CalFresh DPSS keeps calling then hanging up - driving me crazy!

Yes! This happened to me for two weeks straight in February. It's most likely their auto-dialer system that's malfunctioning. What's happening is their system is making more calls than they have available workers, so when you answer, there's no one there to take the call and it disconnects. It's incredibly frustrating but doesn't mean anything bad about your case specifically. I would suggest going to your BenefitsCal account and check for any notices or tasks you need to complete for your recertification. They usually send notices through mail and online before they start calling anyway.

omg yes happens to me ALL THE TIME!! its the worst cuz then i get all anxious thinking they need something important for my calfresh and then i waste my entire lunch break on hold trying to call back. and then they wonder why people miss their appointments lol

Same thing here. Happened 3x last month. So annoying.

This is a known issue with the DPSS phone system. I work in social services (not directly for CalFresh), and what's happening is their auto-dialer is making calls but when you answer, if there's no caseworker available within 2 seconds, it drops the call instead of putting you in a queue. It's extremely inefficient and frustrating for everyone. If you're due for recertification next month, you should already have received the recertification packet in the mail (RE: form) or a notification in your BenefitsCal account. Don't wait for them to call you - be proactive and complete your recertification as soon as possible. Also, make sure your contact information is up-to-date in the system, including your phone number and address. Sometimes these calls are just verification attempts before they send out important notices.

The DPSS phone system is absolutely BROKEN and has been for YEARS!! They set up this useless auto-dialer system that just harasses people and then don't have enough staff to actually talk to anyone. I've been dealing with this garbage since 2018 and it's only gotten worse. Last year they called me SIX TIMES in one day and hung up EVERY SINGLE TIME. Then they discontinued my benefits because they "couldn't reach me" even though THEY were the ones hanging up! I had to go through the whole appeal process and waste 3 weeks without benefits because their system is trash. And don't even get me started on trying to call them back - it's impossible to reach a human being! The whole system is designed to frustrate people so much they give up on their benefits. That's what they want!

I had this exact problem last month! After trying for days to get through, I found this service called Claimyr that got me connected to a real DPSS worker in about 10 minutes instead of waiting for hours. It basically waits on hold for you and calls you when a real person picks up. Saved me so much stress with my recertification issue. There's a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 The website is claimyr.com if you want to check it out. I was skeptical at first but it actually worked when I was desperate to talk to someone about my SAR7 that I thought was lost in the mail.

I've been on CalFresh for almost 7 years now, and this has been happening on and off the whole time. It's incredibly frustrating, but I've learned a few tricks to deal with it: 1. If you get these calls, immediately check your BenefitsCal account for any new notifications or tasks 2. Make sure your recertification or SAR7 is submitted early (at least 2 weeks before the deadline) 3. If you need to reach them, call exactly at 8:00 AM when they open - the wait time is usually shorter 4. Document every call attempt you make (date, time, how long you waited) 5. If possible, visit an office in person when you're having phone issues Also, these mysterious hang-up calls often happen when they're trying to schedule interview appointments or verify information. They rarely result in benefit termination without them sending you something in writing first. So check your mail carefully and your online account daily. Hope this helps ease your mind a bit!

my aunt works for dpss and she says their phone system is garbage and the workers hate it too lol

One other thing to keep in mind - sometimes these calls are automated reminders about upcoming deadlines or verification needs. The system is supposed to play a recording when you answer, but if it malfunctions, you just get silence and then a hang-up. Since you mentioned your recertification is due next month, I'd focus on completing that ASAP. Make sure you have: 1. Income verification for everyone in your household (pay stubs, award letters, etc.) 2. Rent/mortgage documentation 3. Utility bills if you're claiming the standard utility allowance 4. Any childcare expenses if applicable 5. Medical expenses for elderly or disabled household members Submit everything through BenefitsCal if possible - it creates a digital record of your submission date and time, which is very helpful if there are any disputes later about whether you met deadlines.