UPDATE: I went to the office this morning and waited for 3 hours, but finally got to speak with a supervisor. Turns out they approved my replacement but there was some kind of "system error" when it was supposed to transfer to my EBT card. They had to manually reprocess it and promised the money would be on my card within 24 hours. The supervisor gave me her direct number to call if it doesn't show up by tomorrow. I asked why nobody told me about this error when I called before, and she just shrugged and said the regular workers probably couldn't see that note in the system. So frustrating! Will update tomorrow if the money actually shows up.

This is exactly why I always tell people to go to the office in person when dealing with EBT theft replacements! The phone system is completely useless and the front desk workers often can't see the full picture of what's happening with your case. I'm glad you got a supervisor who could actually identify the system error - that's probably what was causing the delay for everyone else too. Definitely keep that supervisor's direct number handy for future issues. And once your money shows up, I'd recommend taking screenshots of your EBT balance and transaction history just in case there are any other "system errors" down the line. Hope it all works out by tomorrow! 🤞

This is such great advice from everyone! I just wanted to add one more thing that helped me when I moved last year - if you're nervous about doing everything online, you can also call the customer service line for BenefitsCal and they can walk you through the reporting process over the phone while you're logged into your account. I was worried about uploading the wrong documents or missing something important, so I had them on the phone while I submitted everything. They confirmed in real-time that all my documents looked good and were properly attached. It gave me so much peace of mind! Also, definitely keep that confirmation number or screenshot when you submit - I still have mine saved just in case. You're going to love having your own place, and it sounds like your CalFresh benefits will actually help cushion the increased housing costs. Congratulations on this big step!

Congratulations on getting your own place! That's such a huge accomplishment and step toward independence. I totally understand the anxiety about how it might affect your benefits - I went through the same worry when I moved out on my own last year. The key thing everyone's mentioned is absolutely right: you MUST report the address change within 10 days, but the move itself shouldn't hurt your eligibility at all. In fact, going from $600 rent to $1450 plus utilities will likely increase your CalFresh benefits significantly through the shelter deduction calculation. One thing I'd add that I learned the hard way - when you report the change, also mention if your household composition is changing. Since you're moving from living with your mom to living alone, that's technically a household change too, even though your case might already be set up as a separate household. Also, don't be surprised if they ask for additional verification after you submit everything. They might want proof that you're the only person living there, especially if it's a larger apartment. Just be prepared with your lease agreement and maybe a utility bill once you get one. The peace of mind of having your own space is so worth it, and it sounds like your benefits will actually help support this transition rather than hurt it. You've got this!

Hey Zoe! I just wanted to add one more piece of advice that really helped me during my recert interviews - if you're doing the interview by phone, make sure you're in a quiet place where you won't be interrupted. I made the mistake of taking my first recert call while my kids were home and it was so hard to concentrate with all the background noise. Also, don't be surprised if they ask about your employment search activities if you're in the Welfare to Work program. They usually want to know if you're still meeting your participation requirements or if anything has changed with your work activities. One last thing - if for some reason you miss your scheduled interview time on Tuesday, don't panic! You can usually reschedule, but make sure to call them as soon as possible to avoid any delays in your benefits. You've got this! The fact that you're asking all these questions ahead of time shows you're well-prepared.

Just wanted to chime in as someone who's been through multiple recert interviews over the years - you're going to do great! The anxiety beforehand is always worse than the actual interview itself. One small tip that hasn't been mentioned yet: if they ask about any income or expenses and you're not 100% sure of the exact amount, it's better to give them your best estimate and let them know it's an estimate rather than guess a specific number. For example, if they ask about your monthly utilities and you pay around $150-160, just say "approximately $150-160 for utilities" rather than picking a random specific amount. Also, since you mentioned your sister moved in temporarily, when you report that change, be clear about the timeline - when she moved in and that it's temporary while she looks for her own place. They appreciate when you're upfront about the temporary nature of household changes. The workers really have heard it all before, so don't worry about your situation being unusual or complicated. They're just doing their job to make sure everything is documented properly. You've got all the right information and you're prepared - that's what matters most!

This thread is amazing! I just got approved for CalWORKs about 3 weeks ago and had no idea direct deposit was even an option. My caseworker definitely didn't mention it during orientation - seems like that's a really common experience based on everyone's comments here. I've already been hit with ATM fees twice just trying to access my cash benefits, which is so frustrating when money is already tight. I'm definitely going to look up that CW8572 form and get it submitted ASAP. Really appreciate all the specific tips about keeping the EBT card active during the transition and making sure names match exactly - these are the kinds of details that make all the difference but never get explained properly. One quick question though - for those who switched, did you have to provide a voided check or is there another way to verify your account info? My bank doesn't give out physical checks anymore, everything is electronic. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences, this has been way more helpful than anything I got during the official process!

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I've been on CalWORKs for about 2 months and like so many others here, my caseworker never mentioned direct deposit during orientation. I've been getting hit with ATM fees every time I need to access my cash benefits and it's really frustrating when you're already trying to stretch every dollar. Reading everyone's experiences has convinced me to definitely pursue the CW8572 form - being able to pay bills online and avoid those ATM fees would be such a relief. I really appreciate all the practical tips about keeping the EBT card active during the transition and making sure the names match exactly. It's honestly pretty disappointing that such an important option isn't being explained during the official process, but I'm so grateful this community exists to share real-world advice. Going to download the form today and get this process started!

Update us on what happens! And if they keep giving you the runaround, contact your county Board of Supervisors office. Sounds extreme, but my friend did that after waiting 3 weeks for theft replacement, and suddenly her case was \

I went through this exact same thing 3 months ago and learned the hard way - DO NOT wait the full 25 days! That's just the legal maximum they're allowed to take. I called every single day starting on day 5 and finally got someone who cared on day 12. The key is asking to speak to a supervisor immediately and using the words "emergency hardship" - those are magic words that can get your case expedited. Also, make sure you have your claim number from when you filed the theft report. If they didn't give you one, that's a red flag that your paperwork might not have been properly submitted. I had to go in person twice because my initial report got "lost" in their system. Don't let them tell you to just wait - your rent won't wait and neither should you!