Hey Huckleberry,
I just had an informal Skype 'chat' with UCSB on the 27th about a place there/funding. I think the 'chat' didn't go very well, so I'm trying not to get my hopes up, but I was wondering if you had talked with your POI there at all, or if your news just came as an e-mail? In terms of money, I have some friends in the social sciences and humanities at the UCs who all report receiving way less than the maximum-- around 18k, 19K mostly, but I bet if the dept is telling you you'll likely get 'robust' funding, you'll likely be fine. Congrats!