CalWORKs benefits showing 'Active' but nothing deposited to EBT - automated system says benefit amount 'none'

omg yes this happened to me back in feb!!! my stuff showed active but nothin on my card. tried calling for TWO DAYS straight and kept getting disconnected or the "all representatives are busy" message. so annoying!!! found out they had some glitch where they marked my case active but didnt process the actual payment. had to go in person to get it fixed cuz nobody would call me back either

This is a known system issue that's been happening since they migrated to the new BenefitsCal system. Your eligibility worker probably approved your case correctly, but there's a disconnect between the eligibility system and the payment system. Unfortunately, you'll need to speak directly with a benefits worker to get this resolved - they need to manually trigger the payment issuance. Did you submit any verification documents recently? Sometimes that triggers a hold that doesn't show up in the system status.

Same thing kinda happend with my CalFresh. Said active but no $ on my card for like 2 weeks. Finaly just showed up one day wihout me doing anything. Maybe just wait?

I dealt with this exact problem in January! After days of trying to reach someone by phone and getting nowhere, I tried Claimyr.com to connect with a CalWORKs worker. They got me through to a real person in about 20 minutes instead of me spending hours on hold. The worker found that my benefits were approved but stuck in some kind of payment pending status that wasn't visible in the regular system. They fixed it on the spot and my money was loaded the next day. You can see how it works in their video: https://youtu.be/jzISHxCPLwE - totally saved me when my rent was due!

This is actually a fairly common issue right now with the CalWORKs system. Here's what's happening: The eligibility system (CalSAWS) that shows your case as active is separate from the payment issuance system. Sometimes there's a disconnect between the two, especially if there was any kind of update or change to your case recently. When you call, make sure to specifically tell them: 1. Your case shows active in BenefitsCal 2. The automated system says benefit amount "none" 3. You need someone to check the EBT issuance system specifically This requires a higher-level worker who has access to both systems. The front-line staff often can only see the eligibility side and will just tell you everything looks fine on their end. Ask to speak with a supervisor who can check the payment issuance system and manually release the payment if it's stuck.

THE COUNTY IS ALWAYS PULLING THIS CRAP!!! they mark ur case active to meet their federal timeline requirements but then "forget" to actually issue the benefits!!! been dealing with this garbage for 3 years and it ALWAYS happens when rent is due. they dont care that people have CHILDREN and BILLS. they just want their numbers to look good. make sure u document EVERYTHING and if they dont fix it by tomorrow file for a state hearing!!!!!

I work with CalWORKs clients as part of my job, and this is happening more frequently since the system migration. What you're experiencing is called a "payment issuance error" - your eligibility is correct, but the payment system didn't generate the actual EBT deposit. Here's what you need to do: 1. Call again and specifically ask for an "EBT issuance specialist" or "payment processing supervisor" 2. Explain that your case shows active but the payment amount shows as "none" 3. Request an "immediate payment issuance correction" 4. Get a confirmation number or case note ID 5. Ask for a specific timeframe when the payment will be processed If you're facing an emergency (like eviction), also mention that you need an "expedited payment" due to imminent hardship. This can sometimes get the payment processed faster. Don't accept promises of callbacks - politely insist on staying on the line until they can give you specific information about when the payment will be issued.

i had this happen and it was bc i didnt submit some paper they wanted but they never told me they wanted it lol. maybe check ur mail really good to see if they sent anything? sometimes they send letters that look like junk mail

Just checking back - were you able to get this resolved? If they're still giving you the runaround, ask specifically for a "Cash Aid Emergency Payment Request" form. This is a specific process for when benefits show approved but weren't issued correctly. The county has 3 business days to respond to emergency requests.

So glad you got it resolved! This is such a frustrating issue that seems to be happening more and more with the new system. For anyone else dealing with this, it sounds like the key is getting to someone who can actually see the payment processing side, not just the eligibility side. Thanks for updating us - it gives hope to others who might be stuck in the same situation!

