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As a newcomer to this community, I can't express how helpful this entire thread has been! I'm currently dealing with the exact same situation - got approved for CalWORKs last week and BenefitsCal shows my Cash Aid as "deposited" since Monday, but my EBT card still shows $0. I was starting to panic thinking something went wrong with my application, but reading everyone's experiences here has been such a huge relief. It's incredibly frustrating that caseworkers don't explain this 3-4 business day processing delay upfront - the word "deposited" is so misleading when the money isn't actually available yet! The stress of staring at that zero balance when you desperately need the funds for rent and groceries is something they really should warn people about. Thank you all for sharing your real experiences and creating such a supportive space. I'm definitely bookmarking that Claimyr tip too in case I need to reach my caseworker quickly. This community seems like such a valuable resource for understanding how the system actually works versus what we're told officially. Fingers crossed my payment shows up by Thursday!
Welcome to the community @Andre Laurent! I'm also new here and can completely relate to your experience - that panic when you see "deposited" but still have a $0 balance is so real! I went through the same thing just recently and this thread has been a lifesaver for understanding that this delay is unfortunately normal. It's honestly unacceptable how they use "deposited" when it's clearly just queued for processing - that terminology should definitely be changed to something more accurate like "pending" or "processing." The anxiety of waiting when you need that money for essential expenses like rent is something they really should warn people about during the approval process. Hopefully your payment comes through by Thursday as expected! This community has been such an amazing resource for getting real answers about how the system actually works versus the official information that often doesn't match reality.
As a newcomer to this community, I'm so grateful I found this thread! I'm currently experiencing the exact same issue - got approved for CalWORKs two weeks ago, and while my CalFresh loaded immediately, the Cash Aid shows "deposited" in BenefitsCal but my EBT card balance is still $0. I was starting to worry that my case had been reversed or something went wrong, but reading everyone's experiences here has been such a relief. It's really frustrating that they don't explain this processing delay upfront - using the word "deposited" when the money isn't actually available yet is so misleading! The stress of watching that zero balance when you're counting on the funds for basic necessities is something no one should have to go through without fair warning. Thank you all for sharing your real experiences and supporting each other. This community provides the honest answers about how the system actually works that we don't get from official sources. I'm definitely saving that Claimyr tip for future reference too. Hopefully my payment shows up within the next few days!
Welcome to the community @Finley Garrett! I'm also a newcomer here and can totally relate to your experience - that worry about your case being reversed is so scary when you're already in a vulnerable position! Two weeks is definitely concerning, especially when others have mentioned the typical 3-4 business day window. It's really telling how many of us newcomers are all dealing with the exact same issue - shows just how broken the communication is between what caseworkers tell us and how the system actually works. The fact that CalFresh loaded immediately but Cash Aid is stuck in processing limbo makes it even more confusing. At this point, you might want to consider using that Claimyr service @Amaya Watson mentioned to get through to your caseworker and make sure there isn t'a specific hold on your case. Keep us posted when it finally comes through - your experience helps all of us understand the range of processing times we might face!
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Just wanted to update that I got the BenefitsCal app and it's working pretty good for checking my balance and upcoming payment dates. It did crash once when I tried to upload a document but it worked the second time. Way better than calling that automated line! Thanks everyone for the help.
Glad it's working for you! One tip: if you turn on notifications in the app, it will actually alert you when your SAR7 is due, when you have a new notice, or when there's an action needed on your case. Saves a lot of stress about missing important deadlines.
For anyone having issues with the BenefitsCal app crashing, try clearing the app cache or reinstalling it. I had the same problem where it would freeze when uploading documents, but after reinstalling it's been much more stable. Also make sure you have a good internet connection when submitting stuff - I noticed it fails more often on weak WiFi or cellular signals. The app isn't perfect but it's definitely better than waiting on hold for 2+ hours just to check basic info. I use it mainly for checking balances and payment dates, then use the full website on my computer for anything more complicated like submitting lengthy documents.
