Quick update for everyone: I checked with several counties, and all of them confirmed they're accepting walk-ins for recertifications. However, many offices are experiencing higher than normal traffic due to staffing issues post-pandemic. One important tip: If you go in person, ask them to make a note in your case file that you attempted the phone appointment but couldn't get through after a reasonable wait time. This documentation can protect you if there's any question about whether you made a good faith effort to complete your recertification on time.

I've been through this exact situation multiple times! The phone system is absolutely broken - I once waited 4 hours only to get disconnected right when someone picked up. Here's what worked for me: Go to the office first thing when they open (usually 8am). Bring a printed copy of your appointment confirmation if you have it, plus screenshots showing how long you were on hold. Most importantly, bring EVERYTHING - birth certificates, Social Security cards, rent receipts, utility bills, bank statements, pay stubs, school enrollment forms if you have kids, medical documentation, etc. Even bring stuff you think they won't need because they'll ask for something random you forgot. When you get there, be super polite but firm - explain you had a phone appointment, waited hours, and couldn't get through. Ask them to document in your case that you made a good faith effort. Most workers understand the phone system is a mess and will work with you. Also, if this happens again in the future, try calling right at 8am when they open - that's usually when you have the best chance of getting through quickly. Good luck tomorrow!

One more important point: If you're starting a GED program, make sure you ask about supportive services! CalWORKs can provide: - Transportation assistance to get to and from classes - Book and supplies money - Childcare during class and study time Don't miss out on these benefits - they're designed to help you succeed in your education while meeting your WTW requirements. Some counties also have specific CalWORKs counselors at community colleges and adult schools who can help you navigate the system.

I'm currently in the process of getting my GED approved for my WTW hours too! One thing I learned from talking to other people in my area is that you should ask your worker about "concurrent enrollment" if there's a community college near you. Some counties will let you take GED prep classes at the community college AND get college credit for them at the same time. That way when you finish your GED, you're already started on college courses which can also count toward WTW. Also, if you're worried about the 30 hours, ask about "barrier removal" activities. If you have any issues like transportation problems, childcare needs, or even mental health stuff, they sometimes count counseling or case management toward your hours while you're getting your GED. Every little bit helps when you're trying to make those 30 hours work with school! Good luck with getting everything approved - sounds like you're on the right track now!

You'll get your first SAR7 form about 5 months after your approval. So if you were approved in July, expect it around December. The form is due by the 5th of your reporting month (which would be January in this example). One tip: CalWORKs now offers the option to complete your SAR7 online through the BenefitsCal website, which is much easier than the paper form. You can upload photos of any required documents right from your phone. Glad you were able to reach someone about the Immediate Need payment. If approved, they typically issue those within 3 business days, so that should help bridge the gap until your regular payment date.

I went through this same frustrating experience when I first got approved! The waiting period between getting your card and actually having funds available is one of those things they really should explain better upfront. Since you mentioned your case number ends in 9, you're definitely in the 20th payment group. While you're waiting for a response on the immediate need payment, here are a few other options that might help: Some churches have emergency food pantries that don't require appointments - you could call around and ask. Also, if you have any friends or family on WIC, sometimes they have extra vouchers they can't use before they expire. The system is definitely not designed with families' immediate needs in mind, but hang in there - once you get into the regular payment cycle it becomes more predictable. Just make sure to budget around those specific dates (1st, 10th, or 20th) going forward.

I want to correct something important: for appeals, you need to request the appeal within 90 days of receiving your Notice of Action. When you submit the appeal form, check the box for "continuing benefits" if you were already receiving aid that they're trying to cut off. In your case, since this is a new application denial, focus on gathering strong evidence of all possible deductions. For a family of 6 in LA county with a disabled spouse, you should also immediately apply for: 1. Medi-Cal (if you haven't already) 2. IHSS for your husband's care needs 3. Housing assistance programs (separate from CalWORKs) 4. LIHEAP for utility bill assistance 5. School meal programs for the children Lastly, request an "expedited determination" on your CalFresh case review, as $25 sounds suspiciously low for a family of 6 even if you're over the CalWORKs limit.

IHSS could be a game-changer for your family! Since your husband has severe RA and needs help with daily activities, he would likely qualify for In-Home Supportive Services. Here's what's great about it: YOU can be his paid caregiver through IHSS, which means you'd get paid (around $17-18/hour in LA County) for providing his care. This income is treated differently for CalWORKs calculations and might actually help your case since it's considered "self-employment" with different deduction rules. To apply for IHSS, call 1-888-944-4477 or visit your local Social Services office. They'll do an assessment of your husband's needs and determine how many hours of care he qualifies for per week. Even if he only qualifies for 10-15 hours weekly, that's still $170-270 extra income that could ironically help you qualify for CalWORKs due to the way they calculate self-employment income. Also, once you're getting IHSS payments, make sure to mention this to your CalWORKs worker during your appeal - they need to recalculate your eligibility based on this new income source and its associated deductions. Many families don't realize IHSS can actually help rather than hurt their other benefit eligibility!

I had a similar issue with my CalWORKs and CalFresh interview. I finally contacted my local legal aid office and they helped me resolve it. They can sometimes call the county on your behalf and navigate the system better than we can on our own. Google "legal aid" plus your county name.

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this - it's absolutely maddening! I went through something similar last year and what finally worked for me was calling first thing in the morning (like 8:00 AM sharp when they open) and asking to speak with a supervisor about the pattern of missed interviews. I also started recording the exact times I was available for each scheduled call in a notebook with dates. When I finally got through to someone with authority, I read off all the missed appointments and they were able to see in their system that I had been marked as "no show" when I was actually waiting by the phone. The supervisor ended up scheduling me with a senior worker who actually called when she said she would. Sometimes you have to escalate to get someone who cares. Don't give up - your kids need those benefits and this is THEIR mistake, not yours!