I've been on CalWORKs for about 2 years now and have gone through several SAR7 reviews. In my experience, they only ask for bank statements during the SAR7 if you've reported changes to your income or household situation. Since you mentioned your income and WTW situation are exactly the same, you should be fine without them. The key thing is being honest on the SAR7 form - if nothing has changed, just mark "no" for the change questions and you typically won't need additional documentation. I'd still recommend trying to reach your worker through Claimyr like others mentioned, just to double-check what they need from you specifically. But based on what you've shared, bank statements shouldn't be required for your 6-month review. Also, don't stress too much about your cousin's experience - every case is different and workers sometimes request different things based on individual circumstances. Focus on getting your SAR7 submitted on time and you should be good!

I'm going through my first SAR7 review next month and this whole thread has been incredibly helpful! I was also panicking about bank statements because my printer is broken and I only have mobile banking. It's so reassuring to hear from multiple people who recently went through the process that bank statements typically aren't needed for the 6-month review when nothing has changed. I'm in a similar situation - same WTW placement, same income, same household composition. Based on everyone's experiences here, it sounds like I should be fine just reporting that nothing has changed and bringing my current paystub to verify my income amount. One thing I'm curious about - for those who've done multiple SAR7s, do they usually schedule these as in-person appointments or can you submit the form by mail/online? My county sent me a notice but it wasn't totally clear about whether I need to come in or if I can just mail the completed form back.

I actually used that Claimyr service someone mentioned last time I was desperate to reach SB County. It actually worked! They called me back when they had a worker on the line. Cost money but worth it when you're about to lose benefits. The county system is broken.

Hey Malik! I'm in a similar situation right now with my SAR 7 due soon. One thing that helped me was calling the main CalWORKs line and pressing 0 to get transferred to a supervisor when the automated system comes on - sometimes they can connect you directly to someone who handles SAR 7s. Also, if you do end up going to the Fontana office, bring a copy of your SAR 7 for yourself and ask them to stamp your copy as proof of submission. That way if anything gets lost in their system you have documentation. Good luck getting through!

Hey congrats on getting your sanction cleared! I went through something similar about 6 months ago. Just wanted to add that you should also check if your county offers emergency aid or other one-time assistance since you've been dealing with reduced benefits for 4 months. Some counties have discretionary funds to help families catch up on bills after long sanctions. Also, if you're still having transportation issues, ask your worker about bus passes or gas vouchers - most counties provide these for WTW participants to get to their activities. Don't be afraid to advocate for yourself and ask about ALL the resources available. The system is confusing but there's usually more help out there than they initially tell you about. Good luck staying compliant this time!

Reading through this entire thread has been absolutely invaluable! As someone who just applied for CalWORKs last week and is waiting to hear back, I'm so grateful for all the real-world advice and experiences everyone has shared here. Ryder, congratulations on getting your sanction cleared! Your question has created what's essentially a masterclass in navigating the CalWORKs system. The transparency about your transportation struggles and the relief in your follow-up comments is so relatable. What strikes me most is how many critical resources and policies exist that apparently aren't automatically explained to recipients. The Supportive Services program, good cause policies, the ability to request hearings before sanctions take effect - these seem like fundamental things that should be covered in orientation but clearly aren't always. I'm definitely taking notes from everyone's advice about documentation, advocacy, and knowing what questions to ask. The idea of keeping a notebook to track hours and appointments, taking photos of submitted paperwork, and getting direct contact info for caseworkers all seem like essential strategies. For those who mentioned Claimyr for getting through phone queues - that sounds like a lifesaver! The frustration about sitting on hold for hours only to get disconnected is something I'm already worried about. Thank you to everyone who took time to share both successes and challenges. This community clearly understands how overwhelming and confusing this system can be when you're trying to navigate it alone. Looking forward to learning more from all of you as I start this journey!

Make sure when you call that you specifically mention you need to know why your CalFresh dropped from $850 to $397 even after your sanction was removed. Sometimes the workers don't volunteer information unless you ask very specific questions. Also, it's possible that the $850 might have included some retroactive benefits that made it temporarily higher. Did you receive any lump-sum payments or back benefits around the time you were getting $850?

I'm really sorry you're going through this stress with your benefits. From what I'm reading in the other comments, it sounds like there might be several factors at play here. The reduction from $850 to $397 does seem steep for just removing one household member, but if that $850 included back pay or retroactive benefits, then your regular monthly amount was probably never actually that high to begin with. Here's what I'd suggest: definitely use that Claimyr service someone mentioned to get through to your worker faster. When you do connect, ask for three specific things: 1) A CalFresh Budget Worksheet showing exactly how they calculated your current $397, 2) Clarification on whether the original $850 included any back pay or lump sum, and 3) Verification that they have your correct household size, income, and expenses (especially rent since you mentioned it went up). Also double-check that they're not counting child support you're not actually receiving consistently. That's a common issue that can really mess up the calculations. Hang in there - once you get the actual breakdown, you'll at least know if the amount is correct or if there's an error to fix.

I'm new to CalWORKs too and this thread has been super helpful! Just to confirm what everyone's saying - I got my first payment last month and it was definitely all at once on the 3rd of the month. My worker told me the payment date is based on your case number, so mine always comes on the 3rd. The CalFresh splitting thing makes total sense now - I was wondering why my food stamps seemed to come in chunks! Really glad I found this community because figuring out all these different programs can be overwhelming when you're just starting out.

I'm also pretty new to this community and just went through the CalWORKs application process a couple months ago! This thread is so helpful - I had the exact same confusion about payment timing when I first got approved. Just to add my experience: I'm in LA County and my CalWORKs cash comes all at once on the 2nd of each month (based on my case number ending in 2). My CalFresh is $485 for my family and that gets split - first half comes on the 2nd with my cash, second half comes on the 12th. One tip I learned from my worker - if you ever have questions about payment dates or amounts, you can also check the MyBenefitsCal.com website. It shows your payment schedule and history once you create an account. Really helpful for budgeting and keeping track of everything! Hope your first payment comes through soon! The waiting is always the hardest part.