Sacramento County unexpectedly cut my CalWORKs cash aid claiming 'income change' but nothing changed - rent due in 3 days!

This happened to me back in November! They terminated my CalWORKs saying my income increased but it was completely wrong. Turns out they had confused me with someone else who had a similar name and birthdate. Sacramento County is NOTORIOUSLY hard to reach by phone - that 800 number is basically useless. You need to try these things: 1. File for a hearing right away (you have 90 days but do it now) - this can sometimes get your benefits reinstated while pending the hearing 2. Contact your assigned Welfare to Work worker directly if you have their extension 3. Email the county through your BenefitsCal account - sometimes they respond faster there than by phone 4. If you absolutely can't go in person, try sending someone else with a signed authorization form to speak on your behalf And definitely check your SAR7 - sometimes they cut benefits if they think you didn't report income changes on your semi-annual report.

they always do this!! the system is set up to cut ppl off and make it impossible to fix. i had this happen THREE times last year. they dont care that u have kids and need to pay rent. my advice is go to the office ASAP, bring ALL ur documents, paystubs, id, everything. dont leave until they fix it. the phone system is a joke.

If they're stating your income changed, check if you reported your income correctly on your most recent SAR7. Even a small calculation error or missing paystub can trigger a discontinuance. Also, did you recently start getting unemployment or child support that maybe got automatically reported to them through state systems? You have the right to request a state hearing, and you can do this by calling 1-800-952-5253 or filling out the form on the back of your Notice of Action. If you request it within 10 days of getting the discontinuance notice, you can get "aid paid pending" where they continue your benefits until the hearing decision. But honestly, for immediate help, you really do need to either visit the office or successfully reach a worker by phone. The system is frustrating by design.

Have you tried using Claimyr? It's the only thing that's actually worked for me to get through to Sacramento County. I was in the same boat - calling for DAYS with no answer. Claimyr basically waits on hold for you and calls you back when a real person answers. You can see a video of how it works here: https://youtu.be/jzISHxCPLwE It seriously saved me when my CalWORKs got cut off right before Christmas. Otherwise I think I would've had to go to the office too. The website is claimyr.com - I found it after someone on this forum recommended it.

did u check ur benefitscal account to see if it shows WHY they cut u off? sometimes the notices dont explain everything but the online account shows more details bout the "income change" they talking about. also check ur mail SUPER carefully cuz sometimes they send a separate form asking for proof of income that gets mixed in with junk mail.

I work with Sacramento County CalWORKs recipients frequently through a community organization, and I can share some insights that might help: 1. There's a known issue right now with their system flagging income changes incorrectly. Several clients have experienced this in the past month. 2. The fastest resolution is typically going in person, but I understand that's difficult with young children. If you must go this route, try to arrive 30-45 minutes before they open (usually 8:00 AM) to minimize your wait time. 3. Did you receive your Notice of Action (NOA)? The NOA should specify exactly what "income change" they're referencing. Without this detail, it's hard to dispute properly. 4. For emergency situations like yours where rent is due, ask specifically about the "immediate need" process when you reach someone. They can expedite benefit restoration in some cases. 5. Also, make sure to check if you've hit your Income Reporting Threshold (IRT). If your income went even slightly above your IRT at any point and wasn't reported within 10 days, that could trigger a discontinuance. Don't give up on trying to reach them by phone. The best times to call are typically right when they open (8:00 AM) or after lunch (around 1:30 PM).

btw if ur kids are that young have u applied for the diaper stipend? its an extra $30 per month per kid under 3 on top of ur regular calworks. most workers dont even tell u about it u gotta ask for it specifically!!

Quick update on the Sacramento County situation - they've been having major staffing issues since they moved to the new phone system in January 2025. Many CalWORKs workers have been reassigned to handle the backlog of CalFresh applications, which is why it's even harder than usual to reach anyone. If you do go in person, make sure you bring: - Your ID - Your children's IDs/birth certificates - ALL pay stubs for the last 3 months - Bank statements - Any other income documentation - Your lease/rental agreement (since this affects your rent payment) - Your Notice of Action And be prepared to possibly spend most of the day there. Bring snacks and activities for the kids. Request an "immediate need" determination and explain that your rent is due in 3 days. Also, if you absolutely cannot reach anyone, contact your county supervisor's office. They sometimes can intervene in emergency situations like this.

anyone else notice that sacramento county ALWAYS does this right when rent is due??? like they know exactly what theyre doing cutting ppl off at the end of the month smh

Just wanted to add - if you're going in person tomorrow, write down exactly what happened and what you need resolved. When you check in, ask if there are any CalWORKs supervisors available. Sometimes they can resolve issues on the spot, especially when it's clearly an error in their system. Also, if you have any documentation showing your income has been consistent (pay stubs, employer letters, etc.), bring multiple copies so they can keep one for their records. If they restore your benefits but say the payment will take days to process, ask specifically about emergency payment options. Sacramento County can issue same-day payments in true emergency situations, though they don't advertise this option. Keep us updated on how it goes! Many people are dealing with the same issue right now.