Based on everything you've shared, especially about changing from biweekly to weekly pay and the timing coinciding with your Medi-Cal update, I think we've identified some likely causes. Here's what I recommend doing: 1. Use Claimyr or keep trying to reach your caseworker 2. Ask specifically about your income calculation method in the system 3. Request they check if your payment frequency is correctly coded 4. Ask them to review any system notes from when you updated your Medi-Cal information 5. Request a written explanation of each benefit change If they can't resolve it immediately, follow the advice about requesting a state hearing. The good news is this sounds fixable, and you may be eligible for restored benefits once they correct the error.

I'm dealing with something similar but mine seems to happen around the same time each month rather than every 6 weeks. After reading through all these responses, I'm wondering if there's a widespread issue with how the system handles income calculations when people have non-standard pay schedules. @StormChaser - definitely try that Claimyr service that @Zainab Ibrahim mentioned. I've been meaning to try it myself since I can never get through either. Also, make sure to ask your caseworker to pull up your "income conversion method" in their system - that seems to be a key thing based on what @Miguel Castro said about weekly vs biweekly pay issues. One more thing - if you do get back benefits, they should include interest if the error was on their end. Don't let them shortchange you on that either!

UPDATE: I finally got through to someone at the county office using that Claimyr service someone suggested here (actually worked!). There is indeed a system-wide issue with EBT cards at ATMs today in several counties. The rep said it should be resolved by end of day. In the meantime, she suggested using the card directly at checkout which I tried and IT WORKED! So if anyone else is having this problem, skip the ATM and just use your card at the register. Thanks everyone for your help!

So glad you got it sorted out! This is exactly why I love this community - people actually help each other figure things out. I'm definitely bookmarking that Claimyr service for future reference. These system outages are so stressful when you're trying to feed your family and have no idea what's going on. Really wish CalFresh would send out notifications when there are known issues like this!

UPDATE: I wanted to thank everyone for their helpful advice! I ended up trying a few different things. First, I tried Firefox instead of Chrome like someone suggested, but still had the same issue. Then I used Claimyr to get through to my county office (it really did work!) and spoke with a worker who confirmed there's a system update happening that's affected some accounts. She helped me submit my recertification over the phone and also sent me an email confirmation that my benefits won't be discontinued while they resolve the technical issue. I also printed and filled out the SAWS 2 Plus form as a backup and dropped it off at the county office dropbox (with photos for proof like someone suggested). Such a relief to have this figured out! Thanks again to everyone who helped.

So glad to hear you got it resolved! This is exactly why I love this community - everyone jumps in to help when someone's struggling with the system. Your update will definitely help other people who run into the same issue. It's crazy that these system updates cause so much stress for people who are just trying to keep their benefits, but at least now we know what to expect and have multiple backup plans. Thanks for taking the time to update us on what worked!

One thing I learned from my case worker that might help others - if you're consistently running out of benefits before your issuance date, you can request an earlier benefit date when you do your recertification. They assign dates based on your case number, but if you can show that an earlier date would help you budget better (like if you get paid mid-month), they can sometimes adjust it. Not all counties do this, but it's worth asking about. Also, if you're working and your income fluctuates, make sure to report any changes - sometimes a small decrease in hours can actually increase your benefit amount significantly.

As someone new to CalFresh, this whole thread has been incredibly helpful! I just got approved last week and my first benefit date is coming up on the 15th. I was stressing about the timing since I wasn't sure when exactly the benefits would be available. It sounds like checking the BenefitsCal app after midnight is the way to go, and knowing it could take up to 2-6am gives me realistic expectations. Also really appreciate all the tips about food pantries, requesting different benefit dates, and making sure I'm getting all the deductions I'm eligible for. This community is amazing - thank you all for sharing your experiences and helping newcomers like me navigate the system!

As someone new to this community, I'm really grateful for all the practical advice being shared here! The grocery price inflation has been absolutely crushing - my CalFresh benefits used to last almost the full month but now I'm scrambling by week 3. I've been mainly shopping at Vons and Ralphs but clearly need to branch out based on what everyone's saying. There's a Winco about 20 minutes from me that I've driven past countless times but never tried - definitely going this weekend! The Market Match program sounds incredible too, I had no idea CalFresh benefits could be doubled for produce. Does anyone know if the program works at all farmers markets or just certain ones? Also curious if anyone has experience with those meal planning apps that help stretch benefits further - wondering if they're worth the time investment.

As a newcomer to this community, I want to thank everyone for such amazing practical advice! I'm in a similar situation - family of 4 and our CalFresh benefits have been running out faster and faster each month. Reading through all these suggestions is giving me hope that I can stretch our dollars further. I've been stubbornly sticking to the same stores out of habit, but clearly need to explore these other options. There's both a FoodMaxx and Winco within driving distance that I've never tried. The Market Match program sounds like a game-changer too - I love that it specifically helps with fresh produce since that's where I feel like I'm spending the most. It's so refreshing to find a community where people share real, actionable tips instead of just venting (though sometimes we all need to vent too!). Looking forward to learning more money-saving strategies and hopefully contributing some of my own discoveries once I start trying these new stores.