I'm going through this exact nightmare right now too! It's been almost 4 weeks since I submitted my renewal documents and I keep getting the same "it's processing" response. What's really frustrating is that my 5-year-old daughter keeps asking why we can't buy the yogurt she likes anymore, and I don't know how to explain that the government is taking forever to process paperwork while we go hungry. I've learned so much from reading everyone's responses here - especially about the difference between "pulling" and "processing" documents, and all the different ways to escalate when the system fails us. I had no idea about interim benefits or that I could contact my state representative for help. I'm definitely going to try the Claimyr service tomorrow morning to get through the phone lines, and if that doesn't work I'll visit the office in person and demand specific timelines like Sofia suggested. It's ridiculous that we have to become experts in navigating a broken bureaucracy just to feed our families. Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences and advice. It helps so much to know we're not alone in this struggle, even though no parent should ever have to choose between paying rent and buying groceries for their kids. Hoping we all get our cases resolved soon!

I'm so sorry you're going through this stress - the uncertainty of not knowing when your benefits will come through while trying to feed your kids is absolutely heartbreaking. I went through something very similar about 8 months ago and it took nearly 6 weeks total from submission to approval. What finally broke the logjam for me was doing three things simultaneously: I used Claimyr to get through to an actual worker (it really does work - got connected in under 10 minutes after weeks of busy signals), filed a formal complaint with the California Department of Social Services online for processing delays exceeding 30 days, and contacted my assemblymember's office with a signed release form. The assemblymember's office was honestly the game-changer - within 48 hours of their inquiry, my case was suddenly "urgent" and processed immediately. Apparently the county offices really respond when elected officials start asking questions about delays. In the meantime, definitely call 211 for emergency food resources and check if your kids' schools have weekend backpack programs. Some churches also have "blessing boxes" or little free pantries that can help bridge the gap while you're waiting. You're doing everything right - this system is broken, not you. Your kids shouldn't have to go without because of administrative failures. Keep fighting for your family!

Hey Omar! I just went through this exact same move from Sacramento to Long Beach in December 2024, so I can give you some very recent info. For Section 8 - YES, Long Beach HA is accepting portability transfers, but you're looking at about 60-75 days processing time right now. The trick is to get your Sacramento PHA to mark your request as "emergency" if you have any qualifying circumstances (job relocation, unsafe housing, medical needs, etc.). I got mine expedited to 42 days by emphasizing my job start date. For CalFresh, it was actually super smooth! I reported my address change through the online portal 2 weeks before moving, and LA County had my case transferred within 5 business days. My benefits actually went UP by about $40/month due to LA County's higher cost adjustments. Pro tip: Start calling Long Beach HA landlord services NOW to get a list of current Section 8 accepting properties. The market is tight but there are definitely options. Also, join "Long Beach Section 8 Housing" and "LA County Section 8 Rentals" Facebook groups - that's where I found my current place. Most importantly - start your portability paperwork THIS WEEK, not when you're ready to move. The earlier you start, the better chance you have of avoiding any gap in coverage. You got this! Feel free to ask if you need specific contact numbers or anything else!

Just wanted to jump in here as someone who works with folks navigating benefit transfers every day. Omar, you're smart to be planning ahead! A few additional tips based on what I've seen work best: 1) When you call Sacramento to start your portability request, ask them to send you a copy of the portability packet they submit to Long Beach HA. This way you have your own records of exactly what was sent and when. 2) For CalFresh, consider doing an in-person visit to your Sacramento office before moving rather than just calling. Sometimes face-to-face gets better results and you can get written confirmation of your transfer timeline. 3) Long Beach has a tenant services coordinator specifically for Section 8 issues - their direct line is often faster than going through the main switchboard. The Facebook groups others mentioned are definitely your best bet for housing. Also check out the Long Beach Community Action Partnership - they maintain an informal list of landlords who work regularly with voucher holders. Don't get discouraged by some of the horror stories here - yes, the system is slow, but it DOES work if you stay on top of it. Document everything, be politely persistent, and start early (which you're already doing smart by asking now for a May move). You've got this!

This is such a frustrating situation, but from everything I'm reading here, it sounds like you're going to be okay! I haven't personally dealt with CalFresh yet, but I'm in the process of applying myself and this thread is honestly so educational about what to expect. Based on all the experiences people are sharing, it really does seem like your approval notice is the legitimate one - especially since it had such specific details like your exact benefit amount and certification period. That level of detail suggests a real caseworker actually processed your case properly. I'm taking notes on all the advice here for my own potential future reference! The tips about calling right at 8 AM, asking for specific things like "case notes" and "document imaging status," and not accepting a request to reapply are all really valuable. It's amazing how knowledgeable this community is about navigating these system issues. Definitely keep us posted on how your Monday call goes - I think a lot of us would love to hear that this gets resolved quickly for you. Based on all the success stories in this thread, it sounds like this type of system glitch is usually fixable once you get through to the right person. Rooting for you and your kids!

