill it out at your appointment - Be specific about your morning sickness symptoms when your doctor fills out the form (mine wrote "severe nausea preventing normal work schedule" and it got approved quickly) - The pregnancy supplement is small but it really does help - mine covered prenatal vitamins and some extra groceries each month - Once you report, you're protected from sanctions for pregnancy-related issues with WTW activities The morning sickness exemption was honestly a lifesaver for me. I couldn't handle my full 30 hours of job search activities during my first trimester, and the exemption took all that stress away so I could focus on taking care of myself and my pregnancy. Don't stress too much about the exact timing - just call after your doctor appointment tomorrow and be honest about waiting for medical confirmation. They deal with pregnant moms all the time and understand the situation. You've got this! 💪

Congratulations on your pregnancy! I just wanted to add a few practical tips from when I went through this same situation about 2 years ago. First, definitely call tomorrow after your doctor appointment - don't stress about being a few days past the 10-day mark since you're waiting for medical confirmation. When you call, have a pen and paper ready because they'll likely give you several things to follow up on. Here's my checklist from when I reported my pregnancy: - Ask for the CW 61 form to be mailed/emailed so you can take it to your next doctor visit - Ask specifically about the pregnancy special needs supplement (they don't always mention it automatically) - Request information about WTW exemptions due to pregnancy symptoms - Get your worker's direct number and best times to reach them One thing that really helped me was keeping a simple log of my morning sickness symptoms and how they affected my daily activities. When my doctor filled out the CW 61, I was able to give him specific examples like "unable to attend job search appointments 3 days this week due to severe nausea" - this made the exemption approval much smoother. Also, don't forget to update your WIC benefits for your pregnancy - they'll increase your food allowances and add prenatal supplements. The extra nutrition support is so important right now! You're going to do great navigating this. The system can seem overwhelming but there are people there to help you through it. Take care of yourself! 💙

You can usually find your county's direct CalWORKs number on your notice of action letters or any other CalWORKs paperwork they've sent you - it's often printed at the bottom or in a "contact information" section. If you can't find it there, try searching online for "[your county name] CalWORKs office phone number" or check your county's official website. Most counties list their social services contact info pretty prominently. Another trick is to call 211 (the helpline) and ask them to connect you to your local CalWORKs office - they usually have all the direct numbers and can transfer you or give you the number to call back. I really hope you can get through tomorrow morning and get that PIN reset! The whole system is unnecessarily complicated but once you have that county PIN, checking your benefits status becomes so much easier.

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this - the county PIN confusion is something that trips up almost everyone when they first start with CalWORKs! It's honestly ridiculous how poorly this is explained during the application process. I went through the exact same thing about 8 months ago and felt so frustrated. What ended up working for me was going to the office first thing in the morning (around 8:30 AM) without an appointment - they were able to reset my county PIN on the spot and it only took about 15 minutes. The front desk staff can usually handle PIN resets without you needing to see your actual worker. Just bring your ID and case number. Also, once you get it sorted out, definitely set up text alerts through your BenefitsCal account if you haven't already - it'll send you notifications when your benefits are issued so you don't have to worry about calling to check. Hang in there, and I hope you can get this resolved before your rent is due!