I'm new to this community but your story really resonates with me because I just went through almost the exact same thing! The misinformation about Emergency Allotments is so frustrating - I was also told by a worker that I should be getting EA payments when they haven't existed for years. It makes you feel like you're going crazy! Based on what you've shared about your expenses ($2,450 rent + utilities + $800 childcare), there's definitely something wrong with your benefit calculation. For context, I have a family of 3 with similar housing costs and we get $400+ monthly, so $40 for your family of 4 seems way off. A few things that might help when you call tomorrow: - Ask specifically if there's a "shelter deduction cap" applied to your case (sometimes they cap this incorrectly) - Make sure they know about ALL your utility expenses (electric, gas, water/sewer, trash, phone) - Confirm they applied the correct standard deduction for your household size The monthly loading issue suggests your case has some kind of "manual review" flag that's preventing automatic issuance. When this happened to me, it turned out there was an old verification requirement that was never properly cleared from my file. You've got great advice from everyone here - definitely push for a supervisor and don't let them dismiss your concerns. Your family deserves the correct benefits and you shouldn't have to fight for them every month!

I'm new to this community but your situation sounds incredibly frustrating and unfortunately all too familiar. I went through something very similar with my CalFresh benefits earlier this year - the constant calling, different information from every worker, and benefits that seemed way too low for my household size. A few things jumped out at me from your post: 1. The Emergency Allotment confusion is sadly common - many workers aren't up to date on the fact that EA ended in February 2023. That worker who told you about getting back payments was completely wrong. 2. Your $40 for a family of 4 with $2,450 rent is definitely incorrect. Even with moderate income, your shelter costs alone should result in much higher benefits. 3. Having to call every month to get benefits loaded suggests there's a system glitch or verification flag stuck on your account. When I had similar issues, what finally worked was calling and specifically asking for an "eligibility review specialist" rather than a regular worker. I also made sure to mention that I needed both a "benefit recalculation due to unreported expenses" AND a "systems review for EBT loading issues." The fact that you applied for both CalWORKs and CalFresh simultaneously might be part of the problem - sometimes those dual applications create ongoing system conflicts even after one program is denied. Don't give up! With your housing and childcare costs, you should be getting significantly more than $40. Document everything when you call and push for a supervisor if needed.

This whole thread is so educational! I'm fairly new to CalWORKs (just got approved 3 months ago) and honestly had no idea about so many of these things. The text alerts, keeping organized document folders, the sworn statement option - wish someone had told me all this when I first applied! I've been living in constant anxiety about doing something wrong and losing my benefits. Reading everyone's experiences here makes me feel way more prepared. Already logged into BenefitsCal to set up those text notifications and bookmarked that Claimyr website. Thanks to everyone for sharing your knowledge - this community is seriously a lifesaver for those of us still figuring everything out!

This is such a valuable thread for everyone! I've been on CalWORKs for about a year and I wish I had known about some of these resources earlier. Just wanted to add that if anyone is having trouble getting through to their county office by phone, you can also try going to the office first thing in the morning (like 8:30am when they open) - you'll usually have better luck getting help in person before they get swamped with calls and walk-ins later in the day. Also, if you ever have to submit the same type of verification multiple times (like rent receipts), ask your caseworker if they can put a note in your file about your housing situation being stable - sometimes this can reduce how often they ask for the same documents. Great job getting everything sorted out @Aisha Mohammed and thanks everyone for all the helpful tips!

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this stress over the holiday weekend - having benefits show as active but not deposit is such a confusing and scary situation. Based on what you've shared about the "Pending Review" status on your verification documents, that's almost certainly what's causing the payment hold, even though it shouldn't work that way. A few immediate suggestions while you wait to reach someone on Tuesday: - Try calling your county's main line and asking specifically if they have any weekend emergency services for benefit issues - some counties have skeleton crews for genuine emergencies - Document everything with screenshots showing your active case status versus the missing payment - Consider reaching out to local mutual aid groups on social media - many communities have networks that help families in exactly this situation over weekends When you do get through on Tuesday, be very clear that you submitted verification before the deadline and ask why benefits were withheld during the review period. That shouldn't happen according to policy. Ask to speak with a supervisor if needed and use the phrase "emergency release of benefits" since you're facing immediate hardship. The fact that your neighbor was able to help and you found weekend food resources shows you're doing everything right to get through this crisis. This sounds like a county processing issue, not anything you did wrong. Hoping your payment posts before those Monday auto-payments hit!

