How to get verification of CalWORKs benefits? Can't find WIZ report on BenefitsCal site

It's now called a Verification of Benefits (VOB) letter, not a WIZ report anymore. You have a few options to get it: 1. Call your county office and request one to be mailed to you 2. On BenefitsCal, look under "Documents" - you might need to click on your case first 3. If you can't find it there, you can request one through the Message Center on BenefitsCal 4. Yes, you can go in person as a last resort The VOB letter will show all your current benefits including CalWORKs Cash Aid, CalFresh, and Medi-Cal if applicable. Most housing places accept this as official verification.

I just did this last month!!! They dont call it WIZ anymore but i forget the new name lol. Had to get it for my new apartment too. I couldnt find it online either so I just called but was on hold FOREVER and they hung up on me twice. So frustrating!!

The county offices are DESIGNED to make it difficult to get basic paperwork. They want you to give up so they don't have to help you. I've been through this EXACT situation 3 times in the last year. You can request the VOB (verification of benefits) online but half the time they just ignore those requests. The phone system is a JOKE - they'll keep you on hold for 2+ hours then disconnect you "accidentally." Your best bet is to physically go there, but make sure you bring a book and lunch because you'll be waiting ALL DAY. And don't forget your ID or they'll turn you away even after waiting. The system is BROKEN!!!

I work with a lot of families navigating the benefits system. The document is officially called a Verification of Benefits (VOB) letter now, though some workers still informally call it a WIZ report out of habit. The easiest way to get it should be through the BenefitsCal portal, but many counties haven't fully updated their systems to make this function work properly. The most reliable method is calling your county office, but as others have mentioned, the phone lines can be extremely backed up. If you need this document quickly for your housing application, I'd recommend using Claimyr (claimyr.com) - it's a service that will call and wait on hold for you, then connect you when a worker answers. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/jzISHxCPLwE Once you get through to a worker, specifically ask for a "Verification of Benefits letter showing my current CalWORKs amount" and they can email or mail it to you same day.

i asked my worker last time i saw her and she printed it out for me right there. took like 2 minutes. do u have ur workers direct number? thats way better than the main line

What county are you in? This makes a BIG difference. Some counties have updated their online systems better than others. In Los Angeles, you can actually download the VOB directly from YourBenefitsNow (not BenefitsCal). Some counties still use separate systems. Also, you can try going to a community partner organization like a family resource center - some of them have direct lines to the county and can help you get verification without the wait.

I forgot to mention - if you're in a real hurry, sometimes the front desk at the county office will print a VOB for you without needing to wait for your worker. Just walk in first thing when they open (like 15 min before opening time) and tell them you just need a quick verification letter for housing. WAY better than waiting all day for your actual worker.

Just checking back - were you able to get your verification letter? If you're still having trouble, you can also ask your housing provider if they'll accept alternative proof. Some will take a bank statement showing the CalWORKs deposit with the EBT transaction description, or a Notice of Action letter that shows your benefit amount. These aren't ideal but can work in a pinch.

my friend needed something similar for her school financial aid and she just took a screenshot of her EBT card balance on the app plus a bank statement showing the deposit. they accepted that instead of the official letter. maybe worth asking your housing people if that would work?

For anyone else dealing with this in the future - another option is to check if your county has a mobile app. San Bernardino County has the "SB County Benefits" app where you can sometimes access documents that don't show up on the main BenefitsCal site. Also, if you have a redetermination coming up soon, your worker might be able to email you the VOB ahead of your appointment when they're already pulling up your case. I've found that timing requests around when they're already working on your file makes them more responsive.

Just wanted to add another tip that worked for me - if you're having trouble with the online systems and phone lines, try calling right at 8am when they open OR right after lunch around 1pm. Those seem to be the times when wait times are shorter. Also, when you do get through to someone, ask them to send the VOB letter to your email AND regular mail - sometimes one method works better than the other depending on your county's system setup. I learned this the hard way when I requested it by email and it never came, but the mailed copy arrived fine.

