BenefitsCal.com account locked - can't access my CalFresh case or benefits
I'm about to lose my mind trying to check my CalFresh status! For the past 2 weeks I've been trying to log into BenefitsCal.com but keep getting an error saying "account temporarily unavailable" or something. Called the county EBT hotline 8 times and either get disconnected or told to wait 2+ hours. I desperately need to check if my quarterly report was processed correctly because I've heard NOTHING from my worker. My renewal is due next month too! My kids and I literally depend on these benefits for food. Has anyone experienced this? How did you fix it? Is there another way to see my case status without BenefitsCal access?
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Mateo Sanchez
I had the exact same issue last month! Turned out my account got locked after too many failed login attempts (which wasn't even my fault - their system was glitching). You need to call your assigned eligibility worker directly, not the general EBT line. They can reset your BenefitsCal access and check on your quarterly report at the same time. The county offices have been super backed up lately with the new income verification requirements.
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Nia Wilson
•That's the problem - I don't even know who my worker is anymore! The last letter I got had someone named Maria, but when I called that extension it went to voicemail saying she's on leave. Do they assign new workers when someone goes on leave?? I'm so stressed about this.
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Aisha Mahmood
benefitcal is THE WORST!!!! been using it for 3 yrs and constantly has problems. one time it showed my case was closed when it wasnt. another time it wouldnt let me upload my documents and i almost lost benefits. u should go IN PERSON to the county office with your case # and ID. thats the only way to get anything done with these people i stg
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Ethan Clark
•Going in person works but takes FOREVER. I spent 4 hours there last time just to get my address updated. Make sure to bring a book and snacks lol
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AstroAce
Have you tried clearing your cookies and using a different browser? Sometimes BenefitsCal has weird technical issues that can be fixed that way. Also make sure you're not using any VPN, that blocked me once.
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Nia Wilson
•I tried on my phone, my laptop, and even my sister's computer. Same error message every time :( I don't think it's a browser issue, seems like my actual account is locked or something.
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Yuki Kobayashi
I work at a community assistance center, and we've seen a lot of BenefitsCal account issues lately. There was a system update in early 2025 that caused problems for many users. Here's what you should do: 1. Call your county's CalFresh office directly (not the EBT line) and request an account reset 2. Ask them to check your SAR7 status while you're on the call 3. Request your current eligibility worker's direct contact information 4. Have them note in your file that you're having portal access issues If your SAR7 was due and not processed, they might have sent a Notice of Action about discontinuing benefits. Ask specifically about this too.
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Nia Wilson
•Thank you! This is really helpful. I've been trying the main county office but can never get through - it's always busy or puts me on eternal hold. I'm going to try again first thing tomorrow morning. Do you know if they can tell me over the phone if my benefits are still active for this month?
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Carmen Vega
You might want to try using Claimyr to reach a live CalFresh worker. I was in a similar situation last month - couldn't access my account and needed to submit verification documents asap. I used claimyr.com and they got me through to a live person in about 20 minutes instead of waiting for hours. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8. Seriously saved me from losing my benefits.
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Aisha Mahmood
•does this actually work?? ive never heard of it before. sounds 2 good 2 be true tbh
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Andre Rousseau
Another possibility - your case might have been transferred to a different county if you moved recently? That happened to me and I couldn't access anything online for like 6 weeks while they processed the transfer. The worst part was that neither county would take responsibility during that time. Do you still live in the same county where you originally applied?
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Nia Wilson
•I've been at the same address for 3 years, so I don't think that's it. But thanks for the suggestion! This is all so frustrating...
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Mateo Sanchez
I just remembered - there's a specific BenefitsCal technical support line that's different from the regular CalFresh numbers. Try 1-800-541-5555 and follow the prompts for account access issues. That's how I eventually got my account unlocked.
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Nia Wilson
•THANK YOU!!! I just called this number and actually got through after about 20 minutes on hold! They said my account was locked for "security reasons" and reset it for me. I can log in now! And good news - my SAR7 was processed correctly and my benefits are still active. Such a relief! Now I just need to make sure I get my recertification paperwork in on time next month. Thanks everyone for your help!!
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Ethan Clark
This happens to me literally every other month lol. The whole system is designed to make us give up on our benefits I swear. Glad you got it fixed! For your recertification, submit it EARLY. Like at least 2 weeks before the deadline. I did mine 3 days before once and they still counted it as late smh
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Nia Wilson
•That's good advice, thank you! I'm going to fill everything out this weekend and submit it ASAP.
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Selena Bautista
So glad you got it resolved! I've been dealing with BenefitsCal issues for months and this thread is super helpful. That technical support number is gold - I'm definitely saving it. Quick tip for everyone: if you're having ongoing portal problems, ask your worker to add your email to get text notifications about case updates. That way even if the website is down, you'll still know what's happening with your benefits. It's saved me so much stress!
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Dylan Baskin
•That's such a smart tip about the text notifications! I had no idea that was even an option. I'm definitely going to ask about that when I submit my recertification paperwork. It would be amazing to get updates without having to constantly check the portal (especially when it's not working half the time). Thanks for sharing that!
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Yara Khoury
I'm so relieved this thread exists! I've been having the exact same BenefitsCal nightmare for weeks. My account keeps saying "temporarily unavailable" and I was starting to panic about my benefits getting cut off. That technical support number (1-800-541-5555) is a lifesaver - I'm calling them first thing Monday morning. It's crazy how many people are dealing with these portal issues. The system really needs to be more reliable when families are depending on it for basic needs like food. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and solutions!
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Emma Swift
•You're so right about how stressful this is when families depend on these benefits! I'm new to this community but have been lurking and reading everyone's experiences. It's honestly shocking how many technical issues people are having with something as essential as food assistance. I'm dealing with my own CalFresh application right now and these stories are both helpful and terrifying lol. Really grateful for communities like this where people actually help each other navigate these broken systems. Good luck with that phone call on Monday - hopefully they can get you sorted out quickly!
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Aisha Khan
I'm so grateful I found this thread! I've been struggling with BenefitsCal issues for the past month and was starting to feel like I was the only one dealing with this nightmare. My account has been showing "system maintenance" errors constantly, and I've missed important deadlines because I couldn't access my case information. Reading everyone's experiences here makes me realize this is a widespread problem, not just something I'm doing wrong. That technical support number everyone mentioned is going straight into my phone contacts! It's honestly heartbreaking that so many families are dealing with these technical barriers when we're just trying to access basic food assistance. Thank you all for sharing your solutions and supporting each other through this mess. This community is a lifeline when the actual government systems fail us.
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Natasha Petrova
•Welcome to the community! You're definitely not alone in dealing with these BenefitsCal issues - it's unfortunately become way too common. I'm also pretty new here but have already learned so much from everyone's shared experiences. It really is frustrating when you're trying to do everything right but the system keeps failing you. That technical support line has been mentioned multiple times in this thread, so it seems like our best bet for actually getting through to someone who can help with account issues. I hope you're able to get your access restored soon! It's scary how these technical problems can put people's food security at risk. Really glad this community exists to help us navigate these challenges together.
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