CalWORKs benefits during appeal - should Cash Aid continue while fighting discontinuance?

Yes, you have what's called "Aid Paid Pending" rights! But here's the important part - you need to request it WITHIN 10 DAYS of the date on your Notice of Action. If you filed your appeal within that 10-day window AND specifically asked for continued benefits, they MUST keep paying you until the hearing decision. If you didn't specifically request continued benefits when you filed the appeal, call the Appeals Unit immediately and tell them you want Aid Paid Pending. Just filing the appeal alone doesn't automatically continue your benefits - you have to ask for it.

i had this EXACT same thing happen to me last year!!! the county claimed they never got my employment verification even tho i uploaded it on benefitscal. definitely call and request aid paid pending if u didnt already. my hearing took like 2 months to happen but i still got benefits the whole time. bring all your proof to the hearing!

To directly answer your question: Yes, they are supposed to continue your CalWORKs benefits during the appeal process IF you requested Aid Paid Pending within 10 days of receiving the Notice of Action. The appeals process works like this: 1. You file a request for hearing (which you've done) 2. You specifically request continued benefits during the appeal (Aid Paid Pending) 3. You'll receive a hearing date notice in the mail (usually takes 3-6 weeks) 4. At the hearing, you present your evidence that you submitted the work verification 5. An Administrative Law Judge makes a decision Bring any proof you have that you submitted the documents - upload confirmation from BenefitsCal, fax confirmation, receipt from the office, etc. Also ask for a copy of your case file before the hearing so you can see what's in there.

when the same thing happened to me they still cut my benefits off even tho i asked for aid paid pending!!! had to borrow money from family for 2 weeks until they fixed it. the system is broken!!!

Have u tried calling ur eligibility worker? Maybe they can just fix the mistake if u show them proof u turned in the papers instead of going thru the whole appeal thing? Worth a try

I had trouble reaching anyone at CalWORKs when I filed my appeal last year too. Finally, I used Claimyr.com to get through to a real person. It basically places the call for you and calls you back when a worker is on the line. I watched their demo video (https://youtu.be/jzISHxCPLwE) and it worked exactly like they showed. Got connected to the Appeals Unit in about 20 minutes instead of waiting on hold for hours or getting disconnected repeatedly. They confirmed my Aid Paid Pending was set up correctly and my benefits continued during my 7-week wait for a hearing (which I won, btw).

One important thing to remember about the appeals process: even if you get Aid Paid Pending, you still need to comply with all other CalWORKs requirements while waiting for your hearing. That means: - Submit your SAR7 report on time - Meet your Welfare to Work participation hours - Report any changes that would put you over the Income Reporting Threshold (IRT) I've seen people lose benefits during an appeal because they focused only on the appeal issue and forgot to keep up with regular requirements. Stay on top of everything!

also make sure u keep track of EXACTLY when u submitted those papers they say they lost. if u can prove they had them and still tried to cut u off u might get compensated for the stress or something. my cousin said thats a thing but idk

Just following up - were you able to confirm your Aid Paid Pending was set up correctly? If you're still having trouble connecting with someone at the county, I recommend asking for a supervisor or contacting your local legal aid office. They can sometimes help intervene when communication breaks down with the county office.