You mentioned being $87 over the income limit for CalFresh. Just want to check - did they apply all possible deductions? Make sure they counted your housing costs (rent/mortgage, utilities), childcare expenses, and any medical expenses for elderly or disabled household members if applicable. Sometimes eligibility workers miss these deductions, especially if you didn't provide detailed information about your expenses on the application.

I went through something very similar when I was pregnant with my second child! Here's what I learned: You can absolutely apply for CalWORKs now while pregnant - don't wait. The Pregnant Woman Only program starts benefits in your third trimester, and since you're due in 2 months, you should qualify right away. For CalFresh, with those deductions others mentioned ($1850 rent + utilities + $600 childcare), you should definitely appeal that denial or ask for a recalculation. That's over $2400 in monthly deductions which should bring your net income way below the limit for a family of 3. Also, once you're approved for CalWORKs, you'll automatically get CalFresh too since the income limits work differently when you're receiving cash aid. So applying for CalWORKs might actually solve both problems! Make sure to specifically mention you want to apply for the "Pregnant Woman Only CalWORKs program" when you contact them.

Thanks everyone for all your help! I was finally able to reach my worker today and file the paperwork for the stolen benefits. She confirmed I can get my Cash Aid through direct deposit (thanks for the form name @helpful_person!) but CalFresh has to stay on EBT. I'm filling out the direct deposit form today and also filed a police report. Fingers crossed I get the stolen money back soon, but at least I know how to prevent this from happening again!

I'm so sorry this happened to you! EBT theft is unfortunately way too common. I just wanted to add that when you do switch to direct deposit for your Cash Aid, keep your EBT card in a safe place at home as a backup - sometimes there can be delays with direct deposits and having the card as a fallback can be helpful. Also, once you get your replacement benefits, consider splitting them between your bank account (Cash Aid) and keeping just a small amount on the EBT card for emergencies. Stay strong mama, you're doing everything right by being proactive about this!

This exact same thing happened to me last month after Presidents Day! My deposit was almost 8 hours late and I was so stressed because I had my car payment due. It's frustrating that they don't give us any heads up about potential delays during holidays. I've started setting aside $20-30 when I can just for situations like this, but I know how hard that is when every dollar is already spoken for. Really glad everyone's payments are starting to come through - the waiting is always the worst part!

This whole thread has been so helpful! I'm new to CalWORKs (just got approved last month) and had no idea that holiday delays were a normal thing. When my deposit didn't show up this morning I thought maybe my case got closed or something went wrong with my paperwork. Reading everyone's experiences really put my mind at ease. I'll definitely keep that Claimyr service in mind for future issues - sounds way better than sitting on hold for hours. And good to know about the emergency payment option too, though hopefully I'll never need it. Thanks everyone for sharing your knowledge and helping us newcomers understand how this all works!

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!

Just wanted to add that if you're having trouble with the automated phone system, sometimes it helps to speak more slowly and clearly when entering your PIN. The voice recognition system can be finicky, especially if there's background noise. Also, make sure you're calling from a quiet place and using a landline if possible - cell phone audio quality can sometimes cause issues with automated systems. I had this same problem and it turned out I was speaking too fast when prompted to enter my new PIN. Once I slowed down, it worked perfectly. Hope this helps!

I had this exact same frustration a few months ago! The automated system kept failing for me too. What finally worked was going to my local county office during their walk-in hours. They have a little EBT machine right there at the front desk where you can change your PIN immediately - no appointment needed. The whole process took maybe 10 minutes. Just bring your ID and your EBT card. Most offices have these machines now specifically because so many people have trouble with the phone system. You can also ask the front desk staff to help you if you're not sure how to use the machine. Way less stressful than dealing with that automated phone system!