CalWORKs benefits delayed because worker never processed my October Redetermination packet - finally got through!

omg this happened to me too!!! my cash aid just stopped in december and i keep calling and calling. my phone says ive called over 50 times this month and still cant get thru. did u have to go in person to finally get someone to help u?? i submitted my reevaluation form online in november and have the confirmation email but still nothing

This is exactly why I always make copies of EVERYTHING and get a receipt. At least you had proof you submitted it! The county offices are SO backed up right now. My worker told me they lost like 30% of their staff last year and never replaced them. When you do your next redetermination (which will probably be in April now), make sure to submit it super early - like 2-3 weeks before the deadline.

Have u tried calling early in the morning? Like right when they open at 8am? Thats the only time i can ever get through. Once it hits like 8:30 forget about it LOL. Also did u ask if ur gonna get backpay for the missed months? They HAVE to give u that money they owe u!!!

I'm so sorry this happened to you. Unfortunately, this is becoming very common as counties are severely understaffed. Here's what you should know: 1. You are absolutely entitled to retroactive benefits for any months you were eligible but didn't receive benefits due to the county's delay in processing. 2. You can request an expedited processing due to immediate need - tell them you're facing eviction and have no food. They should process this within 3 business days. 3. File a formal complaint with the county. This creates a paper trail and often gets action. 4. Next time, call the CalWORKs office 7-10 days after submitting any paperwork to confirm they received it and ask for the status. 5. You might qualify for a hardship extension if this delay caused you to miss work participation requirements.

Try using Claimyr to get through to the county office next time - saved me hours of frustration. I was in the same boat last month (calling for WEEKS) and someone on here recommended it. You pay a small fee and they basically wait on hold for you then call you when a real person answers. The video on their site shows how it works: https://youtu.be/jzISHxCPLwE Im sure ur case will be fixed now but just for future reference... the county NEVER answers their phones its ridiculous!!!

the whole system is designed to make ppl give up... they hope u stop calling and just accept not getting benefits. DONT GIVE UP!! and once u get ur back pay make sure to count every penny cus they sometimes mess that up too

For future reference, when you turn in your SAR7 reports or redetermination packets, you can request a "Receipt for Documents Received" form which is a time-stamped proof the county received your paperwork. If your benefits stop after that, you can reference the receipt number in your calls and it usually helps get things moving. Also, you mentioned having a receipt - if your benefits don't show up in 3-5 days as promised, you can file for a State Hearing. The form is called "DPA 479" or "Your Right to Appeal." Counties often process claims much faster when a hearing is requested because they don't want to deal with the hearing process. You can withdraw the hearing request once they fix the issue. One more thing - make sure to document the name of every worker you speak with, the date/time, and what they promised. This will help if you need to escalate things.

Did they tell you if there's any chance of getting emergency CalWORKs funds before the 3-5 day wait? When my benefits were delayed last year I told my worker I was about to be evicted and they issued a portion of my benefits the same day. Might be worth asking!