CalWORKs worker missed my phone appointment AGAIN and sent ME a missed appointment letter - how to actually reach someone?

same thing happened to me last month!!! they scheduled me for 9:30am phone appt, i took time off work to take the call, and no1 called until 4:20pm when i was already back at work and couldnt answer. then they marked ME as missing the appointment!!! ended up getting my benefits cut for 'failure to cooperate' and had to reapply all over again. the system is designed to make us fail i swear.

Try calling right when they open. Monday at 8am sharp is your best bet. That's how I always get through. Also make sure you're calling the direct number for your specific worker if you have it, not the main line.

Make sure you document EVERYTHING. Take screenshots of your appointment confirmation from BenefitsCal. Write down every time you call and how long you waited. If they discontinue your benefits because of THEIR mistake, you can request a state hearing and you'll need proof that you were available for your appointment. Also send a message through the BenefitsCal portal stating that you were available for your appointment but never received a call. This creates a paper trail.

I used to have this exact problem until another mom at my kid's school told me about this service called Claimyr. It actually worked for me when I needed to reach my WTW worker about my childcare assistance approval. You go to claimyr.com and they somehow get you through the phone system and have a worker call you back. Saved me from having to go to the office with all my kids. They have a video showing how it works here if you want to check it out: https://youtu.be/jzISHxCPLwE

this EXACT thing just happened to my sister her worker never callled her for the phone appointment and then they sent her a failure to cooperate notice...she went down there in person and they were like "oh you didnt answer" and she was like "YOU NEVER CALLED" and they were like "yes we did" and she was like "show me the number you called" and it was her OLD number that she had changed 6 months ago and updated in the system THREE TIMES. they just didnt bother to check the updated info!!! make them show you what number they tried to call!!

I recommend filing a formal complaint with the county immediately. Under CalWORKs regulations, the county is required to provide reasonable access to workers and meet their own appointment obligations. Ask for a supervisor when you call, and explicitly state you want to file a formal complaint about the missed appointment and lack of accessibility. Also, submit a formal request for a different worker if this is your second missed appointment. You have the right to request a worker reassignment if there's a pattern of poor service. Make sure everything is in writing - send a detailed message through BenefitsCal AND a written letter to the office. Most importantly, request that they document in your case notes that THEY missed the appointment and that your benefits should not be affected while you attempt to reschedule. If your benefits are interrupted because of their error, you can claim "county error" in a state hearing and potentially get retroactive benefits.

Have you tried going in person to get an EBT card reader for your phone? When I went in for that, the wait was only like 20 minutes because it was a different line than the regular services line. I ended up asking the person helping me with the card reader about my case too, and they actually helped me instead of making me wait in the regular line. Maybe you could try something like that as a workaround? Just a thought.

Whatever you do, DO NOT miss the deadline on your recertification paperwork while trying to resolve this issue. If your recert is due, submit it through BenefitsCal anyway, even if you can't talk to a worker. You can upload any supporting documents they need. That way, if they try to discontinue you for missing the appointment, you can prove you still submitted everything required for your recertification on time. The paperwork is separate from the interview requirement.

This is so frustrating but unfortunately super common! I've been dealing with CalWORKs for 3 years and this happens ALL the time. A few things that have helped me: 1) Always call the main county number first thing Monday morning and ask to speak to a CalWORKs supervisor immediately - don't let them transfer you to the regular CalWORKs line. 2) If you have to go in person, try to go right after lunch around 1pm when they're less busy. 3) Send a message through BenefitsCal explaining exactly what happened with timestamps - this creates an official record. 4) Most importantly, mention that you're willing to file a state hearing if your benefits get cut due to THEIR missed appointment. That usually gets their attention fast. Don't give up! You shouldn't have to suffer because they can't do their job properly.

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this - it's absolutely infuriating when they mess up and then blame us for it! I had a similar situation last year where my worker "couldn't reach me" for a scheduled appointment, but turns out they had been calling a number I hadn't used in over a year. Here's what finally worked for me: I went to the office first thing in the morning (around 8:15am right after they opened) and asked to speak with the office manager, not just a supervisor. I brought printed copies of my appointment confirmation, the missed appointment notice they sent me, and my phone records showing no incoming calls during the scheduled time. The office manager was actually pretty helpful and got me rescheduled with a different worker within a week. Also definitely document everything like others have said - take photos of all the paperwork with timestamps. The system is broken but don't let them make you feel like it's your fault when it's clearly theirs!

I feel your pain! This happened to me three times before I finally figured out a system that works. Here's what I do now: First, I always confirm my phone appointment the day before by sending a message through BenefitsCal AND calling to leave a voicemail with my worker. Then on appointment day, I call the office 15 minutes before my scheduled time to confirm they still have me on their list. If they miss the call, I immediately call back and ask to speak to whoever is covering for my worker that day - don't just accept that you have to reschedule. Also, I've started using the "Contact Us" feature on the California Department of Social Services website to file complaints when this happens. It goes to the state level instead of just the county, and I've noticed workers respond much faster when there's a state complaint on file. The whole system is a mess but these steps have helped me avoid the endless phone tag game. Hang in there!

I'm so sorry this happened to you! This exact same thing happened to me about 6 months ago - missed appointment, then THEY sent ME a letter saying I was a no-show. It's absolutely maddening! What ended up working for me was going in person first thing in the morning (like 8am when they open) and bringing my phone records as proof that no call came through during my scheduled appointment time. I also brought screenshots of my appointment confirmation. The supervisor I spoke with was actually apologetic and got me rescheduled within 3 days with a different worker who has been much more reliable. Don't let them make you feel like this is your fault - it's clearly a problem with their system or staff. Document everything and be persistent. You shouldn't have to lose benefits because they can't manage their own appointment schedule!

I went through this exact same nightmare last year! My worker missed THREE scheduled phone appointments and then had the audacity to send me a "failure to cooperate" notice. What finally worked for me was going directly to the county office and asking to speak with the CalWORKs Program Manager (not just a supervisor). I brought printed phone records showing no calls during the scheduled times, screenshots of my appointment confirmations, and copies of all their missed appointment letters. The Program Manager was horrified and immediately assigned me a new worker who actually follows through. She also made sure my case was noted as "county error" so my benefits wouldn't be affected. It took half a day out of my life but it was worth it to finally get someone competent. Don't give up - this is 100% their fault and you have every right to demand proper service!

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this - it's such a common problem and completely unacceptable! I've been navigating CalWORKs for about 2 years now and have learned some hard-won strategies. Here's what I recommend: First, document EVERYTHING with timestamps - screenshots of your appointment confirmation, photos of their missed appointment letter, and if possible, get your phone records from your carrier showing no incoming calls during that time slot. Second, try calling the main county switchboard (not the CalWORKs direct line) first thing Monday at 8am and specifically ask to speak with a CalWORKs Program Manager about filing a formal complaint. Third, send a message through BenefitsCal immediately stating you were available for your scheduled appointment but never received a call, and request that they note "county error" in your case file. If your benefits get interrupted because of THEIR mistake, you have grounds for a state hearing and can potentially get retroactive payments. The system is broken but don't let them make you feel like this is your fault when it clearly isn't. Stay strong and keep fighting for the services you're entitled to!