Just noticed you mentioned you're a new applicant - did you complete your WTW (Welfare to Work) appointment yet? Sometimes they hold the first cash payment until after you've done that initial WTW orientation meeting. Might be worth checking if that's what's delaying things.

Hey @Zara Rashid! I was in a similar situation about 6 months ago - single mom, just approved, super stressed about when the cash would hit. Here's what I learned: for new cases, they sometimes take 3-5 business days from approval to load your first cash payment, regardless of the normal schedule. Since you were approved "last week" and got your card yesterday, I'd expect it to show up within the next day or two. One thing that helped me was checking my balance multiple times throughout the day - sometimes the money loads overnight or early morning. Also, if you have your approval paperwork, look for any mention of "first payment date" - mine was buried in the small print but it was there. If nothing shows up by Thursday and you're really stressed about rent, definitely contact your worker about emergency assistance options. Good luck!

I'm dealing with this exact same issue right now! My CalWORKs cash aid shows up when I check my balance, but every ATM I try gives me a "transaction declined" message. It's so stressful when you need the money for bills and can't access it. Reading through all these responses has been really helpful though - I had no idea about the cash back option at stores. I'm going to try that tomorrow at my local grocery store. Also going to look into that Claimyr service to try to reach my caseworker faster. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and solutions. It's reassuring to know I'm not the only one dealing with this and that there are workarounds while we get it sorted out with the county!

Hey is anyone still having trouble withdrawing cash from the ATMs or is it just me only?

Just checking back - were you able to get cash back at a store or get through to someone at the county? If multiple locations are having the same issue, it's likely an account-specific problem rather than a general system outage.

So glad you were able to get your rent money! The ATM issue is really frustrating but at least the cash back workaround saved the day. You might want to call the EBT customer service line (when you have more time) to report that the ATMs aren't working - sometimes they don't know about these issues unless people report them. Also keep an eye on whether this happens again next month, because if it does it might be worth getting a replacement card just in case there's something wrong with the magnetic strip that only affects ATM transactions.

Just wanted to add that if you're having trouble reaching your caseworker by phone, you can also try visiting your local county office in person. I know it's not always convenient with little ones, but sometimes showing up in person gets faster results than waiting on hold for hours. When I had issues with missing benefits last year, I went in person with my kids and they were able to pull up my case right away and fix the problem on the spot. Plus they gave me a printed copy of my updated benefit calculation so I could see exactly what I was getting. If you do go in person, try to go early in the morning - that's usually when wait times are shortest.

I work at a county office and wanted to clarify a few things that might help everyone here. First, the diaper benefit is indeed automatic - if you have children under 3 and receive CalWORKs cash aid, it should be included in your monthly payment without a separate application. However, sometimes there are system glitches or data entry errors that cause it to be missed. If you're missing the benefit, here's what I recommend: 1) Check your most recent Notice of Action for a line item mentioning "diaper assistance" or similar wording, 2) If it's not there, contact your worker immediately, and 3) Ask specifically about retroactive payments - the policy varies by county but most will go back at least 90 days. One important note: the benefit does have some exceptions. If your child is in a subsidized daycare program that provides diapers, or if there are other duplicate services, you might not qualify. But most families with children under 3 should be receiving this automatically. Don't give up if the first person you talk to seems confused - ask to speak with a supervisor if needed.

Congratulations on your new job! 🎉 That's such wonderful news and a huge step forward for you and your family. I just wanted to add one more resource that might be helpful - if you haven't already, consider connecting with your local WorkSource or America's Job Center. Even though you've already found employment, they often have ongoing support services for people who are transitioning from benefits to work. They might offer things like: - Free financial literacy classes to help you manage your new budget - Career coaching to help you succeed in your new role - Information about additional training opportunities at Target (many locations offer tuition assistance for employees) - Connections to other working parents in similar situations Also, don't forget to celebrate this achievement! Getting a job while managing CalWORKs requirements and caring for two young kids is no small feat. You've clearly put in a lot of effort to make this happen, and you should be really proud of yourself. The fact that you're asking all these thoughtful questions ahead of time shows you're going to handle this transition really well. You've got a great support system here in this community, and it sounds like you're taking all the right steps to set yourself up for success. Wishing you all the best as you start this new chapter! 💪

Congratulations on your new job at Target! 🎉 This is such an exciting milestone and you should be really proud of yourself. I wanted to add something that hasn't been mentioned yet - make sure to ask about Target's Employee Assistance Program (EAP) during your orientation. Many Target locations offer free counseling services, financial planning assistance, and even legal advice through their EAP. This can be incredibly helpful during the transition period when you're juggling work, kids, and benefit changes. Also, since you're worried about reporting timelines and getting through to your worker, you might want to consider reporting your job in writing as well as by phone. You can usually submit income changes through your county's online portal or by fax. Having a paper trail can protect you if there are any disputes later about when you reported. One more tip - Target often has employee resource groups or networks for working parents. Don't be shy about connecting with other parent employees - they can be a great source of practical advice about managing work schedules around kids' needs. You're being so thoughtful and proactive about this whole process. That mindset is going to serve you really well as you transition from benefits to work. Best of luck with your first week! 💪