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 is absolutely unacceptable! I can't believe you've had to reschedule 4 times because THEY keep missing the calls. The stress of potentially losing benefits because of their incompetence is just cruel. Here's what I'd recommend based on what's worked for others in similar situations: 1. Call tomorrow morning RIGHT at 8 AM and immediately ask for a supervisor - don't accept being transferred around 2. When you get the supervisor, explain the pattern of missed interviews and ask them to note in your file that you've been available for every scheduled appointment 3. Request either an in-person interview or ask to be scheduled with a senior worker who actually keeps appointments 4. Ask them to send you email/text confirmation of your next appointment time Also, please know that if your benefits do get suspended, you have the right to file for a state hearing within 90 days. They legally cannot cut you off if THEY are the ones missing the interviews. You're not alone in this - the system is broken but you have rights and there are people here who will help you navigate this. Don't give up!

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 had my phone recertification about 3 weeks ago and it took roughly 45 minutes. A few things that really helped me prepare: 1. I called right at 8 AM when they opened - only waited about 15 minutes to get through 2. Had all my documents spread out on my kitchen table so I could grab anything quickly 3. Made sure my phone was fully charged and used a landline as backup 4. Kept a pen and paper handy to write down any important info or reference numbers They asked me pretty much everything that was on the SAWS 2, but also some additional questions about my living situation and whether anyone else contributes to household expenses. One thing that caught me off guard was they wanted to know about any cash I had on hand that day - apparently that counts toward your asset limit. My case was approved the same day and my EBT card was loaded within 3 business days. The worker was actually really nice and explained everything clearly. Just make sure you speak up if you can't hear them well - the phone quality isn't always great. You got this!

I just went through my phone recertification in February and wanted to share a few things that really helped me be prepared. The whole process took about 50 minutes, but that included some time where my worker had to look up something in my file. Here's what I'd recommend having ready: - Last 30 days of pay stubs (they asked for specific dates and amounts) - Current rent receipt or lease agreement - Utility bills from the last month - Childcare provider information and receipts if applicable - Any medical insurance cards or documentation - Your Social Security cards for you and your kids - School enrollment verification for your children One thing that really surprised me was they asked detailed questions about my transportation to work - like how I get there, how much I spend on gas or bus fare, etc. They also wanted to know if I had any savings goals or plans to change jobs in the next 6 months. The worker told me that since my case was straightforward like yours (same job, same housing, same family size), the interview would likely be on the shorter side. She also mentioned that they're required to go through every section of the SAWS 2 even if nothing changed, but it goes much faster when people have their documents organized. My advice is to treat it like you're gathering documents for taxes - be thorough and have everything in one place. Good luck!

Just want to add something important that I learned the hard way - if you're approved for CalWORKs, make sure you understand the difference between your "cash aid" and your "food stamps" on the same EBT card. I accidentally used my food stamp balance thinking it was cash and got so confused when I couldn't withdraw money at the ATM! The food portion (CalFresh) can ONLY be used for eligible food items, while the cash portion (CalWORKs) works like a debit card for anything. It shows as two separate balances when you check your card. Also, some stores will ask if you want to use "EBT Cash" or "EBT Food" when you swipe - now I know what that means! Sounds obvious but it wasn't to me at first.

As someone who just went through this process a few months ago, I want to emphasize something really important that hasn't been mentioned yet - when you get approved for CalWORKs, they'll assign you to something called a "Welfare-to-Work" (WTW) program. Since you're a student, your school attendance can usually count toward your WTW hours, BUT you need to make sure your eligibility worker understands this from the beginning. I made the mistake of not clarifying this upfront and almost got sanctioned because my worker didn't realize my college classes counted as my work activity. Also, keep detailed records of everything - every form you submit, every conversation you have with your worker, and especially your school attendance. The system can be really unforgiving if there are any gaps in documentation. One more tip: if you ever have issues with your case, don't hesitate to ask to speak with a supervisor. Sometimes the frontline workers aren't fully familiar with student cases, but supervisors usually have more experience with these situations. You've got this!

This is a really good thread with lots of helpful info! I'm new to CalWORKs and had no idea about the "excluded member" rule before reading this. It actually makes sense when you think about it - they're trying to help as many family members as possible rather than denying the whole family. One thing I wanted to add is that you should also make sure your worker is using the most current income limits. The limits did increase at the beginning of 2025, so if your case was processed using old limits, you might want to ask for a redetermination. Also, if your income changes (like if you get a raise or your hours get cut), make sure to report it because it could affect whether you're excluded or not. It sounds like you're asking all the right questions though - definitely get that income calculation worksheet and double-check their math!

I'm new to this community but this discussion has been incredibly helpful! I'm currently going through the CalWORKs application process and was totally confused when my caseworker mentioned something about "assistance units" and excluding family members. Reading everyone's experiences here makes so much more sense than the brief explanation I got at the office. I wanted to ask - for those who have been through this excluded member situation, how long did it take for your benefits to actually start once they figured out the correct calculation? My worker said it could take a few weeks but I'm hoping it's faster than that since we really need the help. Also, does anyone know if being excluded from CalWORKs affects eligibility for emergency assistance programs? We might need help with utilities while we're waiting for the regular benefits to kick in. Thanks to everyone who shared their stories and advice - this community is amazing for getting real information that actually makes sense!