When do CalWORKs Cash Aid payments hit EBT cards each month?

Cash Aid payments go out on a staggered schedule throughout the first 10 days of each month. The exact date depends on the last digit of your case number. If your case number ends in 1, you'll get paid on the 1st. If it ends in 2, you'll get paid on the 2nd, and so on. If your case number ends in 0, you'll get paid on the 10th. You can check your case number on any CalWORKs notice or on your BenefitsCal account.

mine goes in on the 4th every month never late but never early either. u can ask ur landlord if u can pay rent on the 8th when u get ur $$ if its a problem

The previous responses are correct about the payment schedule being based on the last digit of your case number. However, I want to point out that if the scheduled date falls on a weekend or holiday, your payment will be deposited on the previous business day. So if your payment date falls on a Sunday, you'll actually get it on Friday. This might help with your rent situation. Also, if you're really concerned about timing, you might want to look into the Housing Support Program through CalWORKs - they sometimes can help with temporary rental assistance while you're getting stabilized.

MY WORKER NEVER TOLD ME ANY OF THIS!!! I've been waiting for my payment for 3 days now and no one at the county office will pick up the phone! This is ridiculous how they expect us to pay bills when we don't even know when money is coming! I've called like 20 times today!!

just so u know the cash aid comes on the same day every month but ur calfresh ebt might be on a different day. i get confused bcuz my cash is on the 5th but my food is on the 11th lol. dont mix them up when ur budgeting

U should set up direct deposit insted of EBT for cash aid. I had so many problems with my EBT card - one time it got declined when I was trying to pay rent and I had to get money orders and it was a whole mess. At ur next appointment ask about direct deposit to ur bank account, its way better and sometimes hits a day early depending on ur bank.

btw if u ever dont get ur payment when ur supposed to CALL RIGHT AWAY dont wait!!! one time mine didnt come and i waited 3 days before calling and they said there was a problem with my SAR7 from 2 months before 🙄 coulda fixed it way sooner if i knew

Since your rent is due on the 1st but your payment comes on the 7th, you might want to talk to your worker about budgeting strategies. CalWORKs sometimes offers financial workshops that can help with this situation. A common approach is to set aside part of each month's payment for the following month's rent, so you're always paying rent with the previous month's benefits. It takes some discipline to get started, but once you're in that cycle, it reduces a lot of stress.

Something else to keep in mind - if you're just getting started with CalWORKs, make sure you understand the difference between your initial payment and your ongoing monthly payments. Sometimes the first payment can be prorated or adjusted based on when your case was approved during the month. Your regular monthly payments should be more predictable once you're in the system for a few months. Also, I'd recommend setting up text alerts through your bank if possible so you know the exact moment your payment hits - that way you're not constantly checking your balance and stressing about it.

One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is that you can check your payment history and upcoming deposit dates through your BenefitsCal online account or the mobile app. This is super helpful for planning ahead! Once you log in, go to "Case Information" and then "Benefit History" to see your payment pattern. You can also set up email notifications through the system to get reminders about when your benefits are being deposited. I found this way less stressful than trying to remember dates or constantly checking my card balance. The online account also shows if there are any holds or issues with your case that might delay payment, so you're not left wondering what happened if your money doesn't show up on schedule.

Just wanted to add that if you're having trouble with timing between rent and benefits, some landlords are understanding about CalWORKs payment schedules if you explain the situation upfront. I talked to my property manager when I first got on benefits and we worked out that I could pay rent by the 10th of each month instead of the 1st. It never hurts to ask - many landlords would rather have a reliable tenant who pays a few days late than deal with turnover. Also, if your landlord won't budge on the date, you might want to look into local emergency assistance programs through 211 (just dial 2-1-1) - they often have one-time rental assistance that can help bridge the gap while you get established on the payment schedule.

One more tip that really helped me when I first started on CalWORKs - if you have a smartphone, take a screenshot of your case number and payment schedule info so you always have it handy. I used to panic when I couldn't remember my case number or payment date, especially when calling the office. Also, keep in mind that during the first few months, it's totally normal to feel overwhelmed by all the rules and schedules. I promise it gets easier once you've been through a few payment cycles and develop your own system for budgeting around the dates. Don't be too hard on yourself while you're learning - we've all been there!

I've been on CalWORKs for about 8 months now and wanted to share something that really helped me with the timing issue. Since my payment comes on the 6th but most of my bills are due on the 1st, I started using my local credit union's "bill pay" feature to schedule automatic payments for a few days after my benefits hit. This way I don't have to stress about remembering dates or worrying about late fees. Most banks and credit unions offer this service for free, and you can set it up so your rent, utilities, etc. get paid automatically on whatever date works with your CalWORKs schedule. It took a couple months to get everything aligned, but now I barely have to think about it. Just make sure you account for any processing time your bank might need - some transfers can take 1-2 business days.

Just wanted to add something that might help with your rent situation - if you're really tight on timing and your landlord won't work with you on the due date, consider asking if they accept partial payments. Some landlords will let you pay half your rent on the 1st (maybe from savings or a small loan from family) and then the other half when your CalWORKs hits on the 7th. It's not ideal long-term, but it can help during those first few months while you're getting established and figuring out your budget rhythm. Also, don't forget that you might be eligible for utility assistance programs through LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program) which can help free up more of your CalWORKs money for rent. Your worker should be able to help you apply for that too.