I'm new here and just went through this exact same nightmare last week! What finally worked for me was calling the BenefitsCal customer service line (1-877-847-3663) instead of my county office. The wait was still long but not as bad, and they walked me through finding the form step by step. They told me to log in, click "My Dashboard," then scroll down to "Quick Actions" and look for "Submit Required Documents." From there you can select SAR 7 from a dropdown menu. The rep also mentioned that if you're really stuck, you can request to have a paper form mailed to you through that same Quick Actions section - just select "Request Paper Form" instead. Hope this helps someone avoid the stress I went through!

I just went through this exact same frustration two weeks ago! After reading through all these responses, I want to add one more option that saved me: if you have the MyBenefitsCalWIN mobile app on your phone, you can actually submit your SAR 7 through there too. Go to "Documents" then "Upload Document" and select "Semi-Annual Report" from the dropdown. The mobile interface is actually cleaner than the website version. You can take photos of each page of your completed form directly through the app instead of having to scan anything. Just make sure the photos are clear and all text is readable before submitting. This was a lifesaver for me since I don't have a printer or scanner at home. The whole process took maybe 10 minutes once I figured out where everything was located in the app.

Just to clarify, CalWORKs actually DOES count gross income (before taxes), not net income. But the other points about child support cooperation requirements and possibly not counting all family members are very important to check. Make sure you: 1. Request the detailed Notice of Action showing the calculation 2. Ask specifically who is included in your "Assistance Unit" 3. Check if you have a "child support cooperation" requirement for any children 4. Verify if they properly applied the $450 earned income disregard If they're requiring child support cooperation, you can request a "good cause" exemption if pursuing child support would put you or the children at risk of harm.

After reading all these comments, I'm pretty sure it's either the child support cooperation requirement OR they calculated the earned income disregard incorrectly. When you finally reach your worker, make sure to take detailed notes of the conversation and ask them to email or mail you any documentation. And if you're not satisfied with their explanation, remember you have the right to request a fair hearing within 90 days of any action you disagree with!

This thread is exactly what I needed to see today! I just noticed my CalWORKs payment was reduced by $134 this month and I've been panicking about it. Reading everyone's experiences has really helped me understand that this happens more often than I thought and there are actual steps I can take to figure out what's going on. I'm going to check my BenefitsCal account right away and then try the early morning calling strategy or that Claimyr service if needed. It's so frustrating that they don't automatically send clear explanations when they make changes to our benefits - we're already dealing with enough stress without having to chase down basic information about our own cases! Thank you all for sharing your stories and solutions. I'll definitely update once I find out what caused my reduction in case it helps others going through the same thing.

This whole thread has been incredibly eye-opening for me as someone who's been on CalWORKs for about a year. I haven't experienced a sudden reduction yet, but reading all these stories makes me realize how important it is to stay on top of monitoring my case. I had no idea about things like age-up calculations affecting payments or that system errors were so common. I'm definitely going to start checking my BenefitsCal account monthly and keeping better records of all my interactions with the county office. It's really concerning that so many people aren't receiving proper notices when their benefits change - that seems like such a basic requirement that shouldn't be failing this often. Thank you everyone for sharing the practical tips about Claimyr, calling early in the morning, and what specific questions to ask when you do get through to someone. This community knowledge is invaluable for helping us navigate such a complicated system!

UPDATE: The payment finally hit my account this morning! Exactly 24 hours later than it used to come on my EBT card. My landlord was understanding when I explained the situation. Lesson learned though - next month I'll know not to expect it at 1am like before. Thanks everyone for the help and reassurance!!!

So glad to see your update that the payment came through! This is exactly what happened to me when I first switched - that first payment always seems to take the longest. For future reference, I've noticed my direct deposits now consistently come around 8-9am on payment day instead of the midnight EBT timing. It's actually been more reliable for me long-term since I don't have to worry about EBT card issues or ATM fees. Just takes some getting used to the new schedule!

I'm so sorry you went through this stress, but I'm really glad you got it resolved! This thread has been incredibly helpful - I had no idea about services like Claimyr or that you could request emergency payments for situations like this. I've been on CalWORKs for about a year now and thankfully haven't had my benefits disappear yet, but after reading everyone's experiences here, I'm definitely going to be more proactive. I'm going to start checking my balance a few days before my payment date instead of just assuming it'll be there, and I'm signing up for those BenefitsCal alerts that Sarah mentioned. Also planning to document everything like Ethan suggested - take screenshots of my case status and benefit amounts each month just in case. It's really unfortunate that we have to be so vigilant and prepared for their system to fail us, but I'm grateful for communities like this where we can share knowledge and support each other. Thank you to everyone who shared practical solutions - you probably helped a lot of people who are reading this and dealing with similar issues!

This happened to me about 6 months ago and it was absolutely terrifying! I'm so glad you got it resolved with that Claimyr service - I wish I had known about that when I was going through it. I ended up having to go to the county office in person (which took a whole day with my kids) and even then it took them 3 days to fix the "system error." One thing I learned from my experience is to always ask for the reference number or case note ID when they tell you they're fixing something. The worker who helped me initially said it would be resolved in 24 hours, but when I called back the next day, there was no record of our conversation! I had to start the whole process over again until I finally got someone who could see the notes in the system. Also, definitely follow through on getting those late fees reimbursed - I didn't know that was an option when it happened to me and ended up eating about $75 in late charges. It's so frustrating that their mistakes end up costing us money we can't afford to lose, but at least there's a process to get it back if you know to ask for it. Thanks for sharing your story and the update - threads like this are so valuable for all of us trying to navigate this system!