I went through something similar last year and it was such a nightmare! The key thing that helped me was being super persistent and documenting everything. When I finally got through to LCSA, it turned out they had sent the appointment notice to an address I hadn't lived at for over a year, even though I had updated my address with CalWORKs multiple times. Make sure to ask them specifically what address they have on file for you - that might be the issue right there. Also, don't just rely on phone calls. I ended up going to the LCSA office in person and refusing to leave until someone met with me. Sometimes showing up physically gets results faster than waiting on hold for hours. The whole system is designed to make us give up, but don't let them wear you down! You did nothing wrong by providing all the information you had about your daughter's father.

I'm dealing with something really similar right now! The missed appointment thing seems to happen to so many people - it's like they're setting us up to fail. One thing that really helped me was asking my CalWORKs worker to put a note in my file about any address changes, and then I started taking photos of any mail I sent to document that I'm trying to cooperate. Also, when you do get through to LCSA, ask them to read you the exact information they have for the father - sometimes there are little errors in names or dates that can cause problems. I know it's exhausting having to prove you're doing everything right when you already are, but hang in there. The system is broken but you can get through this! Make sure to ask for that retroactive payment once you get it sorted out.

thats so good they fixing it!! the system is always messing up peoples benefits its like they dont even care that were real people who need to pay bills and feed are kids!

I'm so glad you got this resolved! This is exactly why we need better communication from the county when these system errors happen. Nobody should have to panic about rent money because of a software glitch. It's ridiculous that they can just cut people's benefits by 90% without any notice or explanation. Thank you to everyone who shared helpful advice - especially about Claimyr and knowing our rights to emergency hearings. This community really helps when the system fails us.

UPDATE: I finally got through to someone at the county office! They confirmed they received my pregnancy verification but it was sitting in a queue waiting to be processed. The worker I spoke with went ahead and updated my case while I was on the phone. My benefits will increase starting next month AND they're giving me back pay for this month since I was already past 6 months when I submitted my verification. Thank you all for your help! For anyone dealing with this same issue - definitely keep calling until you reach someone. The squeaky wheel gets the grease!

That's such great news! I'm so glad you were persistent and got it resolved. It's frustrating that these benefits don't update automatically like they should, but your experience gives me hope for my own case. I'm currently 5 months pregnant and want to make sure I'm prepared to follow up right when I hit 6 months. Did they mention anything about what specific documentation they need beyond just the pregnancy verification form? And was there a particular time of day you found better for getting through on the phone?

I'm really glad you found this community! I'm going through something similar right now - just got approved for CalFresh last week but still waiting on CalWORKs. Reading everyone's experiences here has been so helpful and honestly makes me feel less alone in this process. The text notification tip is genius! I had no idea you could set those up in BenefitsCal. I've been obsessively checking the website multiple times a day which is probably not great for my stress levels lol. Definitely going to set that up today. It's encouraging to hear that even though it took 3 weeks, you did get the retroactive payment. That's one of the things I've been most worried about - whether we'd lose out on benefits during the waiting period. Thanks for sharing your experience and for the good vibes! This community has been such a lifesaver for getting real information from people who've actually been through this. The official websites and phone reps never give you the full picture like this. 💙

Welcome to both of you! I'm also relatively new to this community but it's been such a valuable resource. I went through the CalWORKs application process about 6 months ago and I wish I had found this group sooner - would have saved me so much anxiety! For anyone still waiting on approval, I wanted to mention that if you're really struggling to reach someone by phone, some offices have specific "call back" hours where they're less busy. In my county (Orange County), calling right at 8 AM when they open or around 2 PM seemed to work better. Also, if you have to leave a voicemail, mention that you're concerned about meeting rent deadlines - sometimes that gets prioritized. The retroactive payment really is a lifesaver when it finally comes through. Just make sure to keep all your receipts and documentation during the waiting period in case they ask for anything additional. You're both going to get through this! The waiting is the absolute worst part, but once you're approved the ongoing process is much smoother. Keep supporting each other - this community has been such a source of hope for me during tough times. ❤️

also dont 4get about reporting income changes!! if u make more money than ur income reporting threshold (IRT) b4 recert time u gotta tell them in 10 days even if its not recert time yet. my cousin got in trouble for not reporting when she got extra shifts at work and they made her pay back $$$

One more thing to add - if you're worried about missing your recert deadline, you can also set up text alerts through your county's system (if they offer it) or just call your worker about 60 days before your deadline to confirm they have your correct mailing address. I learned the hard way that my address got mixed up in their system and packets were going to my old place for months! Also, keep copies of EVERYTHING you submit - whether online or by mail. Take screenshots of your online submissions and keep them in a folder on your phone. If there's ever a dispute about what you submitted or when, having that proof can save you a lot of hassle. The system isn't perfect but being organized and proactive definitely helps!