I've been dealing with this same issue for months! What's been working for me lately is calling at exactly 7:56am on Tuesday mornings - seems like there's a sweet spot right before their system gets overwhelmed. I also learned that if you get the busy signal, wait exactly 3 minutes and try again. Their phone system seems to reset in cycles. One game-changer for me was finding my county's "Emergency CalFresh Contact" form online - it's usually buried in their FAQ section. You can submit urgent deadline situations and they're required to respond within 48 hours. I used it last month when I was 3 days from my recertification deadline and couldn't get through. They actually expedited my case! Also, if you have a local Legal Aid office, some have CalFresh advocates who can conference call with you to the county office. They know the system inside and out and can help navigate the bureaucracy. Don't lose hope - I know it feels impossible but there are ways through this maze. Your persistence will pay off!

I'm going through this exact same frustration right now! Been trying to reach someone about my recertification for over a week and getting nowhere. Reading all these strategies is giving me so much hope though - I had no idea about most of these tips. One thing I wanted to add that's helped me with other government agencies: if you have a smartphone, try calling while using WiFi calling instead of regular cell service. Sometimes the call quality is better and connects more reliably. Also, I've noticed that calling from a landline (if you have access to one) sometimes gets better results than cell phones - maybe their system prioritizes certain types of connections? The 7:56-7:58am timing that everyone's mentioning seems to be the golden window. I'm setting my alarm for 7:50am tomorrow to try the Tuesday morning approach. It's ridiculous that we have to strategize like this just to ask questions about benefits we're entitled to, but at least we're all helping each other figure out the system. Don't give up everyone - our families depend on these benefits and we have every right to get the help we need!

This thread is absolutely incredible! As someone who's been on CalFresh for about a year now, I wish I had known about these strategies earlier. The 8:02 am timing trick is brilliant - I've been calling at 8:00 sharp like everyone else and always getting stuck in those endless queues. The logic makes perfect sense though - there's that initial rush right at opening time, then a brief window before it gets backed up again. I'm also fascinated by the menu navigation hacks, especially the tip about choosing "report a change" instead of "speak to a representative" to potentially get into a less congested queue. These are the kinds of insider tricks you'll never find on any official website but can save you hours of frustration. The county worker's insight about Wednesday 2-4pm being the lowest call volume window is gold - it's so helpful to get that behind-the-scenes perspective on when their systems are actually manageable. Andre, I'm so glad you got your issue resolved! Mix-ups like that with employment status seem to happen more often than they should. It really shows why it's worth persisting through the phone system hell to actually speak with a human. This is exactly the kind of peer-to-peer knowledge sharing that makes dealing with these bureaucratic systems actually possible. Thanks to everyone for turning what started as a frustrated post into such an amazing resource! 🙏

This thread is absolutely incredible - I'm bookmarking it immediately! I've been struggling with CalFresh for about 6 months now and had no idea there were these strategic timing approaches. The 8:02 am trick is pure genius - I've been calling right at 8:00 am like everyone else and always getting stuck in those brutal hold times. The logic makes perfect sense though - there's that initial wave of callers at opening, then a brief window before it gets completely backed up. I'm also amazed by all the menu navigation hacks people have discovered, especially using "report a change" instead of "speak to a representative" to potentially access different queue systems. These are exactly the kinds of insider tricks that can save hours of frustration but you'd never find them on any official website. The county worker's insight about Wednesday 2-4pm having the lowest call volumes is invaluable - it's so helpful to get that behind-the-scenes perspective on when the system is actually manageable. And I had no idea some counties have apps or that you could call neighboring county offices for transfers! Andre, so glad you got your issue resolved! That employment status mix-up is exactly the kind of error that shows why it's worth fighting through the phone system to actually speak with someone. This is exactly the kind of community knowledge sharing that makes navigating these impossible bureaucratic systems actually possible. Thanks to everyone for turning what started as a frustrated vent into such an amazing resource of practical strategies! 🙏

Hey Charlotte! I totally understand your situation - I was in the exact same boat last year working multiple jobs and stressing about losing my benefits. I successfully completed my recertification online through BenefitsCal.com and it was honestly much easier than I expected. Here's what worked for me: I set aside about an hour on a Saturday morning when I wasn't rushed, made sure I had all my documents saved on my phone (pay stubs from both jobs, rent receipt, utility bill), and logged in early so I wouldn't hit any system timeouts. The online form walks you through everything step by step and even pre-fills information from your previous application. The interview part isn't as scary as it sounds - mine was literally 6 minutes and they just confirmed my income and asked if my living situation had changed. Pro tip: when you submit, there's a section where you can note your preferred interview times, so definitely mention you're only available during lunch or after work hours. Most counties are pretty accommodating about this now. You've got plenty of time before your deadline, just don't wait until the last few days in case they need additional documents. You've got this!

