CalWORKs phone interview no-shows twice - BenefitsCal showing nothing & can't get through county lines

I had this exact problem back in November. After two missed interviews, I found out they were calling from a different number than what was in my file, so their calls were getting filtered as spam by my phone. Try these things: 1. Check your BenefitsCal Messages section (not just the homepage) - sometimes interview notes are buried there 2. Make sure your phone number is updated in the system 3. Try going in person to the office - bring all your verification documents 4. If you can't go in person, send a message through BenefitsCal asking specifically for another interview and explain the missed calls Also, if your benefits are about to be cut off, you can request a hearing to keep them active while you sort this out. There should be fair hearing instructions in any discontinuance notice you receive.

the same thing hapned to me they never call when they say. i waited 4 hours for nothing. my worker told me later they were calling but i wasnt answering but i KNOW my phone was working fine! the system is broke on purpose so we cant get benefits they make it hard on purpose

Here's what's most likely happening: The CalWORKs eligibility workers are required to make *three attempts* to call you during your scheduled window. But many county offices are severely understaffed right now, so workers are handling double or triple caseloads. If you can't physically go to the office, try using Claimyr (claimyr.com). It's a service that helps you get through to county benefit offices when the lines are busy. They basically wait on hold for you and call you when a real person answers. I used it last month after trying for days to reach my WTW worker. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/jzISHxCPLwE Also, make sure you're documenting everything - dates/times you tried calling, screenshot the BenefitsCal messages page showing no communications, etc. If they try to discontinue your benefits due to "failure to complete recertification interview" you'll have evidence you tried multiple times.

It does work for CalWORKs - the key is that it gets in the phone queue before it fills up. They basically have a system that calls right when the offices open and holds that spot. It's specifically designed for benefit offices that disconnect rather than hold. I was skeptical too but it saved me when my SAR7 wasn't processed correctly.

you should check ur junk email too not just ur phone. sometimes they send the interview info there and u never see it. also the BenefitsCal app sometimes shows different stuff than the website so check both

So frustrating! I had this issue twice and it was because they had my old phone number in ONE part of their system but updated in another part. So ridiculous. One trick I used - call your local office but instead of choosing the CalWORKs/TANF option, choose the CalFresh/SNAP option. Those lines are often less busy and once you get someone on the phone, they can usually transfer you to the right department. Just be super nice when they answer so they're willing to help! Also, sometimes the workers call from blocked/private numbers, so make sure your phone isn't rejecting those. My phone was auto-rejecting unknown callers during my first interview attempt.

I work with a community organization that helps people navigate CalWORKs, and missed interviews are one of the most common issues we see. A few important things to know: 1. Under CalWORKs regulations, they must attempt to reschedule a missed interview before taking negative action 2. Check your county's CalWORKs office website - some counties now offer virtual lobby check-in where you can get in line online instead of calling 3. If your benefits do get cut off, you can request "good cause" for the missed interview and potentially get retroactive benefits once you complete the interview 4. Some counties have weekend/evening hours once a month - worth asking about Finally, if it makes you feel better, this is happening to MANY people right now. County workers are overwhelmed and their phone systems are outdated. Don't give up!

anybody who needs a worker phone number direct i got someone who can help but they charge like $20 dm me

Just wanted to update on my earlier comment - most offices do take walk-ins, but go EARLY (like before they open) because there's usually a line. And bring entertainment for your 4-year-old because the wait can be 2-3 hours. Also, there's an important distinction between the regular CalWORKs recertification (annual) and the SAR7 (semi-annual report). Which one are you trying to complete? Because the process is different for each and that might affect what's happening with your case.

I went through this exact same nightmare last year! Here's what finally worked for me after three missed interviews: The key was realizing they were calling from a restricted/blocked number AND my phone carrier was automatically filtering government calls as potential spam. I had to contact my phone company (Verizon) and ask them to disable all spam filtering temporarily. Also, try this number trick that saved me: Call your county's main switchboard (not the CalWORKs line) and ask to be transferred to the "CalWORKs supervisor on duty." Tell them about the missed interviews and that your benefits are at risk. Supervisors have more authority to get things moving quickly. One more thing - when you do get through, ask them to schedule your interview for the FIRST appointment slot of the day (usually 8am). Workers are less likely to be running behind schedule early in the morning, so you're more likely to actually get your call. Document everything with screenshots and notes. If they try to cut your benefits, you'll have evidence that you were available and they failed to call. Don't let them make this your fault when their system is clearly broken!

I'm so sorry you're going through this - the system really is broken when it comes to phone interviews! I had a similar experience last year where they scheduled me THREE times and never called. Here's what finally got me through: 1. Turn off ALL call blocking features temporarily - including "Silence Unknown Callers" on iPhone or similar Android features 2. Contact your cell carrier and ask them to disable spam protection for a few days around your interview 3. Make sure you have strong cell signal where you'll be waiting - I discovered my apartment had poor reception in certain rooms 4. Try the "supervisor trick" others mentioned - call the main county number and ask for the CalWORKs supervisor on duty What really helped me was sending a message through BenefitsCal explaining the missed interviews and requesting they call from a regular county number (not blocked/restricted). Some workers are willing to do this if you explain the technical issues. Also, if you do end up going in person, try to go on a Tuesday or Wednesday morning - Mondays and Fridays are usually the busiest days. And yes, bring snacks and activities for your little one because the wait can be brutal. Don't give up! Your benefits are important and you shouldn't have to jump through hoops just because their phone system doesn't work properly. Keep documenting everything in case you need to file a complaint later.