CalWORKs sent me a reapplication notice instead of SAR 7 - will I lose my benefits?

You're right to be concerned - this sounds like they might have sent you an annual redetermination notice (SAWS 2) instead of a Semi-Annual Report (SAR 7). The SAWS 2 is for your annual recertification and is different from the SAR 7. Check the top of the form - does it say 'SAWS 2 PLUS' or something similar? If you've been on CalWORKs for about a year, it's probably time for your annual redetermination, which is more extensive than the SAR 7 and requires a new application.

The same thng happened to me last month!!! I got all nervous too thinking they were cutting me off. But yah it's just the yearly redetermenation thing. It's longer than the SAR 7 and they want more documents and stuff. Make sure you give them EVERYTHING they ask for or they will discontinue you. They made me do a phone interview too.

This is definitely your annual redetermination packet (SAWS 2 PLUS). It comes once a year and is completely different from the SAR 7. Here's what you need to know: 1. You MUST complete this to continue receiving CalWORKs 2. It's more detailed than the SAR 7 and requires verification documents 3. You'll need to complete an interview (phone or in-person) 4. Your benefits will continue during processing IF you submit before the deadline Don't panic, but do take this seriously. If you miss the deadline, your benefits will stop, and you'd have to completely reapply (which means potential gaps in payment).

Call them asap becuz if u miss the deadline they WILL cut u off i promise u that. My friend got cut off for 2 months waiting to get back on after missing her redetermination deadline. The county dont care if ur rent is due they will still cut u off.

i got a diffrent notice than usual for my sar7 too they changing everything since covid ended im pretty sure

I've been dealing with CalWORKs for 3+ years, and the annual redetermination is ALWAYS a nightmare. Good luck getting through to anyone! I spent TWO WEEKS trying to reach my worker last time for my interview. Called every day, multiple times, left messages, and nothing. Finally got desperate and used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me through to a real person in like 15 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/jzISHxCPLwE - seriously saved my benefits because I was about to miss my deadline. Just be ready with all your documents when you finally get through.

The county systems are SO CONFUSING! They make it impossible to understand what they want from us. I bet half the people who get cut off from benefits just got confused by all the different forms and notices. Why can't they make it simpler??? I agree with others that this sounds like your annual redetermination packet. You need to do this once a year, then the SAR 7 at the 6-month mark in between. They should explain this better!!

OK so for your redetermination you'll need: 1. Pay stubs (last 30 days) 2. Bank statements 3. Rent/utility receipts 4. Childcare expenses 5. Any changes to your household 6. School attendance for kids 7. Proof of any Welfare to Work participation If you're missing any docs, submit what you have and write a note saying you'll bring the rest to your interview or submit later. Just don't miss the deadline!!

Yes! If you're doing education for your WTW hours, definitely bring your current class schedule, enrollment verification, and any progress reports you have. Your worker will need to verify you're meeting your participation requirements as part of redetermination. And yes, statements for all accounts, even if they have a low balance. They look at everything during annual redetermination.

So glad you got through to your worker and got it sorted out! This is exactly why I always tell people to ask questions here first - the community knows so much more than the confusing notices they send us. Good luck with your phone interview next week! Pro tip: have all your documents organized and ready before the call starts. They sometimes ask for specific numbers or dates on the spot, and it's way less stressful when you're prepared. You've got this!

I'm so glad to see this community helping each other out! @Brianna Muhammad, it sounds like you got everything figured out, but I wanted to add one more tip for anyone else who might be going through their first annual redetermination - if you're having trouble gathering all the required documents, most county offices will accept a signed statement explaining why a document is missing (like if your bank is slow getting statements or your employer hasn't given you recent pay stubs yet). Just don't use this as an excuse to not try - they really do want to see the actual documents when possible. And remember, the annual redetermination might seem scary, but it's just their way of making sure your case information is current and accurate. The workers aren't trying to kick you off (usually!), they just need updated info to calculate your benefits correctly.