I'm also pretty new to CalWORKs (got approved about a month ago) and this thread has been incredibly eye-opening! My caseworker gave me almost no information about direct deposit - just said it was "available if I wanted it" but didn't explain any of the actual process or timeline. After reading everyone's experiences, I'm definitely going to pursue it. The tips about black ink, getting stamped copies, and verifying routing numbers with the bank first are so valuable. I had no idea about potential delays from simple things like using the wrong pen color! Quick question for those who've been through this - when you submit the form, do you need to bring your actual bank account holder ID, or is the voided check/bank letter sufficient? My county office website isn't clear about what documents I need to bring with me beyond the completed form. Also really appreciate all the ATM withdrawal info. I had no idea about the rolling 24-hour limit vs midnight reset - that definitely could have caused problems when I need to pay bills. The tip about Costco ATMs being fee-free is amazing too since I shop there anyway. This community is seriously a lifesaver for navigating all this confusing bureaucracy!

This has been such an incredibly helpful thread! I just got approved for CalWORKs two weeks ago and was completely overwhelmed by the whole system. My caseworker basically rushed me through everything and I left with more questions than answers. After reading through all these experiences, I feel so much more prepared to tackle the direct deposit process. The checklist that's emerged from everyone's advice is gold: black ink, multiple copies, stamped receipts, verify routing numbers with the bank, call ahead to notify them about incoming deposits, and follow up every 2 weeks with early morning calls. I had no idea about so many of these details - like the rolling 24-hour ATM limits, the combined $1000 limit for CalWORKs and CalFresh, potential fraud alerts for large withdrawals, or even simple things like routing numbers potentially changing. These are exactly the kinds of real-world details you need but never get from official sources. Planning to submit my direct deposit form this Friday and I'm actually feeling confident about it now instead of anxious. This community is amazing - way better than any official resource I've found. Thank you to everyone who took the time to share their experiences, both successful and frustrating. It makes such a difference for those of us just starting this journey!

This is such a common and frustrating issue! I just went through something very similar last month. My EBT cash showed $38 but kept getting declined everywhere - grocery store, ATM, even trying to get cash back at the pharmacy. I felt so embarrassed standing there with my card being rejected while people waited behind me in line. Turns out there was a hold on my account because I was late submitting my quarterly income report. What really got me was that I HAD submitted it, but apparently one of the pay stubs was too blurry for them to process, so they rejected the whole thing without clearly telling me why. I only found out when I finally got through to my caseworker after calling for three days straight. The silver lining is that once I actually reached someone who could look at my account, they were able to see all my uploaded documents and lift the hold immediately. My benefits were working again within a couple hours. Since you already uploaded your pay stubs to BenefitsCal this morning, you're definitely on the right track! I'd recommend trying to call your worker first thing tomorrow morning around 7:30-8am before the lines get crazy busy. If you can't get through, definitely try that Claimyr service people mentioned - I wish I had known about it when I was dealing with my situation. Don't give up - that money is yours and they have to fix it once you get the right person to look at your case!

I'm so sorry you're going through this - it's such a stressful situation when you can see the money there but can't access it! Based on everything you've described and all the helpful experiences shared in this thread, it definitely sounds like you have a verification hold on your cash benefits due to that "pending verification" status in BenefitsCal. The good news is that you already uploaded your pay stubs this morning, so you're doing everything right! The pattern I'm seeing from everyone's stories is that these holds require manual intervention to remove - the system won't automatically lift them even after you submit the required documents. I'd definitely recommend trying to call your caseworker very early tomorrow morning (around 7:30-8am like Yara suggested) before the phone lines get swamped. If you can't get through after a few tries, that Claimyr service that several people have had success with sounds like it could be really helpful as a backup option. Don't feel bad about being late with the income verification - those reporting requirements can be really confusing and it sounds like you've been dealing with a lot. Based on everyone's experiences here, once you actually reach someone who can look at your account, they should be able to confirm your documents were received and lift the hold pretty quickly. That $20 might seem small to them, but I know every dollar counts when you're struggling. Hang in there and don't give up - that money is rightfully yours!

This thread has been so helpful! I'm a single dad with a 3-year-old daughter, currently receiving CalWORKs benefits, and I've been offered a position at a warehouse that would be $15.75/hour for about 32 hours a week (roughly $2,016 monthly gross). Reading everyone's experiences has given me the confidence to seriously consider this job. I was especially relieved to learn about the income disregard calculation - I had no idea they don't count all your earnings against your benefits! And knowing that childcare assistance is available is huge since my daughter would need daycare while I'm working. One question I have is about the timing of everything - how quickly do the benefit changes take effect after you report your new job? I want to make sure I understand the timeline so I can budget properly during the transition period. Also, does anyone have experience with warehouse work specifically while on CalWORKs? I'm wondering if the physical demands or potential overtime opportunities create any special considerations I should be aware of when reporting to my worker. Thank you all for sharing your stories - it's made such a difference knowing that taking this job could actually improve our financial situation rather than hurt it!