This is such a helpful thread - I'm learning so much from everyone's experiences! I haven't dealt with CalFresh myself yet, but I work in customer service for another government agency and I see similar system issues all the time where automated processes generate conflicting notices. From what everyone is describing, it really sounds like your approval notice is the correct one, especially since it had such specific details. In my experience with government systems, when you get that level of detail (exact amounts, certification dates), it usually means a human actually processed and approved your case. One thing I'd add from working on the "inside" of government systems - when you call Monday, try to stay calm and polite even if you're frustrated. The workers deal with a lot of angry calls about system glitches, so being understanding while still being persistent can really help you get better service. Something like "I know this isn't your fault, but I'm hoping you can help me figure out what happened" often goes a long way. Also, if the first person says they can't help, ask if there's a "technical support" person or someone who specializes in system errors rather than just asking for a supervisor. Sometimes there are specific people who are better at troubleshooting these kinds of database issues. Good luck on Monday - this community is amazing and it sounds like you have all the right advice to get this resolved quickly!

I'm dealing with this exact same issue right now! Been locked out of BenefitsCal since yesterday and my recertification is due in a week. This thread has been SO helpful - I had no idea there were so many workarounds available. I'm definitely going to try the mobile app early tomorrow morning (around 5:30am based on everyone's success stories) and I've already started documenting all my login attempts with screenshots and timestamps like people suggested. It's such a huge relief to know about the automatic 10-day extension! I was literally losing sleep over this deadline. Also going to dig out my Notice of Action to find that dedicated CalFresh number instead of the general county line. Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences and solutions - it makes such a difference to know we're all in this together and that there are actual ways to work around these technical problems!

I'm experiencing the exact same login issues! Started having problems on Tuesday and my recertification deadline is coming up next week. This entire thread has been incredibly helpful - I had no idea about so many of these workarounds. The mobile app suggestion keeps coming up as the most reliable option, and the early morning timing (5:30am seems to be the sweet spot) makes total sense to avoid system overload. I'm definitely going to try that tomorrow morning. It's such a relief to know about the automatic 10-day extension too! I've been documenting my failed login attempts but didn't think about adding timestamps - that's really smart for when I need to call the county office. Also going to look for that dedicated CalFresh number on my Notice of Action instead of using the general line. Thank you to everyone who's shared their experiences and solutions here - knowing that so many people have successfully gotten through this same situation gives me hope that I'll be able to complete my recertification too!

I'm going through this exact same process right now! Moving from Sacramento to Tucson next month and this thread has been incredibly helpful. One thing I wanted to add that my caseworker mentioned - if you're moving to Arizona and have any medical conditions that require special dietary needs, make sure to mention that during your Arizona application. They have additional benefits for people with specific health conditions that California might not have told you about. Also, I called the Arizona DES helpline last week just to ask general questions before my move, and they were actually pretty helpful. The wait time was only about 20 minutes (way better than California!) and the person I spoke with walked me through what documents I'd need to have ready. They even emailed me a checklist. For anyone else reading this thread who might be in a similar situation - I've been bookmarking all these responses because there's so much good practical advice here. This community is amazing! Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences. Moving is stressful enough without worrying about food security on top of it. @Amina Bah - you've got this! Sounds like you're being super proactive about planning everything out. That's going to make such a difference in how smoothly your transition goes.

This thread has been such a goldmine of information! I just wanted to add something that helped me when I moved from California to Oregon last year - consider reaching out to local community organizations in your destination city before you move. Many cities have immigrant and refugee resettlement agencies that help with benefit navigation even if you're not an immigrant yourself. They often know the local SNAP system really well and can provide guidance. Also, I noticed someone mentioned Claimyr earlier for getting through to California's phone system. I used a similar service called "DoNotPay" which also helped me skip the endless hold times when I needed to close my CalFresh case. Totally worth the small fee when you're trying to coordinate everything around a move. One last tip - if you're moving with pets, remember that pet food isn't covered by SNAP benefits in any state, so factor that into your food budget planning during the transition period. I learned this the hard way! Best of luck with your move, Amina! Sounds like you're going to be well-prepared thanks to all the amazing advice from everyone here. Moving states is tough but this community really shows how people can support each other through these bureaucratic challenges! 💪