CalWORKs Golden State Stimulus confusion - when will payments arrive for Cash Aid families?
Hey everyone, I'm so confused about the Golden State Stimulus and how it affects CalWORKs recipients. I got a letter saying I might be eligible but nothing has shown up in my EBT account yet. My neighbor (who also gets Cash Aid) said she already received hers last week! I'm worried because I really need this money for my kids' school supplies and our rent is due next week. Do CalWORKs families get the stimulus differently than other people? Has anyone on Cash Aid actually received theirs yet? My worker never answers when I call and I'm wondering if I need to submit something additional to get it. Thanks for any help!
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Keisha Johnson
i got mine yesterday!! check ur account again, it just showed up randomly. didnt get any notification or anything
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Yara Sayegh
•Really?? I just checked again and still nothing. I'm getting worried. Did you have to report it on your SAR7? I submitted mine last month but didn't mention anything about stimulus.
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Paolo Longo
The Golden State Stimulus is being distributed in batches over several weeks. CalWORKs recipients don't need to do anything extra to receive it - it's automatic if you qualify. The payments aren't going onto EBT cards though - they're either direct deposit to your bank account (if you had that set up for tax refunds) or paper checks mailed to your address on file with the state. Make sure your address is current with both CalWORKs and the tax board. If you filed taxes with direct deposit, check that bank account. If you didn't file taxes but receive CalWORKs, you should still qualify but might be in a later batch of payments. The full rollout is taking until mid-July according to the official timeline.
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Yara Sayegh
•Thank you SO much for explaining! I didn't realize they wouldn't come on the EBT card. I filed taxes last year but requested a paper check for my refund, so I guess I'll be getting a paper check for this too. I'll keep an eye on my mail. Do I need to report this as income on my next SAR7?
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CosmicCowboy
•my sister got hers in the mail yesterday but mine still hasnt come. were in the same county even! the system makes NO sense smh
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Paolo Longo
•@OP - Good news: you don't need to report the stimulus payment on your SAR7. Stimulus payments don't count as income for CalWORKs purposes, so it won't affect your Cash Aid amount. @comment above - The payments are being sent in batches based on multiple factors including the last digit of your ZIP code and whether you filed taxes electronically or by paper. That's why people in the same county are receiving them at different times.
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Amina Diallo
NOBODY at the county office can ever give you a straight answer about this!!! i called FIVE TIMES last week trying to ask about my stimulus and kept getting transferred around and then disconnected. finally got someone who said "we don't handle that" and hung up on me!!! its ridiculous how they treat us when we just need basic information about OUR MONEY that WE QUALIFY FOR
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Oliver Schulz
•I was dealing with the same frustration trying to get answers about my CalWORKs and the stimulus! I actually found this service called Claimyr that helped me finally get through to a real person at the county. It holds your place in line and calls you back when a worker is available. Saved me hours of waiting on hold just to get disconnected. Their website is claimyr.com and they have a video showing how it works here: https://youtu.be/jzISHxCPLwE - honestly worth it when you're desperate to talk to someone who can actually help.
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Amina Diallo
•thanks for the tip! gonna check it out cause i STILL haven't been able to talk to anyone. did they ask any weird questions? don't want to give my info to a scam
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Natasha Orlova
The important thing to know about the Golden State Stimulus is that it works differently than regular CalWORKs payments. Here's the official information: 1. If you receive CalWORKs AND filed taxes with a California Earned Income Tax Credit, you'll receive the payment automatically. 2. If you receive CalWORKs but didn't file taxes (or didn't qualify for CA EITC), you'll still receive a payment but in a later phase. 3. Payments are being issued either as direct deposits or paper checks, NOT on EBT cards. 4. The stimulus is NOT countable income for CalWORKs, so your regular benefits won't be affected. 5. The current distribution timeline runs through July 15, 2025, so some recipients won't get payments until then. If you haven't received yours by mid-July, then you should contact the Franchise Tax Board (not your CalWORKs worker) for assistance.
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Javier Cruz
•Quick question - I moved apartments last month but still in same building. I updated my address with CalWORKs but not with tax people. Will my check still come to right place??
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Natasha Orlova
•You should update your address with the Franchise Tax Board right away. If the check was already mailed to your old address, you'll need to request a replacement, which could take several more weeks. Go to ftb.ca.gov to update your address or call them at 800-852-5711.
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Keisha Johnson
wait u guys r talking about something different then i am lol. i thought u meant the regular calworks money. ignore my first comment
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Yara Sayegh
•Haha no worries! I was confused by your response at first. I'm specifically asking about the Golden State Stimulus, not my regular Cash Aid payment.
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CosmicCowboy
my cousin's wife's sister works for the county and she said they're sending the checks based on your birthday month. thats why some people get it before others. january birthdays first, then february, etc
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Paolo Longo
•That's actually not correct. The Franchise Tax Board has clearly stated that payments are being distributed based on the last digit of your ZIP code, whether you filed electronically or by paper, and whether you provided bank information for direct deposit. Birth month is not a factor in the distribution schedule.
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Yara Sayegh
Update: My stimulus check came in the mail today! It was a paper check just like you all said, not on my EBT card. Thank you everyone for the help and explanation. Now I can pay my rent on time and get my kids what they need for school. For anyone still waiting, hang in there!
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Keisha Johnson
•awesome!! glad u got it!
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Javier Cruz
•So happy for you! I'm still waiting for mine but this gives me hope it's really coming. Did they send any letter with it or just the check?
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Yara Sayegh
•Just the check with a small note explaining what it was for. Keep checking your mail - I'm sure yours will come soon!
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Edwin jonathan Escobar
My name si Edwin Escobar i gad nevef receive My stomulus check note a single one
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Connor Rupert
•Hi Edwin! I'm sorry to hear you haven't received any stimulus checks yet. Based on what others have shared here, the Golden State Stimulus payments are still being distributed through mid-July 2025, so there's still time. Since you're on CalWORKs, you should automatically qualify even if you didn't file taxes. I'd recommend calling the Franchise Tax Board at 800-852-5711 to check on your payment status and make sure they have your current address on file. You can also check ftb.ca.gov for updates. Don't give up - many people are still waiting for theirs to arrive!
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