This whole thread is so incredibly valuable - thank you to everyone who shared their experiences and solutions! I'm dealing with almost the exact same situation right now. My CalWORKs payment was supposed to deposit 6 days ago ($742 for my family) and my EBT card is still at $0. Case shows active online but something clearly went wrong. What's really eye-opening is seeing how many people discovered missing verification requests they never got notified about. That seems to be the root cause in most cases, which is so unfair! They can just stop our payments and then act like we should have magically known what documents they needed. I'm definitely going to try all the strategies mentioned here - calling at 8am sharp, using the BenefitsCal app instead of email, keeping detailed logs, and proactively checking for any missing verifications. The tip about taking photos of everything and getting receipt numbers is brilliant too. It's honestly heartbreaking that we have to become experts at navigating bureaucratic chaos just to access basic assistance we're already approved for. But this community sharing real solutions makes all the difference when the official system fails us. Thank you especially to those who came back with updates - it gives the rest of us hope that there IS a way through this mess! 🙏

This thread has been such a lifeline - thank you everyone for sharing your experiences! I'm dealing with this exact same issue right now. My payment was supposed to come through 3 days ago and my EBT shows $0 even though my case is active online. What's really striking me from reading all these responses is how systemic this problem is. It's not just individual cases - there's clearly something broken with their notification and payment processing systems. The fact that so many people are discovering "missing" verification requests they were never told about is infuriating! I'm taking notes on all the strategies shared here - calling right at 8am, using the BenefitsCal app for uploads, keeping call logs, and being super proactive about checking for verification needs. It's ridiculous that we have to become experts at navigating their dysfunction just to get approved benefits, but at least we have each other to share what actually works. Going to start making calls first thing tomorrow morning. Will definitely update if I figure out what's blocking my payment. This community support is exactly what we need when the system fails us! 💙

Welcome to the program! I'm also a CalWORKs newcomer (got approved about 2 weeks ago) and this thread has been absolutely incredible for understanding the timing details. Like so many others here, my worker just said "deposits on the 1st" with zero explanation of what that actually means in practice. Reading everyone's experiences about the midnight to early morning deposit window has been such a relief - I was imagining having to wait until business hours or something! The clarification that Cash Aid is NOT staggered by case number like CalFresh is super important too, since I'm getting both benefits and would have definitely been confused about that. Just downloaded the EBT app based on all the recommendations here and set up notifications. The tip about calling the automated line on the 31st to verify everything looks good is brilliant - wish I had thought of that myself! This community has provided more practical, useful information in one thread than I got from my entire intake appointment. It's amazing how people here take the time to share real experiences and help newcomers feel less anxious about navigating this system. Thank you to everyone for being so welcoming and informative!

Just wanted to add my experience as someone who was recently approved for CalWORKs too! I got approved about 6 weeks ago and was super stressed about the timing for my first payment. Everyone here is absolutely right - Cash Aid deposits on the 1st regardless of case number (that staggered schedule is only for CalFresh). In my experience, the funds have consistently hit between 12:30am and 2:30am on the 1st. I live in Orange County if that helps with regional timing. Since your rent is due on the 2nd, you should be completely fine! One thing that really saved me stress was setting up both text AND push notifications through the EBT app - that way you get alerted immediately when funds deposit instead of constantly checking your balance. Also, if you haven't already, make sure your EBT card is activated! They should have mailed it after your approval. The first month is definitely the most nerve-wracking, but once you get into the routine it becomes much more predictable. This community has been amazing for getting real answers that workers don't always explain clearly. Welcome to the program and try not to stress too much - you've got this!

Just wanted to jump in here as someone who's been through the CalWORKs appeal process twice - you're doing absolutely everything right by gathering all this information and not giving up! One thing I learned that really helped: when you request that hearing, also ask for a "continuance of aid" if you were receiving any benefits before (though it sounds like this might be your first application). More importantly, ask them to flag your case as "priority processing" due to having minor children and facing homelessness. Also, I saw you mentioned those MPP codes - here's a trick that worked for me: when you call, don't just ask what verification is missing. Ask them to read you the EXACT text of what's in your case notes about why you were denied. Sometimes the worker who handled your case left detailed notes that explain way more than what's on the denial notice. The fact that everyone here is giving you such consistent advice about pursuing multiple approaches simultaneously really shows this is the right strategy. You're not being pushy or difficult - you're being a smart advocate for your family. One last thing: if you end up getting approved after all this, make sure to ask about "retroactive benefits" back to your original application date. You shouldn't lose out on aid for the time period when they incorrectly denied you. You've got an army of people here rooting for you. Keep us posted on how those calls go tomorrow!

