Anyone tried the new Long Beach CalFresh office? Need feedback before my recertification appointment

I went to the new Long Beach office last week to submit verification documents for my SAR7. It's definitely an improvement over the old location! The address is 3125 Atlantic Ave. Parking isn't great (only about 30 spots) but there's street parking nearby. I waited about 45 minutes which is WAY better than the 3+ hours at the old office. They have a new electronic check-in system too, so you don't have to stand in line just to get in line. The workers seemed less stressed which probably helps with efficiency. Just make sure you bring ALL your verification documents - pay stubs, ID, rent receipt, utility bills - because they're being really strict about documentation right now.

i went there n it was HORRIBLE!!!!! waited 2.5 hrs even w/ appointment!! the parking lot was full had to pay $5 at the lot across street!! then they told me i didnt have right paperwork even tho NOBODY told me what 2 bring!!! total waste of time had to reschedule n take another day off work unpaid!!! 😡😡😡

I've been to both the new Long Beach office and the Compton location within the past 3 months. Long Beach is definitely better organized, but it really depends on when you go. Avoid Mondays and the first week of the month - those are absolute madhouses at ANY CalFresh office. If you can get an early morning appointment (8-9am) at the Long Beach location on a Wednesday or Thursday, that's your best bet. They have wifi now too, which the Compton office still doesn't have. Make sure to print and fill out your CF 37 (recertification form) BEFORE you go - you can find it on the BenefitsCal website. Bring your last 30 days of pay stubs, ID, utility bills, and proof of any deductible expenses like childcare or medical costs. They're being super picky about documentation right now because they did a bunch of audits and got in trouble for insufficient verification.

Anybody else confused why we still have to do in-person appointments in 2025?? Most other counties let you do recertification completely online or by phone now. LA County is so behind the times! I did my recertification for Medi-Cal online in like 20 minutes.

I tried calling the Long Beach office last week to ask about documentation requirements and got stuck in the automated system hell for 45 minutes before it disconnected me. So frustrating! I finally used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that someone on this forum recommended. They got me connected to an actual CalFresh worker in about 8 minutes instead of hours of waiting. The worker told me the new Long Beach office is their "model office" with better staffing and updated systems. They have a video demo showing how it works: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 - definitely worth it when you need to actually speak to someone.

the new place has better bathrooms at least lol. the old office bathrooms were DISGUSTING

One more tip about the Long Beach office - they're really strict about appointment times. If you're more than 15 minutes late, they'll make you reschedule. The old office had a 30-minute grace period. Also bring a water bottle and snack just in case. Their vending machine was broken when I was there.

To answer your follow-up question - they are NOT open on Saturdays. Their hours are Monday-Friday 8:30am-5pm, but they stop taking new check-ins at 4:30pm. They do have early hours on Wednesdays (7:30am opening) which might help with your work schedule. And yes, they do have separate lines for appointments vs. walk-ins. Appointments are prioritized, which is another reason to make sure you have one rather than just showing up. The electronic check-in system asks for your appointment confirmation number.