How long for first paper CalWORKs check to arrive before Direct Deposit kicks in?

This is standard procedure for CalWORKs - they always issue the first payment as a paper check even if you sign up for Direct Deposit. In my experience (and I've been on CalWORKs twice), that first check usually arrives 7-10 business days after approval. If your cousin was just approved last week, she should receive it by the end of this week or early next week at the latest. The timing depends a bit on when in the month she was approved and when her regular payment date will be.

my check took 2 WEEKS to come the first time!!! and then they didn't even process my direct deposit right so i got ANOTHER paper check the next month too. the system is so broken omg

I work with CalWORKs recipients often, and here's what I can tell you: The first check is typically generated within 3 business days after approval, then mailed out. Delivery time varies by county, but LA County usually takes 5-7 business days for mail delivery. So in total, expect 8-10 business days from approval date. Direct Deposit usually activates by the second payment cycle. Important: make sure your cousin verifies her DD information is correct in her online BenefitsCal account. I've seen cases where typos in account numbers caused delays. If the check doesn't arrive by day 10, she should contact her worker to request a replacement check. They can sometimes expedite in hardship situations.

Has she checked her myBenefits account?? Sometimes they update the status there when the check is issued. I used to check mine obsessively when waiting for payments lol. Also is she sure she's getting a paper check? Some counties are using the EBT card for cash aid first payment now instead of paper checks. My first payment went on my EBT card and I could withdraw it from an ATM, then direct deposit started after that.

I had the exact same situation last year and kept calling everyday trying to reach someone to ask about my check. Complete nightmare getting through to anyone! I finally used Claimyr.com to get past the phone system and talk to a real person. They have this service that gets you through to a CalWORKs worker without waiting on hold. There's a video that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/jzISHxCPLwE When I finally got through, I found out my check had actually been issued but was sent to my old address even though I'd updated it. They were able to stop that check and reissue a new one. Might be worth checking rather than just waiting, especially if she needs it for rent.

ppl saying 7-10 days but it really depends on when her payment date is supposed to be. If she just got approved and her regular payment date is the 1st of the month, they might just wait till then to send the first check. ask her what payment date they gave her in her approval letter. my sister diddnt get her first check until her actual payment date even tho she was approved 2 weeks before

One more thing to remember - make sure she knows that the first check might be prorated depending on when in the month she applied. So if she applied mid-month, she might only get half a month's worth of benefits in that first check. Just so she's not surprised if the amount is less than she expected. The next month's payment will be the full amount.

Tell her to check her mail EVERYDAY!! My check got delivered but the mailman put it in my neighbors box by accident and they didn't give it to me for a WEEK!! So frustrating when you're waiting for money you really need.

If your cousin's rent is due before the check arrives, she might qualify for emergency assistance. CalWORKs has an Immediate Need payment option that can provide funds within 3 days if she meets certain criteria. She should call her worker and specifically ask about Immediate Need assistance if she's at risk of eviction or other serious consequences from not having the funds in time.

Just wanted to add that in LA County specifically, they've been having some delays with mail processing lately. I applied in February and my worker warned me it might take up to 2 weeks for the first check because of staffing issues at their mail processing center. She might want to ask her worker if there are any current delays in her area. Also, if she has her case number, she can try calling the main CalWORKs line (1-877-847-3663) and using the automated system to check if her payment has been issued - sometimes that works even when you can't get through to a person. The automated system will tell you the date a payment was issued and the amount, which at least gives you an idea of when to expect it in the mail.

I went through this exact situation about 6 months ago in Orange County, so hopefully my experience helps! My first CalWORKs check took exactly 9 business days from approval to arrival in my mailbox. The key thing I learned is that LA County actually processes payments faster than some other counties, so that's good news for your cousin. One tip that really helped me: I signed up for USPS Informed Delivery (it's free) so I could see a photo of my mail each morning before it arrived. That way I knew exactly when to expect the check and didn't have to keep wondering if it got lost or stolen from my mailbox. Also, make sure she keeps her approval letter handy because it has her case number and payment date info that she'll need if she has to call about any issues. The automated phone system that Connor mentioned actually works pretty well - I still use it to check when my payments are issued each month. Good luck to your cousin, I hope everything works out with her rent!

Just want to echo what others have said about checking online - your cousin should definitely log into her BenefitsCal account or try the automated phone line. I'm currently on CalWORKs and I've found that sometimes the online system shows when a payment has been "issued" even before it arrives in the mail, which at least gives you peace of mind that it's coming. Also, since she's in LA County and rent is due soon, I'd suggest she be proactive about contacting her worker if the check doesn't arrive by this Friday. Don't wait until the last minute - if there's any issue with the address or the check got lost, it's better to know sooner rather than later so she has time to request a replacement or ask about that emergency assistance option that Sean mentioned. One more thing - make sure she checks her mailbox at the same time every day. My mail carrier comes at different times but usually within the same 2-hour window, so I learned when to expect mail and it helped reduce the anxiety of constantly checking!