wait i didnt even know this was a thing!!! my daughter is 2 and ive been on calworks for a year… does anyone know if theres a form on benefitscal for this or do u have to call?

I just went through this exact same situation last month! I have a 15-month-old and was shocked to find out I'd been missing out on $30/month for over a year. When I called my worker, she said the diaper benefit should have been added automatically when my case started, but there was some kind of system glitch. The good news is they gave me all the backpay from when my daughter was born - it was like getting a $360 check! Definitely call ASAP because the longer you wait, the more money you're missing out on. And don't let them tell you it's "per family" - I had one worker try to tell me that but it's absolutely per child under 3. Pro tip: when you call, ask them to email or mail you a summary of what they added to your case so you have it in writing. That way if there are any issues later, you have proof of what was discussed.

You can usually find your county's direct CalWORKs number on your notice of action letters or any other CalWORKs paperwork they've sent you - it's often printed at the bottom or in a "contact information" section. If you can't find it there, try searching online for "[your county name] CalWORKs office phone number" or check your county's official website. Most counties list their social services contact info pretty prominently. Another trick is to call 211 (the helpline) and ask them to connect you to your local CalWORKs office - they usually have all the direct numbers and can transfer you or give you the number to call back. I really hope you can get through tomorrow morning and get that PIN reset! The whole system is unnecessarily complicated but once you have that county PIN, checking your benefits status becomes so much easier.

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this - the county PIN confusion is something that trips up almost everyone when they first start with CalWORKs! It's honestly ridiculous how poorly this is explained during the application process. I went through the exact same thing about 8 months ago and felt so frustrated. What ended up working for me was going to the office first thing in the morning (around 8:30 AM) without an appointment - they were able to reset my county PIN on the spot and it only took about 15 minutes. The front desk staff can usually handle PIN resets without you needing to see your actual worker. Just bring your ID and case number. Also, once you get it sorted out, definitely set up text alerts through your BenefitsCal account if you haven't already - it'll send you notifications when your benefits are issued so you don't have to worry about calling to check. Hang in there, and I hope you can get this resolved before your rent is due!

Just wanted to add - if this happens again in the future, you can also try calling the main CalWORKs customer service line at 1-877-847-3663. They can sometimes patch you through directly to your worker or at least document that you were waiting for the call. Also, if you're in a county that uses the GetCalFresh portal, you can submit a complaint there about missed appointments. It creates a paper trail that can be helpful if you need to escalate later. Really glad you got it resolved though - system outages are unfortunately pretty common and it's not always the worker's fault!

So glad you got it resolved! This is actually really common - I work as a benefits advocate and see this happen to clients all the time. System outages, scheduling mix-ups, and worker overload are unfortunately just part of the reality with CalWORKs right now. For anyone reading this thread who might face this in the future: always call the same day if your worker doesn't call at the scheduled time. Don't wait! And definitely keep records like others mentioned - date, time, who you spoke with, what was said. I tell all my clients to treat these appointments like job interviews - be 10 minutes early, have all docs ready, and follow up immediately if something goes wrong. The system has flaws but most workers really are trying their best with impossible caseloads.

I went through this exact same situation about 6 months ago - $342 stolen from my CalWORKs cash aid while my card was in my purse the whole time! I was so confused and scared they wouldn't believe me. Here's what worked for me: I called the EBT customer service line immediately and they were actually really helpful. They explained that card skimming is super common now - criminals put devices on card readers that steal your info without you knowing. Then they make fake cards with your account info. The investigation took about 2 weeks for me, but I did get all my money back. The key things that helped: - I reported it within 24 hours of discovering it - I had receipts showing I used my card at a different location around the same time as the theft - I was very detailed in my written statement on the EBT-2259 form For the emergency assistance - don't give up! Call back and ask different people until someone helps. I had to call 3 times before I found a worker who knew about the emergency funds. Tell them you're facing eviction due to the theft and ask specifically about "immediate need payments" or "emergency assistance." You're going to get through this! The system can be frustrating but they do replace stolen benefits when it's clearly fraud like this. Keep all your paperwork and don't let them make you feel like you did anything wrong.

I'm so sorry this happened to you! As someone who's been on CalWORKs for a few years, I know how terrifying it is when your benefits get stolen, especially when it's rent money. The skimming scams are getting really bad - they put these tiny devices on card readers that you can't even see, and they steal your card info without you knowing. Here's what I learned when my friend went through this same thing: 1. You did the right thing calling EBT customer service first. Make sure you get a reference number for your report. 2. When you fill out the EBT-2259 form, be as detailed as possible. Write down exactly where you were when the theft happened, that your card never left your possession, and include any receipts from legitimate transactions you made around that time. 3. For emergency help with rent - call your county office and specifically ask about "emergency assistance due to EBT theft." Some workers don't know about all the emergency programs available. If the first person says no, ask for a supervisor. 4. File a police report too, even if they say they can't investigate. Having that report number can help with your county case. The good news is that people ARE getting their money back from these thefts - it just takes time. Don't let them make you feel like you're lying. This is happening to so many people right now. You're going to get through this!

One more thing - once you apply for CalWORKs and they open a child support case, that case continues even if you later stop receiving Cash Aid. So be prepared for that. The only way to close it would be if you both agree to close it and you're no longer on public assistance. I wish someone had told me that before I applied!

Hey Emily, I totally understand your stress about this situation! I went through something similar when I first applied for CalWORKs. Here's what helped me: I called the county office before applying and asked to speak with someone about the child support requirements. They explained everything upfront, including the Good Cause exemption process that Natalie mentioned. Even though it sounds like you might not qualify for the exemption, it's worth understanding all your options. Also, when you do talk to your child's father, maybe frame it as "I need temporary help to get back on my feet, and this is unfortunately a requirement" rather than making it sound permanent. Some counties also have family mediation services that can help parents work through these situations. The most important thing is that you get the help you need right now - your housing stability matters for both you and your child. Don't let fear of potential relationship drama keep you from accessing benefits you're entitled to when you're in a tough spot!