i thought cash aid was 60 months too!!! when did it change to 48?????

This is such important information for families to understand! Just to add a bit more clarity - even though CalFresh doesn't have time limits for families with children, you still need to stay on top of your recertification requirements. Make sure you submit your SAR 7 forms on time and report any income changes within 10 days. Missing these requirements is actually the most common reason people lose their CalFresh benefits, not time limits. Also, if you're working or in school/training programs, you might qualify for additional CalFresh deductions that could increase your benefit amount. It's worth asking your worker about the earned income deduction, dependent care deduction, and shelter cost deduction to make sure you're getting the maximum benefits you're entitled to!

UPDATE: i went to BofA yesterday and got all my cash aid money at once! the teller was really helpful and didnt charge any fees. i deposited it to my checking account and paid my rent online. going to fill out that direct deposit form too so i dont have this problem again. thanks everyone for your help!!!!

So glad you got it sorted out! Just wanted to add for anyone else reading this - you can also check your EBT cash balance anytime by calling the customer service number on the back of your card or logging into the EBT cardholder portal online. This way you know exactly how much you have before going to the bank. Also, some Bank of America locations have longer lines than others, so if you're in a hurry like Isabella was, calling ahead to ask about wait times can save you stress!

Hey, one other thing - make sure you're regularly checking your Income Reporting Threshold (IRT) when you get your SAR7 approval. Sometimes they update your IRT amount without making it super obvious. If your income ever goes above that amount, you have to report it within 10 days, even outside your normal SAR7 reporting period. I found out the hard way when I got a raise and didn't report it because I thought I only had to report on the SAR7... ended up with an overpayment I had to pay back 😩

Just wanted to add my experience - I've been getting that "Account Changed - Status Changed" message for over a year now every time I submit my SAR7, and it's never actually meant my benefits were changing. It's just their confusing way of saying they updated your case file. What I do now is screenshot my current benefit amounts before submitting my SAR7, then compare them to what shows up after I get that notification. 9 times out of 10, everything stays exactly the same unless I actually reported changes. The real changes always come with those official notices in the mail, not just app notifications. Those are the ones you need to worry about! Hope this helps ease your mind for next time.

I'm sorry but this system is SUCH a trap. They give you barely enough to survive, then when you finally find work they take away your benefits AND charge you OVERPAYMENTS if you don't report EXACTLY on time!!! How are people supposed to ever get ahead? It's all designed to keep people POOR and DESPERATE. I bet they have a quota for "fraud" cases they need to meet every year. The whole thing makes me SICK.

I understand how overwhelming this feels! I just went through something similar last year. The good news is that since your boyfriend's income ($2400) is below your IRT ($2780), you have until your next SAR7 to report it - no need to panic about the 10-day rule right now. But here's what I wish someone had told me: even though you can wait, I'd honestly recommend reporting it sooner rather than later. The county workers are usually more understanding when you're proactive about reporting changes, and it shows good faith if any issues come up later. Also, don't forget that with the $500 disregard plus 50% of remaining income, you'll likely still qualify for some cash aid! Run the numbers: $500 + 50% of $1900 = $1450 disregarded, so only $950 counts against your grant. You might be surprised how much you can still receive. One tip: when you do report, make sure to ask about transitional benefits and childcare assistance - there are programs specifically designed to help families transition to work without losing everything at once. You've got this! Taking care of your family while navigating these systems is hard work, but you're doing the right thing by asking questions and planning ahead.

One more important thing - once you're working or in a training program for 3+ months with CalWORKs childcare, you'll transition from Stage 1 childcare (managed by the welfare department) to Stage 2 (managed by Resource & Referral agencies). This is automatic and shouldn't affect your childcare services, but it's good to know about. About your question on vocational training - yes, CalWORKs can pay for approved vocational training programs through their education/training funds. Not all programs qualify, but many do - especially those that lead directly to employment. When you meet with your WTW counselor, ask specifically about education and training opportunities and what funding is available. Your childcare will be covered during your training hours plus travel time and study time. It's a really good opportunity if you want to gain skills that can lead to better-paying jobs.

I'm new to CalWORKs and reading through this thread has been SO helpful! I'm in a similar situation - single mom with a 3 year old and just got approved for benefits. My orientation is next week and I was already panicking about the work requirements because I have no childcare lined up. It sounds like the key is to be proactive and specifically ASK for the childcare assistance right away rather than waiting for them to offer it. Is there anything else I should make sure to ask about during my orientation? I want to be prepared so I don't get overwhelmed like what happened to Dylan. Also, does anyone know if there's a waiting list for the childcare assistance or do they usually approve it pretty quickly? Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - it's making me feel less alone in this process!