Confused about CalWORKs county PIN number vs EBT PIN - can't get through self-service line

The county PIN is completely different from your EBT PIN! It's actually a 4-digit number that's usually sent to you in a separate letter when you first get approved for CalWORKs. If you never set one up or forgot it, you'll need to contact your worker to have it reset. Unfortunately, this is one of those things they don't explain very well when you first apply. For the self-service line to work, you need your case number AND that county PIN. Without both, you can't access any information about your CalWORKs status.

the same thing just happened to me last month!! i kept trying my ebt pin too lol. u have to go into the office and talk to someone at the front desk, they can reset it for u right there. its super annoying they dont make this more clear!!

This PIN system is just one more way they make it impossible to access your own benefits. I've been dealing with this garbage for 3 years now. Even when you DO have the PIN, half the time the automated system is "down for maintenance" or "experiencing high call volume" and hangs up on you. And don't get me started on trying to reach an actual worker! They NEVER answer their phones and take DAYS to call back, if they ever do. Meanwhile your rent is due and your landlord doesn't care about CalWORKs problems!!!

Try the BenefitsCal website instead of calling. You can log in there and check your Cash Aid status without needing that county PIN. That's what I do now because the phone system is terrible.

I had the exact same issue last year! After trying forever to get through, I found this service called Claimyr that got me through to a real person at the CalWORKs office in about 15 minutes. They call the county for you and then connect you when they reach a worker. Was so much better than being on hold for hours or trying to deal with that automated system. You can see how it works at https://youtu.be/jzISHxCPLwE - their website is claimyr.com. Honestly worth it just to get my PIN reset and finally talk to my worker about why my payment was delayed.

Just FYI - if you're receiving both CalWORKs and CalFresh, the PINs can be different for each program depending on your county. I found this out after being so confused why my CalFresh PIN worked for food benefits but not for Cash Aid. You might need to specifically ask for your CalWORKs PIN to be reset. Make sure to mention you need it for the self-service line specifically.

For future reference - once you get your PIN situation sorted out, I recommend writing it down somewhere secure (not in your phone). Also, make sure to create your online BenefitsCal account if you haven't already. Between the two, you should always have a way to check your benefits status. The online system is actually much more reliable than the phone system, and you can see your SAR7 due dates, verification requirements, and benefit amounts all in one place.