BenefitsCal app issues in Shasta County & checking P-EBT status

ya the app is horrible in tehama county too! crashes all the time for me 😤 idk about pebt tho sorry

For the BenefitsCal app issues, try using the website instead of the app. The app has had ongoing technical problems in several Northern California counties including Shasta. As for P-EBT, there's no way to check your status directly online. P-EBT for the 2024-2025 school year is being distributed in phases, and you should receive a notice in the mail if your children qualify. The distribution for Shasta County hasn't fully rolled out yet, so that might be why you haven't received notification. If your children receive free or reduced lunch through the National School Lunch Program, they should automatically qualify for P-EBT. Keep in mind that P-EBT cards are mailed separately from your regular CalFresh EBT card.

I'm in Shasta too and the app is a NIGHTMARE right now!!! Been trying to submit my SAR7 for two weeks and it keeps crashing. Called the county office like 20 times and just get the stupid recording saying high call volume. So mad because my benefits are gonna get cut if I can't get this stupid form submitted!!!! 😡😡😡

I had the same problem with the BenefitsCal app last month when trying to upload income verification. What worked for me was using Claimyr to get through to an actual person at the Shasta County office. It's a service that calls the office for you and gets you connected to a real person instead of waiting on hold forever. I used it after trying for days to get through. The worker I spoke with was able to give me an email address to send my documents directly and confirmed receipt right away. You can check them out at claimyr.com and they have a demo video at https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 showing how it works. Honestly saved me so much stress since my benefits were about to be discontinued.

Regarding P-EBT for 2025: There's no direct way to check if you're getting it until you receive the card or notification. P-EBT is administered by CDSS and CDE jointly, not directly through your regular CalFresh account. If your children are eligible for free/reduced meals through NSLP or attend a Community Eligibility Provision school, they should qualify automatically. Shasta County's P-EBT distribution is scheduled for Phase 3 (starting late March 2025), which is why you haven't received anything yet. For the app issues, I recommend trying different browsers if using the website or submitting documentation in person if possible.

Has anyone tried using the BenefitsCal app with an older phone? I found that it works better on newer devices. I had issues with it on my old Android, but when I switched to a newer phone it stopped crashing as much. Also, for checking your P-EBT status, sometimes the P-EBT hotline at 877-328-9677 can help, though be prepared for a wait. If your kids get free lunch, they should qualify for P-EBT, but Shasta County does seem to be behind on the notifications compared to other counties.

i just go to the office in person now cause the app AND the website are both trash lol easier to just hand them papers directly

Update on your specific issues: For the BenefitsCal app in Shasta County, there's a known issue affecting users trying to upload verification documents. The county is aware of it and working on a fix. In the meantime, you can email documents to shastaESS@co.shasta.ca.us with your case number in the subject line, or use the website version which is more stable. For P-EBT status, Shasta County's distribution is scheduled for late March 2025, so you likely won't receive notification until early March. The P-EBT cards are mailed to the address the school district has on file, so make sure your address is current with your children's school.