How to update phone number on BenefitsCal for CalWORKs without calling the office?

Yes, you can definitely update your phone number on BenefitsCal without calling! Here's how: 1. Log into your BenefitsCal account 2. Click on your name/profile in the top right corner 3. Select "My Profile" from the dropdown menu 4. Look for "Contact Information" section 5. Click the edit button (pencil icon) next to your phone number 6. Enter your new number and save The system should update immediately. I also recommend checking your communication preferences while you're in there to make sure you're set up for text notifications if you want those.

i had this same problem last month!!! the online thing didnt work for me tho. i updated it on benefitscal but my worker still had my old # somehow. missed my interview call cuz of it and almost got my cash aid cut off. u might wanna call just to make sure they got it

If you updated it through BenefitsCal, the system SHOULD update it in CalSAWS (the system workers use), but county systems don't always sync perfectly. To be 100% safe, I recommend also: 1. Sending a message through BenefitsCal's secure message center specifically telling your worker about the number change 2. If your county uses a mobile app like MyBenefits CalWIN, update your number there too Also, save a screenshot showing you updated your info online with the date visible - just in case there's ever a dispute about when you notified them.

Yes, to send a message through BenefitsCal: 1. Log in to your account 2. Look for "Messages" in the main menu or dashboard 3. Click "Send New Message" 4. Select your case/program (CalWORKs) 5. Choose "Update Contact Information" as the topic 6. Clearly state that you've updated your phone number and provide both old and new numbers 7. Submit the message This creates a documented record that you notified them, which protects you if they later claim they couldn't reach you.

tbh all this online stuff is cool but system NEVER works right lol.. ive been on calworks for 3 yrs and the only way to REALLY make sure they update ur info is talkin to actual person. online updates disappear into black hole sometimes!!! i always call AND do the online thing

Have you tried using Claimyr to get through to a CalWORKs worker? I used to spend HOURS trying to get through to my county office, but Claimyr got me connected in less than 10 minutes. They call the office for you and then call you when they get a real person on the line. Check out their demo at https://youtu.be/jzISHxCPLwE - it's been a lifesaver for updating my contact info and checking on my Cash Aid status. Their website is claimyr.com if you want to try it.

DID U UPDATE UR ADDRESS TOO?? cos if u moved out of county they could stop ur benefits. happened to my sister when she moved and she didnt tell them for like 2 months. big mess!!

Everyone here is making this way more complicated than it needs to be. Yes, you should update your number on BenefitsCal, but you also need to fill out and submit a SAR 7 form marking the "address/phone change" box. This is the OFFICIAL way to update your contact info with CalWORKs. The online system is supposed to sync with the workers' system, but it often doesn't. I work with benefit recipients every day, and I cannot tell you how many people miss important calls because they only updated online and didn't submit the proper form. You can download the SAR 7 from BenefitsCal, fill it out, and upload it back through the website. Mark it as an "address/phone change" even though it's just your phone.

wait do we have to do the sar7 for EVERY phone # change?? ive changed my # like 3 times this year lol

UPDATE: I tried everyone's suggestions! Here's what worked: 1. Updated my number on BenefitsCal ✓ 2. Sent a message through the portal ✓ 3. Downloaded and submitted a SAR 7 marking the phone change ✓ 4. Used that Claimyr service to get through to a real person ✓ The Claimyr thing actually did work - got me through to someone in about 15 minutes! The worker confirmed they received all my updates and made a note in my file. She said the online update should have been enough, but appreciated me being thorough. My redetermination interview is now scheduled and they have my correct number! Thanks everyone for all your help!

So glad you got everything sorted out! Your thoroughness definitely paid off - doing all those steps ensures there's no chance of missing important communications. Thanks for sharing the update, it's really helpful to see what actually worked. I'm sure other people will benefit from your experience, especially about the SAR 7 form requirement that not everyone knows about. Good luck with your redetermination interview!

This is such a comprehensive thread! As someone who's had to navigate these systems before, I really appreciate seeing all the different approaches laid out clearly. The combination of updating online AND submitting the SAR 7 form is definitely the way to go - I learned that lesson the hard way when I only did the online update and my worker didn't get the memo. One small tip to add: if you're using a prepaid phone that might change numbers frequently, consider getting a Google Voice number that forwards to your actual phone. That way you can give CalWORKs the stable Google Voice number and just update where it forwards to without having to go through this whole process every time. It's been a lifesaver for me since I switch between different phone plans sometimes. Great job being so thorough with your updates, @Clay - that's exactly the right approach to avoid any issues with your benefits!