Thanks for the troubleshooting tips! I'm new here and just getting started with CalWORKs benefits. Good to know about the app stability issues before I download it. I'll definitely try the full website first for important stuff like document uploads. Quick question - do you know if there's a way to get text notifications when payments are deposited, or do I still need to check manually?
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To summarize what everyone's saying: While there's no automatic system that will immediately cut your benefits if your mother claims your child on taxes, it creates a contradiction that could cause problems. For CalWORKs, you're saying you have primary responsibility for your daughter. For IRS purposes, your mother would be claiming she provides more than half of your daughter's support. If you want to avoid potential complications with your benefits, the safest approach is to make sure your tax filing is consistent with what you report to CalWORKs. This means you should be the one claiming your daughter as a dependent.
Thank you all for the advice! I'm going to talk to my mom and explain that while I appreciate everything she does for us, having her claim my daughter could put my benefits at risk. I can't afford to lose my Cash Aid or have it delayed during an investigation. Better to keep everything consistent between CalWORKs and taxes.
Smart decision! I went through something similar and learned that consistency across all government systems is crucial. Your mom probably means well, but the potential risk to your stability just isn't worth it. One thing to consider - if your mom is providing significant support through childcare and purchasing items for your daughter, make sure you're accurately reporting any cash assistance she gives you on your SAR7 forms. The county needs to know about all sources of support, but as long as your daughter lives with you primarily and you're her main caretaker, you should be fine claiming her on taxes yourself. Also, once you complete your WTW program and get stable employment, you might be able to revisit the tax situation with your mom if circumstances change. But for now, protecting your Cash Aid is the priority.
This is really helpful advice, especially about reporting support on the SAR7 forms. I want to make sure I'm being completely transparent with the county. My mom helps with childcare and occasionally buys clothes or groceries for my daughter, but she doesn't give me direct cash payments. Should I still be reporting the value of the childcare and items she purchases? I don't want to accidentally underreport anything that could cause issues later.
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I'm new to the CalWORKs system and this whole thread is incredibly helpful! I just applied last week and am dreading the child support process. My daughter's father has been dodging responsibilities for over a year now. Reading everyone's experiences gives me hope that they'll actually be able to find him. He doesn't have any court cases that I know of, but he does have a job (or at least he did 6 months ago). One question - if they do establish a support order but he just doesn't pay, does that affect my CalWORKs benefits at all? I'm worried about getting penalized if he's just completely uncooperative with everything.
Welcome to the system! Your CalWORKs benefits won't be affected if he doesn't pay once the order is established. The requirement is just that YOU cooperate with child support - providing information, attending hearings if needed, etc. If he chooses not to pay, that's on him and DCSS will use enforcement tools like wage garnishment, asset seizure, license suspension, etc. As long as you're doing your part, your benefits are safe. It's actually pretty common for non-custodial parents to be uncooperative initially, but DCSS has a lot of ways to collect once they establish the order.
I'm also new to CalWORKs and dealing with the child support requirement for the first time. This thread has been really eye-opening! I had no idea about the $100 disregard rule or that most of the collected support goes back to the county. My situation is a bit different - my ex moved out of state about 6 months ago and I'm not even sure which state he's in now. He used to work construction so he moves around a lot for jobs. I'm wondering if anyone has experience with DCSS tracking down parents who've left California? Does it take longer when they have to work with other states? Also, thanks to everyone who mentioned requesting address confidentiality - I hadn't thought about that but it's definitely something I need to do. My ex has anger issues and I really don't want him knowing where we're living now.
Interstate child support cases definitely take longer - usually 3-6 months just for location when they've moved out of state. DCSS works through something called UIFSA (Uniform Interstate Family Support Act) to coordinate with other states. They'll search employment databases, tax records, and other state systems to track him down. The good news is that once they find him, collection can actually be more reliable because they can work directly with his employer for wage garnishment regardless of which state he's in. Construction workers are often easier to track than you'd think because they usually have to register with state licensing boards and workers' comp systems. Definitely get that address confidentiality request in ASAP - especially important with anger issues. You can also ask about getting a "good cause" evaluation if there's any history of domestic violence or threats. Stay strong!
