Did anyone here actually know that income limits are supposed to be on your Notice of Action letters? I just discovered this after 3 years on CalWORKs! Check your paperwork from when you were last approved - there should be a section that says what your specific IRT is. Mine was buried on page 4 of a 6-page notice!

This thread has been so helpful! As someone new to the CalWORKs system with a family of 4, I'm learning so much about income limits and reporting requirements. @Ravi Choudhury I'm glad you found your specific IRT in your paperwork - that's such a relief when you're worried about going over the limit! One thing I wanted to add for anyone else reading this: if you're having trouble understanding your Notice of Action letters, many counties have CalWORKs advocates or community organizations that can help you interpret the paperwork for free. I found one through my local library's resource center. They walked me through every page of my benefits letter and explained what all the different numbers meant. Also, for those mentioning overpayments - if you do end up with one, you can usually request a hearing to dispute it or ask for a payment plan. Don't panic if it happens, there are options to work with the county. The system is complicated but there are people who can help navigate it!

It sounds like you did all the right steps so far! Based on recent cases I've heard about: - CalFresh replacement: Usually 3-10 days - Cash Aid replacement: Usually 10-14 days, but can take up to 30 days Since the theft just happened last week, give them a few more days before panicking. But definitely follow up! The squeaky wheel gets the grease with CalWORKs issues. ALSO - one important thing to know: There's a limit to how many theft claims they'll approve in a 12-month period. I believe it's usually 2 theft replacements max per year for Cash Aid, so be extra careful with your new card when it arrives.

I'm so sorry this happened to you! I've been through CalWORKs benefit theft twice and it's absolutely terrifying when you have kids to feed and bills due. From my experience, here's the realistic timeline: - CalFresh: 5-7 days (they're pretty good about this) - Cash Aid: 10-21 days (despite what they tell you about "processing it") DEFINITELY go ask about emergency assistance/immediate need payment ASAP! They can give you a portion of your benefits (usually around $200-400) while your claim processes, but you have to specifically ask for it and emphasize that you have children with immediate needs. Pro tip: When you call to follow up (and you'll need to call A LOT), always ask for the claim status AND ask if there's anything additional they need from you. Sometimes they're waiting for one tiny piece of paperwork but won't tell you unless you ask directly. Also, once you get your replacement benefits, seriously consider setting up direct deposit for the Cash Aid portion. I did this after my second theft and it's been a game changer - no more worrying about someone stealing my card. Keep pushing and don't let them brush you off. Your kids need to eat and you deserve to get your stolen benefits back quickly!

Hey! I went through something really similar last year with CalFresh overpayment collections. Those letters are super scary but they're mostly automated - the collection system and benefits system don't talk to each other at all. One thing that really helped me was keeping a simple spreadsheet tracking my EBT statements each month to make sure the $60 reduction was actually happening. Screenshot your benefit amount before and after each month if you can. Also, if you reported your income through BenefitsCal, there should be a timestamp on your submission. You might be able to log in and check your message history to see the exact date you reported. If it was within 10 days like the rules require, definitely fight the overpayment amount. The letters will probably keep coming for a few more months unfortunately, but as long as your benefits are being reduced each month you're doing everything right. Just keep all the paperwork together in case you need it later!

I'm dealing with something very similar right now! Got my first collection letter last week even though they've been reducing my CalFresh by $45/month since December. It's such a relief to read all these responses and know this is normal (even if it's frustrating). One thing I learned from calling the county's main number is that you can request a "payment history statement" that shows all the benefit reductions they've taken so far. They told me to send a written request with my case number and they'll mail it back within 10 business days. Might be worth trying since phone calls aren't working. Also wanted to mention - if you're getting collection letters that mention both CalWORKs and CalFresh like some people mentioned, definitely double-check that with someone. My cousin had an issue where they were accidentally collecting for the wrong program and it took months to sort out. Stay strong - sounds like you're doing everything right! The system is just really bad at communicating between departments.

UPDATE: Had my interview this morning and it went way better than expected! The worker was actually really nice and didn't lecture me about missing the SAR7 before. She just reminded me about reporting deadlines and the Income Reporting Threshold (which I guess is higher now in 2025?). She said since I'm already working, I still need to attend WTW orientation but it can be done online now. The only issue is they need verification of my kids' school enrollment and my landlord needs to fill out a housing form. They said I should get a notice within 7-10 days. Thanks everyone for your help! I feel so much more prepared than I was yesterday.

Congratulations on getting through your interview! That's such a relief when it goes better than expected. Quick tip about the housing form - make sure your landlord fills it out completely and signs it. I had to get mine redone twice because my landlord left some sections blank the first time. Also, for the school enrollment verification, you can usually get that same day from the school office or sometimes even print it from the parent portal online if your school district has one. Getting those documents in quickly will definitely help speed up your approval!

So glad to hear it worked out! This is exactly why I love this community - we all help each other navigate these confusing systems. For anyone else reading this thread who might need CalWORKs payment history in the future, here's the key takeaways: 1) Call EBT customer service (1-877-328-9677) early morning when they open, 2) Ask specifically for "CalWORKs Benefit Issuance History" for your exact date range, 3) Request email delivery if you have an email on file with your county, and 4) Have your EBT card number and last 4 SSN digits ready. Bank statements showing the deposits can also work as backup documentation. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this thread will definitely help others facing the same urgent housing recertification deadlines!

As a newer member here, I just want to say how amazing this community is! Reading through this thread really shows how we support each other through these bureaucratic nightmares. I've bookmarked this for future reference since I'm sure I'll need CalWORKs payment records at some point too. The fact that you all not only helped solve the urgent problem but also took time to summarize the best approaches for others is exactly what makes this space so valuable. It's intimidating dealing with county offices and EBT systems when you're new to it all, but seeing how knowledgeable and helpful everyone is here gives me confidence that I'll be able to get help when I need it. Thank you for creating such a supportive environment!