How often do CalWORKs recertifications happen? Every year or longer?
I'm new to the CalWORKs system and trying to understand the timeline for paperwork. Just wondering how often we have to do the full recertification process? Is it something that happens once a year, or do they make you do it more often? Or maybe it's less frequent, like every couple years? I know we have to submit the SAR7 reports, but I'm confused about when the big recertification packet needs to be done. My worker mentioned something about it when I applied but I was so overwhelmed with all the information that I forgot to write it down. Anyone know the schedule?
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Michael Green
CalWORKs recertification happens ANNUALLY - every 12 months from when you were first approved. It's different from your SAR7 (Semi-Annual Report) which you do halfway through your certification period. So basically: - SAR7: Every 6 months - Recertification: Every 12 months They should send you the recert paperwork about a month before it's due. Make SURE you complete everything on time because missing your recertification deadline will get your benefits discontinued completely.
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Hannah White
•Thank you! This is exactly what I needed to know. So I'll get the big packet once a year, and the smaller SAR7 form in between. Got it. My approval date was in March so I guess I should expect the recertification stuff next February?
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Mateo Silva
its yearly but my worker keeps messing up my recert. they nevre send the papers on time then blame me when nothing gets turned in on time!!1 had to reapply twice after getting cut off for no reason. the system is BROKEN
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Victoria Jones
•That's frustrating! One tip: you can now access a lot of your CalWORKs documents online through BenefitsCal.com. You can even see when your recertification is due and sometimes complete parts of it online. Might help avoid the paper mail issues.
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Cameron Black
I think It's definitely every year. I've been on CalWORKs for almost 3 years now and I've had to do the recertification interview and all that paperwork once a year. They send you the SAWS 2 Plus form which is like 20 pages long and you have to verify EVERYTHING again - income, property, who lives in your home, etc. They also require an interview. The SAR7 is just a quick update form that goes in between.
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Hannah White
•Oh wow, that sounds like a lot of work! I better start keeping all my documents organized. Do they usually do the interview by phone or do I have to go in person?
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Victoria Jones
Yes, it's annual (every 12 months). Here's a quick breakdown of the CalWORKs reporting requirements: 1. Annual Recertification: Complete SAWS 2 Plus form with all verifications and do an interview 2. Semi-Annual Report (SAR7): Due in the 6th month of your certification period 3. Mandatory mid-period reporting: You MUST report within 10 days if: - Your income exceeds the Income Reporting Threshold (IRT) - Anyone in your household is fleeing felon or violating probation/parole - Your address changes Make sure to complete everything on time. If you miss your recertification deadline, your benefits will stop and you'll have to reapply from scratch.
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Jessica Nguyen
•Quick question - what does IRT stand for? They mentioned that on my paperwork but never explained it.
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Victoria Jones
•IRT = Income Reporting Threshold. It's a specific dollar amount listed on your approval notices. If your household's monthly income goes above that amount, you must report it within 10 days, even if it's not time for your SAR7 or recertification. This amount is based on your household size and is typically around 130% of your household's authorized CalWORKs grant amount.
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Isaiah Thompson
ya its yearly like others said. but heads up sometimes they forget to mail the packet!! happened to me twice and i got cut off and it was a NIGHTMARE to get back on. now i mark it on my calendar and call my worker a month before its due if i dont get anything in the mail. cant trust the county to do anything right lol
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Ruby Garcia
•This is such good advice. The system isn't perfect and sometimes things fall through the cracks. I've started using Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to my worker when I need to check on these things. Their service helps you skip the phone wait times when calling the county office. Saved me hours of frustration, especially close to my recertification deadline when I needed to confirm some details. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/jzISHxCPLwE
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Isaiah Thompson
•never heard of that but OMG anything to avoid being on hold for 3 hours would be amazing. last time i called about my recert i literally fell asleep waiting and missed when they finally answered
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Jessica Nguyen
I thought recertification was every 6 months? That's what my friend told me, but maybe she was talking about the SAR7 thing. IDK the CalWORKs system is so confusing.
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Michael Green
•Your friend was probably mixing up the SAR7 (which is every 6 months) with recertification (which is annual/12 months). Easy mistake to make since both are required paperwork, but the recertification is much more detailed and requires an interview, while the SAR7 is just a form updating your situation.
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Mateo Silva
and btw make sure u answer ALL the questions on the recert forms even if u gotta write "does not apply" or "none" cause they will send it back and delay everything if u leave stuff blank. making u start all over for no reason smh
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Hannah White
•Thank you for this tip! I'll make sure to fill out everything completely. I don't want to risk losing benefits over something simple like leaving a box empty.
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Cameron Black
Does anyone know if the WTW (Welfare to Work) review is done at the same time as recertification? My worker mentioned something about reviewing my work activity hours during recertification but I'm not sure if that's standard or just something specific to my case.
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Victoria Jones
•Yes, your WTW plan and participation hours are typically reviewed during your annual recertification. They'll check if you've been meeting your required hours and if your current plan is still appropriate. If you have an exemption, they'll also verify if you still qualify for it. If anything in your situation has changed, they might need to update your WTW plan.
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Hannah White
Thank you everyone for the helpful answers! Really appreciate you all taking the time to explain. I'll mark my calendar for both the SAR7 at 6 months and the full recertification at 12 months. Going to start keeping a folder with all my important documents so I'm prepared when the time comes.
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Ava Garcia
•That's a great plan! Having everything organized in one folder makes such a difference. Also, I'd recommend making copies of everything you submit - both for your SAR7 and recertification. Sometimes documents get "lost" in the system and having your own copies can save you from having to scramble to get everything again. Good luck with your first year on CalWORKs!
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LilMama23
Just wanted to add one more helpful tip as someone who's been through several recertifications - if you have direct deposit set up, make sure your bank account info is still current when you do your recertification! I forgot to update mine after switching banks and it caused a delay in getting my benefits restored after recert. Also, if you're working or have any income changes during your certification period, keep all your pay stubs organized by month. They'll want to see everything during recertification and having it organized makes the process so much smoother.
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