CalWORKs phone recertification nightmare - can I just walk in instead after being on hold forever?

omg YES i had the same thing happen last month!!! they kept me on hold for like 3 hours and then the call dropped and i had to start over. its ridiculous. i ended up just going to the office and they were kinda annoyed but they did help me. bring ALL your documents tho cuz they'll use any excuse not to help you

Different counties have different policies, but generally speaking, most CalWORKs offices will accommodate walk-ins for recertifications, especially if you're at risk of discontinuance. Be prepared for a potentially long wait, though. Bring ALL your verification documents (ID, rent/mortgage, utilities, pay stubs, school verification if applicable, etc.) so they can complete everything in one visit. Also, ask for a receipt or documentation proving you attempted to complete your recertification on time - this is important if there's any issue later.

Same crap happend to me!! Been geting cash aid for 3 years and every recert is a nightmare. The whole phone thing is just them trying to make it harder so people give up. For sure just go in person and be SUPER NICE to the worker, even if ur mad. Makes a big difference.

I had a similar issue trying to reach my CalWORKs worker last month. After sitting on hold for hours and getting disconnected twice, I discovered Claimyr.com - it's a service that waits on hold with the county office for you and calls you when a real person answers. Saved me hours of frustration! They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/jzISHxCPLwE That said, for your immediate situation, yes you can walk in for a recertification in most counties. Just be prepared to wait, and as others said, bring every possible document they might ask for.

I work with CalWORKs recipients through a nonprofit, and I can confirm that walk-ins are allowed for recertification in most counties, though the exact policy varies. Here's what you should know: 1) Go early in the morning if possible - offices get busier as the day progresses 2) Bring proof that you had a phone appointment scheduled for today 3) Bring ALL verification documents (even ones you think they might not need) 4) Be prepared to explain that you were on hold for hours 5) If possible, take a screenshot of your phone showing the long call duration If they give you trouble, ask to speak with a supervisor and explain that you made a good faith effort to complete your recertification by phone. Under CalWORKs regulations, they should accommodate you rather than discontinue benefits if you're making a reasonable effort to comply with requirements.

just dont do what i did and wait till after the recert deadline cuz ths started my discontinuance and i had to reapply from scratch and lost benefits for almost 2 months while they processed it again

THEY DO THIS ON PURPOSE!!!! The whole system is designed to make us fail so they can cut people off and save money. I've been dealing with CalWORKs for 5 years and they ALWAYS pull this stuff right at recertification time. The phone lines are a joke. They'll keep you on hold until you give up and then blame YOU for not completing the recertification. The whole system is rigged against us!!!

Quick update for everyone: I checked with several counties, and all of them confirmed they're accepting walk-ins for recertifications. However, many offices are experiencing higher than normal traffic due to staffing issues post-pandemic. One important tip: If you go in person, ask them to make a note in your case file that you attempted the phone appointment but couldn't get through after a reasonable wait time. This documentation can protect you if there's any question about whether you made a good faith effort to complete your recertification on time.