CalWORKs BenefitsCal app down for maintenance all week - anyone else locked out?
Is anyone else having issues with the BenefitsCal app for CalWORKs? I've been trying to check my Cash Aid status and upload my verification documents since Monday, but keep getting an error message saying it's 'down for maintenance.' It's now Friday and I still can't log in! My SAR7 is due next week and I need to submit some pay stubs. Called the county number but after waiting 45 minutes I got disconnected. Getting really worried because my worker told me if I don't submit these docs on time I could lose my benefits. Anyone know when the system will be back up or if there's another way to submit documents?
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Saleem Vaziri
same here! been trying since tuesday. so annoying!
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Lindsey Fry
•Have you been able to reach anyone on the phone? I'm getting desperate because my reporting deadline is coming up fast.
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Kayla Morgan
OMG the BenefitsCal app is THE WORST!!! This happens at least once every couple months and they NEVER give any warning. Last time this happened to me I ended up getting my benefits cut off because I couldn't upload my documents on time. Had to go through a whole appeal process which took FOREVER to get them back. The county workers act like it's YOUR fault their system doesn't work!!!! 😡😡😡
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James Maki
•If your SAR7 is due soon and you can't upload through the app, you can submit documents in person at your local DPSS office. I'd recommend taking copies and getting a receipt so you have proof you submitted on time. You can also fax documents - there's a county fax number on your SAR7 form. Keep the fax confirmation page as proof!
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Jasmine Hancock
I tried using Claimyr when the app was down last month and needed to submit verification urgently. It connected me to a live worker in about 10 minutes instead of waiting on hold for hours. You can see a demo of how it works at https://youtu.be/jzISHxCPLwE - basically it calls the county for you and then calls you back when a real person answers. Saved me from missing my deadline. The website is claimyr.com
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Cole Roush
•Does that actually work? I'm scared of missing my SAR7 deadline too. Last time I got discontinued because of a "verification issue" and it took 6 weeks to get my cash aid back on.
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Jasmine Hancock
•Yeah it definitely works. I was skeptical too but when you've been on hold for hours and getting nowhere, it's worth it. Just make sure you're ready with your case number and all your questions when they call you back.
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Scarlett Forster
this happens ALL THE TIME with benefitscal i hate it so much. and then when u finally get thru the system is so slow it times out halfway thru uploading ur docs and u have to start all over. absolute nightmare
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Arnav Bengali
•I'm having the same issues but with the CalFresh part. Do you think this affects all benefits programs or just CalWORKs? I'm supposed to submit my recertification for food benefits.
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James Maki
•The BenefitsCal system handles CalWORKs, CalFresh, and Medi-Cal, so maintenance affects all programs. For CalFresh recertification, you have the same options - in-person submission, fax, or mail. Just make sure to keep proof of submission.
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James Maki
According to the DPSS website, there's scheduled maintenance happening until Sunday. For urgent submissions like SAR7s that are due soon, you have several options: 1. Visit your local DPSS office in person and submit a paper copy (bring copies and get a receipt) 2. Fax your documents to the number on your SAR7 form (keep the confirmation page) 3. Mail your documents via certified mail (not recommended if your deadline is very close) 4. Leave a detailed message with your worker including your case number, what documents you're trying to submit, and your current situation If your worker isn't responding and your benefits are at risk of being discontinued, you can also request a hearing by calling the state hearing division at 1-800-743-8525. This can protect your benefits while the issue is being resolved.
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Lindsey Fry
•Thank you so much for this detailed information! I had no idea the maintenance was scheduled - they should really notify us about these things. I'll try to visit the office in person tomorrow. Do you know if they're open on Saturdays?
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James Maki
•Most DPSS offices are closed on weekends, but some larger ones have limited Saturday hours (usually 8AM-12PM). I'd call the main line to verify before going. Make sure to bring your case number, ID, and copies of all documents. The lines can be long first thing in the morning, so try to arrive early.
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Cole Roush
im so confuse on how to do the sar7??? this is my first time on calworks and i thought we could do everything online now. do i need to fill it out by hand or can i still do it on computer when the app starts working again??
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James Maki
•When BenefitsCal is working, you can complete and submit your SAR7 online through the app. But you should have also received a paper SAR7 in the mail about a month before it's due. Since this is your first time, call your worker to confirm what specific information you need to include. For most people, it's income verification (pay stubs), any address changes, and household composition updates.
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Arnav Bengali
I had this same problem last quarter when trying to report my Welfare to Work hours. The system was down for what felt like forever, and I was so worried about getting sanctioned for late reporting. I ended up taking a screenshot of the error message as proof that I tried to submit on time, which actually helped when I had to explain the situation to my WTW coordinator later. Might be worth doing the same thing just in case.
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Kayla Morgan
•That's ACTUALLY smart! I never thought to take screenshots of the error messages. They always act like we're making excuses when THEIR system fails. Definitely doing this next time!
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Scarlett Forster
when my worker finally called me back after like a month of trying to reach her she said theyre moving to a new system or upgrading something big thats why theres so many outages lately
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Saleem Vaziri
•a month??? how do they expect us to survive when they take that long to help us???
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Lindsey Fry
Update: I finally got through on the phone today after using that Claimyr service someone mentioned. My worker confirmed the system is down until Monday morning. She said I can email my documents directly to her as an alternative (didn't even know that was possible!). For anyone else panicking about deadlines, definitely try to reach your worker directly instead of relying on the app right now.
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James Maki
•That's great news! Just remember to follow up next week to confirm they received everything. Email isn't the standard submission method, so I'd recommend calling again after Monday to verify all your documents were properly attached to your case file. Sometimes documents sent through non-standard channels can get lost in the shuffle.
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Lindsey Fry
•Good point! I'll definitely follow up on Tuesday to make sure everything went through correctly. Thanks everyone for all the help!
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Carlos Mendoza
I've been dealing with the same issue all week! What's really frustrating is that they don't send any notifications about these maintenance windows. I found out from a neighbor that if you have a smartphone, you can sometimes access the mobile version of the BenefitsCal website directly through your browser instead of the app - it might work even when the app is down. Also, if anyone needs to submit documents urgently, most county offices have drop boxes outside where you can leave sealed envelopes with your case number clearly marked. Just make sure to keep copies of everything you submit!
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