This is exactly the kind of helpful information that makes this community so valuable! I'm relatively new here but have been dealing with CalWORKs for my family for about a year now. Reading through everyone's experiences and solutions is so reassuring - it's clear that these system glitches are more common than we think, and there are actually people who know how to navigate them. I'm bookmarking this thread because I have a feeling I might need these tips in the future. It's also really encouraging to see how people follow up with updates when they get their issues resolved. Thanks to everyone who shared their knowledge and especially to Dylan for letting us know it worked out!

This thread is such a perfect example of why this community is so essential! I'm fairly new to CalWORKs myself (just started receiving benefits about 6 months ago) and honestly, reading through all these responses has taught me more about how the system actually works than any of the official paperwork or phone calls I've had. The distinction between the eligibility system and payment system that people explained here is something I never would have known to ask about. I'm saving all these specific terms and strategies because I have a feeling I'll need them at some point. It's also really heartwarming to see how everyone jumped in to help Dylan with practical solutions instead of just commiserating. Thanks to everyone who shared their knowledge - this kind of peer support makes such a difference when you're trying to navigate these complicated systems!

I'm so relieved to see this thread and especially Dylan's update that it got resolved! I'm relatively new to both CalWORKs and this community, but I've already learned so much from reading everyone's experiences. What really stands out to me is how this shows the importance of knowing the right terminology and getting to the right person - it sounds like the difference between saying "my benefits aren't working" versus "I need an EBT issuance specialist to check the payment processing system" can be huge. I'm definitely saving all these tips because navigating these systems can feel so overwhelming when you're new to them. It's also really encouraging to see how people here don't just offer sympathy but actual actionable solutions. Thanks to everyone who shared their knowledge - this kind of community support makes such a difference when you're dealing with these complex bureaucratic systems!

This whole thread has been incredibly eye-opening for me as someone who's still pretty new to navigating CalWORKs! I've been receiving benefits for about 8 months now and honestly had no idea about the distinction between the eligibility system and payment processing system that everyone explained here. Dylan, I'm so glad you got it resolved - it must have been such a relief after being stuck for days! What really strikes me is how the solution came down to reaching someone who could access the right part of the system, rather than the issue being with your eligibility at all. I'm definitely bookmarking this conversation because all the specific terminology people shared (like asking for an "EBT issuance specialist" or "payment processing supervisor") seems like it could save hours of frustration if this ever happens to me. Thanks to everyone who took the time to share their knowledge and experiences - this is exactly the kind of practical help that makes this community so valuable!

As someone who's new to both this community and CalWORKs, this entire thread has been incredibly educational! I've been receiving benefits for just a few months now and had no idea these kinds of system glitches could happen where everything shows active but no payment is actually issued. Dylan, I'm so relieved to hear you got it resolved! What really stands out to me is how crucial it was to reach someone who could access the payment processing system specifically, not just the eligibility side. I'm definitely saving all the terminology people shared here - "EBT issuance specialist," "payment processing supervisor," "imminent risk of homelessness" - because it's clear that knowing these specific phrases can make the difference between getting real help and getting stuck in endless transfers. This is exactly why communities like this are so valuable - you get practical, actionable advice from people who've actually dealt with these issues. Thank you to everyone who shared their knowledge and experiences!

This thread has been such an incredible resource! I'm relatively new to both CalWORKs and this community, and reading through everyone's experiences has taught me more about how the system actually works than any official documentation I've received. Dylan, I'm so glad you were able to get this resolved - it must have been such a stressful situation with rent coming due! What really strikes me is how this issue wasn't actually about eligibility at all, but rather a disconnect between the eligibility system showing "active" and the payment system not processing the actual deposit. The specific terminology everyone shared here - like asking for an "EBT issuance specialist" or "payment processing supervisor" - seems like it could save so much time and frustration compared to getting transferred around to people who can only see part of the picture. I'm definitely bookmarking this conversation because these kinds of technical glitches seem to be happening more frequently, and having this roadmap of exactly what to say and who to ask for could be invaluable. Thanks to everyone who took the time to share their knowledge and real solutions - this is exactly the kind of practical community support that makes such a difference when navigating these complex systems!

