I'm so glad I found this thread! I'm pretty new to having CalWORKs benefits and was planning a trip to visit my sister in Oregon next month. I had absolutely no idea about these out-of-state ATM restrictions - I definitely would have been one of those people standing at a Bank of America ATM getting frustrated when it didn't work! The cash back strategy makes so much sense now that everyone's explained it. I'm going to map out some Walmart and Target locations near where I'll be staying so I have backup options. The tip about testing your card early in the trip is really smart too - I would have definitely waited until I was desperate for cash and then panicked. It's honestly pretty disappointing that none of this information is explained when you first get your benefits. They really should include a simple travel guide or at least mention these restrictions during the initial process. This community discussion has been way more helpful than any official paperwork I've received. Thanks to everyone for sharing their real experiences - it's made me feel so much more prepared for traveling with my EBT card!

This thread has been so incredibly helpful! I'm actually dealing with a similar situation right now - I'm visiting my grandmother in Michigan for a few weeks and ran into the same ATM problems. I tried three different bank ATMs yesterday and kept getting error messages, which was really stressful since I needed cash for transportation. After reading everyone's advice here, I went to a Meijer grocery store today and was able to get cash back with no issues! The cashier was super helpful and even explained that they see this situation pretty often with out-of-state EBT cards. I was able to get $150 in cash back which should last me for several days. One thing I'll add that might help others - I found that some of the smaller, local grocery stores were actually more accommodating than I expected. There's a family-owned market near my grandmother's house where the owner said he's helped several people with out-of-state EBT cards over the years. Sometimes these smaller places are more flexible and understanding. It's really frustrating that this information isn't provided upfront when you get your benefits, but I'm so grateful for communities like this where people share real experiences. Thanks to everyone who contributed to this discussion - you've made my trip so much less stressful!

Good to hear your friend is taking action! Just wanted to add - when he goes to the tax prep place, he should be completely honest with them about the situation. Tax preparers are bound by confidentiality and they've seen this before. They'll need to know the full story to properly amend the return and calculate what he owes. Also, he should keep records of everything - the amended return, any payments made, correspondence with the IRS, etc. If the CalFresh office or any other agency asks about it later, having documentation that he proactively corrected the error will work in his favor. One more thing - if he can't afford to pay back the full amount right away, the IRS does offer payment plans. It's better to set up a payment plan than to ignore the debt.

As someone who's worked with families in similar situations, I want to emphasize how important it is that your friend is taking this seriously now. The fact that he admitted the truth to the CalFresh eligibility worker actually puts him in a vulnerable position - that statement is now documented in his case file. A few additional things to consider: 1. When he files the amended return, he should also be prepared for potential questions about WHY he originally filed incorrectly. Having a consistent explanation ready is important. 2. The CalFresh office may follow up on this discrepancy even if they approved his benefits initially. They sometimes conduct post-eligibility reviews, especially when fraud indicators are present. 3. Since he's paying child support through county enforcement, there's already a paper trail showing he's the non-custodial parent. This makes his original tax filing even more questionable from an investigative standpoint. The good news is that voluntary correction usually results in much better outcomes than waiting to be caught. He's doing the right thing by addressing this immediately. Make sure he keeps copies of everything and considers getting legal advice if the situation becomes more complicated.

This is such an important thread - I see this household composition mistake ALL the time! What's really frustrating is how it affects people for months or even years before they realize they're not getting the benefits they're entitled to. For anyone else reading this who might be in a similar situation: if you're unsure about whether someone should be on your CalWORKs case, here's the simple test: Are they 1) related to you by blood or marriage, 2) the parent of a child on your case, or 3) legally responsible for your children? If the answer is no to all three, they shouldn't be included - regardless of living arrangements. @Omar Zaki - you've gotten excellent advice here. I'd especially emphasize documenting everything in writing and being prepared with those regulation numbers that @Luca Conti mentioned. Don't let anyone make you feel like you're doing something wrong by correcting their mistake. Your children's wellbeing depends on getting the full benefit amount you're legally entitled to under CalWORKs policy. Stand firm and advocate for your family - you've got this! Really hoping your renewal goes smoothly and you see that benefit increase reflected in your next payment!

I'm going through the exact same situation right now and this thread has been a lifesaver! My worker also incorrectly told me to include my boyfriend when I first applied, and I've been getting reduced benefits for over a year because they're counting his income. What really stood out to me from everyone's advice is how important it is to document everything and have the specific policy references ready. I'm planning to call the CalWORKs Policy Unit that @Luca Conti mentioned to get official confirmation before my renewal, and I love the idea of preparing a one-page summary like @Miguel Alvarez suggested. It's both frustrating and reassuring to know this mistake happens so frequently - frustrating because it means workers aren't properly trained on the household composition rules, but reassuring because it shows I'm not alone in dealing with this. The fact that multiple people have successfully gotten $150-200+ monthly increases after fixing this gives me hope that I can get my family's benefits corrected too. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences and specific steps. This community support is exactly what I needed to feel confident about advocating for my children's benefits!

I'm really new to this community and just applied for CalWORKs last week - this whole thread has been such an education! I had no idea that BenefitsCal could be so unreliable with status updates. Reading everyone's experiences here is both reassuring and a little concerning at the same time. It's great to know that verbal confirmation from workers is what really matters, but it's also frustrating that the system is so poorly designed that it causes this much stress for people who are already dealing with financial hardship. I'm definitely going to save all the tips from this thread - taking notes during interviews, getting confirmation numbers, checking EBT balance before payment dates, and most importantly, not panicking if the website doesn't update right away. Thank you all for creating such a supportive space where we can learn from each other's experiences. It's clear that this community knowledge is way more valuable than any official documentation when it comes to actually navigating these systems!

I'm brand new to this community and currently going through my first CalWORKs application process. This entire thread has been incredibly enlightening and honestly a bit of a wake-up call about what to expect with the system! I had assumed that BenefitsCal would be a reliable way to track my case status, but clearly that's not the case based on everyone's experiences here. It's both reassuring and frustrating to learn that these delays and inaccuracies are so common. Reassuring because it means I won't panic if the website doesn't update properly, but frustrating because it seems like such a basic thing for a government system to get right. People depending on these benefits are already stressed enough without having to worry about whether the online portal is telling them the truth! I'm definitely taking notes on all the advice shared here - especially about getting confirmation numbers during appointments, writing down what workers tell you, and checking EBT balance before payment dates instead of relying on BenefitsCal. This community knowledge is so much more practical than anything I've found in official resources. Thank you all for being so open about sharing your experiences - it's making me feel much more prepared for what's ahead!

Once you submit your SAR-7 and paystubs online, I'd recommend taking a screenshot or printing the confirmation page. In my experience working with benefit programs, having proof of submission can be crucial if there's any dispute later about whether you submitted on time. Also, don't forget to include information about any changes in your household composition, housing costs, or other income sources - not just your new job. The SAR-7 requires reporting all changes that occurred during the report month.

Hassan, definitely get that moving expense and rent change reported along with your Target paystubs! Since you moved to a cheaper place, that could actually help your case since lower housing costs might mean you qualify for more benefits. When you're filling out the SAR-7 online, there should be a section for housing expenses where you can update your new rent amount. Also, if you have any receipts from your move (truck rental, deposits, etc.) keep those handy in case they ask for verification. The combination of new job income + lower rent might actually work out better for your benefit amount than you think!