CalWORKs Cash Aid pending but expedited CalFresh approved - how long until benefits deposit?

Expedited CalFresh (food benefits) should be available within 3 calendar days after you're approved! If you were approved yesterday, they might be on the card by tomorrow or the next day. The EBT card usually comes in about 5-7 business days, but if you're in a really tough spot, you can ask your worker if you can pick up a temporary card at the county office. Some counties allow this for emergencies. As for your CalWORKs (Cash Aid), that's processed separately from CalFresh, so you'll get a separate approval notice. The verification they need is probably income proof, ID verification, or maybe birth certificates for your kids. Cash Aid typically takes longer to process - up to 30 days from application date.

When I got expedited CalFresh last year they told me 3 days but it was actually on my card the very next day! Don't wait for the card to come in the mail definitely go get the temporary one at the office. The temp card works exactly the same.

Thats how they did me to! Said my foodstamps was rushed but turns out they were just trying to give me the bare minimum while they processed everything else. My cash aid took 27 days to be approved and the worker NEVER called me back when she said she would. I had to keep calling everyday and getting disconnected. The whole system is rigged against us I swear. They make us jump through a million hoops while our bills pile up!!!!

u might want to double check what they need for verification bc sometimes they tell u one thing on the phone but the letter says something else and then theyll deny u for not sending the right stuff, happened to my sister

For CalFresh expedited services, benefits must be available no later than the 3rd calendar day following the date you applied. This means if you applied last week, you should already have access to your food benefits if you were approved for expedited service. However, the EBT card itself typically takes 5-7 business days to arrive by mail. For your Cash Aid (CalWORKs), they can take up to 30 days to make an eligibility determination from your application date. The verification documents they're requesting are standard - usually they need proof of: - Identity for all household members - Residency (your rental agreement) - Income verification (paystubs) - Any other income or resources You'll receive separate notices for CalFresh and CalWORKs approvals or denials. If you pick up a temporary EBT card at the office today, any food benefits already issued should be available immediately when they activate the card.

you said u applied last week and they're already processing it? i've been waiting almost 3 weeks and still nothing. did u do something special to get them to look at your application so fast? i've got 3 kids and we're about to be homeless if i don't get help with rent.

When I first applied for EBT the lady told me 3 days for emergency food stamps but then nothing happened so I went back to the office and they said my worker never actually submitted the expedited request LOL. Had to talk to a supervisor to get it fixed. Just saying, don't just wait around if nothing happens, sometimes they mess up.

btw make sure when u go to the office to get your temporary card u bring ID for yourself! they wont give u the card without it. and triple check with them that your address is right in the system, cuz if its wrong your permanent card will get lost in the mail.

Just wanted to add that if your Cash Aid gets approved, you'll receive what's called a "prorated" payment for your first month - meaning they'll calculate how much you should get based on how many days are left in the month when you're approved. So if you applied last week and get approved next week, you won't get a full month's payment right away, but you'll get the full amount starting the following month. Also, once you're on Cash Aid, your CalFresh amount might decrease a little since they count the cash assistance as income. Don't panic if that happens - it's normal! The combined benefits should still help you way more than just CalFresh alone.

Hey there! Just wanted to share my recent experience since I went through something similar a few months ago. When they approve you for expedited CalFresh, the benefits are usually loaded onto your EBT account within 1-3 days, but like others mentioned, definitely go pick up that temporary card at the office rather than waiting for the mail. I made that mistake and ended up waiting an extra week unnecessarily! For the CalWORKs cash aid, they really do take their time with verification. In my case, I thought I had submitted everything they asked for, but then they wanted additional documents I didn't know about. My advice would be to get everything in writing - either ask for an email or take a photo of any document checklist they give you at the office. It'll save you from having to make multiple trips. Also, once you do get approved for cash aid, keep track of all your paperwork and deadlines for recertification. They'll want updated info every few months, and missing a deadline can interrupt your benefits. Good luck with everything, and I hope your situation improves soon!

Hey! I'm new to this community and just wanted to say how helpful all these responses are. I'm currently going through the application process myself and had no idea about things like temporary EBT cards or prorated payments. @JaylinCharles I'm glad you were able to get your food benefits so quickly! That $768 should definitely help while you're waiting on the cash aid decision. One thing I learned from reading through all this is to definitely stay on top of your case worker and don't be afraid to call if things seem to be taking too long. It sounds like the system can be pretty frustrating to navigate, but this community seems like a great resource for getting real advice from people who've actually been through it. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences!

