I'm so sorry you went through this stress, but I'm really glad you got it resolved! This thread has been incredibly helpful - I had no idea about services like Claimyr or that you could request emergency payments for situations like this. I've been on CalWORKs for about a year now and thankfully haven't had my benefits disappear yet, but after reading everyone's experiences here, I'm definitely going to be more proactive. I'm going to start checking my balance a few days before my payment date instead of just assuming it'll be there, and I'm signing up for those BenefitsCal alerts that Sarah mentioned. Also planning to document everything like Ethan suggested - take screenshots of my case status and benefit amounts each month just in case. It's really unfortunate that we have to be so vigilant and prepared for their system to fail us, but I'm grateful for communities like this where we can share knowledge and support each other. Thank you to everyone who shared practical solutions - you probably helped a lot of people who are reading this and dealing with similar issues!

This happened to me about 6 months ago and it was absolutely terrifying! I'm so glad you got it resolved with that Claimyr service - I wish I had known about that when I was going through it. I ended up having to go to the county office in person (which took a whole day with my kids) and even then it took them 3 days to fix the "system error." One thing I learned from my experience is to always ask for the reference number or case note ID when they tell you they're fixing something. The worker who helped me initially said it would be resolved in 24 hours, but when I called back the next day, there was no record of our conversation! I had to start the whole process over again until I finally got someone who could see the notes in the system. Also, definitely follow through on getting those late fees reimbursed - I didn't know that was an option when it happened to me and ended up eating about $75 in late charges. It's so frustrating that their mistakes end up costing us money we can't afford to lose, but at least there's a process to get it back if you know to ask for it. Thanks for sharing your story and the update - threads like this are so valuable for all of us trying to navigate this system!

Congratulations on your new baby! 🎉 I'm also a CalWORKs recipient and went through this same situation about 8 months ago. I did receive the prorated amount, but like others have mentioned, it came about 5 weeks later and was just added to my regular payment with no explanation. One thing I learned that might help you - when I brought in my baby's birth certificate, I specifically asked my worker to put a note in my case file about when the prorated amount should be processed. She told me it would be "in the next payment cycle" but that was pretty vague. Having that conversation documented helped when I had to call later to ask about it. Also, just a heads up - when the prorated amount does come through, make sure to save some of it if you can because your ongoing monthly amount might be slightly different than what you're expecting due to how they calculate everything. The whole system is confusing but you definitely deserve that prorated amount since you reported right away!

Congratulations on your beautiful new baby! 🍼💕 I just wanted to add my experience to this helpful thread. I had my son 6 months ago and went through the same thing with the prorated benefits. Like many others here, I did receive the prorated amount but it was definitely confusing and took longer than expected. What I found helpful was calling the CalWORKs customer service line about 3 weeks after my appointment to check on the status. The representative was able to see in the system that the prorated amount was "pending" and gave me a rough timeframe. It ended up coming through about a week after that call, added to my regular monthly payment. One thing I wish someone had told me - take a screenshot or photo of your EBT balance before and after each payment so you can track what you received. When the prorated amount came through mixed with my regular payment, I almost missed it because I wasn't paying close attention to the exact amounts. You're absolutely entitled to that prorated amount since you reported right away, so don't let anyone tell you otherwise. This community has been such a great resource for navigating all the CalWORKs quirks. Wishing you and your little one all the best! 💙

Just wanted to add my experience here! I went through this same panic last year when I got my refund right before my renewal. I called my county office and they confirmed what everyone is saying - tax refunds are completely exempt and don't need to be reported. What really helped me was actually reading the CalWORKs handbook section on exempt income. It's all spelled out there if you want to see it in writing. The exemption covers ALL types of tax refunds - regular refunds, EITC, Child Tax Credit, everything. One tip: if you're still worried, you can always ask your worker to note in your case file that you asked about this and they confirmed refunds are exempt. That way there's documentation if any questions come up later. But honestly, this is such a standard rule that most workers know it by heart. Don't stress about it - file your taxes when you're ready and use that refund for whatever you need!

I'm so glad you asked this question because I was literally in the same boat last year! I was getting my first big tax refund with the Child Tax Credit and was terrified it would mess up my benefits. Just to echo what everyone else is saying - you are 100% safe. Tax refunds are completely exempt from CalWORKs income calculations. I ended up getting almost $5,000 back and it didn't affect my benefits at all. My worker actually rolled her eyes a little when I asked about it because apparently this is one of the most common questions they get during tax season! The key thing that gave me peace of mind was learning that the exemption isn't just some loophole - it's specifically written into the program rules because lawmakers recognize that tax refunds are basically your own money being returned to you, not new income. Don't let the stress of this keep you from filing your taxes on time. File when you're ready, use that money for whatever you and your kids need, and don't worry about your CalWORKs renewal. The two things are completely separate!

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!

This is so frustrating and I totally understand your panic! I went through something similar about 6 months ago where my cash aid just vanished on payment day. After calling nonstop, I found out there was a "data verification error" on my case that triggered an automatic hold - basically their computer got confused about something in my file even though nothing had actually changed. The worker said it happens more often than people realize, especially after SAR7 submissions when the system tries to cross-reference all your information. What really helped me was calling the state CalWORKs hotline at 1-877-847-3663 in addition to my county office. Sometimes the state reps can see different information or bypass certain holds that county workers can't. Also, if you do get through to someone, specifically ask them to check for any "system-generated flags" on your case - that's the exact language that got my worker to dig deeper and find the issue. I know waiting is terrible when you have bills due, but based on what others are saying about the system-wide issue, it sounds like you're not alone and they should be able to fix this quickly once you reach the right person. Hang in there!

UPDATE: I finally got through to someone at the county office! Used that Claimyr service someone mentioned above and it actually worked. The worker told me they're processing my claim and it should be resolved within 5-7 business days. She also recommended I apply for emergency food assistance through the local food bank which I'm going to do tomorrow. Thanks everyone for your help and advice!

So sorry this happened to you! I work at a local community center and we see this unfortunately way too often. While you're waiting for your benefits to be restored, here are some immediate resources that might help: 1. Contact 211 (dial 2-1-1) for emergency food assistance in your area 2. Check if your local Salvation Army or Catholic Charities has emergency rent assistance programs 3. Many food banks don't require any paperwork and can help immediately 4. Some churches have emergency funds for rent assistance even if you're not a member Also, when you call the county again, specifically mention that you're at risk of homelessness due to this theft - they have special protocols for cases involving housing instability. Document everything and don't give up! You did nothing wrong and they need to fix this quickly.