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my friend works for the county (not saying which one lol) and she said they changed their interview policy in February but the automated systems and letters didnt get updated until late March. so basically everyone who applied in that gap period got messed up notices. its not your fault at all, they should fix this without making you reapply!
One more thing I forgot to mention - when you go to the office, bring a written statement explaining exactly what happened with dates and times. Include: 1. Date you applied 2. Date and time of scheduled phone interview 3. Date and time they actually called (2 days late) 4. Name of the worker who called (if you have it) 5. Date you submitted all verification documents 6. Date you received the denial notice Hand this to the supervisor directly along with copies (not originals) of any documentation. This creates a paper trail they can't ignore. Always get the name and ID number of anyone you speak with.
Great idea! I'll write everything up tonight. I do have the worker's name from when she called late - it was written on the document checklist she gave me. Should I also bring a copy of my phone records showing they never called on the actual interview date?
This is actually a fairly widespread issue this month. I work with a community organization that helps people with benefit issues, and we've had about 15 clients call today with the same problem. From what I've gathered, there was a system update that caused payment delays for both CalWORKs and CalFresh for cases that were recertified in the last 90 days. Benefits should be deposited within 72 hours according to what the county told us. If you need immediate food assistance, most counties have an expedited emergency food benefit process. Call your local office and specifically ask for the "emergency food benefit request" or visit in person if possible. Make sure to mention you have children with no food - that should trigger expedited service requirements.
Just got mine!!! Just loaded like 10 minutes ago. Check your cards everybody! I think they're fixing it now.
Just checked and mine came through too! What a relief. Thanks everyone for the help and suggestions. Definitely going to look into that Claimyr service for next time there's an issue though - seems like something always goes wrong every few months.
i dont understand why they even bother with such small amounts?? like why not just give people an actual helpful amount that makes a difference? $36 doesnt even fill my gas tank ONE time to get to work. the whole system makes no sense sometimes.
The small cash grant is basically a gateway to the more valuable benefits like childcare, CalFresh, and Medi-Cal. The program is designed with work incentives in mind - as you earn more, the cash grant decreases, but you maintain eligibility for the support services that help you stay employed (like childcare). It's not a perfect system for sure, but understanding how to maximize all the connected benefits is key.
i tried that claimyr thing someone mentioned after seeing it here and it actually worked! i was shocked lol. got through to my worker in like 3 min when i had been trying for days. they're not free but worth it when ur dealing with an emergency and need to talk to someone NOW
UPDATE: I went to the county office today with all my documents. The worker said I qualified for Immediate Need due to the theft and processed a payment for me! Should have the money by tomorrow morning. They're also helping me apply for Homeless Assistance as a backup plan. Thank you all SO MUCH for your advice. I'll definitely use Claimyr next time I need to call instead of waiting for hours. Still waiting on BofA but at least I won't be evicted now!
That's great news! Make sure you follow up with BofA every few days about your claim. Also, when you receive your next CalWORKs notice, check that they didn't count this emergency payment against your regular benefits or time limits - sometimes they make that mistake. If they did, request a correction right away.
Ashley Simian
Does anyone know if they count unemployment benefits as income for CalWORKs? My husband just got laid off and will be getting UI while looking for a new job. We have 4 kids so we'd be a family of 6. Sorry to piggyback on your post OP but figured it's related to income questions!
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Ellie Kim
•Yes, unemployment benefits do count as unearned income for CalWORKs eligibility. Unlike earned income (from a job), unearned income doesn't get the same disregards. However, with your husband losing his job, you're much more likely to qualify now. You should definitely apply if you haven't already. With a family of 6 and only one income plus unemployment, you're likely within the limits.
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Luis Johnson
Update: I went ahead and applied through BenefitsCal yesterday! It took about an hour to complete the application. Thankfully I had all our documents ready (pay stubs, birth certificates, etc). The system estimated we might be eligible for both CalWORKs and CalFresh. I have an interview scheduled for next week. Thanks everyone for your help and encouragement!
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Alina Rosenthal
•That's great news! For your interview, make sure to mention any childcare costs, housing costs, and medical expenses. All of these can impact your eligibility and benefit amount. Also, be sure to ask about the CalWORKs Welfare to Work program - since you mentioned you both work part-time, your current employment might already satisfy the WTW requirements. Good luck, and let us know how it goes!
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