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To clarify: 1. CalWORKs Cash Aid is NOT taxable and NOT reported on your tax return 2. You SHOULD still file taxes to claim refundable credits 3. Child Tax Credit - up to $2,000 per child under 17 4. Any earned income (even small amounts) helps you qualify for EITC 5. WTW counselors focus on employment, not tax advice (though I agree they should mention it) The IRS has a special page about tax benefits for families: https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/individuals/earned-income-tax-credit-eitc And to find free tax preparation sites near you, visit: https://irs.treasury.gov/freetaxprep/ or call 800-906-9887 Don't miss out on these credits - they're specifically designed to help families with children, especially those with lower incomes.
Thank you everyone for all this helpful information! I had no idea I could get this much money back. I found a VITA site near me that opens next month and I'll definitely be going there with all my documentation. This will help so much with getting caught up on bills.
I'm so glad you found all this helpful information! As someone new to the CalWORKs system, I'm learning a lot from this thread too. One thing I wanted to add - when you go to the VITA site, bring any documents you have like your CalWORKs award letter, Social Security cards for you and your kids, and any records of that babysitting income (even if it's just a note you wrote yourself with dates and amounts). Also, I've heard that some VITA sites get really busy during peak tax season, so it might be worth calling ahead to make an appointment or ask about their busiest/slowest times. The fact that you can potentially get thousands back in credits is amazing - that money can really make a difference for families like ours!
That's such great advice about bringing documentation and calling ahead! I'm new to all this too and honestly feeling overwhelmed by everything - CalWORKs, taxes, all these programs I didn't know existed. It's really reassuring to see how supportive this community is. I'm definitely going to bookmark this thread and follow everyone's suggestions. The idea that we could get thousands back is incredible - I've been stressing about money constantly and this could be such a huge help. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and knowledge!
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This is such a common issue and it's really frustrating that there's no transparency about when these delays happen! I've been on CalWORKs for about 8 months now and I've learned to never count on the money being available exactly at midnight. What I do now is set aside a small emergency buffer from the previous month if possible, or I let my landlord know a few days ahead of time that there might be a slight delay due to the EBT system. Most understanding landlords will work with you if you communicate proactively. It shouldn't be this way, but unfortunately we have to work around their unreliable system.
That's really smart advice about communicating with your landlord ahead of time! I wish I had thought of that. My landlord is actually pretty understanding - I was just worried because this was the first time it happened to me and I didn't know it was a common issue. I'll definitely start building in that buffer when I can and give him a heads up about potential EBT delays in the future. It's sad that we have to plan around their system failures but you're right that it's better to be proactive about it.
This thread is so helpful! I'm new to CalWORKs (just got approved last month) and had no idea this was a common issue. I was planning to rely on getting my cash right at midnight for rent next month, but now I know to plan differently. Does anyone know if there's a pattern to when these delays happen? Like is it more common at the beginning of the month or on certain days of the week? I want to try to predict when I might need to give my landlord extra notice about potential delays.
From what I've experienced and seen others mention here, the delays seem to happen more often around the 1st-3rd of the month when a lot of people are trying to access their benefits at the same time. It also seems worse after weekends or holidays when there might be system maintenance. I've noticed it's less common mid-month, but that could just be because fewer people are getting their payments then. The safest bet is honestly to assume there might be a delay anytime and plan accordingly. Welcome to the program by the way - this community is really helpful for navigating all the quirks of the system!
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Same thing happened to me! Usually get mine on the 28th but it didn't come until today around 1pm. I was starting to panic because I have bills due tomorrow. It's so stressful when the timing changes like this - we depend on that consistency to budget and plan payments. At least we all got it eventually but the anxiety is real when you're counting on that money!
I totally feel you on the anxiety! This was actually my first time experiencing the delayed timing since I'm pretty new to CalWORKs. I kept refreshing my EBT app all morning thinking something was wrong with my case. It's such a relief to see from everyone's comments that this variability is normal, even though it shouldn't have to be this stressful. We're already dealing with enough uncertainty without having to worry about when our benefits will actually show up!
