guys. we need to organize and do something about this. its not ok that so many of us are struggling to get basic help. maybe we should start a petition or contact local news?

@Maria Gonzalez - I had this exact same issue a few months ago! Here's what finally worked for me: I filed an appeal through the online portal (there's usually an "Appeal" or "Request Review" button in your account dashboard). When filing the appeal, I uploaded the paystub AGAIN along with a detailed explanation of when I originally submitted it. I also took screenshots of my submission history as proof. It took about 3-4 weeks, but they eventually reopened my case and processed everything. Don't give up - the appeal process actually seems to work better than trying to get through on the phone!

Quick question - does anyone know if changing jobs affects the income update process? I just started a new job and I'm not sure if I need to wait for a certain number of paychecks before reporting.

I actually just did this online successfully! I know everyone's saying the online system doesn't work, but I managed to update my income through the C4Yourself portal last week. You have to log in, go to "Report Changes," and upload your pay stubs there. It took about 3 business days to process. Maybe try that first before dealing with the phone maze? Worth a shot at least!

I'm dealing with this exact same issue right now! Been trying to update my income for weeks. One thing that helped me was going to my local office in person - sometimes they can do updates on the spot that take forever over the phone. Also, if you have to call, try calling different county offices. Some have shorter wait times than others. The whole system is so frustrating but don't give up! We're all in this together 💪

Mason, I feel your pain! I just went through this nightmare last month. Here's what finally worked for me: I called at exactly 8:00 AM on a Tuesday (avoid Mondays - everyone calls then) and had everything organized beforehand. Make sure you have your case number, SSN, recent pay stubs, and any termination letters if applicable. When you get through, be super specific about what changed and when - they need exact dates. Also, ask them to send you a confirmation letter or email about the update request. The wait is brutal but hang in there! Pro tip: if your income decreased, mention that first thing - they prioritize those cases. You got this! 🙌

Wow, reading through all these experiences makes me realize I'm not alone in this struggle! I've been trying to get through to EBT customer service for over a week now and was starting to think there was something wrong with my phone. The tips about calling the lost/stolen card number first and asking for a transfer is genius - I never would have thought of that workaround! I'm definitely going to try that tomorrow morning along with the early calling strategy. It's really unfortunate that we have to develop these elaborate strategies just to get basic help, but I'm so grateful for this community sharing their knowledge. The system clearly needs major improvements, but in the meantime, at least we can help each other navigate this mess. Thank you everyone for the detailed advice - it gives me hope that I might actually get through soon! 🙏

Reading through all these experiences has been both frustrating and reassuring - frustrating because it confirms how broken the system is, but reassuring because I'm clearly not the only one dealing with this nightmare! I've been trying to reach EBT customer service for almost three weeks now with zero success. The busy signal has become the soundtrack to my mornings at this point. I'm definitely going to try the lost/stolen card number workaround that @Astrid Bergström shared - that's such a clever approach that I never would have considered! I'm also going to combine it with the early morning strategy and make sure I have all my documents ready beforehand. It's absolutely insane that we need to develop these elaborate battle plans just to speak to someone about our benefits, but I really appreciate everyone sharing their hard-earned knowledge. This community support makes such a difference when you're feeling like you're fighting the system alone. Wish me luck for tomorrow morning's attempt! 🤞

Ugh, I've been there and it's the worst feeling! One thing that helped me was calling the EBT customer service line (1-877-328-9677) instead of the main DPSS line - sometimes it's easier to get through and they can at least tell you the status of your case. Also, if you're completely out of food, look into local food banks while you're sorting this out. Most don't require any paperwork and can help bridge the gap. Hang in there! 💙

I'm so sorry you're going through this! The same thing happened to my neighbor a few months ago. She found out they had flagged her case for "income verification" even though she'd already submitted everything. Turns out there was a glitch in their system that marked her documents as "not received." She had to resubmit everything AND get a case worker to manually review it. Also, try calling right at 8 AM when they open - that's when I've had the most luck getting through. If you're really stuck, some community centers have advocates who can help navigate the DPSS system for free. Don't give up!