After you get this fixed (and you will!), make sure you take screenshots of EVERYTHING you submit through BenefitsCal and keep all confirmation emails. I've learned to document absolutely everything because of situations exactly like yours. Also, did you already get your discontinuance notice in the mail or just saw it online? Sometimes the system shows discontinued before they even send the notice explaining why.

I'm so sorry you're going through this - the stress of losing benefits when you did everything right is awful. Based on what everyone's shared here, it sounds like you have a really good chance of getting this reversed since you have all your confirmation emails as proof. One thing I'd add - when you do get through to someone (whether by phone, office visit, or through that Claimyr service), ask them to put a note in your case file about the system error and request a copy of that note for your records. Sometimes these "glitches" happen repeatedly if there's something wrong with how your case is coded in their system. Also, if you're in a county that has CalWORKs advocates or legal aid, they might be able to help expedite this. Many of them have direct lines to supervisors that can bypass the broken phone system. You shouldn't have to stress about rent when you followed all the rules!

So relieved to see your update! This whole thread should be pinned somewhere because the specific language you all shared is GOLD. I'm dealing with a similar situation right now with my SAR7 being "under review" for 12 days and my benefits reduced to zero. I'm definitely going to use those exact phrases when I call tomorrow - "administrative restoration due to timely recertification with delayed processing" and ask about Immediate Need assistance. It's crazy that we have to learn the magic words just to get what we're entitled to, but thank you everyone for sharing the system tricks that actually work! @Ethan Moore please keep us posted on whether the 48-hour timeline actually happens. Fingers crossed for you!

I'm so sorry you're going through this stress, @Ethan Moore. Your situation is unfortunately becoming way too common lately. I went through something similar about 6 months ago where my recertification was "lost" in the system for 18 days even though I had confirmation receipts for everything I submitted. A few things that helped me get it resolved faster: 1. When you call, immediately ask to speak to a "recertification specialist" rather than general intake staff - they have more authority to actually fix these processing delays. 2. Reference your BenefitsCal submission timestamps and confirmation numbers. The workers can see exactly when you submitted everything in their system. 3. If they try to brush you off again, ask them to put a note in your case file that you requested expedited processing due to "discontinued benefits despite timely recertification" - this creates accountability. The fact that you completed everything on October 16th and it's still not processed is completely unacceptable. You should definitely not have to keep taking time off work for their administrative failures. Keep pushing for that supervisor and don't let them make you feel like this is normal - it's not your fault their system is broken. Hoping you get this resolved quickly! 🤞

Congratulations on your approval! One thing I always recommend after recertification is to check your benefit amount calculation carefully. The Notice of Action you receive should show exactly how they calculated your grant amount. If your income changed at all, make sure the new amount makes sense. I've seen too many cases where data entry errors led to incorrect benefit amounts, and it's much easier to fix these right away than months later. Also remember that if your income increases before your next report is due, you only need to report it if it exceeds your Income Reporting Threshold (IRT), which should be listed on your approval notice.

So happy for you! I'm going through my recertification right now and this gives me hope. Quick question - when you uploaded all those extra pay stubs to BenefitsCal, did you have any trouble with the file sizes? I keep getting error messages when I try to upload my documents and I'm worried they won't have everything they need for my interview next week. Also, did they give you any timeline on when your benefits would actually restart? Mine got suspended during the review period and my kids and I are really struggling without the assistance.

Just wanted to add my experience here! I went through this same panic last year when I got my refund right before my renewal. I called my county office and they confirmed what everyone is saying - tax refunds are completely exempt and don't need to be reported. What really helped me was actually reading the CalWORKs handbook section on exempt income. It's all spelled out there if you want to see it in writing. The exemption covers ALL types of tax refunds - regular refunds, EITC, Child Tax Credit, everything. One tip: if you're still worried, you can always ask your worker to note in your case file that you asked about this and they confirmed refunds are exempt. That way there's documentation if any questions come up later. But honestly, this is such a standard rule that most workers know it by heart. Don't stress about it - file your taxes when you're ready and use that refund for whatever you need!

I'm so glad you asked this question because I was literally in the same boat last year! I was getting my first big tax refund with the Child Tax Credit and was terrified it would mess up my benefits. Just to echo what everyone else is saying - you are 100% safe. Tax refunds are completely exempt from CalWORKs income calculations. I ended up getting almost $5,000 back and it didn't affect my benefits at all. My worker actually rolled her eyes a little when I asked about it because apparently this is one of the most common questions they get during tax season! The key thing that gave me peace of mind was learning that the exemption isn't just some loophole - it's specifically written into the program rules because lawmakers recognize that tax refunds are basically your own money being returned to you, not new income. Don't let the stress of this keep you from filing your taxes on time. File when you're ready, use that money for whatever you and your kids need, and don't worry about your CalWORKs renewal. The two things are completely separate!