UPDATE: Going inside the bank worked!!! The teller was able to process a cash withdrawal from my EBT card with no problem. She said sometimes the ATM network has issues with EBT cards but counter transactions use a different system. Thank you all for the suggestions! Crisis averted and rent will be paid today!

This is such a helpful thread! I've been on CalWORKs for 6 months and had no idea that bank tellers could process EBT cash withdrawals manually. I've been struggling with ATM issues too - sometimes they work fine, other times they don't, and I never knew there was an alternative. Definitely bookmarking this info for future reference. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and solutions!

Hey Lauren! Just wanted to add something that might help - make sure you get the childcare authorization form (CF 777) from your worker ASAP. I made the mistake of waiting until after I started work to request it and ended up losing 2 weeks of potential payments. The form needs to be submitted before your mom can start getting paid, even if she's already approved as a provider. Also, keep copies of everything - they sometimes "lose" paperwork and you'll need to resubmit. Good luck with the new job!

Hey Lauren! I went through this exact same process about 6 months ago when my mom started watching my daughter. One thing I wish someone had told me - make sure your mom understands she needs to submit the monthly attendance sheets by the 5th of each month or the payment gets delayed to the following month. Also, if your work schedule changes at all (like you get overtime or your hours shift), you need to notify your childcare worker immediately so they can update the authorization. The system is pretty rigid about only paying for pre-approved hours. And definitely take advantage of that Claimyr service someone mentioned - it seriously saved me so much time and frustration trying to get through to the right people. Best of luck with everything!

UPDATE: I just got through to a supervisor at my county office. There's currently a system-wide issue affecting some CalWORKs payments in several counties. They're aware of the problem and are working to resolve it. Payments should be processed within 24-48 hours. If you're experiencing a financial emergency because of this delay, ask specifically for an "Emergency Payment Request" - supervisors have the authority to issue these even when the system is down. Hope this helps those in the same situation!

I'm so sorry you're going through this stress! The same thing happened to my neighbor last month - her CalWORKs cash aid just didn't show up on the 1st with no warning. She was panicking about rent too. After hours of calling, she found out it was a "system verification hold" that required a supervisor to manually release. The county worker couldn't even explain why it happened, just said sometimes the computer flags cases randomly. She got her money 3 days later but had to borrow from family to avoid late fees. Definitely keep calling and ask to speak to a supervisor immediately - don't let them put you off. Document the time and date of every call attempt in case you need to file a complaint later. Hoping yours gets resolved faster than hers did!

Another possibility: did you miss any Welfare to Work (WTW) appointments or not meet your required participation hours? Sometimes they'll impose a financial sanction for WTW non-compliance, but again, they're required to send you multiple notices before doing this. Regardless of what caused the reduction, you have rights. If you request a state hearing and explain that you never received notification of the change, you have a strong case. Make sure to specifically request "aid paid pending" when you file for the hearing if it's been less than 90 days since the reduction started.

This is exactly what happened to me 6 months ago! Same situation - $280 reduction with zero notification. Turns out my caseworker had made an error in calculating my rent allowance and "corrected" it without telling me. I went straight to my county office and demanded to speak with a supervisor. Took 3 visits but they finally admitted the mistake and restored my benefits retroactively. Document EVERYTHING - take photos of your BenefitsCal account showing no notices, keep records of when you call and get disconnected. Also, you might want to contact your local legal aid society - many have CalWORKs advocates who can help you navigate the appeal process for free. Don't let them intimidate you into giving up. You and your kids deserve those benefits!

Any updates? Did your benefits come through today?

I'm so glad you got it resolved! That's such a frustrating situation - having your ex apply elsewhere and list your kids without telling you, then having the system flag YOUR account because of HIS application. It's crazy that these systems can't tell the difference or at least send you a notice explaining what's happening. I'm definitely bookmarking that Claimyr service for future reference. Hope your landlord situation works out okay now that you have your payment!