I'm so glad you asked this question! I was in a similar situation a few months ago when I had to travel to help my grandmother in Utah after she fell and broke her hip. Your EBT card will definitely work in Arizona - I had no problems accessing my cash aid while I was out of state for about 10 days. The system is connected nationwide so you shouldn't have any issues with that part. The main thing to watch out for is the ATM fees, which were pretty brutal - I ended up paying $3-6 per transaction depending on which ATM I used. What I learned (the hard way!) is to take out larger amounts less frequently rather than making multiple smaller withdrawals. Since you're only going for 2 weeks to help with the new baby, you're well under the 30-day limit so there shouldn't be any problems with your CalWORKs case. I'd suggest keeping all your ATM receipts just in case, and maybe even taking a photo of them with your phone as backup. One tip I wish someone had told me - some grocery stores will let you get cash back when you buy something, which can be way cheaper than using ATMs. Worth asking when you're shopping for baby supplies! Your sister is so lucky to have you coming to help during those first crazy weeks. New babies are exhausting but so worth it! Have a safe trip and enjoy meeting your new niece!

I've been following this thread and wanted to add my experience since I just went through this exact situation! I traveled to Arizona last month to help my cousin after she had her baby, and I was super nervous about the EBT card working there. Good news - your card will absolutely work! I used it at ATMs in Phoenix and Tucson without any problems. The fees were definitely higher though, usually around $3.50-4.50 per withdrawal. What saved me money was going to a Walmart and getting cash back when I bought baby supplies - only paid like $0.50 instead of those crazy ATM fees! Since you're only going for 2 weeks, you're totally fine with the residency rules. I was there for 12 days and had zero issues with my case. Just keep your receipts and maybe screenshot your account balance before you leave CA for your own records. One thing that really helped me was downloading the Walmart app before I went - you can find stores near you that do cash back with EBT, which saved me probably $20+ in ATM fees over my trip. Also, having cash ready was super helpful for those late-night diaper runs! Your sister is going to be so grateful to have you there. Those first weeks with a newborn are intense and having family support makes all the difference. Congratulations on becoming an aunt! Enjoy every moment with that little one.

Hi Lauren! Welcome to the community and congratulations on your new job - what an exciting fresh start! I'm also relatively new to navigating CalWORKs, and wow, this thread has become such an incredible resource! Everyone has given you amazingly detailed advice about the childcare payment process. I just wanted to add one thing I learned that might help - when you're gathering all those documents for your mom's provider application, make sure her ID isn't expired or close to expiring. I had to delay my aunt's application because her driver's license was expiring in 2 weeks and they required it to be valid for at least 30 days. Also, if your mom doesn't have a bank account yet, she'll need to set one up for direct deposit - they don't do paper checks anymore in most counties. You're being so proactive getting all this sorted before Monday, and with all the fantastic guidance here, you're definitely going to succeed. This community really shows how much easier these programs become when people share their real experiences. Best of luck with your new job - your baby is so lucky to have such a dedicated mom and caring grandma!

Hi Lauren! Welcome to our community and congratulations on getting approved for CalWORKs and landing your new job - that's such a huge achievement! I'm also fairly new to navigating these benefits, but I wanted to jump in and say how amazing all the advice has been in this thread. Everyone has covered the key points so thoroughly - from the CF 777 form to payment rates to keeping copies of everything. One thing I learned recently that might help is to ask your worker for a written timeline of when each step should be completed, so you can follow up if anything gets delayed. Also, don't be discouraged if you have to call multiple times or visit the office - persistence really pays off with these programs. The monthly payment amounts everyone mentioned ($1,080-1,300) will make such a difference for your family, and it's wonderful that your mom can provide care while you work. This community has been such a lifeline for me in understanding how everything works, so definitely come back if you have questions once you get started. Best of luck with your job on Monday - you're so well prepared thanks to everyone's help here!

