CalWORKs Cash Aid deposited but EBT balance shows $0.00 - money missing?
Yall i need help so my cash aid benefits it says they were deposited in my ebt account but when i checked the balance says 0.00 and i check recent transactions and theres nothing there they havent been taken out. What could this be? the CalWORKs worker left me a voicemail saying my $ was deposited yesterday. i logged into BenefitsCal and it shows payment sent but nothing is in my EBT account!!! i have 3 kids and rent due in 4 days i literally cant wait for them to figure this out. has anyone had this happen? do i need to wait longer or call someone??
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Amina Diop
This happened to me in January! The system showed my payment was processed but nothing was on my card. Turns out there are TWO balances on your EBT card - one for food benefits (CalFresh) and one for cash benefits (CalWORKs). Are you checking the CASH balance specifically? On the ATM or phone system you have to select "CASH" not "FOOD" to see your Cash Aid balance.
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Paolo Romano
Authoromg i feel so stupid. i was only checking my food balance!! just called the EBT hotline and chose cash option and my money is there!! thank you so much!!!
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Oliver Schmidt
did u check to see if ur card is blocked? sometims they put a block on it if they think theres fraud. happened to me once when i used my card in another county and they thought it wasnt me. u gotta call the EBT customer service number on the back of ur card to check
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Natasha Volkov
Good suggestion, but just to clarify - if there was a block due to suspected fraud, the transaction would still show in the system but would be declined. In OP's case, no transaction is showing at all which usually means they're either looking at the wrong balance type (food vs. cash) or there's a processing delay between when the county system shows a deposit and when it actually hits the EBT account.
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Javier Torres
This could be a few different things: 1) As someone mentioned, you might be checking the FOOD side not the CASH side of your EBT card. They're totally separate balances. 2) There can be a 24-48 hour delay between when the county processes the payment and when it actually hits your EBT card. The county system might show "sent" but the EBT system needs time to process it. 3) The payment might have been redirected if you have child support owed or an overpayment being recouped. 4) Your case might be split between CalWORKs and child-only benefits which go to different accounts. You should call your eligibility worker directly. I know the county phone systems are terrible, but this is the fastest way to figure out where your money is. If you can't reach them, try calling the EBT customer service number on the back of your card.
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Emma Wilson
About those county phone systems - I spent THREE DAYS trying to reach my worker last month when my benefits went missing. Finally used Claimyr.com and got through in 15 minutes. They basically call for you and connect you when a real person answers. Saved my sanity! They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/jzISHxCPLwE showing how it works. Worth checking out if you're desperate to get through.
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QuantumLeap
THE COUNTY ALWAYS DOES THIS!! They tell you money is deposited but then it takes 2-3 days to actually show up. They never explain this to anyone and people panic. I bet by tomorrow morning it will be there. The system is designed to drive us crazy I swear.
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Paolo Romano
Authorupdating everyone - someone pointed out i was only checking my food balance not my cash balance!! my money was there the whole time lol. but yeah the county worker shouldve explained that better to me
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Malik Johnson
Has anything changed with your case recently? Did you submit your SAR7 on time? Did you get a Notice of Action recently? Sometimes if there's an issue with your eligibility or reporting, they might stop your benefits but the computer system might still show it was processed initially. Also make sure your phone number is updated in the system so they can reach you if there's a problem.
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Paolo Romano
Authoreverything is fine with my case i think, i did my recertification interview last month and they approved me for another year. turns out i was just checking the wrong balance on my EBT card
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Amina Diop
I'm so glad you found your money! Just so you know for future reference - if you ever do have a real problem with missing Cash Aid, call the county ASAP. If you're facing eviction or utility shutoff because of a county delay, ask about the "Immediate Need" process. They're supposed to expedite benefits if you're facing an emergency situation. Also, always keep your paperwork showing when payments are supposed to arrive. Helps if you ever need to prove there was a delay.
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Javier Torres
Great point about Immediate Need. Also worth knowing that if you're ever facing eviction specifically because of a county error or delay with your Cash Aid, you can apply for CalWORKs Homeless Assistance as a prevention measure. It can provide additional funds to help you keep your housing when regular Cash Aid is delayed. You'd need documentation of the pending eviction though.
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Rajiv Kumar
This is such a common confusion! I'm glad you figured it out. For anyone else reading this - when you call the EBT customer service line (1-877-328-9677), you'll hear two different options: "Food" for CalFresh/SNAP benefits and "Cash" for CalWORKs Cash Aid. They're completely separate accounts on the same card. You can also check both balances at most ATMs by selecting the different account types. I keep a note in my phone reminding me which option to choose because I used to mix them up all the time too!
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