UPDATE: I finally got through! For anyone else with this problem - my worker said there was a system glitch during SAR7 processing that affected several diaper allowances. She fixed it and I'll get both February and March's diaper money with my April payment. She apologized for not answering my calls - apparently they're super understaffed right now.

So glad you got it resolved! This is exactly why I always tell people to keep calling even when it seems hopeless. The SAR7 system glitches are becoming way too common - I've heard this same story from at least 5 other parents in my area. It's frustrating that we have to chase them down for benefits we're legally entitled to, but at least you're getting the back pay. Thanks for updating us with the resolution!

I've been dealing with CalWORKs for about a year now and I just want to say how grateful I am for communities like this where we can actually get real, practical help from each other. The official channels are so hard to navigate and half the time the county workers don't even seem to know about policy changes themselves. Reading through everyone's responses here taught me more about how the EBT system actually works than anything I ever got from my caseworker. It's really sad that we have to crowdsource basic information about our own benefits, but at least we have each other. For anyone new to CalWORKs reading this - bookmark this thread! The tips about timing, ATM locations, daily limits, and emergency options are gold. And definitely consider setting up those text alerts someone mentioned - I'm going to do that right now.

This whole thread is exactly why I love this community! I've been on CalWORKs for about 3 years and I'm still learning new things from everyone's experiences. The 24-hour hold thing really caught me off guard when it first started - I remember panicking just like you did thinking my benefits were lost or something was wrong with my account. One thing I'd add is that if you use the EBT Edge mobile app, you can set up push notifications that will tell you not just when your benefits are deposited, but also when they're available for withdrawal. It's been a game changer for me because I used to waste time going to ATMs only to find out the money wasn't accessible yet. Also, for anyone dealing with landlords about rent timing - I've found that showing them this kind of documentation about EBT holds actually helps. Most landlords don't understand how the system works, so when you can explain there's an official 24-hour security hold, they're usually more understanding than if you just say "my benefits aren't working." Knowledge is power! So glad you got your rent money sorted out in time! The stress of not being able to access your own money is unreal.

Just want to add something important that I learned the hard way - if you're approved for CalWORKs, make sure you understand the difference between your "cash aid" and your "food stamps" on the same EBT card. I accidentally used my food stamp balance thinking it was cash and got so confused when I couldn't withdraw money at the ATM! The food portion (CalFresh) can ONLY be used for eligible food items, while the cash portion (CalWORKs) works like a debit card for anything. It shows as two separate balances when you check your card. Also, some stores will ask if you want to use "EBT Cash" or "EBT Food" when you swipe - now I know what that means! Sounds obvious but it wasn't to me at first.

As someone who just went through this process a few months ago, I want to emphasize something really important that hasn't been mentioned yet - when you get approved for CalWORKs, they'll assign you to something called a "Welfare-to-Work" (WTW) program. Since you're a student, your school attendance can usually count toward your WTW hours, BUT you need to make sure your eligibility worker understands this from the beginning. I made the mistake of not clarifying this upfront and almost got sanctioned because my worker didn't realize my college classes counted as my work activity. Also, keep detailed records of everything - every form you submit, every conversation you have with your worker, and especially your school attendance. The system can be really unforgiving if there are any gaps in documentation. One more tip: if you ever have issues with your case, don't hesitate to ask to speak with a supervisor. Sometimes the frontline workers aren't fully familiar with student cases, but supervisors usually have more experience with these situations. You've got this!

Hey Bruno, congrats on your new baby! 🎊 This is definitely a processing error - your CalWORKs cash aid should have increased automatically just like your CalFresh did. I had the exact same thing happen when my son was born last year. What likely happened is your worker updated one system but missed the other. It's frustratingly common! Here's what worked for me: call RIGHT at 8am when they open (much better chance of getting through), and if that fails, go to the office in person with your birth certificate and EBT statements showing the CalFresh increase as proof. When you get someone, ask them to verify your CalWORKs household size includes your baby and request they recalculate your grant amount immediately. Also make sure they add the $30/month diaper allowance - it should be automatic but nothing seems to be with these county offices! The silver lining is you should get retroactive payments once it's fixed. In my case, it was almost $250 in backpay that showed up within a week of them correcting the mistake. Don't give up mama - you and your little one deserve every benefit you're entitled to! Keep us posted on how it goes! 💪

Congratulations on your new baby! 🍼 This is definitely not normal and sounds like a processing error. Your CalWORKs cash aid should have automatically increased when you added your newborn, just like your CalFresh did. I'm a caseworker and see this happen unfortunately often - usually what occurs is the worker updates one system but forgets to process the household size change for the other program. Sometimes different staff handle CalFresh vs CalWORKs updates and things fall through the cracks. Here's what you should do: Call first thing at 8am when the office opens for your best chance of getting through. If you can't reach anyone by phone, go to the office in person with your birth certificate and your EBT card/statements showing the CalFresh increase as proof that they partially processed your case. When you speak with someone, specifically ask them to: 1. Verify your CalWORKs household size includes your newborn 2. Recalculate your grant amount based on the correct household size 3. Apply the $30/month diaper allowance (should be automatic for kids under 3) 4. Process any retroactive payments you're owed Don't let them brush you off - this should have been automatic and you deserve the full benefits you're eligible for. The retroactive payments should cover any months they missed since you reported the birth. Keep pushing until it's fixed!

Good news! Just got both my February and March transportation payments today on my EBT card! Check yours if you haven't already - looks like they're fixing the issue now.

I'm so glad I found this thread! I'm also missing my February transportation payment and was starting to panic. I'm in Orange County and my WTW worker finally called me back today after I left multiple messages. She confirmed it's the same system issue affecting multiple counties. She said they're processing the back payments in waves and mine should show up by Friday. In the meantime, she told me to keep all my receipts for any transportation costs I had to pay out of pocket - gas, bus passes, etc. - and they can potentially reimburse those too. It's frustrating but at least now I know it's not just me and there's an actual fix coming. Hang in there everyone!