CalWORKs caseworker refusing to believe my boyfriend moved out - how to request a new worker?

You have the right to request a new caseworker! Call the main office and ask for the 'Change of Worker Request Form' - every county has one. Make sure to be VERY specific about what's happening. Document EVERYTHING - dates you called, who you spoke with, what was said. Take pictures of all the verification you provided. I went through something similar when my ex moved out. My worker accused me of lying even though I had tons of proof. I finally got a new worker by going IN PERSON to the office and refusing to leave until I could speak to a supervisor. Took 3 hours but was worth it. The new worker approved my household change in like 2 days.

Have you filed for a State Hearing yet? That's what finally worked for me. You have 90 days from when they denied your household composition change to request a hearing. Call 1-800-952-5253 to start the process. Also, you should know they're required by regulations to accept 'sworn statements' as verification when other documentation isn't available - which you already provided anyway! Your worker is being unreasonable. Section 40-115.22 of the CalWORKs regulations specifically addresses household composition verification requirements. In the meantime, keep documenting everything and try calling the general CalWORKs line again to request a supervisor.

omg same thing happened with me!!! my worker was HORRIBLE constantly accusing me of hiding my bf even tho he moved to nevada!!! i had to call like 20 times before i finally got to talk to someone higher up. the whole system is rigged tbh. they just assume were all lying about everything. so frustrating!!!

I'd try using the Claimyr service to get through to a supervisor faster. It's been a lifesaver for me when dealing with CalWORKs phone issues. You just go to claimyr.com, enter the county office number, and they'll call you back when they've got a worker on the line - no more waiting on hold for hours! There's a video that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/jzISHxCPLwE I was in a situation where I couldn't get anyone to answer about a SAR7 problem, used Claimyr, and got it resolved that same day. Might help you get to a supervisor who can approve the household change or assign you a new worker.

You should make a written request for a change of worker. Send it certified mail so they can't claim they never received it. Include in your letter: 1. Your case number 2. Brief explanation of the issue (worker refusing to accept valid verification) 3. List all the verification you've already provided 4. Cite the CalWORKs Manual of Policies and Procedures section 40-115.22 regarding verification requirements 5. Request a response within 10 business days Also, you can file a Civil Rights complaint if you feel you're being discriminated against or treated unfairly. Each county has a Civil Rights Coordinator. In my experience, workers are often overloaded with cases and some get burnt out and become skeptical of everyone. A formal written request is harder for them to ignore than phone calls.

did u try the benefitscal website? sometimes u can upload documents there and it gets to a different worker who reviews it. my caseworker was saying i never turned in my paystubs but when i uploaded them on benefitscal a different person approved it and fixed my case

Another thing you should do immediately is call your county board of supervisors office. This might sound extreme but it WORKS. Google your county + board of supervisors, call their office, and explain that your CalWORKs worker is refusing to accept valid verification and your children's benefits are at risk. The board office will contact the director of social services, who will light a fire under everyone below them. It's amazing how quickly things get fixed when elected officials get involved. I've had to do this twice and both times my issue was resolved within 48 hours.

You need to go to the office in person and ask to speak with the office manager - not just a supervisor. Bring ALL your documentation, multiple copies, and don't leave until they give you something in writing. CalWORKs workers can deny anything over the phone, but they have to give you specific denial reasons in writing. You also have the right to see all the regulations they're basing their decisions on. Ask them to show you the specific MPP (Manual of Policies and Procedures) section that says your verification isn't sufficient. They often can't, because they're making it up. Don't be afraid of "retaliation" - document everything, including who you speak with and when. If they retaliate, that's another violation you can add to your State Hearing complaint.

have u tried contacting ur local legal aid office? they help with calworks issues for free. my friend got help from them when her worker was saying she was over the income limit when she wasnt

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this - it's incredibly stressful when you're already struggling financially and the system that's supposed to help you is making things worse. One thing that hasn't been mentioned yet is contacting your state assemblymember or state senator's office. They have constituent services staff who specifically handle problems with state agencies like CalWORKs. I had a similar issue where my worker was being completely unreasonable, and after calling my assemblymember's office, someone from their team contacted the county director directly. My case was reassigned within a week and the new worker immediately accepted the same documents the previous worker had rejected. You can find your representatives at findyourrep.legislature.ca.gov - just enter your address. Their staff deal with CalWORKs issues all the time and they know exactly who to contact to get things moving. Also, while you're working on getting a new worker, you might want to ask about the CalWORKs Immediate Need payment that someone mentioned earlier. Even if your regular benefits are delayed, you may qualify for emergency assistance to help with your rent deadline. Hang in there - you have rights and there are people who will help you enforce them!