I'm new to this community and CalWORKs (just started benefits a couple months ago), but this thread has been incredibly helpful to read through! Dylan, I'm so relieved you got it resolved - that must have been such a nightmare with rent due. What really opened my eyes is learning that there are actually two separate systems - one for eligibility and one for payments - and they can get disconnected. I had no idea that was even possible! I'm definitely saving all the specific phrases everyone shared here like "EBT issuance specialist" and "payment processing supervisor" because it's clear that using the right terminology can make all the difference when calling. It's also really encouraging to hear that services like Claimyr actually work - sometimes you see suggestions online and wonder if they're legitimate, but seeing real results gives me confidence. This is exactly why communities like this are so valuable - you get practical advice from people who've actually navigated these issues successfully. Thanks to everyone who shared their knowledge!

I'm new to this community and to CalWORKs (started benefits about 3 months ago), and wow, this thread has been such an eye-opener! Dylan, I'm so glad you got this resolved - the stress of having rent due while your benefits are stuck must have been awful. What really strikes me is how this whole issue came down to a technical disconnect between systems that most of us would never think to ask about. I had absolutely no idea that there were separate eligibility and payment processing systems, or that they could show different information. This explains so much about why sometimes when you call, people say "everything looks fine on my end" but your problem still isn't solved. I'm definitely saving all the specific terminology everyone shared - "EBT issuance specialist," "payment processing supervisor," "imminent risk of homelessness" - because it's clear that knowing these exact phrases can be the difference between getting bounced around for hours versus reaching someone who can actually help. It's also really encouraging to see that the Claimyr suggestion actually worked. Sometimes you see services mentioned online and wonder if they're legitimate, but hearing about real results gives me confidence in this community's advice. Thanks to everyone who took the time to share their knowledge and experiences. This is exactly the kind of practical support that makes navigating these complex systems so much easier!

I'm also fairly new to this community and CalWORKs (been receiving benefits for about 5 months now), and this thread has been absolutely invaluable! Dylan, I'm so relieved to hear you got it resolved - the stress of having your case show active but no money actually deposited must have been overwhelming, especially with rent coming due. What really opened my eyes is learning about the distinction between the eligibility system and payment processing system. I had no clue these were separate systems that could get disconnected! This explains so much about why sometimes when you call, the person says everything looks fine but your actual problem persists. I'm definitely saving all the specific terminology everyone shared here - "EBT issuance specialist," "payment processing supervisor," "payment issuance error" - because it's clear that using these exact phrases can make the difference between getting transferred around endlessly versus reaching someone who can actually access the right system to fix the problem. It's also really encouraging to see that the Claimyr service suggestion actually worked for you. Sometimes you see services mentioned online and wonder if they're legitimate, but hearing about real results from community members gives me confidence in the advice shared here. This is exactly why communities like this are so essential - you get practical, tested solutions from people who've actually navigated these challenges successfully. Thanks to everyone who took the time to share their knowledge and experiences!

I'm also pretty new to this community and CalWORKs (just started receiving benefits about 4 months ago), and this thread has been such an incredible resource! Dylan, I'm so glad you were able to get this resolved - dealing with benefits showing as active but no actual money being deposited sounds like such a stressful nightmare, especially with rent deadlines looming. What really struck me reading through everyone's responses is how this wasn't actually an eligibility issue at all, but rather a technical disconnect between the system that shows your case status and the system that actually processes payments. I had absolutely no idea these were separate systems that could get out of sync like that! It makes so much sense now why sometimes when you call, representatives say "everything looks fine on my end" but your actual problem still isn't resolved - they're probably only looking at the eligibility side. I'm definitely taking notes on all the specific terminology everyone shared here - "EBT issuance specialist," "payment processing supervisor," "imminent risk of homelessness" - because it's clear that knowing these exact phrases can be the difference between getting bounced around for hours versus reaching someone who can actually access the right system to fix the problem. It's also really encouraging to hear that the Claimyr service actually worked for you! Sometimes you see suggestions online and wonder if they're legitimate, but seeing real results from community members gives me so much confidence in the advice shared here. This is exactly why communities like this are so valuable - instead of just commiserating about problems, people here share actual step-by-step solutions that work in real life. Thanks to everyone for taking the time to help and share their experiences!