Aurora Lacasse
This entire conversation has been absolutely eye-opening! I'm a single mom who just started the CalWORKs process and I'm currently in a paralegal certificate program. Reading everyone's experiences, especially about SIP status and college CalWORKs offices, has completely changed how I'm approaching this. I was so worried that I'd have to choose between my education and getting help for my kids. My intake worker made it sound like their job readiness programs were mandatory, but now I understand I have options! The paralegal program I'm in leads directly to employment and I started it before applying for benefits, so it sounds like I should qualify for SIP status. I'm definitely calling my college tomorrow to find their CalWORKs office. The fact that they can advocate directly with your caseworker and help with all the paperwork sounds like it could save me so much stress. I had no idea these resources existed! Thank you to everyone who shared their knowledge and experiences. Stories like Tasia's give me so much hope that it's possible to pursue meaningful career training while getting the support your family needs. This community is incredible for helping people navigate such a complex system. I'll definitely update once I get everything sorted out with my education plan!
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Natasha Kuznetsova
•Welcome to the community, Aurora! Paralegal certification is absolutely the kind of career-focused program that CalWORKs should support - there's steady demand for paralegals and it's a field with real growth potential. You're so smart to be thinking ahead about this before your first WTW meeting. Since you started your program before applying for benefits, you're definitely in a good position for SIP status. Legal support careers are typically pre-approved because they lead directly to stable employment with decent wages. The fact that you're already enrolled gives you a huge advantage in advocating for your education plan. Your college's CalWORKs office will be invaluable - they understand exactly how to present paralegal programs to caseworkers and can emphasize the strong job placement rates in the legal field. Having that professional advocacy makes such a difference compared to trying to navigate the bureaucracy on your own. Don't let anyone pressure you into dropping a meaningful career program for basic job search activities! Paralegal work is exactly the type of skilled profession that will help you achieve long-term self-sufficiency. You're making a great investment in your family's future. Looking forward to hearing how your education plan approval goes!
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Ryan Young
This thread has been incredibly informative and gives me so much hope! I'm a newcomer to both CalWORKs and this community, and I had no idea about most of these options. I'm currently in a respiratory therapy program that I started before applying for benefits, and my caseworker has been pushing me toward their job training workshops instead. Reading about SIP status and college CalWORKs offices is a complete game-changer! I was honestly starting to panic thinking I'd have to choose between my education and keeping benefits for my family. Respiratory therapy is definitely career-focused with great job prospects, especially after COVID showed how critical these healthcare roles are. I'm calling my college first thing tomorrow to find their CalWORKs office. The fact that they can help with paperwork and even talk directly to your caseworker sounds amazing. I've been dreading my upcoming WTW meeting, but now I feel like I actually have a plan and know my rights. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences and knowledge - especially Tasia for the detailed updates showing it really works! This community is such a valuable resource for navigating this complex system. Stories like these prove that persistence and self-advocacy really do pay off when you're trying to pursue meaningful career training.
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Nia Harris
•Welcome to the community, Ryan! Respiratory therapy is absolutely one of the most in-demand healthcare programs right now - you're making such a smart career choice! After everything we've been through with COVID, hospitals and healthcare facilities are desperate for qualified respiratory therapists. This is exactly the type of essential healthcare training that CalWORKs should be supporting without question. Since you were enrolled before applying for benefits, you're in a perfect position for SIP status. Respiratory therapy programs have excellent job placement rates and lead to stable, well-paying careers - your caseworker should be celebrating that you're pursuing this field, not trying to redirect you to basic workshops! Definitely get connected with your college's CalWORKs office ASAP. They'll know exactly how to present respiratory therapy as critical healthcare workforce development. The shortage in this field means employers are actively recruiting, so you'll have strong employment data to back up your education plan. Don't let anyone discourage you from finishing this program - respiratory therapists are heroes who literally help people breathe. Your training is so much more valuable than generic job readiness classes. You've got this, and we're all here to support you through the process! Can't wait to hear how your meeting goes.
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