my sister had same problem they didnt take her calworks but the next year they took her tax return without telling her first so watch out for that part

I went through something similar last year. EDD said I owed them about $800 from unemployment overpayment, but when I got my CalWORKs emergency assistance payment, they didn't touch it. The two systems really don't talk to each other that way. However, I did end up setting up a $15/month payment plan with EDD after they started sending threatening letters about wage garnishment (even though I wasn't working at the time). It was worth it for peace of mind. Also, definitely keep all your paperwork about the stimulus payment - you'll need it for your next reporting period. Your CalWORKs worker should be able to tell you exactly how to report it so it doesn't mess with your regular benefits.

That's great news! Glad you got it sorted out before your deadline. Make sure to save/print the confirmation number for your new application just in case there are any future issues.

This is such a relief to hear that others have experienced this too! I've been dealing with CalWORKs for 3 years now and the BenefitsCal system has always been glitchy, but it seems like it's gotten worse lately. Last month my neighbor had a similar issue where her whole application just vanished mid-process. She ended up having to go to the county office in person with all her documents because she couldn't get the online system to work at all. For future reference, I always recommend taking screenshots after each page you complete and saving any confirmation numbers you get along the way. The system definitely has issues but documenting everything helps if you need to appeal or prove you were trying to meet deadlines. Hope everyone gets their issues resolved quickly!

One thing to know is that when the Transitional CalFresh ends and you apply for regular CalFresh, they WILL count your income at that point. So your benefit will likely go down if you're working more now. Just prepare for that change after the 5 months. My TCF was $973 for my family of 4, but when I converted to regular CalFresh it dropped to $423 because of my job. Still helpful but definitely a big difference.

Quick tip - when you submit your request to end CalWORKs, make sure it's in writing and specifically mention you want to be evaluated for Transitional CalFresh. Also, keep proof of when and how you submitted it. The CalWORKs discontinuance date is important because your 5-month TCF period starts from that date. And yes, typically they'll send a notice about a month before TCF ends, but as others have said, don't rely solely on that notice - mark your calendar!

Reading through all these responses has been so educational - I had no idea there were so many options and strategies for dealing with CalWORKs denials! As someone who's been lurking in this community for a while but never posted, your situation really motivated me to finally speak up. I went through a very similar denial situation about 6 months ago. Like you, I submitted everything they asked for and still got denied with those same frustrating vague codes. What finally worked for me was a combination of several things people have mentioned here: 1. I used that Claimyr service to actually get through to a human (seriously, it was a game changer after weeks of busy signals) 2. When I finally talked to someone, I asked for both the "NOA explanation" AND requested my complete case file 3. Turned out they had lost one page of my bank statements and needed me to resubmit just that one page The whole thing was resolved within a week once I knew exactly what was missing. But here's the key - I also filed for the hearing right away as backup, which I think put some pressure on them to resolve it quickly. For your immediate housing situation, definitely pursue that emergency rental assistance ASAP. In my county it was through a different department entirely and I got approved within 3 days. It bought me time to get the CalWORKs sorted out without losing my apartment. You're being an amazing advocate for your kids - don't let this broken system make you feel otherwise. The fact that so many people here have similar stories shows it's not you, it's definitely them!

I'm so sorry you're going through this frustrating situation! Reading through all the amazing advice everyone has shared, I wanted to add one more thing that helped me when I was dealing with a similar CalWORKs denial. When you do get through to someone (whether through that Claimyr service or by going in person), ask them to email you a summary of what was discussed. Many workers can send a quick email with the key points - what documents they need, what the next steps are, etc. Having it in writing prevents miscommunication and gives you something to reference later. Also, I noticed you mentioned your kids - make sure to emphasize to the workers that you have minor children in the household when you're discussing your case. Sometimes this helps prioritize your case or qualifies you for expedited processing, especially if you're facing homelessness. The fact that your CalFresh got approved really is a good sign that your basic eligibility is solid. CalWORKs just has those additional hoops to jump through. You're doing everything right by not giving up and exploring all these options. One last thought - if you do end up needing to reapply while also pursuing the hearing, make sure to mention on the new application that you have a pending appeal for a previous denial. This helps them understand the timeline and might prevent duplicate processing issues. You've got this! Your determination and all the knowledge you've gained from this thread puts you in a much stronger position than when you started. Keep us updated on your progress!

Glad to see some payments are coming through! For future reference, it might be a good idea to save this information somewhere. These quarterly system updates usually happen around the same time each quarter (end of February, May, August, and November). If you keep track of these dates, you can plan ahead for potential delays. Honestly it's frustrating they don't communicate this better though!

Same thing happened to me! My 15-month-old's diaper allowance didn't come through today either. I was starting to panic thinking I did something wrong or missed some paperwork. Really glad to see it's just a system issue and not just me. Going to check my balance again now that some people are saying theirs showed up. This whole quarterly maintenance thing is news to me - wish they would send us some kind of heads up about it!