I just want to add that when you apply, make sure to complete your interview! I made the mistake of missing my scheduled interview call, and my application was denied. I had to start all over again and it delayed my benefits by almost a month. They'll give you a date and time range for your interview when you submit your application on BenefitsCal.

To answer your most recent questions: 1. About child support - once you apply, you'll meet with a child support caseworker who will ask for information about your ex. They handle the cooperation part, you just need to provide the info you have. Your benefits won't be reduced if he pays inconsistently. 2. For the Housing Support Program - yes, they can help with rent arrears (back rent) to prevent eviction, not just new rentals. 3. For the interview - Riverside County is mostly doing phone interviews now. They'll give you a date and a 2-hour window when they'll call. Make sure your phone number is correct on the application!

Quick tip: make sure you sign up for text or email reminders about your SAR 7 due dates! I almost missed mine too, but got a text reminder 10 days before it was due. You can set this up on BenefitsCal.com or ask your worker to add those alerts to your account. Has saved me from this exact situation multiple times.

UPDATE: I used that Claimyr service and got through to my worker! She said they'll process my SAR 7 by the end of the week and my Cash Aid should be restored within 3-5 business days after that. She also submitted an emergency request so I might get it faster. CalFresh won't be retroactive but will start again once the SAR 7 is processed. And I asked about the diaper supplement - apparently I was already getting it but didn't realize it was included in my regular payment. Everyone who commented - THANK YOU SO MUCH for your help during this stressful time!!! Lesson learned about turning in forms on time.

THIS IS Y I RECORD EVRYTHING!!! I had a supervisor lie 2 my face about sum paperwork so now i record all phone calls (california is 2 party consent so u gotta tell them). but soon as they know ur recording suddenly they start following the rules funny how that works lol

Just checking back - have you had any success with any of these approaches? If nothing else has worked, I wanted to add one more suggestion: file for a rehearing based on the county's failure to comply. This is an official process where you tell the State Hearings Division that the county hasn't implemented the decision. They can then issue an order compelling compliance and potentially even imposing sanctions on the county. The rehearing request form is here: https://cdss.ca.gov/cdssweb/entres/forms/English/DPA531.pdf Make sure you include all the documentation showing your attempts to get the county to comply. This creates a formal record of their non-compliance.

i thot wtw was suposed to pay for childcare not car stuff???

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.

do u have any family that could help out for a month or 2? sometimes thats easier than dealing with the county tbh. my mom let me crash at her place when i got behind on rent, was way better than waiting for calworks to maybe help

Make sure when you talk to your worker tomorrow that you emphasize this is an EMERGENCY situation. Sometimes they won't mention all available programs unless you specifically ask or make it clear how urgent it is. Also ask about community partners they work with - many counties have relationships with non-profits that can help with rent when CalWORKs can't directly. If your regular worker isn't helpful, ask to speak with a supervisor.

I had a similar issue last month where my payment dropped by almost $400. Turned out I had missed a Welfare to Work appointment and they sanctioned me, but I never received the notice about the appointment! Make sure to ask if you have any WTW sanctions applied to your case. They're supposed to send multiple notices before sanctioning you, but we all know how reliable their mail system is... 🙄

I see you mentioned you're going to call them. When you do, ask specifically for an "Income Computation Worksheet" - this is a form that shows exactly how they calculated your grant amount. Also request a hearing immediately if there's an error - you only have 90 days from the Notice of Action date to appeal. Let us know what you find out!

Just wanted to follow up - as someone mentioned, your case number determines your regular payment date (1st, 10th, or 20th). But here's something important many people don't know: When you first get approved, if you're experiencing an immediate financial crisis, you can request an "Immediate Need" payment. You need to specifically use those words. For future reference, here's how the payment system works for CalWORKs: - If your case number ends in 1, 2, or 3: Payment on the 1st - If your case number ends in 4, 5, 6, or 7: Payment on the 10th - If your case number ends in 8, 9, or 0: Payment on the 20th Keep this in mind for budgeting purposes going forward. Also, make sure you complete your SAR7 reports on time (every 6 months) to avoid any payment delays in the future.

You'll get your first SAR7 form about 5 months after your approval. So if you were approved in July, expect it around December. The form is due by the 5th of your reporting month (which would be January in this example). One tip: CalWORKs now offers the option to complete your SAR7 online through the BenefitsCal website, which is much easier than the paper form. You can upload photos of any required documents right from your phone. Glad you were able to reach someone about the Immediate Need payment. If approved, they typically issue those within 3 business days, so that should help bridge the gap until your regular payment date.

I had a similar issue when I first applied, and it turned out they denied me because I didn't provide verification of my daughter's school enrollment. With school-aged children, they sometimes want proof they're attending school. Did they ask you for anything like that?

Any update on your situation? Were you able to get through to someone at the county office? Remember that you have rights in this process - they can't just deny you without explanation, especially in your circumstances.

Update: I called today and was told my case is "under review" but the worker couldn't tell me when I might actually get my money back. I explained about my rent being due and having kids to feed, and she just said to "check back next week" 😭 This is so stressful. I'm going to try the immediate need application that someone mentioned here. Has anyone actually gotten immediate need approved while waiting for stolen benefits to be replaced?

@original poster - If it helps, the law actually requires them to make a determination on your theft claim within 10 business days, but doesn't necessarily guarantee payment within that time. Once approved, it can take an additional 1-3 days for the funds to appear on your EBT card. For those reading who haven't experienced theft yet, start using the EBT BenefitsCal app to freeze your card when not in use. It's the best prevention method we've seen so far.

I've been on Cash Aid for 4 years and this ALWAYS happens on holidays!!! The county NEVER warns us ahead of time and it causes so much stress. Last year I got a late fee from my apartment complex because of this exact same issue. I tried explaining to them about the holiday delay but they didn't care at all. The worst part is when you call the EBT customer service line on holidays, it still says "benefits have been issued" even when they haven't actually hit your card yet!!! So frustrating!!

For those asking about changing your issuance date - there's a form called CW 2212 "Request for Adjustment of Aid Payment Schedule" that you can submit to your worker. There's no guarantee they'll approve it, but it's worth trying if the current schedule consistently causes problems with your bills. Make sure to explain exactly why the current date creates a hardship.