I'm new to CalWORKs and this is exactly what I was worried about! Got approved last month and my first payment came on the 28th, so I was expecting the same this time. When it didn't show up this morning I started panicking thinking maybe I did something wrong with my paperwork or missed a deadline. It's really reassuring to read everyone's experiences - sounds like this timing variation is just part of how the system works, even though it's super stressful when you're depending on that money for rent and groceries. Thanks everyone for sharing, makes me feel less alone in this!
Welcome to CalWORKs! The uncertainty around timing is definitely one of the hardest parts to adjust to when you're new to the program. I've been receiving benefits for about 8 months now and I still get that pit in my stomach when the deposit doesn't come exactly when I expect it. You're absolutely not alone - we've all been there with the paperwork paranoia! One thing that helped me in the beginning was setting up a small buffer in my budget (even just $20-30 if possible) so I'm not cutting it so close on bill due dates. It's not always feasible but it helps with the stress when deposits vary by a day or two. Hang in there!
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This is such a valuable thread for everyone dealing with EBT cash withdrawal issues! As someone who's been on CalWORKs for a while, I wish I had known about the grocery store cash back option earlier - would have saved me so much stress. One thing I'd add is that you can also check if your county has any emergency rental assistance programs that work alongside CalWORKs. In my county, they have a rapid rehousing program that can sometimes help with immediate rent payments while you're waiting to access your benefits. Also, for anyone reading this in the future - if you're consistently having trouble accessing enough cash for rent, consider asking your worker about the CalWORKs Housing Support Program or seeing if you qualify for a housing voucher through your local housing authority. It's frustrating that we have to jump through so many hoops just to pay our basic expenses, but this community really shows how we can help each other navigate the system!
This is exactly the kind of information we need more of! I had no idea about the Housing Support Program or that counties might have rapid rehousing assistance. I'm fairly new to CalWORKs and honestly feel like I'm always discovering benefits or programs that nobody ever told me about. It's crazy that we have to rely on each other to learn about these resources instead of caseworkers explaining everything upfront. I'm definitely going to ask my worker about the Housing Support Program at my next appointment. Thanks for sharing this - and you're so right about how this community helps us navigate all these confusing systems!
This whole situation really highlights how broken the system is - they give you a replacement card but don't warn you about withdrawal limits that could literally make you homeless! I'm so glad everyone came together with practical solutions. For anyone else dealing with this, I'd also suggest keeping a backup plan ready. You can sometimes get money orders at places like the post office or grocery stores using your EBT card, which your landlord might accept instead of cash. Also, if you're ever in this emergency situation again, try calling 211 - they can sometimes connect you to same-day emergency rental assistance programs in your area. The fact that we have to become experts at navigating all these workarounds just to access our own benefits is ridiculous, but at least we have each other to share the knowledge!
Yara Haddad
Thanks everyone for all the helpful information! I checked my last notice and found my IRT amount - it is indeed $2,823. My hours are staying steady for now so I'm well under that threshold. I'll just make sure to report everything accurately on my next SAR7 and keep all my paystubs. It's also good to know about that income disregard - makes me feel better about working more hours since not all of it will count against my grant.
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Oliver Wagner
•Glad you got the info you needed! One last thing - make sure you're also taking advantage of the CalWORKs childcare benefit if you have kids. They'll cover childcare costs while you're working, which can be a huge help.
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Grace Lee
Just wanted to jump in as someone who recently went through this! I'm also a family of 3 and had similar concerns when I started working. The $2,823 IRT is correct, and I found it really helpful to set up a simple spreadsheet to track my monthly income - especially since my hours vary week to week. One thing that caught me off guard was that they count ALL income sources toward the IRT, not just your main job. So if you do any side work, get child support, or have any other income, make sure to include that too. I almost went over my IRT because I forgot to count a small freelance payment I received. Also, definitely keep Paolo's advice in mind about the earned income disregard - it really does make a difference in your final grant amount!
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Freya Pedersen
•That's a great idea about the spreadsheet! I think I'll set something like that up too since my job might have varying hours. Quick question - when you say "ALL income sources," does that include things like unemployment benefits or disability payments? I don't have any right now, but just want to understand what counts in case my situation changes.
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