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UPDATE: You all are amazing! I called this morning and specifically asked about the One-Time Special Needs Payment and Barrier Removal Funds like you suggested. My worker still seemed confused, but I asked to speak with a WTW specialist. The specialist knew exactly what I was talking about! They're going to cover my insurance down payment through their Barrier Removal Funds because it's directly preventing me from getting to my interview and potential job. I had to fill out some extra paperwork and provide proof of the insurance quote plus my interview confirmation, but it's getting approved! Thank you all so much for your help - I never would have known to ask for these specific programs otherwise.
omg thats awesome!! im going to try this 2 cuz my insurance is due next month and i was stressing about it
That's such great news, Anita! 🎉 Thanks for updating us - this is exactly the kind of information that helps everyone in this community. It's so frustrating that knowledge about these resources seems to depend on which worker you get, but at least now we know to specifically ask for a "WTW specialist" if our regular worker doesn't know about Barrier Removal Funds or One-Time Special Needs Payments. Good luck with your interview! Hope you get the job and this whole experience leads to better things for you.
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Hey Dylan! I'm so sorry you're going through this stress - IEVS reports are honestly one of the most anxiety-inducing things about being on CalWORKs. I went through something similar about a year ago and felt like I was going to have a panic attack when I got that letter! The good news is that everyone here has given you excellent advice, and since your job was in 2022 but you didn't apply for benefits until late 2023, you should definitely be in the clear for any overpayment issues. That timeline is crucial - make sure you lead with that information in ALL your communications with the county. A couple additional tips from my experience: - When you call your old employer, mention it's for "government benefit verification" - that usually gets you transferred to the right department faster - If you used any tax prep software like TurboTax or H&R Block in 2022, you might still be able to log in and download your documents from there - Consider sending a brief email or letter TODAY just acknowledging you received the notice and are working to gather the requested documents - it shows good faith effort The 10-day deadline feels impossible but it's really just meant to get you to respond, not necessarily have everything perfect. You've got a whole community here rooting for you! Keep us posted on how it goes! 💪
Thank you Natasha! Your comment really helped calm my nerves. I love that you mentioned sending something today just to acknowledge I got the notice - that's such a smart move that I hadn't thought of. I'm definitely going to do that right after I finish reading all these responses. It's amazing how supportive this community is! I was feeling so alone and panicked when I posted this, but now I have an actual plan of action. Going to emphasize that 2022 vs late 2023 timeline in everything I send them. Really appreciate you and everyone else taking the time to help a stressed-out newcomer! 🙏
Welcome to the community! I know dealing with IEVS reports feels overwhelming, but you've gotten some really excellent advice here. I just wanted to add one more resource that might help - if you're having trouble accessing your 2022 tax documents online, you can also request a "wage and income transcript" directly from the IRS by calling 1-800-908-9946. It's free and shows all the income that was reported to them for that tax year, including from that warehouse job. Also, don't be too hard on yourself for not keeping those old pay stubs - most people don't expect to need employment records from 2+ years ago! The system really should give clearer guidance about document retention, especially for people who move frequently or have unstable housing situations. Since this was clearly before you even applied for CalWORKs, you're dealing with what's basically a paperwork mismatch rather than any kind of fraud issue. The county just needs to verify that the income their computers flagged was legitimate and properly reported on your taxes. Once you can show them that timeline and provide any supporting docs (W-2, tax return, bank statements, etc.), this should get resolved pretty quickly. Hang in there - this community has your back! 💙
Thank you so much Dylan! That IRS transcript tip is incredibly helpful - I had no idea you could get that kind of documentation directly from them. I'm going to call that number tomorrow if I can't get through to my old employer. You're absolutely right that most people don't expect to need employment records from that far back, especially when you're moving around. It really should be clearer what to keep and for how long! I'm feeling so much more confident now knowing this is just a paperwork issue and not something that could really hurt me since the timeline is so clear. This community is amazing - I was honestly scared to even post about this but everyone has been so helpful and understanding. Thank you again! 🙏
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Hey StarGazer101! Welcome to CalWORKs! I see you've gotten some great advice already about the payment schedule and withdrawal limits. Just wanted to add that if you're really worried about timing, you can also call the EBT customer service number (1-877-328-9677) to check your balance before heading to the ATM. The automated system is available 24/7 and will tell you exactly how much is available on your card. Also, since you mentioned you're new - make sure to keep all your receipts and paperwork organized from day one. It makes everything so much easier when you have to do your redetermination or if any issues come up with your case. Good luck with getting your rent sorted out!
Thanks Caesar! That's really helpful about the EBT customer service number. I didn't know you could check your balance that way. I'm definitely going to call that tonight before going to the ATM. And you're absolutely right about keeping paperwork organized - I'm already feeling overwhelmed with all the forms and notices I've gotten in just one week! Do you have any tips for what specific documents are most important to keep? I don't want to lose something crucial later on.
@Caesar Grant That EBT customer service number is a lifesaver! I just tried it and was able to check my balance instantly. For organizing paperwork, I keep a folder with my original approval notice has (all your important case info ,)any NOAs Notice (of Action you) get, your monthly budget worksheets if your worker gives you those, and definitely save any correspondence about changes to your case. Also keep receipts from any required activities like job search or appointments - you might need to prove you did them later. A simple accordion folder works great and costs like $3 at the dollar store.
Hey there! I'm also pretty new to CalWORKs (got approved about 6 months ago) and wanted to share what I learned about the cash withdrawal situation. Everyone's given you great advice about the payment schedule, but here's something that really helped me: I always test my card the day before I absolutely need the money. Even though your case number ends in 3 so you should get benefits on the 1st, I'd still recommend checking at like 11:50pm on the 31st just to be safe. Also, regarding the withdrawal limits - I found out that some banks (like Bank of America) will let you withdraw more at their actual branch ATMs compared to the standalone machines. My regular ATM only lets me take out $400 at a time, but at the bank branch I can get $600. Just something to keep in mind for future rent payments! One more thing - if you end up having to split your rent payment over multiple days due to withdrawal limits, most landlords are understanding if you explain the situation ahead of time. I told my landlord about the EBT limits and now he knows I might pay in two parts on the 1st and 2nd of each month.
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this is why i always keep a little extra in my account from the month before if possible. never know when theyll mess up the timing and then your stuck with late fees and stuff. glad it worked out for you tho!
That's really smart advice! I wish I could save something from month to month but right now every dollar goes to rent, utilities, and food. Hopefully once I finish my job training program next month I'll be able to build up a little cushion. It would definitely help with the stress of situations like this.
I'm so glad your payment came through! This thread is really helpful for understanding that delays can happen even when everything is fine with your case. I'm new to CalWORKs and was wondering - is there any way to get notifications when payments are processed, or do we just have to keep checking our cards/BenefitsCal account? It would be nice to have some kind of alert system so we don't have to stress about checking all day.
Unfortunately there's no automatic notification system for when CalWORKs payments are processed. You have to manually check either your EBT card balance or log into your BenefitsCal account to see if the payment has posted. Some people set reminders on their phones to check periodically on the 1st rather than obsessively checking all day. The uncertainty is definitely one of the most stressful parts of the whole system!
Dmitry Popov
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.
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Miranda Singer
•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.
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Giovanni Ricci
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.
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