CalWORKs application timeline - 10 days with no response, normal or should I worry?

The county has 30 days to process your CalWORKs application from the date you submitted it. So technically they're still within their timeframe, but they should have at least contacted you to schedule an interview by now. Did you check your junk mail folder? Sometimes their emails end up there. Also check your mail carefully - the eligibility worker appointment letters can look like junk mail.

youll def need to do an interview b4 approval. they might be backed up right now. my sister applied in february and it took like 2 weeks before she got the call for interview. but once she did the interview she got approved like 3 days later and the EBT card came after that

You need to CALL THEM NOW!!! Don't wait for them to contact you! The system is designed to make people give up. I applied last year and never got ANY notification about my interview. When I finally called, they said I missed my interview appointment (that they never told me about) and had to start the whole process over! The county workers don't care if your application gets denied because they've got hundreds more to process. BE PERSISTENT!!

Yeah you should of got a letter by now with your interview date. Make sure your address is right on BenefitsCal. Also sometimes they text instead of call now for interviews so make sure your phone number is updated too.

I had the exact same issue when I applied in January. Spent days trying to get through on the county phone line with no luck - constant busy signals and disconnections. I finally used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to a live person at the CalWORKs office. They have this system where they wait on hold for you and call you back when they reach a worker. Their video explains it better than I can: https://youtu.be/jzISHxCPLwE When I finally got through, turned out they had scheduled my interview but sent the notice to my old address even though I had updated it online. The worker was able to schedule a new interview on the spot and I got approved the following week.

According to CalWORKs regulations, they need to make an eligibility determination within 45 days of your application submission. However, they should have contacted you by now to schedule the required interview. They cannot approve your benefits without conducting an interview first, even if you uploaded all your verification documents. Make sure to call the county office first thing in the morning (right when they open at 8am usually) as that's when wait times are shortest. Ask specifically if your application was received and if an interview has been scheduled. Also request an expedited processing if you're in an emergency situation with no income and bills due. One important note: If you applied for both CalFresh and CalWORKs together, your CalFresh application should be processed within 30 days (sometimes sooner with expedited service), and you might hear about that approval first. The CalWORKs determination often takes the full 45 days.

whats ur county? some counties r better than others with processing times. LA county is sooooo slow ugh

Just to give you some peace of mind - if you do qualify for CalWORKs, the benefits are retroactive to your application date. So even if it takes them a while to process your application, you'll still get the full amount you're entitled to from March 15th. Make sure to document all your attempts to contact them too, in case there are any issues later.

I had almost the exact same situation last year. Applied online, uploaded everything, then crickets for like 2 weeks. Turns out they had tried calling me but my phone was blocking unknown numbers! Check your phone settings and make sure you're accepting all calls right now. When I finally got through to them, I found out they had been trying to reach me multiple times. After my interview, I got approved within a week and the EBT card came a few days after that. Oh and once you do get through, make sure to ask about the diaper stipend if your kids are under 3 years old. It's an extra $30 per month per child but they don't always tell you about it unless you specifically ask.

Did you apply just for CalWORKs or did you also apply for CalFresh and Medi-Cal? If you applied for all three, sometimes they process them separately and you might hear about one before the others. Also, make sure you check your BenefitsCal messages daily - sometimes they request additional verification through there instead of calling. The system is so broken and frustrating!!

Hey Javier, I'm in Sacramento County too and just went through this process a few months ago. Sacramento is actually pretty decent with processing times compared to some other counties, but they're definitely understaffed right now. A few things that might help: First, try calling the Sacramento County main CalWORKs line at (916) 874-3100 right at 8am - that's when you'll have the best chance of getting through. If you can't get through on the phone, you can also go to one of their offices in person. The main office is at 2700 Fulton Ave, and they have walk-in hours for emergency situations. Since you mentioned your rent is due next week, make sure to tell them this is an emergency situation when you do get through. They have expedited processing for people facing homelessness or with no income. Also, ask about emergency aid - they sometimes have one-time emergency assistance available while your regular application is being processed. One more tip - if you're having trouble getting through by phone, try calling the statewide CalWORKs hotline at 1-877-847-3663. Sometimes they can see your application status and connect you directly to your county worker. Good luck!

I'm also new to the CalWORKs system and went through something similar recently. One thing I learned is that you can actually check the status of your application by calling the automated CalWORKs line and entering your case number (if you have one) or SSN. Sometimes this gives you more info than what shows up in BenefitsCal. Also, if you're really struggling financially right now, look into local food banks and emergency assistance programs while you wait. Sacramento has several food distribution sites that don't require any paperwork - just show up. The River City Food Bank and Sacramento Food Bank are both good options. Many churches also have emergency funds for rent assistance. Don't give up on the application though - the benefits are definitely worth the hassle once you get through the process. Keep trying to call and definitely follow Mateo's advice about the emergency processing. You've got this!