CalWORKs redetermination stuck in limbo for 6 weeks - supervisor approval delay?

omg same!!!! been waiting since feb 3 for my redetermination. every tim i call they just say "its pending" and hang up basically. my worker neve answers direct line. its like they dont care we have bills??!! already had notice from landlord because rent is late

There's actually a 30-day processing timeframe that DPSS should follow for redeterminations, but yes, they are experiencing major backlogs right now. The supervisor approval step shouldn't take more than 1-2 days normally, so something else is happening. Three things you should do immediately: 1. Request a case status update in writing through your BenefitsCal account - document everything 2. Ask specifically if there are any missing verification documents they need 3. If your benefits get discontinued despite submitting on time, immediately request a fair hearing to protect your right to aid-paid-pending You have rights during this process! They should have given you conditional approval if they verified your eligibility but are just waiting on supervisor review.

supervisor approvals r taking FOREVER right now. i heard they lost a bunch of staff and the ones left r drowning in cases. my cousin works for the county (not calworks but different dept) and says ALL county offices are behind on everything wouldnt hurt to ask for a case manager change if its been that long. sometimes ur file just sits on someones desk and they forget about it

I was stuck in a similar situation last month with my redetermination. After calling every day for two weeks and getting nowhere, I tried Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to an actual CalWORKs worker instead of the general call center. They had my case updated within hours after I finally reached someone who could actually help. Their service calls the county for you and connects you when a human answers, so you don't waste hours on hold. They have a video showing how it works here: https://youtu.be/jzISHxCPLwE When I finally got through, I found out my case was actually missing one verification document they never told me about, and once I submitted it that day, my redetermination was approved the next day.

When this happened to me they were waiting for income verification from my employer that they never actually requested!!! Check if there's something missing they forgot to tell you about. You have the right to see exactly what's in your case file and what they're waiting for. Also, did you submit through BenefitsCal or paper forms? They lose the paper ones sometimes. The electronic submissions through BenefitsCal are documented better and harder for them to claim they never received.

This is just how DPSS operates now. They're TERRIBLE with redeterminations. My cash aid was cut off for 2 months even though I submitted everything on time. They finally fixed it and gave me retroactive payments, but not until after I got an eviction notice and had my utilities shut off. The system is broken.

Just to add some important info: if your benefits do get discontinued due to their processing delays, make sure you request a fair hearing within 90 days AND specify that you want "aid paid pending" the hearing decision. Since you submitted your redetermination packet on time, you're entitled to continued benefits while they sort this out. Also, if you're having trouble reaching someone by phone, try sending a secure message through your BenefitsCal account specifically asking: 1. The exact status of your redetermination 2. Any outstanding documents needed 3. The name of your assigned eligibility worker and their direct number 4. The expected timeline for completion Put "URGENT - RISK OF EVICTION" in the subject line.

Update: I called using the advice from others here and FINALLY got through to someone helpful. Turns out they were missing a school attendance verification for my teenager even though I included it in my original packet! They just overlooked it. The worker was able to note it in my file and said the supervisor should approve it within 48 hours. She also said they'll backdate my benefits to when they should have started. Sometimes it really is just about getting to the right person who will actually look at your file instead of giving you the standard response.

Wow, this is so frustrating but unfortunately not surprising. I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - submitted my redetermination in early February and still waiting on "supervisor approval" too. The lack of communication is the worst part. One thing that helped me was documenting every single phone call I made (date, time, who I spoke to, what they said). When I finally got through to someone who could help, having that record made them take my case more seriously. Also, if you haven't already, try calling first thing in the morning right when they open (8 AM). I've had better luck getting through to actual caseworkers instead of just the screening line. The afternoon calls always seem to go nowhere. Keep pushing - you shouldn't have to stress about rent because they can't do their job properly. Hoping you get some movement on your case soon!