glad u got ur money! mine came thru too 👍 calworks always stressin us out lol

So glad to hear everyone's payments came through! This is exactly why I love this community - we all help each other through these stressful situations. For anyone who might face this in the future, it's worth noting that EBT system delays are more common during the first few days of the month when most benefits are distributed. I always try to keep a small emergency buffer when possible, but I know that's not always realistic for everyone. The EBT customer service number that Fatima shared is definitely worth saving in your contacts!

I'm dealing with the same issue right now! My CalWORKs payment is supposed to come on the 3rd too, but there's nothing showing as pending in BenefitsCal. I've been checking multiple times a day and getting really anxious about it. Reading through everyone's responses here is making me feel a lot better though - it sounds like this is a pretty common glitch with their system, especially around holidays. I haven't received any discontinuance notices either, and my case still shows as Active when I log in. It's frustrating that their pending notification system isn't more reliable since we all depend on knowing when our payments are coming. Thanks for posting about this - sometimes it helps just knowing you're not the only one going through it! I'll wait until the 3rd and see if the payment comes through as scheduled, but it's reassuring to hear from others who've had the same experience and still got their money on time.

I'm going through the exact same thing right now! My payment is also supposed to come on the 3rd and there's absolutely nothing showing as pending in BenefitsCal. I've been refreshing the page constantly for the past two days and it's driving me crazy. Reading through all these responses is such a relief though - it sounds like this pending notification glitch happens to a lot of people, especially around holidays. My case also shows Active and I haven't gotten any discontinuance notices in the mail, so I'm feeling more confident now that the payment will still come through on time. It's so stressful when you're counting on that money for rent and bills! Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - it really helps to know we're not alone in dealing with these system issues. I'll definitely update if my payment doesn't come through on the 3rd, but based on what everyone's saying, it sounds like we should be okay.

I'm dealing with this same frustrating situation right now! Added my daughter to my CalWORKs case about 10 days ago after she moved in with me permanently, and BenefitsCal still shows the old household composition. My caseworker assured me everything was processed on their end, but seeing no changes on the portal was really stressing me out. Reading all these responses has been incredibly helpful - I had no idea that the eligibility system (CalSAWS) and BenefitsCal portal were separate systems that sync on different schedules! That explains why so many of us have experienced this same delay. I was starting to think there was an error with my case. I'm going to follow the advice here and call the EBT customer service line before my next payment date to verify the correct amount will be deposited. Also keeping an eye out for that Notice of Action in the mail since that seems to be the most reliable confirmation. It's such a relief to know this 1-2 week delay is completely normal and doesn't mean anything went wrong with the case processing!

I went through this exact same situation when I added my younger brother to my case about 8 months ago! The BenefitsCal portal took almost 3 weeks to update, which had me really worried at first. But just like everyone else is saying, my payment came through with the correct increased amount even while the website still showed the old household info. What really helped me was setting a reminder to check my EBT balance on my usual payment day instead of constantly refreshing BenefitsCal. The money was there with the right amount for my brother included. I also kept my Notice of Action when it finally arrived - it's great to have that official documentation showing the household change was properly processed. The disconnect between the county's internal system and what we see online is definitely confusing and stressful when you're depending on those benefits for essentials like school supplies. But you did everything right by reporting the change immediately when your daughter moved in. The system is just slow to sync up the display side of things!

Update: I went to Bank of America today with my EBT card and ID, and it worked perfectly! The teller let me withdraw my entire Cash Aid amount with no problems or fees. Thank you all so much for the help! This is going to make paying my rent so much easier.

This is such valuable information! I've been on CalWORKs for about 8 months now and had no idea about the Bank of America teller option. I've been making multiple ATM trips every month too, especially when I need to pay my car payment and insurance at the same time. One thing I'd add - if you don't have a Bank of America nearby, you can also check if your credit union participates in the EBT program. My local credit union told me they can do full Cash Aid withdrawals at the teller window too, though they might charge a small fee (mine was $2). Still way better than making 3-4 ATM trips! Also, for anyone reading this - make sure you bring a valid photo ID when you go to the teller. They're required to check it for EBT transactions.

This happened to me last month too! The ATM issues are so common on benefit payment days. I found that smaller stores like corner markets and gas stations sometimes have better luck with EBT cash back than the big chain stores when the system is overloaded. Also, if you have a Chase or Bank of America nearby, their in-branch tellers can usually process EBT withdrawals even when their ATMs are down. Just bring your ID and EBT card. Hope everyone gets their money sorted out today!

Just wanted to add another option that worked for me - I went to CVS and was able to get $20 cash back when I bought some basic groceries with my EBT card. The cashier said they've had several people doing this today because of the ATM issues. Also, if you have a credit union account, some of them will let you do an emergency cash advance against your EBT balance if you explain the situation. My local credit union helped me out last time this happened. It's ridiculous that we have to jump through all these hoops just to access our own benefits though! Hope this helps someone.