CalWORKs denied for 'interview not completed' but they called 2 days late & said no phone interviews anymore?

This sounds like a typical miscommunication between departments. When they say "we don't do phone interviews anymore," they actually mean they've switched to in-person interviews, not that they eliminated interviews altogether. What likely happened is: 1. Your scheduled interview was supposed to be in-person but was marked as phone on your paperwork (common error) 2. When they called 2 days late, that wasn't your actual interview - just notification about documents 3. You were still supposed to schedule and complete an in-person interview You need to file for a fair hearing immediately! You have 90 days from the date on your denial notice. Call the county and explain the miscommunication and ask for an expedited reapplication with the date preserved from your original application. This happens a lot and can usually be fixed.

omg the EXACT thing happened to me in january!!! they scheduled phone interview then nobody called then said oh we changed everything...i had to reapply and lost out on a month of benefits...such bs how they expect ppl to know when they change their own rules and dont even update their letters!!!

My sister went through this last month. The county office told her that her eligibility worker would call for the interview but nobody ever did. Then they claimed she missed it. THEN she went to the office and they said "we don't do phone interviews anymore" but nobody had updated their automated notification system. The real problem is they switched systems but didn't update their notification process. So frustrating!!

This is a clear case where you need to request a fair hearing ASAP. The county failed to properly notify you of their interview policy change, which violates CalWORKs regulations. They must provide clear instructions about interview requirements. In the meantime, I'd recommend: 1. File for a fair hearing (call 1-800-952-5253) 2. Ask for "aid paid pending" if you're already receiving benefits 3. Request an immediate supervisor review 4. Bring documentation of the call that came 2 days late 5. Ask them to check the case notes - the worker should have documented that they spoke with you The county must follow proper notification procedures when changing interview formats. This seems like a due process violation.

Try using Claimyr to get through to a CalWORKs supervisor right away. I was dealing with a similar issue where they denied me for "failure to provide verification" even though I submitted everything. Called for DAYS and couldn't get through. Then I used Claimyr (claimyr.com) and got connected to a real person in 10 minutes who fixed everything. They have a video demo showing how it works: https://youtu.be/jzISHxCPLwE You definitely need to speak to a supervisor, not just a regular eligibility worker, because this sounds like a system error that regular workers might not have authority to fix.

THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO ME!!! The whole system is BROKEN! When I called to ask why I was denied for "missing" my interview, the worker had the nerve to tell me I should have known to come in person even though my paperwork clearly said PHONE INTERVIEW. When I pointed this out, she just said "well we changed our policy." HOW ARE WE SUPPOSED TO KNOW THAT?!?! They're literally setting people up to fail so they don't have to give out benefits. I filed a fair hearing and won because they couldn't prove they properly notified me about the interview change. FIGHT THIS!

Im confused... if they say they dont do phone interviews any more, why did they call you at all??? Makes no sense. The CalWORKS office is just total chaos these days. My worker told me one thing on monday and then totally different thing on thursday and acts like im the crazy one. Gotta document EVERYTHING. Save that call log from when they called you late. Did you happen to record the call or take notes? That could really help your case.

Update on your options: 1. For immediate assistance, file a WTW 90 form for "Immediate Need" - if you have less than $100 and can't pay for necessities, they must process this within 3 business days 2. Since this was a new application, request an "administrative error reconsideration" - this allows them to backdate benefits to your original application date when they made the error 3. File a formal complaint with the county Civil Rights Coordinator about improper notification procedures You mentioned having a 4-year-old - make sure to also apply for Emergency CalFresh and CalWORKs childcare assistance immediately, as these can be processed separately from your main application. This sounds like a case of the left hand not talking to the right hand - their notification system still sending automated phone interview notices while their actual policy changed to in-person.

my friend works for the county (not saying which one lol) and she said they changed their interview policy in February but the automated systems and letters didnt get updated until late March. so basically everyone who applied in that gap period got messed up notices. its not your fault at all, they should fix this without making you reapply!

One more thing I forgot to mention - when you go to the office, bring a written statement explaining exactly what happened with dates and times. Include: 1. Date you applied 2. Date and time of scheduled phone interview 3. Date and time they actually called (2 days late) 4. Name of the worker who called (if you have it) 5. Date you submitted all verification documents 6. Date you received the denial notice Hand this to the supervisor directly along with copies (not originals) of any documentation. This creates a paper trail they can't ignore. Always get the name and ID number of anyone you speak with.