I was in the same boat a few months ago. It took me FOREVER to get through to someone. When I finally did, they told me I was supposed to have received an orientation packet in the mail weeks earlier, which I never got. They were about to start the sanction process even though they never properly notified me! Make sure you document EVERYTHING - dates you called, who you spoke with, etc. They might try to blame you for their mistake.

I went through something similar when my case changed last year. Here's what worked for me: First, don't panic about sanctions - they have to follow specific steps before they can actually reduce your benefits, and it sounds like your worker skipped some important ones. Try calling your county office first thing in the morning (around 8 AM) - that's when you're most likely to get through to a real person. Have your case number ready and specifically ask to speak with your assigned worker or their supervisor. If you still can't reach anyone, consider filing a complaint with the county's CalWORKs program manager. Every county has to have a process for handling complaints about WTW services. You can usually find this information on your county's website. Also, check if your county has a WTW contractor (like MAXIMUS or another company) that handles the workshops separately from the county office. Sometimes they have their own phone numbers that are easier to get through to. Keep trying - you have rights in this process and they can't sanction you without proper notice and giving you a chance to comply!

I went through something similar last year and it's so stressful! The key thing is to act fast on that appeal - you really do only have 90 days from the denial letter date. While you're waiting for the hearing, try to gather any evidence you can: work schedules, school attendance records, receipts from other stores showing you were elsewhere, anything that proves you couldn't have made those transactions. One thing that helped me was requesting the detailed transaction report from the county - it shows exactly what stores, times, and amounts. Sometimes there are obvious red flags like multiple transactions minutes apart at stores across town from each other. Also, if you haven't already, file a police report. Even if the police don't investigate, having that report number shows you're taking it seriously and aren't trying to commit fraud yourself. Keep using the replacement money for your normal expenses - that's what it's there for - but definitely don't treat it like "extra" money since you might have to pay it back. Good luck with your appeal! The system is frustrating but people do win these cases when they have evidence.

I'm so sorry this happened to you! This whole situation sounds incredibly stressful and confusing. From what everyone is sharing, it seems like appealing is definitely your best option - don't give up hope yet! One thing I wanted to add that I haven't seen mentioned is to also check if you can get surveillance footage from any stores you were actually at during the time of the fraudulent transactions. I know it sounds like a long shot, but some stores will provide footage to help with fraud cases, especially if you can show you were a regular customer there during the timeframe in question. Also, document EVERYTHING from this point forward - every phone call you make, every person you speak with, dates and times. Keep copies of all letters and forms. This paper trail can be really important if your case drags on. You've got a lot of good advice here about gathering evidence like location data and work records. The fact that you still had your physical card is definitely in your favor. Hang in there - it sounds like many people have successfully fought these denials with the right documentation and persistence!

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!

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.