CalWORKs still paid after missing SAR-7 that canceled CalFresh - will Cash Aid continue?

CalWORKs and CalFresh typically have the same reporting requirements, so it's unusual that one was discontinued while the other wasn't. Sometimes there's a processing delay between programs. It's VERY likely your CalWORKs will be discontinued soon too unless you submit that SAR-7 immediately. Don't wait! When you miss a SAR-7, they usually send a discontinuance notice giving you 10 days before they cut benefits. Check your mail carefully - you might have missed this notice. Call your worker ASAP or go to the office in person with your completed SAR-7.

this happened to me last year!!! CalFresh stopped but CalWORKs kept going for like 2 months after. then they suddenly cut my cash aid AND sent me an overpayment notice saying I owed them back the money for those 2 months 😭 they said I should have known I wasn't eligible anymore when I didn't do the SAR7. don't spend that money if u can help it!!

Here's what's happening: CalWORKs and CalFresh DO use the same SAR-7 form, but they sometimes have different processing timelines. Missing your SAR-7 triggers what's called a "discontinuance for failure to provide required verification." Technically, both programs should stop at the same time, but often the computer systems don't sync perfectly. You have what's called "good cause" to turn in a late SAR-7 within a certain timeframe. If you submit your completed SAR-7 now, you can likely: 1. Get your CalFresh restored retroactively (back to when it stopped) 2. Prevent your CalWORKs from being discontinued 3. Avoid a potential overpayment claim for the CalWORKs money you received Don't wait another day. Complete that SAR-7 and get it to your county office immediately. Include a brief note explaining why it was late.

I wasted 3 days trying to call my worker about a similar issue. Nobody ever picked up and it kept disconnecting me after 2 hours on hold. Finally found this service called Claimyr that got me through to a live person at the county in like 20 minutes. They call and wait on hold FOR you then connect you when a worker answers. Saved me so much stress! Their site is claimyr.com and they have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/jzISHxCPLwE I'd definitely call to explain your situation because the county might assume you're just ignoring the SAR-7 requirement, when really you thought it only affected CalFresh.

ummm sar7 is definetly required for BOTH programs!! the county computer just messed up and didnt cut ur calworks yet, but they WILL and then your gonna owe that $$ back. my cousin had this same exect problem and ended up owing like $1900 back to the county. its so dumb how they dont stop both at once and let people think its ok to keep getting one benefit!

One important thing to understand is that your SAR-7 is used for both CalWORKs and CalFresh - it's the same form for both programs. When you fill it out now, be VERY careful to include all income from the report month (which would have been November if it was due in December). Any income you don't report could cause an overpayment issue later. For CalWORKs specifically, there is something called a "10-day notice period" where they must notify you before discontinuing benefits. It's possible your February payment went out before this period ended. I strongly recommend submitting your SAR-7 and also requesting a "rescission of discontinuance" - essentially asking them to restore your benefits without making you reapply.

The county is such a mess these days, I swear! Their system is probably just behind in processing your CalWORKs discontinuance. SAR-7 is absolutely required for both programs. The fact that CalFresh stopped but not your Cash Aid is just a system glitch or backlog. BUT there's good news - if your CalWORKs hasn't been officially discontinued, you might be in what's called the "cure period" where you can still submit the SAR-7 without having to reapply. Get that form in IMMEDIATELY! Don't wait for them to cut you off. Being proactive looks much better than waiting until they demand the money back.

Update: I submitted my SAR-7 yesterday along with a note explaining that I misunderstood and thought it only affected CalFresh! The worker I spoke with said they'll review it within 3 business days and let me know about both my CalFresh and CalWORKs status. She did mention I might need to do a new application for CalFresh since it's been over 30 days, but there's a chance my CalWORKs might continue without interruption if they process it before their system runs the discontinuance. Fingers crossed, and thank you all for the advice - I definitely would have been in a much worse situation if I'd just waited!

I'm so glad you got that SAR-7 submitted! This is exactly why I always tell people to act fast when they realize they've missed a deadline. The county systems can be really unpredictable - sometimes one program gets cut immediately while another keeps going for weeks or even months. It sounds like you caught it just in time to avoid the worst case scenario. Hopefully your CalWORKs worker processes everything quickly and you won't have any interruption. Even if you do have to reapply for CalFresh, at least you'll know for next time to treat that SAR-7 like it controls ALL your benefits, not just one program. Good luck with the review process!

I went through this exact same situation about 6 months ago! The confusing part is that CalWORKs and CalFresh are processed by different departments even though they use the same SAR-7 form. What probably happened is CalFresh processed your missed report first and cut you off, but CalWORKs hasn't gotten to it yet in their system. The February payment you got might actually be legitimate if it was issued before they processed the discontinuance, but you're definitely at risk of them demanding it back as an overpayment. I'd recommend calling your worker and being upfront about the situation - explain that you thought the SAR-7 only affected CalFresh and that's why you didn't realize the urgency. Most workers appreciate honesty and might work with you on avoiding penalties. Also, keep detailed records of when you submit everything and any conversations you have with county staff. If they do try to collect an overpayment later, having documentation of your good faith efforts to fix the mistake can really help your case. Don't panic, but definitely don't delay getting that form submitted!

I'm so glad to see this community helping each other out! As someone who's been receiving CalWORKs for over 2 years, I can tell you that missing SAR-7s is unfortunately pretty common and the system definitely doesn't make it easy to understand. What happened to you is exactly what I've seen happen to friends - CalFresh gets cut immediately but CalWORKs sometimes takes longer to process the discontinuance. The good news is that you acted quickly once you realized what was happening! I've learned to set phone reminders for the 1st of every report month so I never forget again. One tip that's helped me: if you're ever unsure about reporting requirements, you can usually find your current SAR-7 due date printed on your most recent CalWORKs payment stub. It sounds like you're doing everything right by submitting the form with an explanation. Even if there are some hiccups getting everything restored, you're way better off than if you had just ignored it completely. Keep us posted on how it goes - your experience will definitely help other people in similar situations!