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Hey Dylan! I'm so sorry you're going through this stress - IEVS reports are honestly one of the most anxiety-inducing things about being on CalWORKs. I went through something similar about a year ago and felt like I was going to have a panic attack when I got that letter! The good news is that everyone here has given you excellent advice, and since your job was in 2022 but you didn't apply for benefits until late 2023, you should definitely be in the clear for any overpayment issues. That timeline is crucial - make sure you lead with that information in ALL your communications with the county. A couple additional tips from my experience: - When you call your old employer, mention it's for "government benefit verification" - that usually gets you transferred to the right department faster - If you used any tax prep software like TurboTax or H&R Block in 2022, you might still be able to log in and download your documents from there - Consider sending a brief email or letter TODAY just acknowledging you received the notice and are working to gather the requested documents - it shows good faith effort The 10-day deadline feels impossible but it's really just meant to get you to respond, not necessarily have everything perfect. You've got a whole community here rooting for you! Keep us posted on how it goes! 💪
Thank you Natasha! Your comment really helped calm my nerves. I love that you mentioned sending something today just to acknowledge I got the notice - that's such a smart move that I hadn't thought of. I'm definitely going to do that right after I finish reading all these responses. It's amazing how supportive this community is! I was feeling so alone and panicked when I posted this, but now I have an actual plan of action. Going to emphasize that 2022 vs late 2023 timeline in everything I send them. Really appreciate you and everyone else taking the time to help a stressed-out newcomer! 🙏
Welcome to the community! I know dealing with IEVS reports feels overwhelming, but you've gotten some really excellent advice here. I just wanted to add one more resource that might help - if you're having trouble accessing your 2022 tax documents online, you can also request a "wage and income transcript" directly from the IRS by calling 1-800-908-9946. It's free and shows all the income that was reported to them for that tax year, including from that warehouse job. Also, don't be too hard on yourself for not keeping those old pay stubs - most people don't expect to need employment records from 2+ years ago! The system really should give clearer guidance about document retention, especially for people who move frequently or have unstable housing situations. Since this was clearly before you even applied for CalWORKs, you're dealing with what's basically a paperwork mismatch rather than any kind of fraud issue. The county just needs to verify that the income their computers flagged was legitimate and properly reported on your taxes. Once you can show them that timeline and provide any supporting docs (W-2, tax return, bank statements, etc.), this should get resolved pretty quickly. Hang in there - this community has your back! 💙
Thank you so much Dylan! That IRS transcript tip is incredibly helpful - I had no idea you could get that kind of documentation directly from them. I'm going to call that number tomorrow if I can't get through to my old employer. You're absolutely right that most people don't expect to need employment records from that far back, especially when you're moving around. It really should be clearer what to keep and for how long! I'm feeling so much more confident now knowing this is just a paperwork issue and not something that could really hurt me since the timeline is so clear. This community is amazing - I was honestly scared to even post about this but everyone has been so helpful and understanding. Thank you again! 🙏
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Hey StarGazer101! Welcome to CalWORKs! I see you've gotten some great advice already about the payment schedule and withdrawal limits. Just wanted to add that if you're really worried about timing, you can also call the EBT customer service number (1-877-328-9677) to check your balance before heading to the ATM. The automated system is available 24/7 and will tell you exactly how much is available on your card. Also, since you mentioned you're new - make sure to keep all your receipts and paperwork organized from day one. It makes everything so much easier when you have to do your redetermination or if any issues come up with your case. Good luck with getting your rent sorted out!
Thanks Caesar! That's really helpful about the EBT customer service number. I didn't know you could check your balance that way. I'm definitely going to call that tonight before going to the ATM. And you're absolutely right about keeping paperwork organized - I'm already feeling overwhelmed with all the forms and notices I've gotten in just one week! Do you have any tips for what specific documents are most important to keep? I don't want to lose something crucial later on.
@Caesar Grant That EBT customer service number is a lifesaver! I just tried it and was able to check my balance instantly. For organizing paperwork, I keep a folder with my original approval notice has (all your important case info ,)any NOAs Notice (of Action you) get, your monthly budget worksheets if your worker gives you those, and definitely save any correspondence about changes to your case. Also keep receipts from any required activities like job search or appointments - you might need to prove you did them later. A simple accordion folder works great and costs like $3 at the dollar store.
Hey there! I'm also pretty new to CalWORKs (got approved about 6 months ago) and wanted to share what I learned about the cash withdrawal situation. Everyone's given you great advice about the payment schedule, but here's something that really helped me: I always test my card the day before I absolutely need the money. Even though your case number ends in 3 so you should get benefits on the 1st, I'd still recommend checking at like 11:50pm on the 31st just to be safe. Also, regarding the withdrawal limits - I found out that some banks (like Bank of America) will let you withdraw more at their actual branch ATMs compared to the standalone machines. My regular ATM only lets me take out $400 at a time, but at the bank branch I can get $600. Just something to keep in mind for future rent payments! One more thing - if you end up having to split your rent payment over multiple days due to withdrawal limits, most landlords are understanding if you explain the situation ahead of time. I told my landlord about the EBT limits and now he knows I might pay in two parts on the 1st and 2nd of each month.
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this is why i always keep a little extra in my account from the month before if possible. never know when theyll mess up the timing and then your stuck with late fees and stuff. glad it worked out for you tho!
That's really smart advice! I wish I could save something from month to month but right now every dollar goes to rent, utilities, and food. Hopefully once I finish my job training program next month I'll be able to build up a little cushion. It would definitely help with the stress of situations like this.
