Do all CalWORKs recipients get recertification/termination interviews? What questions do they ask?

Yes, everyone on CalWORKs has to do recertification interviews - it's completely normal! Don't worry about the 'termination' part, that's just their way of saying your current benefit period is ending and they need to verify you still qualify for the next period. They do these either annually or semi-annually depending on your case. They'll ask about: - Your current household members - Any income changes since your last report - Employment status for all adults in the household - Your living situation and housing costs - Any assets you might have - Your childcare situation if you have kids - Your Welfare to Work participation if you're required to do that Have these documents ready if possible: recent pay stubs, rent receipt/lease, utility bills, childcare receipts, and any documentation of other income. Good luck!

dont stress it 2 much. they just wanna make sure you still qualify 4 cash aid. they asked me about my job situation and if i was still doing my wtw hours. also they will ask if u still live at same address. interview took like 10 min for me

I HATE these interviews!!! Had mine last month and they rescheduled it TWICE without telling me. Then when I finally got someone they said they never received my SAR7 even though I uploaded it on BenefitsCal three weeks before!! Then they tried to say I was over the IRT because they calculated my income wrong! The whole system is designed to make us FAIL and lose benefits. Bring all your paperwork and RECORD THE CALL if they let you!!!

These recertification interviews are standard procedure for all CalWORKs recipients. They occur annually, though you'll also submit a Semi-Annual Report (SAR7) midway through your certification period. Regarding your sister moving in: Yes, you absolutely must report this during your interview. Any changes in household composition must be reported, even if the person isn't requesting benefits. Failing to report household changes can result in an overpayment that you'd have to pay back, or potentially program violations. The interview is primarily to verify continued eligibility. They'll review: - Income verification - Property/resource limits - School attendance for children - Immunization records for young children - Welfare to Work participation compliance - Child support cooperation requirements Be honest and thorough with your answers. If your circumstances have changed since your last report, be prepared to explain those changes.

i had my recert interview last month it was super easy they just went over my SAR7 info and asked if anything changed since i submitted it. only weird part was they asked about my kids dad and child support again even tho ive told them like 100 times he's not in the picture lol

I've been through 3 recertification interviews over the years. They're required for everyone, but they've gotten so much easier since they started doing them by phone instead of in-person! One tip - if you can't get through to your worker before the interview or have questions after, try using Claimyr (claimyr.com). It helped me skip the 2+ hour hold time when I needed to reach my worker about a verification issue after my last recert interview. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/jzISHxCPLwE For the interview itself, just be prepared to explain any changes since your last report. They'll verify your income, housing costs, and household composition. If you're in the Welfare to Work program, they'll review your participation. Have your documents organized and ready!

I just went through this last month. Make sure you mention EVERYTHING even if it seems small. My daughter's father gave her a $50 birthday gift and I didn't mention it since it was just a one-time gift, and they flagged it as unreported income when they saw the deposit in my bank statement. Had to provide proof it was a gift and not regular support. These interviews are mostly just confirming what's on your SAR7 form though.

To directly address your concern about what documents to have ready, I recommend having: 1. Identification for all household members 2. Last 30 days of pay stubs if employed 3. Utility bills showing your name and address 4. Rental agreement or mortgage statement 5. Bank statements for the last 30 days 6. Childcare receipts if applicable 7. Verification of school attendance for school-aged children 8. Documentation of any other income sources If you submitted your SAR7 through BenefitsCal, it's still a good idea to call and confirm they received it before your interview. This prevents delays in processing your recertification.

Don't stress too much about it! I've been through several of these interviews and they're really just checking that your situation hasn't changed dramatically since your last report. The workers are usually pretty understanding if you're honest about your circumstances. One thing I wish someone had told me before my first recert interview - if you're nervous or don't understand a question, it's totally okay to ask them to repeat it or explain what they're looking for. They'd rather you ask for clarification than give an unclear answer. Also, if you realize you forgot to mention something small during the interview, you can always call back within a day or two to add that information. I once forgot to mention that my mom occasionally helps with groceries, and when I called the next day to clarify, my worker appreciated that I followed up. The fact that you're preparing ahead of time and asking these questions shows you're being responsible about the process. You'll do fine!

I just had my recertification interview two weeks ago and wanted to share some encouragement! The "recertification/termination" language on the notice is just standard wording - it doesn't mean they're planning to terminate you, it's just the official name for the process where they either recertify you for another period or end the current certification period. My interview was actually pretty straightforward. The worker went through each section of my SAR7 and asked if anything had changed since I submitted it. They asked about my work hours, if anyone moved in or out of my household, any changes in childcare costs, and whether I was still living at the same address. One thing that really helped me was having all my documents organized in a folder next to me during the call, even though I didn't need to read from most of them. It made me feel more confident knowing I had everything if they asked for specific details. The whole interview took about 15 minutes for me. The worker was actually pretty friendly and patient when I had to look up a specific date. Just be honest about your situation and you'll be fine! Good luck with your interview on Tuesday!