Ugh, I'm so sorry you're dealing with this but honestly not surprised at all. I've been on CalWORKs for about a year now and the missed appointment thing seems to be their favorite trick. What worked for me was actually showing up at the office unannounced right after they "missed" my phone appointment. I walked in with my phone showing no missed calls and asked to speak with whoever was supposed to call me. Turns out my worker had marked me as a no-show without even attempting to call! The supervisor made them call me right then and there to complete my interview. It's absolutely ridiculous that we have to do detective work just to get the services we're entitled to, but sometimes showing up in person is the only way to get results. Don't let them gaslight you into thinking this is your fault - keep all your documentation and make them prove they actually tried to reach you!

This is absolutely infuriating and unfortunately way too common! I had almost the exact same experience with my worker missing TWO phone appointments and then sending me failure to cooperate notices. What finally worked for me was going in person with a folder of evidence - printed screenshots of my appointment confirmations, my phone's call log showing no incoming calls during those times, and copies of their missed appointment letters. I asked specifically to speak with the CalWORKs Program Manager (not just a supervisor) and explained that this was a pattern of county error, not client noncompliance. The Program Manager was actually shocked at the documentation and immediately reassigned me to a different worker who has been much more reliable. She also made sure my case file was noted with "county error" so my benefits wouldn't be affected. It took about 3 hours out of my day but was totally worth it to get competent service. Don't let them make you feel like this is your fault - bring evidence, ask for the highest level manager available, and use the specific phrase "county error" when you explain what happened. You've got this!

Hey Keisha! I totally understand your anxiety about this - I've been there before. From what I've seen in my experience with CalFresh, $500 over an entire year really is a small amount that likely won't cause major issues. The fact that you self-reported before they discovered it is huge in your favor. I had a similar situation where I forgot to report some cash work I did, and when I finally reported it late, my caseworker actually thanked me for being honest about it. They're used to people making honest mistakes, especially with irregular income like side jobs. The key thing is you're being proactive now. Keep checking your BenefitsCal account for any updates, and don't stress too much about your March payment - it's probably already processed and any adjustments would likely show up in April if at all. You're doing everything right by trying to fix it!

I can totally relate to your situation! I had a similar panic attack when I realized I forgot to report some gig work income. The good news is that $500 over a whole year really isn't much in the grand scheme of things. What really helped me was understanding that CalFresh workers deal with this kind of thing ALL the time - people forget to report income, life gets busy, things slip through the cracks. The fact that you voluntarily reported it shows you're trying to be honest and follow the rules. I'd suggest keeping an eye on your mail for any notices from the county, but honestly, with such a small amount and your proactive reporting, you'll probably just see a minor adjustment if anything. Try not to stress too much - you're handling this the right way!

This is such a perfect example of why staying proactive with CalWORKs paperwork is so crucial! Miguel, I'm really glad you got this resolved and that your worker was able to process everything on time. Your experience highlights something I've learned over the years - that stamped receipt is absolutely golden when dealing with any kind of processing delays. For anyone else who might be reading this thread in the future, I'd also suggest keeping a simple log or calendar note of when you submit important documents like SAR 7s. Write down the date, time, and if possible, the name of the person who processed your submission. It might seem like overkill, but when you're dealing with time-sensitive benefits that your family depends on, having that extra documentation can save you a lot of stress and potential complications down the road. Thanks for sharing your update - it's so reassuring to see these situations work out, and your experience will definitely help others who find themselves in similar circumstances!

I'm so relieved to see your update, Miguel! This is exactly why I always tell people to call proactively when they notice delays - waiting until the last minute just adds unnecessary stress. Your experience is a great reminder that most of the time these processing delays are just backlog issues, not problems with your case itself. For anyone else dealing with similar SAR 7 delays, I'd also recommend checking your BenefitsCal account regularly during processing periods. If you see your case status change or any new notices appear, that can give you early warning if there are any issues that need addressing. And like Miguel did, always keep that proof of timely submission - it's your safety net! Thanks for sharing your resolution - stories like this really help the community understand what to expect and how to handle these common situations.

I'm so glad to see this thread - I'm going through the exact same thing right now! I do house cleaning and babysitting, all cash payments. Reading everyone's experiences has been really helpful. I just wanted to add that when I spoke to my worker yesterday, she mentioned that if you have any regular clients who are comfortable doing so, even a simple handwritten note from them stating "I pay [your name] $X per week/month for house cleaning services" can be really helpful as supporting documentation along with the self-employment affidavit. She said it doesn't have to be fancy or notarized, just a basic statement. Also, if you have any photos of your cleaning supplies or equipment on your phone, bring those too - it shows you're legitimately running a cleaning business. The whole process is definitely stressful but it sounds like most workers are willing to work with you if you show good faith effort to document everything you can.

I went through this exact situation last year! The key thing that worked for me was getting the "Income Verification for Cash Payments" form from my worker (some counties call it different names but it's basically a self-attestation form). I filled it out with my best estimate of monthly income from cleaning houses, and I also brought: - A simple handwritten log of jobs from the past month (just dates and amounts) - Screenshots of any texts from clients about scheduling or payments - One written statement from my most regular client confirming she pays me weekly for cleaning - Bank statements showing the cash deposits I do make (even though it's not all of my income) My worker initially seemed skeptical too, but once I showed up organized with documentation, she was much more helpful. The most important thing is showing you're making a good faith effort to track and report your income accurately. Don't let them intimidate you - cash income verification is totally normal for CalWORKs and they have processes for it. You've got this!

This whole thread is so reassuring! I'm scheduled for my recertification next month and I've been dreading it after hearing horror stories about delays and missing documents. It's good to know that benefits continue while they process everything and that the EBT website showing scheduled payments is a reliable indicator. I'm definitely going to screenshot my confirmation email like you suggested and maybe bookmark that Claimyr service in case I need to call. Thanks for sharing your experience and congrats on getting through the process! 👍

I'm really glad to see this thread and the positive outcome! As someone who's been through the CalWORKs recertification process multiple times, I can confirm that the waiting period is always nerve-wracking. Your experience is actually pretty typical - they often process things faster than the notices appear in the system. For anyone else going through this, I'd also recommend keeping a folder (physical or digital) with copies of ALL your submitted documents, not just the confirmation email. Sometimes workers ask for things you've already provided, and having everything organized saves so much stress. The fact that your EBT payment was already scheduled really was the key indicator that everything was fine. Thanks for sharing your journey and congrats on getting through it! 🎉