This whole thread is so helpful! I've been on CalWORKs for about 4 months and I had the exact same confusion. Last week I desperately needed money for groceries and tried my card around 11:30 PM on my deposit day - nothing. Then I tried again at 12:05 AM and boom, there it was! I thought it was some kind of system glitch or that maybe I had gotten lucky. It's such a relief to know this is actually how it's supposed to work and that I don't need to worry about any overpayment issues. I really wish they would include this kind of practical information in the welcome packet or during the eligibility interview. Knowing that both CalWORKs and CalFresh follow the same midnight schedule is going to make budgeting and bill paying so much easier. Thanks for asking what we were all wondering!

Welcome to everyone who's new to CalWORKs! This thread really highlights how much the system could improve in terms of basic communication. I've been receiving benefits for over a year and I still learn new things from this community regularly. One tip I'd add - if you're ever unsure about your specific deposit date or need to verify when your benefits will be available, you can check your balance and transaction history 24/7 by calling the EBT customer service line on the back of your Golden State Advantage card, or by creating an account on the ebtEDGE mobile app. Both are much faster than trying to reach your county worker directly. Also, keep in mind that while the midnight availability is standard, it's always smart to have a small buffer when possible since occasionally there can be system maintenance or technical delays that might push availability to early morning hours instead.

Just wanted to update everyone - I was finally able to report my job change! I couldn't get the BenefitsCal site to work (kept getting errors), so I used that Claimyr service someone mentioned and got through to a worker in about 15 minutes. The worker took all my info over the phone and emailed me a Statement of Employment form for my boss to fill out. She said my cash aid will probably decrease next month but not by as much as I thought, and she's sending me childcare paperwork for my increased hours. Thanks everyone for all your help!!

Congrats on getting it resolved, Grace! Your experience really shows how important it is to be persistent when dealing with these systems. For anyone else reading this thread, I'd also recommend keeping copies of everything you submit - take photos of forms before you send them, save confirmation numbers, and keep notes with dates of who you talked to and what they said. One more tip: if your income continues to fluctuate (like if you get overtime or your hours vary), ask your worker about quarterly reporting instead of semi-annual. Some counties allow this for people with unstable income, and it can help prevent overpayments down the road. It's more paperwork but can save you headaches later! Hope the childcare subsidy works out well for you - that extra support can really make a difference when you're transitioning to higher income!

Update: I successfully submitted my SAR 7 online through BenefitsCal! It was actually pretty easy once I got logged in. The system walked me through each section and I was able to upload photos of my paystubs directly from my phone. The whole thing took about 30 minutes. Thanks everyone for your help! I'll definitely be doing this online from now on instead of going to the office.

Just wanted to add - if you're having trouble with the mobile version of BenefitsCal, try using a desktop computer instead. I had issues uploading documents on my phone but it worked perfectly on my laptop. Also, make sure your browser allows pop-ups because the confirmation page sometimes opens in a new window. And if you're still getting paper SAR 7 forms in the mail after doing it online, that's normal - they keep sending them until you complete a few online submissions successfully. The system takes time to "learn" your preference.

I had a similar transfer experience from LA to Orange County about 6 months ago. The "deregistered" status from WTW is actually normal during transfers - it means LA has closed their portion while Riverside picks up your case. Here's what I learned: Go to Riverside DPSS immediately with your case number, recent CalWORKs notices, and proof of address. Ask specifically for the "ICT unit" (Inter-County Transfer). They should be able to see your LA case history in their system even if it shows as closed. For WTW, bring documentation of your certification program - Riverside honored my training hours and let me continue the same program through a local provider. The key is getting there before your next payment cycle starts. Also, call the CalWORKs customer service line at 1-877-847-3663 to document that you're proactively addressing the transfer - this creates a paper trail that can help if there are any delays. Most transfers complete within 10 business days if you stay on top of it.

I just went through this exact situation 3 months ago moving from LA to Riverside with my 3 kids! The "deregistered" WTW status is scary but normal during transfers. Here's what saved me: I went to the Corona DPSS office (since you mentioned you're near Corona) at 7:30 AM before they opened and was first in line. Brought copies of EVERYTHING - old case paperwork, new lease, kids' school enrollment, ID, birth certificates. Asked specifically for the ICT (Inter-County Transfer) unit and they had my case transferred same day. For your certification program, Riverside has partnerships with many LA providers so there's a good chance you can continue. Bring your enrollment papers and progress reports. My cash aid continued without interruption because I acted fast. One tip: download the BenefitsCal app if you haven't already - it helped me track my case status during the transfer. Don't wait for them to contact you, go tomorrow morning! Also keep calling LA County to make sure they've properly closed your case on their end.

Ugh, I'm so sorry you're dealing with this but honestly not surprised at all. I've been on CalWORKs for about a year now and the missed appointment thing seems to be their favorite trick. What worked for me was actually showing up at the office unannounced right after they "missed" my phone appointment. I walked in with my phone showing no missed calls and asked to speak with whoever was supposed to call me. Turns out my worker had marked me as a no-show without even attempting to call! The supervisor made them call me right then and there to complete my interview. It's absolutely ridiculous that we have to do detective work just to get the services we're entitled to, but sometimes showing up in person is the only way to get results. Don't let them gaslight you into thinking this is your fault - keep all your documentation and make them prove they actually tried to reach you!

This is absolutely infuriating and unfortunately way too common! I had almost the exact same experience with my worker missing TWO phone appointments and then sending me failure to cooperate notices. What finally worked for me was going in person with a folder of evidence - printed screenshots of my appointment confirmations, my phone's call log showing no incoming calls during those times, and copies of their missed appointment letters. I asked specifically to speak with the CalWORKs Program Manager (not just a supervisor) and explained that this was a pattern of county error, not client noncompliance. The Program Manager was actually shocked at the documentation and immediately reassigned me to a different worker who has been much more reliable. She also made sure my case file was noted with "county error" so my benefits wouldn't be affected. It took about 3 hours out of my day but was totally worth it to get competent service. Don't let them make you feel like this is your fault - bring evidence, ask for the highest level manager available, and use the specific phrase "county error" when you explain what happened. You've got this!