Just wanted to update everyone - I finally got through to my worker yesterday! Turns out they were missing verification for my new job hours even though I uploaded the documents. They said sometimes attachments don't go through properly on BenefitsCal. I re-submitted everything and they confirmed my benefits will continue. Thanks for all the advice!

So glad you got it resolved! This is exactly why I always recommend following up within a week of submitting your SAR7. The BenefitsCal system can be glitchy with document uploads - I've learned to always check that "Documents" section after uploading to make sure everything actually went through. It's frustrating that we have to do extra work to make sure their system works properly, but at least now you know for next time. Thanks for updating us with the outcome!

Congratulations on your baby girl! 🎉 You've gotten some great advice here already. I wanted to add that you should definitely keep copies of everything you submit - both online and any paperwork you drop off or mail in. I've had the county "lose" my documents before and having my own copies saved me a lot of headaches. Also, since you mentioned your worker is hard to reach, try calling first thing in the morning right when they open (usually 8am) or right after lunch around 1pm. Those seem to be the best times to actually get through to someone instead of just leaving another voicemail that won't get returned. One last thing - if you're breastfeeding, make sure to mention that when you talk to them. There might be additional food benefits or resources available for nursing moms that they don't always tell you about unless you ask specifically. Wishing you and your little one all the best! The first few months are tough but you're doing great by staying on top of getting her added to your case. 💕

Congrats on your baby girl! 💕 I just wanted to add that when you do get through to report the birth, make sure to ask about getting your newborn added to your Medi-Cal too if she isn't already. Sometimes they handle CalWORKs and Medi-Cal separately and you don't want any gaps in her healthcare coverage. Also, since you have a 3-year-old already, you might want to ask about the CalFresh (food stamps) increase too when you report the birth. Adding another family member should bump up your food benefits as well, not just the cash aid. The hospital social worker might also be able to help you navigate some of this if your county worker is being unresponsive. They usually have direct lines to the eligibility workers and can sometimes get things moving faster. Hang in there mama - the bureaucracy is frustrating but you'll get through it! ❤️

I'm going through something similar right now with my recertification! Mine has been showing "under review" for 3 weeks now with no updates. Reading through all these comments, it sounds like the BenefitsCal system has a lot of technical issues that aren't communicated well to us. Miguel, I'm so relieved you got yours resolved - that Claimyr service sounds like a lifesaver! I'm definitely going to try that if my case doesn't get updated soon. It's really frustrating that we have to jump through so many hoops and use third-party services just to get basic information about our own cases. The stress of potentially losing benefits while trying to support our families is unbearable. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and tips - this community is so helpful when the system fails us.

This whole thread is so eye-opening and frustrating at the same time! I'm a single mom of 2 and just reading about all these system glitches and lack of communication from the county offices makes me anxious about my own upcoming recert next month. It's honestly ridiculous that families have to rely on third-party services like Claimyr or go through so much stress just to get basic information about their cases. @f791cdc18483 Miguel, I'm so glad you finally got through and it was just a technical issue with your son's school verification! That must have been such a relief. It's crazy that they don't have a system to automatically notify us when documents don't upload properly. @da395ad0139a Dylan, thank you for those practical tips - I'm definitely going to screenshot everything when I do my recert and write down all my call attempts. The supervisor tip is something I never would have thought of. This community is honestly more helpful than the actual CalWORKs system sometimes. At least here we can get real answers and support from people who actually understand what we're going through!

So glad you got it sorted out! This is exactly why going in person is usually the best option when there are issues like this. The address mix-up is super common - I've seen it happen with "Street" vs "St.", apartment numbers being wrong, or zip codes getting transposed. The county workers can fix these issues immediately when you're there in person, but it's nearly impossible to resolve over the phone. Your experience will definitely help other people who run into the same problem!

This is such a valuable thread for anyone dealing with EBT card issues! As someone who's been through the CalWORKs system, I can confirm that address errors are incredibly common - even tiny differences like "Ave" vs "Avenue" or missing apartment numbers can cause cards to get returned to sender. The key things that worked for me and others I know: 1) Always go in person when possible - phone calls rarely resolve these issues quickly, 2) Use the specific terms like "immediate need" and "emergency issuance" that Niko mentioned, and 3) Bring ALL your paperwork including your approval notice and ID. Don't be discouraged if the first person you talk to can't help - sometimes you need to ask for a supervisor. The system has problems but there ARE solutions when you know what to ask for!

Hey Isaiah! I'm also pretty new to CalWORKs and had the exact same confusion when I first got my EBT card. Everyone here has given you amazing advice! Just wanted to add that when I was figuring this out, I found it helpful to think of your EBT card like having two separate accounts on one card - the CalFresh side is like a gift card that only works for food, and the CalWORKs side is like a regular checking account with actual cash you can use for anything. One thing that really helped me was doing a small test withdrawal first (like $20) just to make sure I understood how to use the ATM correctly before withdrawing a larger amount for bills. Also, keep your receipts! They show your remaining balance for both benefits, which is super handy for budgeting. You've got this - paying that electric bill with your cash aid is totally the right move!

Hey Isaiah! I just wanted to add something that might help you and others who are new to this - when you go to withdraw your CalWORKs cash aid, make sure you have your PIN memorized and not written down anywhere on or near your card. I learned this the hard way when I first started using my EBT card and had my PIN on a sticky note in my wallet. Also, if you're ever at an ATM and it seems like it's not working or giving you error messages, try a different ATM before panicking. Sometimes the machines just have connectivity issues, especially at smaller locations. I've had this happen a couple times and thought my benefits were frozen, but it was just the ATM. One more thing - once you get comfortable with withdrawing cash, you might want to look into which grocery stores and pharmacies near you offer cash back with EBT purchases. It can be really convenient when you need smaller amounts and don't want to make a special trip to an ATM. Good luck with everything!