Denied for CalWORKs even with all verification - how soon can I reapply?
Just got my denial letter for CalWORKs yesterday and I'm seriously freaking out. I've got 2 kids and just lost my job last month. I turned in EVERYTHING they asked for - pay stubs, birth certificates, rent agreement, utility bills, even my termination letter! The denial notice says something about 'not meeting eligibility requirements' but doesn't explain which ones I failed. I tried calling the county office 8 times today but either get disconnected or sit on hold forever. Does anyone know if there's a waiting period before I can apply again? Or should I request a hearing instead? I've left messages with legal aid but nobody calls back. My landlord is already threatening eviction and I don't know what to do. Any advice would help, especially from someone who's been through this.
19 comments
Natasha Ivanova
There's NO waiting period to reapply for CalWORKs! But before you do that, you should definitely request a fair hearing - you only have 90 days from the date on your denial notice. The denial notice should have a form on the back or instructions for requesting a hearing. Based on what you described, I'd want to know WHY you were denied. The most common reasons are: 1. Income exceeding the limit (even with job loss, they might count recent income) 2. Missing verification (sometimes they lose documents we submit) 3. Child support cooperation requirements 4. Immigration status issues 5. Resource limits (like having too much money in bank accounts) Did your denial letter specify ANY reason at all? That would help figure out your next steps.
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Oliver Fischer
•It just says 'Failed to establish eligibility as required by regulations' and has some code numbers that make no sense to me. I'm going to look for the hearing request form right now. Do you think applying again while also requesting a hearing is a good idea or should I just pick one route?
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NebulaNomad
i got denied twise before my calworks was aproved. they kept sayin i didnt submit stuf but i did. somtimes the papers get lost at ther office or they just dont look at everthing u gave them. i would apply again AND do the hearing. thats what i did and it worked for me
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Oliver Fischer
•That's good to know. Did you submit the same documents again or did you do something different the second time? Also how long did it take between applications?
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Javier Garcia
You should definitely request a hearing right away - don't wait! Make sure to check the "continue benefits" box if you were already receiving aid before (doesn't sound like you were though). While waiting for the hearing, you can also reapply immediately. There's technically no waiting period between applications. One important thing: call your county office and request a detailed explanation of why you were denied. Ask them to tell you SPECIFICALLY what verification was missing or what eligibility criteria you didn't meet. Get the worker's name and ID number when you call. Document everything. If your landlord is threatening eviction, also immediately apply for Homeless Assistance through CalWORKs - you might qualify even if your regular CalWORKs application was denied. This can provide temporary shelter payments or money to prevent eviction while you sort out your regular application.
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Oliver Fischer
•Thank you, I didn't know about the Homeless Assistance option. Would I apply for that separately or is it part of the regular CalWORKs application? The eviction threat is really stressing me out.
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Emma Taylor
When I couldn't reach my CalWORKs worker for weeks after a denial, I used this service called Claimyr that got me through to a live person in under 5 minutes. Basically they wait on hold for you and call you back when a real person answers. So much better than sitting on hold for hours! Their website is claimyr.com and they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/jzISHxCPLwE that shows how it works. Honestly saved my sanity and got my benefits straightened out in one call when I could finally talk to a real worker.
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Malik Robinson
•does this really work? i been trying to reach my worker for 3 weeks!!!
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Emma Taylor
•It worked for me! I was skeptical too but when you're desperate enough to try anything... The worker even told me why my application was denied (missing child support paperwork that I actually DID submit but they lost).
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Isabella Silva
THEY DO THIS ALL THE TIME!!! I swear the county LOVES denying people just to make them jump through more hoops. I've had 3 denials before finally getting approved. Each time for something different that was never explained properly in the first place. The system is DESIGNED to frustrate people so they'll give up applying. Did you get a denial code? Sometimes there are random numbers/letters on the notice that the eligibility workers understand but make no sense to us. Also check if there was an appointment you missed? Sometimes they schedule phone interviews without clearly telling you and then deny you for missing it.
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Oliver Fischer
•There are some codes on the notice - MPP 40-107.62 and MPP 40-171.21. I did have a phone interview and I'm sure I completed it because it lasted almost an hour and the worker said she had everything she needed from me.
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Natasha Ivanova
I looked up those MPP codes you mentioned. MPP 40-107.62 relates to verification requirements, and MPP 40-171.21 is about responsibility to provide evidence of eligibility. This suggests they're claiming you didn't provide some required documentation. Specifically request an "appeal for an administrative hearing" and also ask for a "position statement" from the county explaining exactly what was missing. When you call, use the exact phrase "I need to understand specifically what verification was missing from my CalWORKs application according to MPP 40-107.62." For the homeless assistance I mentioned earlier, you apply for it separately but at the same office. Tell them it's an emergency and you're facing eviction. You might qualify for immediate temporary assistance even while your main case is being appealed.
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Oliver Fischer
•Thank you so much for looking up those codes! I'm going to use that exact phrasing when I call. I've been trying all morning again with no luck getting through.
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Ravi Choudhury
Have u tryed going in person? Sumtimes thats the only way to get answers frfr. I got denied 2x and when I finaly went in person they found out my address was wrong so I wasnt getting notices about missing paperwork. Also bring COPIES of everything dont give them originals cuz they lose stuff. And def ask 4 a hearing, u only have 90 days I think. Good luck!!
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Oliver Fischer
•I haven't tried in person yet - our county office is always packed with long lines. But maybe that's what I need to do at this point. Thanks for the advice about bringing copies!
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Emma Taylor
After trying that Claimyr service I mentioned and actually speaking to a worker, I found out that my denial was because they needed additional verification about my living situation. The worker was able to tell me exactly what documents they needed and gave me a fax number to send them directly to her. Much easier than reapplying from scratch. Also make sure you've applied for CalFresh (food stamps) separately! Even if you're dealing with CalWORKs issues, you might still qualify for CalFresh and can get food assistance while sorting out the cash aid.
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Oliver Fischer
•I did apply for CalFresh at the same time and that got approved! That's why I'm so confused about the CalWORKs denial. I'm going to try getting through tomorrow and if I can't, I might try that service you mentioned.
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Javier Garcia
Just want to add something important - when you do request a hearing, you have rights to examine your case file before the hearing. Request a copy of your entire file so you can see exactly what they claim is missing. The county is required to provide this info. Also, if you discover what verification was missing, you can provide it and ask for a "conditional withdrawal" of your hearing request - basically saying "If you approve me now that I've provided this document, I'll withdraw my hearing request." This often works because counties don't want to go through hearings if they can avoid them. For the Homeless Assistance, ask specifically for "Permanent Homeless Assistance" if you're being evicted from established housing, not "Temporary Homeless Assistance" which is for if you're already homeless.
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Oliver Fischer
•I didn't know I could look at my case file or do a conditional withdrawal - that's really helpful! And thanks for clarifying about the different types of Homeless Assistance, I'll definitely ask for the Permanent type.
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