I'm really sorry you're dealing with this frustrating situation! As someone who's navigated CalWORKs denials before, I want to add a few things that haven't been mentioned yet. First, when you call tomorrow, ask specifically if your case was denied due to a "failure to appear" for any scheduled appointments. Sometimes they schedule phone interviews or document submission deadlines that aren't clearly communicated, then deny for non-compliance. If this happened, you can often get it reopened just by explaining the miscommunication. Also, since you mentioned your CalFresh was approved, ask them to do a "joint processing review" where they compare what was accepted for CalFresh versus what was supposedly missing for CalWORKs. Sometimes this reveals inconsistencies in how your case was handled. One more strategy: if you have a local Legal Aid office, many have "self-help" workshops specifically for CalWORKs appeals where you can get free help filling out hearing request forms and understanding your rights. Even if you can't get a lawyer, these workshops can be incredibly valuable. The community here has given you such solid advice - definitely pursue multiple approaches simultaneously. Your determination to keep fighting for your kids despite this broken system is really admirable. Don't let them wear you down - you clearly submitted everything properly and deserve these benefits. Keep us updated on how your calls go tomorrow! We're all pulling for you and your family.

This thread has been such an incredible resource! I just got my CalWORKs eligibility determination letter yesterday and seeing @Tasia's experience with the system outage really opened my eyes to what can happen. I had no idea that technical issues on their end could cause missed interview calls - I probably would have had a complete meltdown thinking I messed something up! All the advice about documentation that everyone shared is so valuable - taking screenshots of call logs, keeping detailed records with dates/times, getting worker ID numbers. I'm definitely going to be super organized from the start and create a dedicated folder for everything CalWORKs related. It's also really helpful to know about backup options like going to the office in person or using that callback service if phone interviews don't work out. @Tasia I'm so glad everything worked out for you and that your worker was understanding about the technical problem! Thank you for sharing your story and keeping us updated - it really helps newcomers like me feel more prepared and less anxious about navigating this whole system. This community is such an amazing support network!

Wow, this entire thread has been so educational! I'm literally brand new to CalWORKs (just submitted my application this week) and had absolutely no idea that system outages could cause missed interview calls like this. @Tasia I can totally understand why you were panicking - I would have been the same way thinking I somehow messed up my benefits! It's such a relief to know that it turned out to be just a technical issue on their end and that your worker was understanding about it. All the documentation advice everyone has shared here is incredibly valuable - taking screenshots of call logs, keeping detailed records with dates/times/worker IDs, having backup plans like going in person. I'm definitely going to start implementing all of these strategies from day one. This community is amazing - seeing how everyone jumped in to help with practical advice and share their own experiences really shows what a supportive resource this is for navigating what can be such a confusing system. Thank you for sharing your story and keeping us updated on the resolution - it gives those of us just starting out so much valuable insight into what we might encounter and how to handle it!

I just want to add my voice to everyone else who's shared their experiences here - you're definitely not alone in feeling confused about this system! I went through the exact same worries when I first started receiving CalWORKs about 5 months ago. What really helped me understand it was realizing that CalWORKs is essentially the government's safety net program - they've determined that your family needs assistance based on your income and circumstances, so they're going to provide that assistance from government funds regardless of what happens with your daughter's father. The child support cooperation is completely separate - it's just the state saying "we're helping your family, but if we can get the other parent to contribute, we're going to try." But whether they succeed or fail at collecting doesn't change your monthly CalWORKs payment at all. I've been getting consistent benefits for months now even though I'm pretty sure they haven't collected anything from my child's father. The amount on my EBT card is exactly the same every month. If they do eventually collect support, I might get that extra $100 monthly disregard payment, but my regular benefits continue either way. Don't feel embarrassed about asking these questions - the application process throws so much information at you when you're already stressed, and caseworkers rarely have time to explain how everything actually works. Your CalWORKs benefits are secure regardless of the child support situation, and that's the most important thing to understand!

I completely understand your confusion! When I first started CalWORKs about 6 months ago, I had the exact same questions and worries. The child support cooperation requirement can be really overwhelming when you don't understand how it all works together. Here's what I wish someone had explained to me from the beginning: Your CalWORKs Cash Aid is completely guaranteed and comes from government funding - it has absolutely nothing to do with whether they can locate or collect from your daughter's father. Think of CalWORKs as the state's promise to help families in need, regardless of what individual parents do or don't do. The child support cooperation you signed just means you agree to provide information and help with the process IF they need you to, but you're not responsible for the outcome. Even if they never find him, never collect a penny, or if he disputes paternity - your EBT card will still get loaded with the exact same amount every month. If they DO eventually collect child support, you'll get that extra $100 monthly "disregard" payment on top of your regular benefits since you have one child. But that's just a bonus if it happens - your regular CalWORKs amount stays the same either way. I've been getting consistent benefits for 6 months now even though they haven't collected anything from my son's father yet. Don't feel embarrassed about being confused - this system is complicated and they really don't explain it well during the stressful application process! Your benefits are secure no matter what happens with child support.