I just completed my recertification online last month and wanted to share some practical tips! First, make sure you have a stable internet connection - I learned this the hard way when the page timed out and I had to start over. Second, when you upload your pay stubs from both jobs, name the files clearly like "Job1_PayStub_March2025" so the worker can easily identify them. Third, after you submit, you'll get a confirmation email - forward it to yourself as backup. For the interview scheduling, I actually called the county office the day after submitting online and asked to schedule my interview for a specific time rather than waiting for them to call randomly. They were totally fine with that and it saved me from having to worry about missing calls at work. The whole process from submission to completing the interview took about a week, and my benefits continued without any interruption. Don't let the stress get to you - the system really does work when you're prepared!

I'm so sorry this happened to you and your family! EBT theft is becoming such a serious problem and it's incredibly unfair that families already struggling have to deal with this additional stress. The 'ebtwm' charges are definitely fraudulent - that stands for "EBT Withdrawal Money" and indicates someone has illegally accessed your card information. Everyone here has given you excellent advice about the immediate steps to take. I wanted to add something that helped my cousin when this happened to her: when you submit your CF 303 form, include a brief written statement explaining how the theft has impacted your family's ability to access food. Some counties take this into consideration when prioritizing cases for review. Also, keep calling the EBT customer service line every few days to check the status of your replacement card - sometimes they can expedite shipping if you explain you have children in the household and are experiencing food insecurity. While you're waiting, many local pantries and food rescue organizations specifically understand benefit theft situations and can provide extra assistance. Some even have "emergency boxes" with kid-friendly foods that require no preparation. The fact that you caught this so quickly and are taking all the right steps gives me confidence you'll get your benefits replaced. California's new theft replacement program does work, but it requires persistence. Keep detailed records of everything and don't let anyone discourage you from pursuing your case. You've got this!

I'm so sorry you're going through this nightmare! The 'ebtwm' charges are definitely fraud and you're absolutely right to be worried. I went through something very similar about 4 months ago and it was terrifying, especially with kids depending on those benefits. The advice everyone has given is spot-on, but I wanted to add one thing that really helped me: when you call your county office to submit the CF 303 form, ask them specifically about their "hardship expedite" process. Since you have four kids and are facing immediate food insecurity, they might be able to fast-track your case. Not all county workers know about this option, so you might need to ask for a supervisor. Also, while you're waiting for resolution, check if your local school district has a family resource coordinator. Many districts now have staff specifically to help families in crisis situations like benefit theft, and they often have connections to emergency food resources that aren't widely advertised. Keep pushing and don't let anyone tell you this isn't their problem - you absolutely deserve to have your stolen benefits replaced. Document every single conversation with dates, times, and names. The squeaky wheel gets the grease with these cases, unfortunately. You're doing everything right by acting so quickly. Hang in there - this community has your back and we're rooting for you to get this resolved fast!

Hey everyone! I'm pretty new to this community but had to jump in because I just went through this exact same nightmare last month. The ebtEDGE app completely locked me out for almost a week - kept saying my password was invalid even after multiple resets. Turns out it was a known issue they were having with their authentication system. The phone system saved my life! @Connor Gallagher you made the right call using the automated line. One thing I learned though - if you're planning to freeze/unfreeze multiple times like you did, it might help to write down the exact menu prompts the first time through. The system sometimes changes the order of options and it can be confusing when you're stressed about needing food for the kids. Also wanted to echo what @Oliver Schulz said about getting a replacement card - definitely the safest move when you're not sure about security. I requested mine through BenefitsCal online and it arrived in about 4 business days. Much faster than I expected! Hope everything worked out with your grocery run tonight!

This thread is so helpful! I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - my ebtEDGE app has been completely unusable for the past three days. Every time I try to log in, it either crashes or tells me my credentials are wrong (they're not!). I was starting to panic because I thought I'd have to go all the way to the county office just to check my balance or manage my card. Reading about the phone system option is a game-changer! I had no idea you could freeze/unfreeze through the automated line. @Paolo Longo your step-by-step breakdown was incredibly helpful - knowing I need my full card number, PIN, and zip code ready makes me feel prepared to try this. And @Natasha Orlova thanks for mentioning the scheduled maintenance - that probably explains why so many of us are having issues right now! One quick question for anyone who's used the phone system recently: does the automated system also let you check your current balance, or is that something you'd need to speak to a person for? Would love to avoid the long wait times if possible but definitely need to know how much I have available before grocery shopping. Thanks to everyone for sharing your experiences - it's so reassuring to know I'm not the only one struggling with this app!