Late SAR 7 submission - CalWORKs still active but CalFresh discontinued?

You need to call your eligibility worker ASAP. When you submit a late SAR 7, they don't automatically reinstate your benefits - you have to request it. Since your CalWORKs is still active, that's good news! It means they probably processed your SAR 7 for Cash Aid but haven't processed the CalFresh portion yet. If you call them, they can often reinstate CalFresh without a new application as long as it's within 30 days of discontinuance. Just explain you had the SAR 7 submitted late but it shows as received.

omg i hate those SAR 7s! forget to check ONE box and they cut u off! same thing happened to me last year but with my cash aid too. had to wait 3 weeks to get it back and they didn't give me the money i missed!!

I went through this EXACT situation in January. Turned in my SAR 7 ten days late. CalWORKs stayed on but CalFresh shut off. I spent TWO DAYS trying to get through on the phone and kept getting disconnected. Finally used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through - they have a system that waits on hold for you and then calls you when a worker answers. Totally worth it because I got through in 45 minutes instead of days of trying. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/jzISHxCPLwE When I finally talked to someone, they reinstated my CalFresh the same day without me having to reapply. They can do a "restoration" if it's been less than 30 days since discontinuance.

My cousin works for the county and she says they ALWAYS separate CalWORKs and CalFresh when processing SAR 7s. Something about different departments handling them even though we just submit one form. So annoying!!

The same thing happened to me and the county told me I had to completely reapply for CalFresh, even though my SAR 7 was only 5 days late!!! I think your worker makes a big difference - some will help you and others just want to make things difficult. Make sure you talk to a supervisor if the first person says you need to reapply. And don't forget to ask for expedited CalFresh since you have no food benefits right now. They're supposed to process expedited apps within 3 days.

Just wanted to say I know how stressful this is... I have 4 kids and when my CalFresh got cut off last year because of paperwork issues, I was so worried about feeding them. Don't forget to check with your local food bank while you're getting this sorted out. Most give emergency food boxes that can last a week or two.

One more thing - when you do talk to someone, make sure they understand you had BOTH CalWORKs and CalFresh before. Sometimes they only see the active CalWORKs case and might tell you that "everything is fine" not realizing you're missing CalFresh. Be very clear that you're calling about the discontinued CalFresh specifically.

Update: I finally got through to someone! Used that Claimyr service that was recommended and it worked great. The worker reinstated my CalFresh and said I'll get this month's benefits loaded onto my card within 3 business days. She said since I submitted the SAR 7 within the "cure period" (30 days from discontinuance), they could just reactivate it without a new application. Thanks everyone for your help!

So glad you got it resolved! This is such a common issue and it's frustrating how different workers handle it so differently. Just wanted to add for anyone else who might be dealing with this - if you're having trouble getting through by phone, you can also try going to your local county office in person. Sometimes it's faster than waiting on hold for hours. Also, keep a copy of your SAR 7 submission confirmation (screenshot from BenefitsCal or whatever proof you have) because they might ask for it when you're requesting the restoration.

Just want to echo what others have said about the 30-day cure period - it's really important to know your rights! I had a caseworker try to tell me I needed to do a whole new application when my SAR 7 was only 12 days late, but I pushed back and asked for a supervisor. The supervisor immediately approved the restoration. Don't let them intimidate you into thinking you have to start over if you're still within that 30-day window. And definitely document everything - write down names, dates, and what was discussed in case you need to escalate. The system is confusing enough without workers giving you incorrect information!

This thread has been so helpful! I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - my SAR 7 was about 10 days late and my CalFresh got cut off but CalWORKs is still going. Reading everyone's experiences gives me hope that I can get it restored. I'm definitely going to try that Claimyr service to get through to someone since I've been trying to call for 3 days with no luck. One question though - does anyone know if they'll ask for additional documentation when they do the restoration, or do they just use the late SAR 7 I already submitted? I'm worried they might want updated pay stubs or something since it's been a few weeks now.

I'm going through almost the exact same thing right now! My SAR 7 was about a week late and CalFresh got discontinued while CalWORKs stayed active. Reading through all these responses is giving me so much hope - I had no idea about the 30-day cure period or that they could restore benefits without making me reapply. I've been panicking thinking I'd have to start completely over. I'm definitely going to try calling tomorrow and if I can't get through, I'll check out that Claimyr service everyone mentioned. It's so reassuring to see that this is actually a pretty common issue and that there are solutions. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences - this community is amazing for helping people navigate this confusing system!

This whole thread is such a lifesaver! I'm a single mom with two young kids and went through this exact nightmare about 6 months ago. My SAR 7 was 8 days late because my daughter was in the hospital and I completely forgot about the deadline while dealing with everything. CalFresh got cut off immediately but CalWORKs stayed on. I was so stressed about how I was going to feed my kids while waiting for benefits to come back. Like others mentioned, I had to be really persistent about getting the restoration instead of a new application - the first worker I talked to tried to tell me I had to reapply, but I asked for a supervisor and got it sorted out. One tip I don't see mentioned yet: if you're pregnant or have kids under 6 (like I do), make sure to mention that when you call because you qualify for expedited processing if for some reason they do make you reapply. Also, document everything in writing - I sent a follow-up email summarizing what the worker told me would happen and when, which helped when there was confusion later. Hang in there everyone dealing with this - it's fixable!

This is such an informative thread! I'm new to CalWORKs and CalFresh and honestly had no idea how the SAR 7 system worked or what could happen if you're late. Reading everyone's experiences is both eye-opening and a bit overwhelming - it sounds like there are so many variables depending on which worker you get and how familiar they are with the restoration process. I'm definitely bookmarking this thread and setting multiple calendar reminders for my SAR 7 deadlines after seeing how stressful this situation can be. Thank you to everyone who shared their stories and advice - it's clear this community really looks out for each other. The tip about using specific terminology like "restore" or "reinstate" when calling seems particularly valuable, and I appreciate all the practical advice about documentation and knowing your rights within that 30-day window.