when I was on calworks they told me differnt counties have differnt hours. i think its dumb they can just decide when to stop answering calls. i remember in LA county they stopped taking calls at 4 but in san bernardino they were open till 5. My cousin in alameda county said there open till 5:30 there!!!! makes no sense why every county is different when its all the same calworks program!!!!

Call hour the same 8 to 5 but they stop putting ppl in line early. my worker told me they all do this. riverside extra bad tho, my friend had to physically go into the office to resolve her case they NEVER anwsered phones.

Update: just wanted to let everyone know I tried this again today (called at 7:57am on Wednesday) to ask about adding my newborn to my case and it worked again! Only waited about 15 minutes this time. They said they needed my baby's birth certificate, which I already submitted through BenefitsCal but they didn't process it yet. The worker was able to find it in the system and process my case update while I was on the phone. So the early morning trick is working consistently at least in my county!

This is amazing, thank you so much for sharing! I've been struggling to reach someone about my case for over a month now. My benefits got suspended because they said I didn't report my part-time job income, but I DID report it on my SAR7 form back in January. I've been calling every day during lunch breaks at work but can never get through. I'm definitely going to try the 7:57 AM trick tomorrow morning - I'll have to wake up extra early but it's worth it if I can finally get this mess sorted out. My kids need their benefits restored ASAP. Did you have all your paperwork ready when you called, or were they able to look everything up in the system?

Thanks everyone for the helpful replies! I feel much better knowing that this is actually the diaper benefit and I don't need to worry about it being some kind of mistake. $30 definitely doesn't cover a month of diapers, but every bit helps!

Just wanted to add that if anyone is having trouble affording diapers even with the $30 benefit, check if your county has any diaper banks or community programs! I found out through my local WIC office that there's a nonprofit near me that gives out free diapers once a month - no income requirements, just show up. Also some churches and food pantries keep diapers in stock. Between the CalWORKs diaper benefit and these community resources, it really helps stretch the budget. You can search online for "[your county] diaper bank" or ask at your local health department - they usually know about these programs.

I wanted to update everyone - I was finally able to reach my worker after using that Claimyr service someone suggested. They immediately helped me file the good cause claim and reassured me that my address won't be disclosed. They're sending me the CW 51 form today and said my benefits won't be affected as long as I return it within 20 days. Such a relief! Thank you all for the advice and support!

So glad to hear you got this resolved quickly! Just wanted to add for anyone else reading this thread - if you're in immediate danger, you can also contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233. They can help you create a safety plan and connect you with local resources. Your safety should always come first, and there are people trained to help navigate these situations while you're dealing with the CalWORKs process. Stay safe and don't hesitate to reach out for additional support if you need it!

One more thing - when you apply for CalFresh, make sure you tell them you have housing costs (rent, utilities) that you're now paying on your own. This can significantly increase your CalFresh benefit amount. And with three kids, you should also ask about the School Lunch Program connection with CalFresh - your kids might automatically qualify for free school meals once you're approved for CalFresh.

I went through this exact same situation 6 months ago when my ex moved out. Here's what worked for me: First, have your boyfriend apply for his own Medi-Cal immediately through BenefitsCal.com - don't wait! He'll get a confirmation number right away. Then report the household change within the 10 day window. What I learned is that even though they're processed by the same office, CalFresh and Medi-Cal have different eligibility criteria. Your boyfriend will likely qualify for his own Medi-Cal coverage if his income is under the limit. The key is getting his application in the system BEFORE you report he moved out - this prevents any gap in coverage. Also, when you apply for CalFresh, emphasize that you now have 100% of the housing costs (rent, utilities, groceries) since he's no longer contributing. This will increase your benefit amount significantly. With 3 kids and being the sole provider now, you should qualify for a decent CalFresh amount. Don't let fear of his coverage stopping prevent you from getting the food assistance your family needs!