I'm so glad your payment came through! This thread is really helpful for understanding that delays can happen even when everything is fine with your case. I'm new to CalWORKs and was wondering - is there any way to get notifications when payments are processed, or do we just have to keep checking our cards/BenefitsCal account? It would be nice to have some kind of alert system so we don't have to stress about checking all day.
Unfortunately there's no automatic notification system for when CalWORKs payments are processed. You have to manually check either your EBT card balance or log into your BenefitsCal account to see if the payment has posted. Some people set reminders on their phones to check periodically on the 1st rather than obsessively checking all day. The uncertainty is definitely one of the most stressful parts of the whole system!
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I'm really new to this community and just got approved for CalWORKs about 3 weeks ago, so I'm still learning how everything works. Reading through this whole thread has been both eye-opening and really comforting! I had no clue that payment delays like this were so common - if it happened to me right now, I'd probably be having a complete meltdown just like you did this morning. What really stands out to me is how supportive everyone is here and all the practical advice being shared. The emergency buffer tip that keeps coming up makes so much sense - even $20-30 could save so much stress in situations like this. I'm definitely going to start working on building that up, even if it's just a few dollars at a time. It's also really helpful to know the warning signs that it's just a processing delay (active case on BenefitsCal, paperwork submitted on time) versus something more serious. As someone brand new to navigating this system, having a community where people actually understand the anxiety of depending on these benefits is incredibly valuable. So glad your payment came through and thanks for updating everyone - it really helps us newcomers know what to expect!
Welcome to the community! I just joined recently too and this thread has been such a lifesaver for understanding what to expect with CalWORKs payments. Like you, I would have been absolutely panicking if this happened to me - the anxiety of depending on these benefits for essential expenses is so real. What I love about this community is how everyone shares actual experiences rather than just generic advice. The emergency buffer tip that everyone keeps mentioning is brilliant - I'm going to start putting aside even just $5-10 when I can to build up that safety net. It's amazing how much peace of mind even a tiny cushion can provide. Thanks for sharing your perspective as another newcomer! It's reassuring to know there are others who are just starting to navigate this system and finding support here. This community really seems to understand the unique stress that comes with these situations.
Welcome to the community, Val! I'm also very new here (just got approved for CalWORKs about a month ago) and this thread has been incredibly helpful for me too. Reading everyone's experiences really shows how normal these payment delays are, even though they feel like emergencies when you're just starting out and don't know what to expect. The emergency buffer advice that keeps coming up is something I'm definitely going to prioritize now. Even knowing that $15-20 could prevent that complete panic feeling makes it seem like such a worthwhile goal to work toward, even if it takes time to build up. What really strikes me about this community is how genuinely supportive everyone is. People here actually understand the day-to-day reality of living on these benefits and the constant anxiety that any disruption can cause. It's such a relief to find a space where you don't have to explain why a payment delay is so stressful - everyone just gets it. Thanks for sharing your perspective as another newcomer! It's comforting to know others are going through the same learning process and finding the same value in this community.
I'm completely new to both CalWORKs and this community - just got approved for benefits two weeks ago and still figuring everything out. Reading through this entire thread has been such a relief! I had no idea that payment delays like this were so common. If this happened to me right now, I would absolutely be in full panic mode just like you were this morning. What really impresses me about this community is how everyone jumps in to help with real, practical advice based on their actual experiences. The emergency buffer tip that multiple people mentioned is something I'm definitely going to start working on, even if it's just $10-15 to begin with. I can see how having even that small cushion would make such a huge difference for peace of mind. It's also really helpful to learn about the warning signs that indicate it's just a processing delay versus a real problem with your case. As someone brand new to navigating this system, having access to this kind of real-world knowledge from people who actually live this experience every day is invaluable. Thank you so much for sharing your experience and for updating everyone when your payment came through - it really helps newcomers like me understand what to expect and that these scary situations usually do work out okay!
Welcome to the community, Oliver! I'm also really new here (just started receiving benefits about a month ago) and this thread has been such an education for me too. Like you, I would have been absolutely terrified if this payment delay happened to me - the stress of depending on these benefits for basic needs makes any disruption feel like a crisis. What I'm taking away from reading everyone's experiences is that these delays are way more common than I realized, and the community knowledge here is invaluable. The emergency buffer advice that keeps coming up throughout this thread is something I'm going to make a priority too. Even starting with $10-15 like you mentioned seems so much more manageable than trying to save a huge amount all at once. It's incredible how supportive this community is - everyone shares real experiences and practical solutions rather than just generic advice. As someone new to navigating this system, having access to this kind of genuine understanding and support makes such a difference. Thanks for sharing your perspective as another newcomer! It's reassuring to know others are going through the same learning process.
Anita George
UPDATE: You all are amazing! I called this morning and specifically asked about the One-Time Special Needs Payment and Barrier Removal Funds like you suggested. My worker still seemed confused, but I asked to speak with a WTW specialist. The specialist knew exactly what I was talking about! They're going to cover my insurance down payment through their Barrier Removal Funds because it's directly preventing me from getting to my interview and potential job. I had to fill out some extra paperwork and provide proof of the insurance quote plus my interview confirmation, but it's getting approved! Thank you all so much for your help - I never would have known to ask for these specific programs otherwise.
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Abigail Spencer
•omg thats awesome!! im going to try this 2 cuz my insurance is due next month and i was stressing about it
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Harold Oh
That's such great news, Anita! 🎉 Thanks for updating us - this is exactly the kind of information that helps everyone in this community. It's so frustrating that knowledge about these resources seems to depend on which worker you get, but at least now we know to specifically ask for a "WTW specialist" if our regular worker doesn't know about Barrier Removal Funds or One-Time Special Needs Payments. Good luck with your interview! Hope you get the job and this whole experience leads to better things for you.
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