CalWORKs Cash Aid still 'processing' 3 weeks after my phone interview - normal wait time?

Unfortunately this is pretty common with CalWORKs right now. The 10 days is what they're *supposed* to take, but many counties are severely backlogged. When I applied last year, they told me 10 days but it took almost a month before I got approved. Did the worker specifically say you were approved during your phone interview, or just that they'd review it? Also, did you submit all the verification documents they asked for (pay stubs, rent agreement, birth certificates, etc.)? Sometimes they're waiting on a specific document but don't communicate that clearly.

they do this all the time!! they say 10 days but it really means 10 BUSINESS days and then they still go over that timeline. mine took 5 weeks and i had to keep calling and going down there every week. so annoying but eventually you'll get it and they will backdate your payments to when you applied

There are a few things you can do to speed this up: 1. Ask specifically for a supervisor when you go to the office - regular front desk staff often can't see what's holding up your case 2. Request an "expedited processing" review - mention that you're at risk of losing housing 3. Make sure your Welfare to Work (WTW) exemption or participation plan is clear - sometimes they hold up Cash Aid if they're waiting for you to sign WTW papers 4. Check if you qualified for Immediate Need payment - if you told them during application that you had an emergency need (less than $100, facing eviction, etc.), they should have processed an emergency payment The system is frustrating but you do have rights. They technically have 45 days maximum to process a Cash Aid application, but most should be done within 30 days.

I just went through this last month and found out my application was stuck because they were waiting on child support verification even though I had already submitted it! Try calling the number on your paperwork every day until you get through. If you can't get through by phone, it's worth trying Claimyr.com - it's a service that helps you skip the CalWORKs phone wait times. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/jzISHxCPLwE. It helped me finally get through and find out what was holding up my case. Turned out my documents were sitting in someone's queue who was out on leave!

same thing for me waiting 4 weeks now and still nothing this is the third time ive applied and its always like this smh

Important: check your BenefitsCal account AND your mail every day. Sometimes they send notices asking for additional verification that aren't clear. Also, the 10-day timeframe usually starts AFTER they have all required verification, not after the interview itself. In my experience, they sometimes wait for verification from third parties that you don't even know about. For example, they might be waiting for employment verification directly from your employer or school attendance records. One thing that helped me was submitting a formal complaint through the county's Civil Rights office when they went past the timeframe. That got attention quickly, and I learned my case was sitting in a worker's queue who was on vacation with no coverage.

did u sign up for direct deposit or are u waiting for the EBT card? cuz sometimes they approve u but the card takes 2 weeks to arrive in the mail

UPDATE REQUEST: Did you get any new information about your case? Sometimes when they say "still processing" it actually means they're waiting for a specific verification but the front desk staff don't have access to see what exactly is missing. If you're still having trouble, I recommend: 1. Call first thing in the morning (right when they open at 8am) which is when wait times are shortest 2. Ask specifically: "Is my case pending for a specific verification or document, or is it just in the general processing queue?" 3. Request to speak with your assigned eligibility worker directly (not just anyone who answers) 4. If you're at risk of eviction or utility shutoff, mention the words "immediate need" specifically Also, make sure your contact information is up to date in BenefitsCal. Sometimes they try to call for clarification but have an old number on file.

So glad you finally got through and found out what was holding things up! This is exactly why it's so important to keep pushing for specific information rather than accepting "still processing" as an answer. The fact that they were waiting for employer verification without telling you is unfortunately super common - the communication between departments is terrible. Hopefully others reading this thread will know to specifically ask "what verification are you waiting for?" instead of just accepting vague responses. Keep us posted on when you actually receive the benefits - sometimes even after approval it can take a few more days to show up on your EBT card.

This whole thread is so helpful! I'm dealing with the exact same situation - had my phone interview 2.5 weeks ago and still waiting. Reading everyone's experiences makes me feel less alone in this frustrating process. I'm definitely going to try calling first thing Monday morning and asking specifically what verification they're waiting for instead of accepting "still processing" as an answer. It's ridiculous that we have to fight so hard just to get basic information about our own cases. Logan, I'm so glad you finally got through and found out what was holding things up! Fingers crossed you get approved soon and the benefits actually show up on your card quickly.

