CalWorks
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Can I submit a picture of my SAR 7 form through BenefitsCal instead of mailing it?
I've got my SAR 7 form all filled out and ready to go, but I really don't want to mail it or drive to the county office. Has anyone successfully submitted their SAR 7 by just taking a picture of it and uploading it to BenefitsCal? The website says something about document uploads but I'm not sure if they actually accept the SAR 7 this way. My reporting month is February and it's due by March 5th, so I need to figure this out pretty quick. Would hate to get my Cash Aid cut off because I submitted it the wrong way!
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Will CalWORKs benefits arrive on time if SAR 7 was just processed? Need cash for son's birthday & broken fridge
I finally got my SAR 7 processed after calling the county office a million times over the past week. The worker said everything was completed yesterday, but my BenefitsCal account hasn't shown 'pending' status at all. I'm supposed to get my Cash Aid this Saturday (the 6th) but I'm freaking out because it's my son's birthday and our refrigerator just died completely. I need that money ON TIME. If the worker said it's processed but the system doesn't show 'pending,' will my benefits still be loaded on my card by Saturday? Has anyone been through something similar? This is the first time I've cut it this close with submitting my SAR 7 and I'm really nervous.
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That's great news! Thanks for updating the thread - it's helpful for others to see these situations resolved. For future reference, try to submit your SAR 7 by the 5th of your SAR month (even though technically due by the 11th) to avoid this stress next time. The earlier you submit, the more time there is to fix any issues.
This is such a relief to read your update! I'm actually going through something similar right now - my SAR 7 got processed last week but I'm still worried about my payment coming through on time. Your post gave me hope that even when the BenefitsCal system doesn't update properly, the benefits can still arrive as scheduled. Definitely going to use that EBT phone tip to check Friday night. So happy your son got his birthday celebration! The stress of waiting for benefits when you have urgent needs is absolutely awful, but it sounds like you handled it perfectly.
CalWORKs money suddenly appeared on my EBT card after being inactive - can I use it?
I'm kinda freaking out right now because something weird just happened with my benefits. I applied for CalFresh about 3 weeks ago and got approved (yay!), but I never reapplied for CalWORKs which has been inactive for like 8 months now. Today I checked my EBT balance and was shocked to see not only my $500 CalFresh benefits loaded but also $134 showing up under 'cash benefits'! I'm super confused because I didn't apply for Cash Aid at all. Is this some kind of mistake? Can I actually spend this cash amount, or will I get in trouble later? Also, how do I even use the cash part - is it the same EBT card but just selecting 'cash' instead of 'food' at the store? I don't want to touch it if it's an error and then owe the county money later.
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my cousin works for DPSS and she says they auto-enroll ppl all the time now bc so many families weren't applying for all the benefits they qualify for. u probably got evaluated during ur calfresh app and they just didnt explain it well
That makes sense. They've been trying to streamline the process for families, especially those with children. The system is supposed to maximize benefits automatically when possible, though they really should communicate this better.
If you do confirm this is legitimate CalWORKs money intended for you, make sure you understand all the requirements that come with it. Cash Aid has Welfare to Work (WTW) participation requirements unless you qualify for an exemption. You'll also need to complete a Semi-Annual Report (SAR7) every six months and report certain income changes when they happen. The rules are different than CalFresh, so make sure you understand your reporting responsibilities to avoid any future problems.
I didn't even think about WTW requirements! That's really important to know. Last time I was on CalWORKs I had to do job search hours every week. I'm working part-time now, would that count toward the WTW hours?
Yes, your part-time work would typically count toward WTW hours! The number of hours depends on your specific situation and family size. With 2 kids, you might need 30 hours per week total, and your job hours usually count first. Any remaining hours could be fulfilled through other activities like education, training, or additional job search. But definitely confirm this with your worker since everyone's situation is different and there might be exemptions you qualify for.
How to avoid ATM fees when withdrawing CalWORKs Cash Aid?
Hi everyone, I just started receiving CalWORKs Cash Aid last month and I'm trying to figure out how to avoid those annoying ATM fees. Every time I withdraw money I get charged $3-4 in fees, which really adds up! I'm a single mom with 2 kids and honestly can't afford to lose that money every month. Are there specific ATMs that don't charge fees for EBT cards? Or any tricks to get cash without paying these fees? My friend mentioned something about cash back at stores but I'm not sure how that works with the EBT card. Any advice would be super helpful!
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Just a reminder that you can also check your balance before withdrawing money by calling the number on the back of your EBT card or checking online at www.ebt.ca.gov. This helps avoid trying to withdraw more than you have (which can sometimes result in fees) and helps you keep track of your benefits throughout the month. To summarize the best no-fee options for getting cash from your CalWORKs EBT card: 1. Bank of America ATMs 2. Cash back at grocery stores, dollar stores, and retailers 3. ATMs at county welfare offices 4. Some credit union ATMs (check first) Hope this helps you avoid those unnecessary fees going forward!
This is super helpful! I'm going to save all these tips. I didn't realize how many options there were to avoid fees. Thank you everyone for your help - this will save me a lot of money over time!
Another tip that's helped me a lot - if you have a smartphone, download the EBT Edge app. It shows you your balance and transaction history, but more importantly it has a map feature that shows you nearby ATMs that don't charge fees for EBT cards. Super convenient when you're out and about and need to find a fee-free option quickly. I've saved probably $40-50 in fees over the past few months just by using this app to locate Bank of America ATMs or stores that do cash back. The app is free and works way better than trying to remember all the different places or calling the number on your card every time.
Will CalWORKs close my case immediately if I request to end benefits, or will I still get March Cash Aid?
I just told my CalWORKs worker yesterday that I want to close my case because I got a new job starting next week. She said she'd process my request, but didn't really explain the timeline. Does anyone know how fast they actually close cases when you ask them to? Since it's already past the 10th of the month, will I still get my Cash Aid and CalFresh benefits for March, or will they cut them off immediately? I'm starting my job on the 20th and was kind of counting on having those benefits until then. Just trying to figure out my budget situation for the rest of the month.
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Update: I called today and finally got through to someone who confirmed they'll process my case closure effective April 1st, so I will still get March benefits! They also said my Medi-Cal will continue under the Transitional program for at least 6 months. Thanks everyone for the help!
awesome!!! glad it worked out, good luck with the new job!
That's great news! So happy everything worked out for you. Just wanted to add for anyone else reading this - make sure to keep all your paperwork from when you close your case. I had to prove my case was properly closed about 8 months later when they tried to say I had an overpayment that never existed. Having that documentation saved me a huge headache! Best of luck with your new job!
Ella Russell
my worker told me its better to upload SAR 7 than mail it cuz they can see it faster. but ya gotta call to make sure they actually look at it lol. the system is so broken i swear
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Victoria Scott
This is true! Uploading is processed faster IF they actually see it. The problem is some workers don't check their document queues regularly. That's why calling to confirm is so important.
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Nia Thompson
I've uploaded my SAR 7 through BenefitsCal several times now and it works great! Just make sure to do it a few days before your deadline in case there are any issues. I learned the hard way that if you upload it the day before it's due and there's a problem, you might not have time to fix it. Also, if you have any doubts about the picture quality, take multiple shots and upload the clearest one. Better safe than sorry when it comes to keeping your benefits active!
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