I just went through something very similar last month and want to share what worked for me. When my benefits showed "active" but didn't deposit, it turned out there was a hidden system flag that even the regular customer service reps couldn't see. Here's what I learned: ask specifically for a "case review specialist" when you call Tuesday - they have access to different system screens that show processing holds. Also, if your verification has been pending for 3+ weeks, that's actually beyond their normal processing timeframe and you can request expedited processing due to the delay. One thing that really helped me was calling first thing Tuesday morning (right at 8am) and explaining that I had documented proof my case was active while benefits were improperly withheld. I used the exact phrase "improper benefit delay" and it seemed to trigger them to take it more seriously. Also check if your county has a CalWORKs ombudsman - mine was able to get my payment released same-day when regular channels failed. The number should be on your county's website under "appeals" or "complaints." You're handling this crisis really well by documenting everything and getting help from neighbors/food banks. This is definitely a county processing problem, not anything you did wrong. Sending you strength to get through this weekend!

Hi there! As a newer member of this community, I just wanted to say how amazing it is to see everyone come together to help each other navigate these benefits! I'm a single mom with a 4-year-old and I've been on CalWORKs for about 8 months now. Reading through all these responses brought back memories of how confusing everything was at first. I wish I had known about this community when I started - it would have saved me so much stress and confusion! The information about the diaper benefit is so valuable. Even though my child is past diaper age now, I wish I had known about that extra $30/month when he was younger. It really shows how important it is to ask questions and advocate for ourselves. For anyone reading who might be new like the original poster was - don't be afraid to ask your caseworker about ALL the benefits you might be eligible for. I learned the hard way that they don't always volunteer information about everything available. Also, this community is such a great resource for real-world advice from people who actually understand what we're going through. Thanks to everyone who shared their knowledge and experiences here. It's posts and responses like these that make such a difference for families trying to make ends meet!

Welcome to the community! I'm so glad you found this place and were able to get your questions answered. As someone who's been on CalWORKs for about a year now, I remember feeling just as confused when I first started. Just wanted to add a couple more tips that have helped me along the way: 1. Download the ebtEDGE app if you haven't already - it lets you check your Cash Aid and CalFresh balances without having to call or go online, and it shows nearby ATMs that don't charge fees. 2. Some pharmacies like CVS and Walgreens often have really good sales on diapers, and they accept EBT Cash. I've found some great deals there, especially when they have their store brand diapers on promotion. 3. If you're comfortable with it, consider cloth diapers for at home use - I know it sounds old-fashioned, but the upfront cost with your Cash Aid can actually save money long-term, and you can still use disposables when you're out and about. I'm really happy to see that you got the diaper benefit sorted out! That extra $30 makes such a difference. Don't hesitate to keep asking questions here - this community has been such a lifeline for me, and everyone genuinely wants to help each other succeed. Wishing you and your little one all the best!

I went through this exact situation about 6 months ago in Orange County, so hopefully my experience helps! My first CalWORKs check took exactly 9 business days from approval to arrival in my mailbox. The key thing I learned is that LA County actually processes payments faster than some other counties, so that's good news for your cousin. One tip that really helped me: I signed up for USPS Informed Delivery (it's free) so I could see a photo of my mail each morning before it arrived. That way I knew exactly when to expect the check and didn't have to keep wondering if it got lost or stolen from my mailbox. Also, make sure she keeps her approval letter handy because it has her case number and payment date info that she'll need if she has to call about any issues. The automated phone system that Connor mentioned actually works pretty well - I still use it to check when my payments are issued each month. Good luck to your cousin, I hope everything works out with her rent!

Just want to echo what others have said about checking online - your cousin should definitely log into her BenefitsCal account or try the automated phone line. I'm currently on CalWORKs and I've found that sometimes the online system shows when a payment has been "issued" even before it arrives in the mail, which at least gives you peace of mind that it's coming. Also, since she's in LA County and rent is due soon, I'd suggest she be proactive about contacting her worker if the check doesn't arrive by this Friday. Don't wait until the last minute - if there's any issue with the address or the check got lost, it's better to know sooner rather than later so she has time to request a replacement or ask about that emergency assistance option that Sean mentioned. One more thing - make sure she checks her mailbox at the same time every day. My mail carrier comes at different times but usually within the same 2-hour window, so I learned when to expect mail and it helped reduce the anxiety of constantly checking!