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!

This happened to me once when I moved apartments within the same building. My Cash Aid processed normally but my CalFresh got stuck in pending because they wanted verification of my new address even though it was literally the same building, just a different unit number. I'd definitely recommend calling sooner rather than later. Here's what helped me: I asked the worker to look specifically at what's causing the delay and if there are any "flags" or "holds" on my CalFresh case. They found the issue right away once I asked that specific question. Good luck!

Update: I finally got through to someone at the county office! Turns out they needed verification of my utility bills that I didn't know about. The worker said they sent a notice last week but I never received it. She's giving me until Monday to submit it and then they'll release my CalFresh benefits. Thanks everyone for pushing me to call instead of just waiting!

One more thing to consider - when you get CalWORKs, you'll switch to Semi-Annual Reporting (SAR7) forms. You'll need to report any income changes every 6 months, or immediately if you go over your Income Reporting Threshold (IRT). Make sure they explain this clearly, as missing reports can cause both benefits to stop. Also, for a family your size, you should qualify for expedited CalWORKs if you have less than $100 in resources and immediate needs. Ask about this if your situation is urgent.

Just wanted to add that you should also ask about the CalWORKs car repair program if you have transportation issues! Many people don't know about it but they can help with emergency car repairs up to like $1000 if you're working or in their job training program. With 6 kids, reliable transportation is so important for getting to appointments, school, work, etc. Also make sure to get copies of all your benefit calculations at the interview - sometimes there are errors and it's easier to catch them if you have the paperwork right away.

To answer your question about using the cash portion for rent - you have two options: 1. You can withdraw the cash from an ATM and then pay your rent with cash, money order, or by depositing it in your bank account. 2. Some landlords accept direct EBT cash payments, but that's becoming less common. For General Assistance, which is what you'd likely qualify for as a single adult without children, the application process is similar to CalWORKs. You'll need to provide identification, proof of residency, income verification, and resource information. Most counties also require you to register for work and participate in employment services. The benefit amount varies by county but is typically much lower than CalWORKs - generally between $200-$400 per month depending on your county.

Just wanted to add that if you're worried about benefit theft, you can also set up text alerts through the EBT Edge mobile app to get notified every time your card is used. That way you'll know immediately if there's unauthorized activity. Also, when you go to apply, bring extra copies of everything - ID, utility bills, bank statements, etc. The county workers sometimes ask for documents you weren't expecting, and having extras can save you from having to make multiple trips. Good luck with your application!

Update: I wanted to thank everyone for their advice! I used that Claimyr service to get through to DPSS and explained that I was facing eviction without my benefits. The worker put in for expedited processing and I got my money back in 9 days! They also gave me a letter explaining the situation that I could show my landlord. Still had to pay a late fee on my rent, but at least I'm not getting evicted. Thanks again for all the help!

Great to hear you got your money back! This is really helpful info for anyone else dealing with benefit theft. The expedited processing option seems like something more people should know about - I had no idea that was even possible. Quick question though - when you say you got a letter for your landlord, was that something they automatically provided or did you have to specifically request it? And was it just a basic explanation or did it include any official documentation about the theft claim? Thanks for sharing your experience!