As someone who went through this exact transition about a year ago, I can't emphasize enough how much better off you'll be taking that job! I was making almost the same hourly rate ($16.25) for similar hours with 2 kids, and I was so scared about losing benefits. Here's what actually happened: My cash aid went down from about $700 to around $350, BUT my total monthly income went from $700 to over $1,400 because of my work earnings plus the reduced cash aid. The income disregard calculation really does protect a big chunk of your earnings. The best part was the childcare assistance - I ended up with quality care for my kids that I never could have afforded otherwise. And like others mentioned, your CalFresh might actually increase to help offset the cash aid reduction. One practical tip: Start looking for childcare providers NOW, even before you officially start the job. The approval process can take a few weeks, and you want to have everything lined up. Also, keep detailed records of all your paystubs and communications with your worker - it makes everything smoother. You're making the right choice for your family's future. The transition might feel uncertain at first, but within a couple months you'll wonder why you ever hesitated. Take that job!

This has been such an incredible learning experience reading through everyone's stories! I'm currently applying for CalWORKs in Santa Cruz County with my two kids (family of 3) and had absolutely no idea about the regional payment differences until I found this thread. From what I've gathered, Santa Cruz should be Region 1, so I should expect around $983 for a family of 3 if I get approved, right? The application process has been pretty intimidating - there's so much paperwork and so many requirements to keep track of. But seeing how supportive and knowledgeable everyone is here gives me confidence that I can navigate this system successfully. I'm definitely going to bookmark this thread and come back to it once I start receiving benefits to make sure I'm getting the correct amounts. Thank you all for creating such a valuable resource for people like me who are new to CalWORKs and trying to understand how everything works!

I'm so grateful I found this thread! I'm currently navigating CalWORKs in Riverside County with my 3 kids (family of 4) and had no idea there were regional payment differences until reading all these helpful comments. Based on what everyone has shared, Riverside should be Region 2, so I should expect $1,181 for a family of 4, right? I've been getting around $1,120 per month and never questioned it, but now I'm realizing I might be missing out on about $61 each month! I'm definitely going to call my worker tomorrow and ask for that detailed benefit calculation breakdown that everyone keeps mentioning. The phone system struggles you all describe are so real - I've spent countless hours on hold only to get disconnected. But reading how everyone here helps each other figure out their benefits gives me hope that I can get this sorted out. Thank you all for sharing your experiences and creating such a supportive space for people trying to understand this complex system!

Hey Oliver! I went through this exact situation about 8 months ago when I got laid off from my job at a distribution center. I was getting $390/week from EDD and was so worried about applying for benefits because I thought it would mess up my unemployment somehow, but that's not how it works at all! Your EDD benefits definitely count as income for CalFresh and CalWORKs, but that doesn't mean you won't qualify - especially with kids. I ended up getting about $315/month in CalFresh benefits for me and my two kids, plus some CalWORKs cash aid. It made such a huge difference while I was job hunting. One thing I learned that really helped - when you apply on BenefitsCal, make sure you list ALL your monthly expenses: rent, utilities, phone, transportation costs for job interviews, etc. These deductions actually help you qualify for more benefits, so don't skip anything thinking it's too small to matter. Also, since you mentioned this is all new to you - CalFresh is California's name for food stamps, and EBT is just the card they give you to access the benefits. Same thing, different names. The application covers both CalFresh and CalWORKs cash assistance, so you only have to fill it out once. You're doing the right thing by looking for help while you're between jobs. That's exactly what these programs are designed for - helping families stay stable while getting back on their feet. Don't feel bad about it for even a second!

Hey Oliver! I just wanted to add another perspective as someone who's been through this process recently. I lost my job at a logistics company about 4 months ago and was getting $380/week from EDD - sounds very similar to your situation! The good news is that yes, you can absolutely get CalFresh while receiving unemployment benefits. The EDD income does count toward your total household income, but with kids, the income limits are much higher. I ended up qualifying for about $290/month in CalFresh benefits for me and my daughter, which honestly made groceries so much less stressful. A couple things that really helped me during the application: - Apply online through BenefitsCal.com but also call your county office 2-3 days later to make sure they received everything properly - If you qualify for CalWORKs cash aid, you'll automatically get the maximum CalFresh amount for your household size, which can be really helpful - Keep copies of everything - your EDD award letter, bank statements showing EDD deposits, rent receipts, utility bills One thing I wish I'd known earlier - if money is really tight right now while you wait for approval, look into your local food pantries and churches. Many have weekly food distributions that don't require any paperwork and can really help bridge the gap. You're absolutely doing the right thing applying for help. These programs exist for exactly this situation - when you're between jobs and need support to keep your family stable. Good luck with your application!