Is BenefitsCal website down for anyone else trying to submit CalWORKs verification?

its not working for me either!! tried uploading my kids school enrollment yesterday and just kept getting the spinning circle thing... cant login today at all

BenefitsCal has been super glitchy this month. I had the same issue last week when trying to report my new job for my SAR7. The website would freeze every time I tried to upload my paystub. ProTip: Take screenshots of the error messages as proof you tried to submit. Then email your worker directly AND drop off physical copies if possible. I've learned the hard way that "system issues" aren't considered a valid excuse for late reporting, and you don't want your CalWORKs discontinued over this.

omg this KEEPS happening!!! i been on calworks for 3 years and the website breaks EVERY MONTH when its reporting time!! i think they do it on purpose to kick ppl off so they don't have to pay benefits!! my cash aid got cut off twice because of "failure to submit" when I DID SUBMIT but their stupid website lost my docs!!!

I work with CalWORKs clients as part of my job, and this is unfortunately a common issue with BenefitsCal. Here's what you should do: 1. Take screenshots of any error messages you get (with date/time visible if possible) 2. Try using a different browser or the mobile app if you haven't already 3. Take physical copies to your county office and get a receipt - this is crucial! 4. Document every call attempt with date/time 5. Email your worker if you have their direct email Most importantly, don't wait until the last day of your deadline. If BenefitsCal is still down tomorrow, definitely go in person with physical copies of everything. Better to spend a few hours at the office than lose your Cash Aid for a month!

I had the same issue when trying to update my address for CalWORKs last month. The BenefitsCal site kept timing out. I tried calling for DAYS and couldn't get through - just endless hold music then disconnected. I finally used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to connect with my county worker. They have a service that holds your place in line and calls you back when a worker is available. Saved me hours of being on hold, and I got my address change processed right away. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/jzISHxCPLwE Just sharing since it helped me avoid losing my cash aid when I couldn't get the website to work!

Just a heads up - I just tried BenefitsCal again (10:30pm) and it's working now! Maybe they fixed whatever the issue was. Try again if you can!

For future reference, there's a status page for BenefitsCal that shows when the system is experiencing issues: https://www.benefitscal.com/status (I'm not sure if this is actually a real page, but many government sites have status pages) Also, I want to clarify a common misconception: If you're submitting verification for CalWORKs recertification and there's a documented system issue, you can request a 'good cause' extension. Make sure to document all your attempts to submit (screenshots, call logs, etc.) and contact your worker as soon as possible to explain the situation. Welfare to Work participants especially need to know that system issues can qualify as 'good cause' for missing deadlines as long as you've made a reasonable effort to comply and report the issue promptly.

this happens every month lol welcome to the system. i dont even try online anymore i just go in person and get a receipt. yeah it takes forrrrever but at least i know my stuff is turned in

UPDATE: BenefitsCal is working now! I was able to upload my paystubs, but still had an issue with my address change form. Went to the office this morning and they were able to process everything. Thanks everyone for your help and advice! For anyone with similar issues - definitely try different browsers, and don't wait until the last minute like I did!

I've been having the same issues with BenefitsCal! It's so frustrating when you're trying to stay compliant and the system won't cooperate. I learned from experience to always keep backup plans - I now save digital copies of everything on my phone AND keep physical copies ready to go. One thing that's helped me is clearing my browser cache and cookies before trying to upload documents. Sometimes the site gets stuck with old session data. Also, if you have a smartphone, try using the mobile browser instead of desktop - sometimes one works when the other doesn't. Really glad you got everything sorted out in the end! This thread is super helpful for anyone dealing with similar tech issues.

I've been dealing with BenefitsCal issues for months now and this thread is so validating - at least I know it's not just me! I wanted to add one more tip that helped me: if you're having trouble uploading documents, try reducing the file size of your photos/scans. Sometimes the site times out with larger files. You can use your phone's photo editing to compress images or there are free apps that do it. Also, for anyone who gets their benefits discontinued due to these tech issues, don't give up! You can request a state hearing to get your benefits restored. I had to do this last year when my cash aid got cut off because BenefitsCal "lost" my SAR7 form (even though I had screenshots proving I submitted it). The hearing officer ruled in my favor and I got back pay for the month I missed. It's frustrating that we have to jump through so many hoops just to access the benefits we're entitled to, but knowing your rights and keeping documentation really does help protect you when the system fails.

This whole thread is incredibly helpful! I'm a newer CalWORKs recipient and had no idea about so many of these workarounds and rights. The BenefitsCal system has been such a source of stress for me - I thought I was doing something wrong when it kept glitching out. Reading about the state hearing process and "good cause" extensions is really eye-opening. I wish this information was easier to find when you first get on CalWORKs. It feels like they expect you to just magically know all these backup plans and legal protections. I'm definitely going to start documenting everything with screenshots and keeping both digital and physical copies of all my documents. Better to be overprepared than lose benefits over technical issues that aren't even my fault. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this community is such a lifeline when dealing with these complicated systems!