Reading through all of this incredible advice has been so heartwarming! As a new member here, I'm amazed by how supportive and knowledgeable this community is. @Vincent Bimbach - I just wanted to add one more encouragement. Your thoughtful approach to this whole situation really shows what an amazing parent you are. The fact that you're researching everything thoroughly, asking the right questions, and being so considerate about doing things correctly tells me you're going to handle this process beautifully. I've seen several family members go through CalWORKs applications, and honestly, your situation as a separated parent with children and no income is one of the clearest qualifying scenarios. The caseworkers deal with separated couples all the time, so you won't be explaining some unusual situation - this is really common. One tiny thing I'd add that helped my sister - when you do your interview (whether phone or in-person), have a pen and paper ready to jot down anything important they tell you. Sometimes there are deadlines or follow-up steps mentioned that are easy to forget when you're nervous, and having notes really helps. You've got such a strong support system here now, and it sounds like you have a solid plan of action. Your kids are going to have the stability they need while you get back on your feet. Wishing you all the best with your application tomorrow! Please do keep us updated - we'll all be rooting for you! 💙

Welcome to the community! I'm new here too but wanted to reach out after reading through this amazing thread. As someone who's currently navigating a similar situation (legally married but separated with kids), your story really resonates with me. I'm so impressed by how thoroughly you've researched this and how thoughtfully you're approaching the application process. Reading through everyone's responses has been incredibly educational for me too - I had no idea about things like the expedited processing options or the community liaisons that can help with applications. Your determination to get your family the support they need while being completely honest about your circumstances shows what an incredible parent you are. It's clear that your kids are your top priority, and that's exactly the kind of family these programs are designed to help. I don't have much advice to add since everyone here has covered things so comprehensively, but I did want to say that your courage in reaching out and asking for help when you need it is really inspiring. Sometimes it's hard to take that first step of admitting we need assistance, but you're showing such strength in advocating for your children. Wishing you all the best with your application! I'll be following along to see how things go for you, and I'm sure your experience will help other families in similar situations too. This community is truly special! 💙

This thread is incredibly helpful and shows just how widespread these EBT security issues really are! I'm fairly new to CalWORKs (started about 8 months ago) and had no idea about error code 104 until reading all these experiences. What really bothers me is how the system can essentially hold your own money hostage without any warning or explanation. It's especially problematic since so many CalWORKs recipients are already in precarious financial situations where even a day without access to benefits can mean missing rent or going without food. I've been lucky so far and haven't hit any major EBT issues, but after reading all these stories I'm definitely going to switch to direct deposit ASAP. The fact that so many people have found the Claimyr callback service helpful is really good to know too - I'm bookmarking that along with the EBT customer service number just in case. Thank you to everyone for sharing such detailed experiences and practical solutions. This community provides way better guidance than any official documentation I've seen!

This thread has been incredibly eye-opening for me! I've been on CalWORKs for about 2 months now and had absolutely no idea that error code 104 or these security flags even existed. Reading everyone's experiences is both super helpful and honestly pretty anxiety-inducing - the thought of suddenly losing access to my benefits right when I need them for essentials like rent and groceries is really scary. It's frustrating that they can basically freeze your own money without any warning, especially when so many of us are already living on such tight budgets. I'm definitely going to ask my caseworker about direct deposit at my next appointment after seeing how many people have run into these EBT card issues. Also writing down that customer service number and the Claimyr callback service info just in case I ever need it. Thank you to everyone who shared their stories and solutions here - this is exactly the kind of practical, real-world advice that new recipients like me need but never get told during the application process!

I'm new to this community but wanted to share something that might help others in similar situations. When I was having issues with my CalWORKS case last year, I discovered that many counties have a separate "expedited" phone line for people whose cases were closed in error. It's not well-publicized, but if you call the main number and specifically ask to be transferred to the "case closure review unit" or "expedited services," you might get through faster than the general customer service line. Also, I learned that if you mention you're facing "immediate hardship" due to the closure, they're supposed to prioritize your call. It's frustrating that we have to know these magic words, but it worked for me when nothing else did. @Gemma Andrews I'm so glad you got your situation resolved through Claimyr - it's encouraging to see that there are multiple paths to getting help even when the main system fails us!

I'm new to this community but this entire thread has been incredibly helpful! As someone who just started receiving CalFresh benefits, I had no idea about all these potential pitfalls - verification requests going to spam folders, mysterious error codes, phone systems that don't work, etc. @Gemma Andrews I'm so glad you persisted and got your benefits restored! Your experience is a perfect case study in why this community is so valuable. @Melina Haruko thank you for explaining the error codes and appeal process - that kind of insider knowledge should be publicly available but clearly isn't. @Chloe Taylor and @Ezra Bates the suggestions about assembly member offices and expedited phone lines are brilliant workarounds I never would have known about. It's honestly shocking that we need services like Claimyr and all these unofficial channels just to access basic government benefits, but I'm grateful people here share what actually works. I'm definitely saving this whole conversation as my go-to resource guide if I ever run into issues. The level of practical help here is better than any official website I've seen!