I'm going through this exact same situation right now - 3.5 weeks since my interview and still "processing." Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful, especially Logan's update about finding out they were waiting for employer verification without telling him! I had no idea we could ask for expedited processing or file complaints through Civil Rights offices. The lack of communication from the county offices is honestly the most frustrating part - they act like we're bothering them when we call to check on our own cases. I'm definitely going to try calling at 8am sharp Monday and ask specifically what verification they're waiting for instead of accepting vague answers. It's ridiculous that we have to become detectives just to figure out what's holding up our own applications when we're already stressed about basic needs like rent and food. Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences and tips - it really helps to know this dysfunction is system-wide and not something we're doing wrong.

Just wanted to add another tip that helped me when I was stuck in this same situation last year - if you're still getting nowhere after trying all the great advice in this thread, contact your county supervisor's office. I know it sounds intimidating, but their constituent services staff are really helpful with navigating county department issues. I called my supervisor's office after 6 weeks of runaround and they had someone from the DSS office call me back within 2 days to resolve my case. They can't make decisions for you, but they can definitely light a fire under the right people to actually look at your file. Most county supervisor offices have a specific staff person who deals with social services issues. It's your tax dollars funding these services, so don't feel bad about asking for help when the system isn't working like it should!

This thread is amazing - so much practical advice that you just don't get from the county offices! I'm currently on week 2 of waiting after my interview and was starting to panic, but reading everyone's experiences helps me realize this delay is unfortunately normal (even though it shouldn't be). The key takeaways I'm getting are: 1) Call at 8am sharp when they open, 2) Ask specifically "what verification are you waiting for?" instead of accepting vague answers, 3) Request a supervisor if needed, 4) Know that you can file complaints through Civil Rights offices, and 5) Contact county supervisor's office as a last resort. Logan, congratulations on finally getting through! Your persistence paid off. It's infuriating that they were waiting for employer verification without telling you, but at least now you know what was holding things up. For everyone else still waiting - we shouldn't have to fight this hard for basic assistance, but this thread proves that persistence and knowing the right questions to ask really does make a difference. Saving all these tips for my next call!

This thread has been incredibly helpful for me as someone who's been waiting 3 weeks after my CalWORKs interview too! Logan, I'm so relieved to hear you finally got through and found out what was holding up your case - that employer verification issue without notification is exactly the kind of thing I was worried about. I've been calling almost daily but keep getting disconnected after 2+ hour waits. I'm definitely going to try that 8am strategy and ask specifically "what verification are you waiting for?" instead of accepting the usual "still processing" response. It's frustrating that we have to become experts at navigating this broken system when we're already stressed about basic needs like rent and food. The tip about contacting the county supervisor's office if things drag on too long is something I never would have thought of - thank you Omar for sharing that! And knowing we can request expedited processing and file Civil Rights complaints gives me hope that there are actual options when the system fails us. For anyone else still waiting, this thread proves we're not alone in this struggle and that persistence really does pay off. The communication issues with DSS are clearly systemic, but at least we have strategies now. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - it means so much to know others understand what we're going through!

I'm going through the exact same thing right now - had my phone interview 2.5 weeks ago and still getting the "processing" runaround when I call or visit the office. This thread has been so eye-opening because I had no idea this was such a widespread issue with CalWORKs! Logan, I'm so glad you finally got through and discovered it was employer verification holding things up - that's exactly the kind of specific information they should have told you weeks ago instead of making you play detective. Reading everyone's strategies has given me hope and a real action plan. I've been calling randomly throughout the day and waiting hours just to get disconnected, but the 8am sharp calling strategy makes so much sense. And asking specifically "what verification are you waiting for?" instead of accepting vague "still processing" answers is going to be my new approach. The tip about requesting expedited processing if you're facing housing issues is something I definitely need to try since my rent is due next week. It's honestly heartbreaking that so many of us are dealing with the same broken system when we're already struggling financially, but this community support means everything. Thank you all for sharing your experiences and proving that persistence really does work, even when it feels impossible!

This thread has been such a valuable resource! I'm currently in week 3 of waiting after my CalWORKs interview and was starting to feel like I was doing something wrong. Reading Logan's success story and everyone's shared experiences has been so reassuring - it's clear this is a systemic problem, not individual failures. The specific strategies mentioned here (calling at 8am, asking "what verification are you waiting for?", requesting supervisors, knowing about expedited processing and Civil Rights complaints) are game-changers that I never would have known about otherwise. It's absolutely ridiculous that we have to become experts at navigating around a broken system when we're already dealing with financial stress, but I'm so grateful for this community sharing their knowledge. For anyone else still waiting - this thread proves persistence pays off and we're definitely not alone in this struggle. Bookmarking this for reference when I make my next call!