I've been through this exact situation and can share what worked for me! First, definitely pick up that temporary EBT card today - the expedited CalFresh benefits are usually loaded within 24-48 hours of approval, so you might already have access to the funds. When I got mine, I was shocked to see the money was already there even though I hadn't received the permanent card yet. For the CalWORKs verification documents, make sure you upload clear, readable copies through BenefitsCal. Sometimes blurry photos cause delays. Also, if you're having trouble getting all the paystubs they want, ask your employer for a letter stating your hours and pay rate - that sometimes works as a substitute. One tip that helped me: when you upload documents, write down exactly what you submitted and when. If they claim they didn't receive something, you'll have proof you sent it. The cash aid approval really can take the full 30 days, but once it's approved, you'll get that first payment pretty quickly. Hang in there - I know how stressful the waiting is when you need help with rent!

Just went through this same process a couple months ago with my 3 kids! The expedited CalFresh really is a lifesaver - I got my benefits loaded within 2 days of approval. Definitely go get that temporary card today because waiting for the mail one just adds unnecessary stress when you need food NOW. For the CalWORKs cash aid, be prepared for them to ask for more documents even after you think you've submitted everything. They asked me for rent receipts, utility bills, and even proof of my kids' school enrollment on top of the usual stuff. The 30-day timeline is real, but in my experience it was closer to 3-4 weeks before I actually saw the cash payment. One thing that helped me was calling the office every few days just to "check on the status" - not to be annoying, but to make sure nothing got lost in the shuffle. Sometimes they'll tell you about missing documents over the phone that they haven't sent you a letter about yet. Good luck and don't give up - the help is there, the system just makes you work for it unfortunately!

I went through almost the exact same situation last year with my two kids! The expedited CalFresh was approved but I was so confused about when I'd actually get the money. What really helped me was going to the county office in person - not only did I get the temporary EBT card same day, but the worker there was able to check my account and confirm the benefits were already loaded. Sometimes the phone workers don't have the most up-to-date info. For your CalWORKs application, that verification process is honestly the worst part. Make sure you get a receipt or confirmation number when you submit those documents - I learned that the hard way when they claimed they never got my rental agreement the first time. Also, if your rent is due soon and you're still waiting on cash aid approval, ask about emergency assistance. Some counties can provide one-time rental help while your regular application is processing. The waiting is so stressful when you have kids depending on you, but hang in there! Once everything gets approved and you're in the system, the monthly payments are pretty reliable. Just make sure to mark your recertification dates on a calendar so you don't miss any deadlines later on.

I'm new to this community and just went through a similar situation a few months ago! Reading through all these responses brings back memories of how overwhelming the whole process felt at first. @JaylinCharles I'm so glad you got your CalFresh benefits loaded quickly - that $768 will definitely help while you wait on the cash aid decision! One thing I learned that might help others here: if you're having trouble reaching your caseworker by phone, try calling first thing in the morning (like 8 AM sharp) or right after lunch around 1 PM. Those seemed to be the times when I had better luck getting through without being put on hold forever. Also, for anyone dealing with the document submission process, I found it helpful to take screenshots of the "successfully uploaded" confirmation pages in BenefitsCal. A couple times they claimed they didn't receive documents I had uploaded, but having those screenshots saved me from having to resubmit everything. The whole system can be frustrating, but this community has been such a valuable resource for navigating it all. Thanks to everyone who shares their experiences - it really makes a difference for those of us trying to figure everything out!

I just wanted to jump in as someone who's been navigating the CalWORKs and CalFresh system for about a year now. Reading through everyone's experiences here really takes me back to when I first applied - the confusion, the waiting, the stress of not knowing when help would come! @JaylinCharles I'm so relieved you were able to get your food benefits loaded quickly! That expedited CalFresh really is a lifeline when you need it most. For anyone else reading this thread, I can't stress enough how important it is to go pick up that temporary EBT card in person rather than waiting for mail. I made the mistake of waiting the first time and it added unnecessary stress to an already difficult situation. One thing I learned that might help future applicants: when you're gathering verification documents for CalWORKs, don't just submit the bare minimum they ask for. If they want 2 months of paystubs and you have 3, submit all 3. Having extra documentation upfront can prevent delays later. Also, if you rent a room or have an informal rental situation, a signed letter from your landlord with their contact info can work as proof of housing costs. The 30-day processing time for cash aid is real, but I've found that staying organized and responsive to any requests for additional information can sometimes speed things up. Keep copies of everything, follow up regularly, and don't be afraid to advocate for yourself - you deserve the help these programs are designed to provide!