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!

It's a bit complicated, but I can explain. You don't actively choose to exclude your child - the system does it automatically if the child receives SSI. The income limit for a family of 3 is lower (around $2,900/month), but it might still be beneficial because: 1. You keep the full SSI payment for your child 2. That child gets Medi-Cal through SSI 3. The CalWORKs grant would be for 3 people instead of 4 Whether it's better financially depends on the SSI amount vs. the difference in CalWORKs benefits. Your eligibility worker can actually calculate both scenarios during your interview and advise which is more beneficial for your family. Just make sure to disclose the SSI when you apply so they can do this calculation correctly.

Hey Jasmine! I just wanted to add that when you apply, make sure to ask about emergency aid if you really need help right away. Some counties can provide a small emergency payment while your regular application is being processed - it's not much but it can help with immediate needs like groceries or utilities. Also, if you're having trouble with childcare while job searching or going to appointments, ask about the CalWORKs childcare program. They can help pay for childcare so you can work or your husband can look for work. Good luck with your application! 🙏

Thanks everyone for the help!! I just uploaded my first paystub to BenefitsCal and took a screenshot like someone suggested. I'm going to call my worker tomorrow to make sure they got it and ask about childcare too. This community is so helpful!

You're doing great by being proactive about this! One thing I'd add - when you call your worker tomorrow, ask them to note in your case file that you reported the job and uploaded the paystub. Sometimes different workers see your case and having notes helps avoid confusion later. Also, since you mentioned you have a 2-year-old, definitely ask about the childcare right away. The approval process can take a few weeks, so the sooner you apply the better. And don't forget about transportation assistance if you need help getting to work - that's another supportive service that can really help during the transition period. You're asking all the right questions and being responsible about reporting. That's exactly what you need to do to stay in compliance!

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.

One more important tip: If you have a semi-annual report (SAR 7) due around the same time as your recertification, you generally don't need to submit both. The recertification replaces the SAR 7 requirement for that period. However, it's always good to confirm this with your worker during the interview. Also, ask your worker to review your Income Reporting Threshold (IRT) during the interview and make sure you understand when you need to report income changes outside of the regular reporting periods. Many people miss this and end up with overpayments they have to pay back.

I just completed my phone recertification last week and it went smoother than expected! Took about 35 minutes total. Here's what really helped me prepare: - I created a simple checklist beforehand with all my documents organized by category (income, housing, childcare, etc.) - Had my SAWS 2 form filled out completely and in front of me during the call - Made sure to have exact dollar amounts and dates ready from my pay stubs - Asked for email confirmation of my interview completion at the end The worker was actually really patient and walked me through each section methodically. One thing that surprised me was they asked about any gifts or loans I might have received in the past 12 months - I hadn't thought to prepare for that question but luckily didn't have any to report. My benefits were approved and processed within 10 days. Good luck with yours! The key is just being organized and having everything at your fingertips.