Just a heads up, since ur SAR7 was for Nov-April benefit period, don't 4get that December is also when they add the special needs winter clothing allowance for families with kids in colder counties! So ur Dec payment might be even more than what the worker told you if u have children on ur case and live in one of those counties. I always forget about this until it shows up!

Did you also report the income change on your CalFresh (food stamps)? Just making sure because sometimes people forget that CalWORKs and CalFresh are separate even though they're on the same EBT card. Your CalFresh should also increase with the lower income, but that might be on a different schedule than your cash aid.

Based on your responses, this sounds like it might be a supportive service payment related to your Welfare to Work participation. San Bernardino County often provides transportation allowances, ancillary payments (for things like books, supplies, or uniforms), and sometimes retroactive childcare stipends to WTW participants. These are separate from your regular Cash Aid amount. However, the only way to know for sure is to contact your worker. When you call, specifically ask if it's: 1. A WTW supportive service payment 2. The diaper benefit for your 2-year-old ($30/month per eligible child) 3. A retroactive adjustment Also request that they document in your case notes that you called to inquire about the payment. This protects you in case they later claim it was an overpayment.

UPDATE: Finally got through to my worker! It WAS the transportation allowance for my WTW activities plus they owed me a diaper stipend for my 2-year-old that hadn't been processed correctly. She said I should have gotten a notice about it but it must have gotten lost in the mail. She's sending me a new one. Thanks everyone for the help!!

Thank you everyone for the really helpful advice. I feel so much better knowing there's an official exemption process for situations like mine. I'm going to apply online tonight and make sure to check the box about safety concerns. I'll definitely ask specifically for the CW 51 form during my interview and be upfront about my fears. I really appreciate knowing I can still get help without putting myself and my kids at risk.

yea they do make u give the info BUT u can get exempt. my worker told me i had to have police report for exemption tho, maybe try getting one if u can? even if its just to document his threats for ur protection

You need to call them immediately. There's a specific procedure for missed interviews. If you call today, they should be able to conduct the interview over the phone right then. Make sure you have all your verification documents ready (ID, income proof, rent/utilities, etc.). If you're using the new BenefitsCal portal, you can also send a secure message through there explaining that you were waiting for their call but didn't receive one. Upload any verification documents they need while you're at it. If you don't make contact with them within 10 days of the missed interview, they can deny your recertification for "failure to complete interview" and you'd have to start the application process all over again. Don't wait!

this happens all the time with my worker too. sometimes the call comes in like 2 hours later so maybe keep waiting?? once they called me at 4pm for a 9am appointment lol

Just to add one more important detail - make sure you report your child's 3rd birthday on your next SAR7 or recertification after they turn 3. The diaper benefit stops once they hit 36 months, and if you don't report the age change, they might count it as an overpayment that you have to pay back! Happened to my sister and she ended up owing like $90 because she didn't realize she needed to report it.

Oh that's good to know! My son turns 3 in about 6 months so I'll make sure to report it. I definitely don't want to deal with an overpayment situation.

when my worker finally called me back after like a month of trying to reach her she said theyre moving to a new system or upgrading something big thats why theres so many outages lately

Update: I finally got through on the phone today after using that Claimyr service someone mentioned. My worker confirmed the system is down until Monday morning. She said I can email my documents directly to her as an alternative (didn't even know that was possible!). For anyone else panicking about deadlines, definitely try to reach your worker directly instead of relying on the app right now.

One time I had this problem and it was because my address didn't match what they had on file. I had moved but forgot to update my address with CalWORKs (even though I updated it for CalFresh). For some reason they put a hold on my cash benefits but not food. did u move recently??

Following up on this thread - there's another thing to check: have you hit your Increased Income Report Threshold (IRT)? If you earned income over your IRT amount (even for one month) and didn't report it within 10 days, they sometimes place a hold on your cash aid while still showing it as available. This is especially common if they received employment verification from the EDD system. Also, did you try the cash back method at a store that others suggested? That's a good workaround while you get this resolved.

Here's what they don't tell you: after a second theft, request that your case be flagged for "Immediate Need" processing. This puts your replacement claim on a 3-day processing timeline instead of the standard 30 days. You'll need to explain that you're at risk of homelessness without the funds (if that's true). Also, when you get your benefits back, IMMEDIATELY transfer them to a bank account. The EBT cards have terrible security, and thieves are specifically targeting CalWORKs recipients right now.

Just to update you on replacement timeframes - the first theft claim can take up to 90 days (though they're usually faster), but second theft claims are prioritized IF you report within 3 days of discovering it. Make sure you explicitly tell them "this is my second benefit theft" when you file the report. Also, ask about emergency assistance while you wait for the replacement. Some counties will issue a small portion of your benefits as an emergency payment while the claim is processed, especially if you have rent due.

Thanks everyone for the helpful advice! I went to Bank of America this morning and was able to withdraw all my Cash Aid with no problems. The teller was actually really nice and didn't charge any fees. Made sure to specifically ask for withdrawal from my CASH account like someone suggested. This is definitely what I'll be doing from now on instead of dealing with ATM problems!

Awesome! Glad it worked out for you. It's definitely the way to go especially if you need your full amount at once.

YEA THTS RIGHT they HAVE TO send reminders!!! My neighbor got discontinued once and appealed it cuz she didn't get the notice and they had to reinstate her benefits AND give her back pay!! Save any mail you get from them now as proof!!!

UPDATE: I finally got through to someone at the county office! They confirmed they received my SAR7 and said that since I submitted it before the end of the month, my benefits won't be discontinued. The worker did say that my payment might be a couple days late next month because of the late submission, but at least I'm not losing my benefits entirely. She also made a note in my file that I didn't receive the reminder notice in the mail. Thanks everyone for your help and advice - this group is seriously a lifesaver!!