I'm new to CalWORKs and this thread is so helpful! I was just assigned a worker last week but haven't met them yet. Reading through everyone's experiences, it sounds like getting verification can be really hit or miss depending on which method you try. I'm bookmarking this for when I inevitably need proof of benefits for something. Quick question - does the VOB letter show the exact dollar amount you receive monthly, or just that you're enrolled in the program? My apartment complex specifically said they need to see the monthly benefit amount for their income calculations.

Pro tip from someone who's been through this multiple times - if you're still having issues accessing the VOB letter online, you can also try logging into BenefitsCal on a computer instead of your phone. Sometimes the mobile version doesn't show all the document options. Also, make sure you're clicking on your actual case number first, then looking for documents - I made the mistake of looking in the general documents section for months before realizing I needed to drill down into my specific case. The VOB should be under something like "Benefit Verification" or "Case Documents" once you're in your case details.

Another option that worked for me recently - if you have a local CalWORKs outreach office or satellite location (not the main county office), they can sometimes help you get the VOB letter faster. These smaller offices usually have shorter wait times and the staff there often have direct connections to the main office. I found one at a community college campus that was able to call the main office for me and get my verification letter printed same day. You can search for "CalWORKs outreach locations" plus your county name to see if there are any near you. Worth trying if the main office lines are too backed up!

This whole thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm dealing with a similar situation where I need benefit verification for my kid's school lunch program. Based on everyone's suggestions, I think I'll try the computer vs mobile approach first, then maybe look for a satellite office if that doesn't work. It's so frustrating that something as simple as getting proof of your own benefits can be such a maze to navigate. Really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences and workarounds - it makes such a difference to know you're not alone in dealing with these system issues. Definitely saving this thread for future reference!

Just went through this exact same process last month for my housing voucher application! One thing that really helped me was calling the county office early in the morning (around 7:55 AM) and staying on the line even when they put me on hold. I know it's tempting to hang up, but I finally got through after about 40 minutes and the worker was super helpful. She emailed me the VOB letter within an hour. Also, if you're still having trouble with BenefitsCal, try clearing your browser cache or using incognito mode - sometimes the site gets glitchy with saved login info. The VOB letter should definitely show your exact monthly CalWORKs amount which is what most housing places need. Don't give up! The system is frustrating but there are people who want to help once you can actually reach them.

I'm new to this community but found this thread through a search when I was having the same issue! Just wanted to add that some counties also have text messaging services where you can request documents. I'm in Orange County and they have a texting system where you send your case number and what document you need, and they'll text you back with instructions or sometimes even send the document directly. It's way faster than calling and you don't have to stay on hold. You might want to check if your county has something similar - usually it's mentioned on their benefits website under "Contact Us" or "Quick Services." Also, if you're working with any other social services (like WIC or housing assistance), those case workers sometimes have better direct lines to CalWORKs and can help you get verification faster than going through the main county line.

This thread is so comprehensive - thank you everyone for sharing your experiences! I'm currently dealing with a similar situation but for my disability application. I need proof of my CalWORKs benefits for Social Security and they're very specific about needing official documentation. Reading through all the suggestions, it sounds like the VOB letter is exactly what I need. I'm going to try the early morning call strategy first since I'm an early riser anyway, and if that doesn't work I'll look into whether my county has any satellite offices or text services. One question - does anyone know if the VOB letter expires after a certain time period? Like if I get one now, will it still be valid in a few months for other applications, or do they expect it to be recent? I have a feeling I'll need benefit verification for multiple things coming up and would love to avoid having to go through this process repeatedly if possible.

Just wanted to share another option that might help - if you're a student at a community college or university, check if your school has a benefits navigator or financial aid office that can help with CalWORKs documentation. I'm a student at a local community college and their financial aid office actually helped me get my VOB letter when I was struggling with the county office phone system. They had a direct contact at the county who could process requests faster for students. Even if you're not currently enrolled, some schools will help community members navigate benefits systems as part of their outreach programs. It's worth a quick call to ask - the worst they can say is no, but you might find a much easier path to get your verification letter!