CalWORKs renewal interview no-shows - rescheduled 4 times but workers never call

omg same thing happened to me last month!! i had to reschedule 2x and was about to give up. my benefits got suspended for a bit bc of it but got them back eventually

This is ridiculous but honestly happens ALL THE TIME with CalWORKs renewals. The county workers are so overwhelmed they sometimes mark interviews as "client no-show" even when THEY'RE the ones who never called! I'd suggest immediately requesting a "good cause" exemption for any missed interviews stating that you were available but no call was received. I also recommend asking for a specific worker's direct number or email when you reschedule. Sometimes getting assigned to a specific person helps because they become accountable directly to you.

I'm going through this exact nightmare with my SAR7 right now! Here's what has actually worked for me in the past: 1. Document EVERYTHING - write down every time you called, who you spoke with, and what they said 2. Ask to speak to a supervisor specifically about the pattern of missed interviews 3. Request that they note in your file that you've been available for all scheduled interviews 4. If your benefits do get cut off, immediately file for a state hearing (you have 90 days) The system is broken but you have rights! They cannot discontinue your CalWORKs if THEY are the ones missing the interviews.

You might want to try using Claimyr. I was dealing with the EXACT same issue for my WTW appointment (waited 3 times, no calls). Someone here recommended Claimyr and it actually worked! The service calls CalWORKs for you and then connects you when they get through to a real person. No more waiting on hold forever or dealing with the automated system that just hangs up. I used it last week and got through to an actual worker in about 20 minutes who was able to schedule me for a SAME DAY interview. You can check it out at claimyr.com - they have a video demo too: https://youtu.be/jzISHxCPLwE

THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT OUR TIME AT ALL!!!! I've had SIX missed interviews for different programs over the past year. SIX!!!! They expect us to be waiting by the phone all day but can't be bothered to actually make the calls they schedule. Then they blame US when our benefits get cut. The whole system is designed to kick people off by making it impossible to complete the process. I'm sorry you're dealing with this but trust me you're not alone.

When this happened to me, I finally asked to schedule an IN-PERSON interview instead of phone. Yes, it was annoying to go down to the office, but at least I got it done and didn't have to worry about missed calls. Some counties even have drop-in hours for renewal interviews, might be worth asking about that option?

I had a similar issue with my CalWORKs and CalFresh interview. I finally contacted my local legal aid office and they helped me resolve it. They can sometimes call the county on your behalf and navigate the system better than we can on our own. Google "legal aid" plus your county name.