Can't access my SAR 7 online - due tomorrow and BenefitsCal won't show it!

This happened to me a couple months ago - turns out BenefitsCal was having technical issues. Don't panic yet! You have three options: 1) Call your worker first thing tomorrow and explain. They can give you a few extra days if you have good cause (technical issues count). 2) Print a blank SAR 7 form from the CDSS website (Google "CalWORKs SAR 7 PDF"), fill it out, take pictures and email it to your county office. Make sure to keep proof you sent it. 3) You can actually fax the SAR 7 too - most counties have fax numbers listed on their websites. The most important thing is to document your attempts to submit! When you do any of these, take screenshots or pictures showing the BenefitsCal error. This protects you from discontinuance.

OMG YES this happened to me last reporting period!! So annoying. I ended up having to fax mine in and they STILL cut off my benefits for like 5 days until they processed it. Make sure you keep calling them every day until they fix it!! The system is so broken its rediculous.

If you can't get through to your worker tomorrow (which is likely since it's the end of the month when everyone is calling), try using Claimyr.com. I discovered it when I was in a similar situation with my SAR 7. They call the county for you and get you connected to a real person instead of waiting on hold forever. They have a video that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/jzISHxCPLwE Totally worth it when you're in a time crunch like this. I was able to get through to my worker in about 10 minutes instead of hours.

call early. like as soon as they open. dont wait till afternoon cuz ull never get through. and dont trust the online system its always breaking. i always do paper sar7 now cuz my benefits got cut off twice when i tried to do it online.

I work for the county (not going to say which one), and I can tell you this is unfortunately a common BenefitsCal issue. Here's what you need to know: - Your SAR 7 is technically due on the 5th of the month, but the system gives you until the last day of the month before discontinuance actually happens - You can submit after the due date but before the end of the month and still be fine - If you have proof you tried to submit (screenshots of errors), you can file for a hearing if they discontinue you - Email submissions ARE accepted, but be sure to include your case number in the subject line and follow up with a call Also, if you've had no changes in income or household, make sure to tell your worker that when you do reach them. That can speed up processing.

You know what's crazy? I had this EXACT problem last month with my SAR 7, but then I found out I wasn't even supposed to submit one! My worker had switched me to annual reporting (AR) since I have stable income now, but nobody bothered to tell me. Could that be what happened to you? Maybe check your last approval letter to see if they changed your reporting period from semi-annual to annual?

i had a similar issue and finally got hold of someone after THREE DAYS of calling. my caseworker told me they were migrating some data in the system and it was causing problems with SAR 7s showing up online. she told me to just write everything down on a piece of paper - income, expenses, household members - sign it, date it, and take a picture and email it to the general county email with my case number. they accepted it! anything is better than nothing when the deadline is tomorrow.

UPDATE: You guys are all amazing! I managed to get through to someone at the county this morning. It turns out my SAR 7 wasn't showing up because they actually DID switch me to annual reporting after my last recertification! The worker said I don't need to submit anything until my annual renewal in October. Such a relief! Thank you all for your help and suggestions!

So glad you got it sorted out! This is exactly why I always recommend people check their approval letters carefully - the county doesn't always communicate these changes clearly. For anyone else reading this who might be in a similar situation, here are the key things to look for in your approval letter: - "Reporting Requirements" section will say either "Semi-Annual" (SAR 7 every 6 months) or "Annual" (once per year) - If it says "Annual Reporting" you should have a specific date listed for when your annual renewal is due - Keep that approval letter somewhere safe so you can reference it! It's frustrating that the system doesn't give you a clear message about why your SAR 7 isn't showing up, but at least now you know you're good until October. Thanks for updating us with the resolution - it'll help other people who run into this same issue!

This whole thread is such a perfect example of how we all help each other navigate this confusing system! I'm so relieved for you @DeShawn that it turned out to be annual reporting - what a weight off your shoulders! For anyone else who might stumble across this post with SAR 7 issues, I want to add that you can also check your reporting status by logging into BenefitsCal and looking at your "Case Summary" page. It should show your next reporting due date there. If it says something like "Next Report Due: [date in far future]" you're probably on annual reporting. Also, pro tip: if you ever DO need to submit a SAR 7 and the online system is down, most counties will accept photos of a handwritten form sent through their secure messaging system in BenefitsCal. It's usually under "Send a Message" or "Contact Us" when you log in. Way easier than trying to get through on the phone sometimes! Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and solutions - this community really does make dealing with all this bureaucracy so much more manageable! 💙

What a rollercoaster this thread has been! @DeShawn I'm so happy it worked out for you - that panic when you think your benefits might get cut off is just awful. I've been there! This whole situation really highlights how broken the communication is between the county and recipients. They switch your reporting requirements but don't send a clear notification? That's ridiculous. We shouldn't have to be detectives just to figure out what we're supposed to do. I want to echo what others said about keeping good records. After my own nightmare experience with a missed SAR 7 (that turned out to be submitted correctly but "lost" in their system), I now: 1) Take screenshots of EVERYTHING when I submit online 2) Keep a calendar with all my important dates highlighted 3) Save every single letter they send me, even the boring ones Also, for anyone reading this who's new to CalWORKs - don't be afraid to ask your worker questions! I know some of them can be hard to reach, but the good ones will explain your reporting requirements clearly. And if you get someone who's unhelpful, don't hesitate to ask to speak with a supervisor. This community has been such a lifeline for navigating all this bureaucracy. Thank you everyone for sharing your knowledge and supporting each other! 💪