In addition to the SAR 7 Hotline mentioned above, here are a few other options for San Bernardino County: 1. You can drop off your SAR 7 at any TAD office without an appointment - just ask for a receipt 2. You can mail it with tracking/delivery confirmation 3. You can upload it through BenefitsCal (if the site is working for you) 4. You can email it to C4Yourself@hss.sbcounty.gov (but get confirmation it was received) Don't wait until the last minute with SAR 7s - if there's any issue with your form, you'll need time to correct it before the deadline. The county has to receive a COMPLETE SAR 7, not just any submission, to continue your benefits.

I actually used that Claimyr service someone mentioned last time I was desperate to reach SB County. It actually worked! They called me back when they had a worker on the line. Cost money but worth it when you're about to lose benefits. The county system is broken.

When you do reach your worker, make sure to ask these specific questions: 1. Request the exact calculation showing how they determined your new grant amount 2. Ask for a copy of the Notice of Action they should have sent 3. If the reduction was a mistake, request immediate restoration of aid 4. If you're facing hardship because of this unexpected reduction, ask about emergency assistance options If they did make an error, you can request retroactive benefits for any underpayment. Document everything - who you speak with, date/time, and what they tell you. You have rights as a recipient, including proper notice of any benefit changes.

I'm glad several people mentioned checking BenefitsCal and looking for a Notice of Action. One other thing worth checking - log into your EBT account online and look at your Cash Aid deposit history. Sometimes they split payments for administrative reasons, so you might get the rest of your expected amount as a second deposit later in the month. Worth checking before you panic completely. If you find out Monday that it was an administrative error, request immediate correction and mention the word 'hearing' - as in 'Do I need to request a hearing to resolve this?' That usually speeds things up.

I had almost this exact same situation last year!!! I was making $16.75/hr and working 24 hours a week with 2 kids and my cash aid went down some but I was still getting it. Plus the childcare benefit is seriously amazing, totally free childcare while you work!!! My older one goes to afterschool program and little one goes to a daycare, I don't pay a penny.

They gave me a list of licensed providers in my area but I still had to call around myself to find ones with openings. If you need help finding childcare you can also try the Child Action resource and referral agency for Sacramento, they help match families with providers. My WTW worker gave me their number.

Just realized I should mention - if you do choose to mail it, send it certified mail with tracking! It costs a few extra dollars but gives you proof they received it. I've had workers claim they never got my paperwork until I showed them USPS tracking confirmation with the name of who signed for it.

mail it in!!! the website always crashes for me and i hate it. my worker said most people just mail the packets so they expect it that way. i think it depends how comfortable u r with computers tho

one time this hapnd to me and i jus went to the atm and tried my pin again and it worked!! maybe try that?

UPDATE: I finally got through to EBT customer service this morning! Called right at 7:00am and only waited about 15 minutes. They were able to unlock my card over the phone after verifying my identity. The rep confirmed my deposit will go through as scheduled tomorrow. Such a relief! Thanks everyone for your help and suggestions!

Don't forget to also ask about the diaper stipend! CalWORKs has a program that gives you $30 extra per month for diapers for each child under 3 years old. You have to specifically request it though - they won't automatically add it. I didn't find out about it until my baby was almost a year old and missed out on so much help.

One more thing to consider - when you added your newborn to your CalWORKs case, did they also ask about the baby's father? If you're not living with the father, the county will probably ask you to cooperate with child support enforcement unless you have good cause not to (like domestic violence concerns). This doesn't affect whether your baby gets benefits, but it's something to be prepared for in case they bring it up.

You need to go to the office in person and ask to speak with the office manager - not just a supervisor. Bring ALL your documentation, multiple copies, and don't leave until they give you something in writing. CalWORKs workers can deny anything over the phone, but they have to give you specific denial reasons in writing. You also have the right to see all the regulations they're basing their decisions on. Ask them to show you the specific MPP (Manual of Policies and Procedures) section that says your verification isn't sufficient. They often can't, because they're making it up. Don't be afraid of "retaliation" - document everything, including who you speak with and when. If they retaliate, that's another violation you can add to your State Hearing complaint.

have u tried contacting ur local legal aid office? they help with calworks issues for free. my friend got help from them when her worker was saying she was over the income limit when she wasnt

hey did ur benefits come thru ok? i just realized mine is due this week lol

One more important thing no one mentioned: If you've had ANY income changes (even small ones) in the past 6 months that you haven't reported yet, make sure those are ALL included on your SAR 7. If they find out later you didn't report income accurately, you could face an overpayment situation where you have to pay back benefits. Also, remember the Income Reporting Threshold (IRT) - if your income goes above that amount (listed on your last approval letter), you're supposed to report it within 10 days, not wait for the SAR 7.

I just called my county and they said my payment is scheduled for NEXT WEEK!!!! So excited, this will help me catch up on utilities. FYI I'm in Los Angeles County and my case number starts with 7. They said they're doing them in batches based on the first digit of your case number. Hope this helps someone else!!

Update: Just got the notice in the mail today! Says I'll get $582 for my 2 kids on the 15th. Thanks everybody for the info!

Just to follow up with some additional information - you asked about having to tell your worker immediately or waiting for your SAR7. The rule is you must report financial aid on your SAR7, but if the amount puts you over your Income Reporting Threshold (IRT), you need to report it within 10 days of receiving it. Also, you should look into the special CalWORKs exemptions for students. While you're in an approved educational program, certain activities like study time can count toward your Welfare to Work hours. This could reduce your other WTW requirements and give you more time to focus on school. And definitely connect with your college's CalWORKs office - they can often provide additional support like book vouchers, childcare referrals, and school supplies that won't count against your benefits.

So I just went through this exact thing last semester!!! It's honestly so confusing. What saved me was I got an itemized statement from my school showing EXACTLY what each dollar of my financial aid was for. Like $3,426 for tuition, $800 for books, $500 for supplies, etc. I brought that to my recertification interview and my worker accepted it. But my roommate goes to a different college and her worker counted part of her Cal Grant against her. So I think different counties handle it differently? Either way GET DOCUMENTATION from your financial aid office!!!