Congratulations on the new job, Megan! You're being really smart about handling this proactively. I just wanted to add something that helped me when I went through this process - make sure to keep a detailed log of every interaction you have with the county office, including dates, times, and the names of anyone you speak with. I created a simple spreadsheet tracking my submission date, confirmation receipts, phone calls, and any follow-up communications. This documentation trail was incredibly helpful when I had questions later about my case closure. Also, once you get that written confirmation that your benefits have ended, keep it somewhere safe permanently - not just for a few months. I've heard stories of people needing to reference their termination documentation years later for various reasons like tax purposes or if they ever need to reapply for assistance. The fact that you're asking these questions ahead of time shows you're going to handle this perfectly!

Congratulations on your new job, Megan! You're absolutely doing the right thing by being proactive. I went through this exact same situation about 8 months ago. Here's what I learned: definitely submit everything in writing through BenefitsCal rather than just calling. Use the specific language "I request voluntary discontinuance of my CalWORKs case effective [date]" - not just "reporting income change" because they might just reduce your benefits instead of closing the case. Include your job offer letter or first paystub as proof, and make sure your termination date is the day BEFORE your first paycheck to avoid any overlap. Also, ask them to confirm in writing (email is fine) that they received your request and what the expected processing timeline is. Don't forget that your Medi-Cal might continue even after CalWORKs ends, and you might still qualify for CalFresh with the higher income limits. Keep copies of everything and take screenshots of your BenefitsCal submission! The whole process took about 2 weeks for me and having everything documented made it completely smooth. You've got this!

Hey Bruno, congrats on your new baby! 🎊 This is definitely a processing error - your CalWORKs cash aid should have increased automatically just like your CalFresh did. I had the exact same thing happen when my son was born last year. What likely happened is your worker updated one system but missed the other. It's frustratingly common! Here's what worked for me: call RIGHT at 8am when they open (much better chance of getting through), and if that fails, go to the office in person with your birth certificate and EBT statements showing the CalFresh increase as proof. When you get someone, ask them to verify your CalWORKs household size includes your baby and request they recalculate your grant amount immediately. Also make sure they add the $30/month diaper allowance - it should be automatic but nothing seems to be with these county offices! The silver lining is you should get retroactive payments once it's fixed. In my case, it was almost $250 in backpay that showed up within a week of them correcting the mistake. Don't give up mama - you and your little one deserve every benefit you're entitled to! Keep us posted on how it goes! 💪

Congratulations on your new baby! 🍼 This is definitely not normal and sounds like a processing error. Your CalWORKs cash aid should have automatically increased when you added your newborn, just like your CalFresh did. I'm a caseworker and see this happen unfortunately often - usually what occurs is the worker updates one system but forgets to process the household size change for the other program. Sometimes different staff handle CalFresh vs CalWORKs updates and things fall through the cracks. Here's what you should do: Call first thing at 8am when the office opens for your best chance of getting through. If you can't reach anyone by phone, go to the office in person with your birth certificate and your EBT card/statements showing the CalFresh increase as proof that they partially processed your case. When you speak with someone, specifically ask them to: 1. Verify your CalWORKs household size includes your newborn 2. Recalculate your grant amount based on the correct household size 3. Apply the $30/month diaper allowance (should be automatic for kids under 3) 4. Process any retroactive payments you're owed Don't let them brush you off - this should have been automatic and you deserve the full benefits you're eligible for. The retroactive payments should cover any months they missed since you reported the birth. Keep pushing until it's fixed!

Reading through this thread is exactly what I needed right now! I'm on day 1 of waiting for my Cash Aid restoration and already getting anxious about the timing. It's so helpful to see Oliver's update that it actually came through overnight like the supervisor promised. The information about Cash Aid and CalFresh processing separately is really valuable - I had no idea they were on different systems. This community is amazing for sharing real experiences instead of just the official "it takes 1-3 business days" responses we get from the office. Definitely bookmarking this thread for anyone else I know going through benefit restorations!

This thread is incredibly helpful for anyone dealing with CalWORKs restoration delays! I went through something similar about 6 months ago and the waiting period was absolutely brutal - especially when you're counting on that money for essential expenses like rent. What I learned from my experience is that even when supervisors give you specific timeframes, the backend processing systems often have their own schedule. In my case, I was told "by end of business today" and it actually showed up 2 days later at around 3am. The overnight batch processing seems to be when most deposits actually hit accounts. One thing that helped me was setting up account alerts so I'd get a text notification as soon as any deposit posted - saved me from obsessively checking my balance every hour. It's also worth noting that if you're ever in this situation again and facing immediate housing issues, most counties have emergency assistance programs that can help with one-time rent payments while you're waiting for regular benefits to resume. Thanks for sharing your experience Oliver - these real-world timelines are so much more valuable than the generic "3-5 business days" responses we usually get!

This whole thread is super helpful - I'm bookmarking it just in case this ever happens to me. One thing I want to add is that if anyone is dealing with this situation, you should also report the theft to the EBT customer service hotline (1-877-328-9677) in addition to filing the claim at DPSS. They can put a flag on your account and sometimes catch additional fraudulent transactions that you might not have noticed yet. I learned this from a friend who works at a nonprofit that helps people with benefits issues. They said scammers often test small amounts first before doing the big theft, so there might be other transactions you didn't catch. Also, consider signing up for text alerts on your EBT account so you get notified immediately when money is spent - that way you can catch theft faster next time.

I'm new to CalWORKs and this is honestly terrifying to read about. I had no idea benefit theft was even a thing! Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences and advice - especially about transferring money immediately when it hits the card and setting up text alerts. I'm definitely going to be way more careful now. For those who got reimbursed, did you notice any patterns in when or how your cards got compromised? Like was it from using ATMs, making purchases at certain stores, or online transactions? Trying to figure out how to protect myself better.

I'm going through this exact situation right now too! Just had my nephew added to my case last week and I've been constantly checking BenefitsCal with no updates showing. Reading everyone's responses here has been so reassuring - I had no idea the payment system and online portal were completely separate! My caseworker also told me everything was processed but seeing the same old household info on the website was making me panic. Now I understand it's just a viewing portal that updates way later. I'm going to stop refreshing it every hour and just wait for my Notice of Action to arrive in the mail. Has anyone here ever had an issue where the NOA didn't come within the 10 days? Just wondering if I should be concerned if it takes longer than that to show up.

I'm dealing with this same frustrating situation right now! Added my daughter to my CalWORKs case about 10 days ago after she moved in with me permanently, and BenefitsCal still shows the old household composition. My caseworker assured me everything was processed on their end, but seeing no changes on the portal was really stressing me out. Reading all these responses has been incredibly helpful - I had no idea that the eligibility system (CalSAWS) and BenefitsCal portal were separate systems that sync on different schedules! That explains why so many of us have experienced this same delay. I was starting to think there was an error with my case. I'm going to follow the advice here and call the EBT customer service line before my next payment date to verify the correct amount will be deposited. Also keeping an eye out for that Notice of Action in the mail since that seems to be the most reliable confirmation. It's such a relief to know this 1-2 week delay is completely normal and doesn't mean anything went wrong with the case processing!