CalFresh application stuck in limbo for 2 months - no interview yet despite weekly calls

That's definitely not normal and actually violates federal guidelines. CalFresh applications are required to be processed within 30 days (or 3 days if you qualify for expedited service). You should request to speak with a supervisor immediately and mention the 30-day federal requirement. If that doesn't work, you can file a state hearing request - you have the right to appeal the delay. The form is called 'DPA 479' or you can request a hearing online through the state appeals portal.

omg same thing happnd to me last year! took 3 months to get my ebt card and they didn't even backdate the benefits!! total bs

This happened to me a few weeks ago. Calling their main line is USELESS. I was getting nowhere for weeks until I tried Claimyr.com - it's this service that calls the county for you and gets you connected to an actual worker instead of waiting on hold forever. They got me through to someone who scheduled my interview on the spot. Check out their demo: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 Totally changed my experience with CalFresh. The worker even apologized for the delay and said my application had been sitting in someone's queue who was out on leave.

Riverside County is notorious for this!! The DPSS offices there have been understaffed since covid and they never recovered. My sister waited 45 days just to get an interview and that was considered "fast" for them. It's ridiculous but unfortunately kind of normal for that county specifically.

This is absolutely unacceptable! I've had nothing but problems with CalFresh for YEARS. The system is BROKEN and designed to make people give up. I've been through this exact situation twice because they randomly discontinued my benefits claiming they "never received" my recertification paperwork THAT I SUBMITTED ONLINE WITH A CONFIRMATION NUMBER!! I bet they're hoping you'll just give up. DON'T. Keep calling EVERY DAY, not just weekly. Ask for supervisors. Use the magic words "I want to file a complaint" and suddenly they find time for you. The squeaky wheel gets the grease with these people.

Just a follow-up on the expedited services I mentioned - if your household has less than $150 in monthly gross income AND less than $100 in liquid resources, OR if your combined monthly income and resources are less than your monthly rent/mortgage and utilities, you qualify for expedited service. This means they must process your application within 3 CALENDAR DAYS. Be sure to check if you qualify for this as it sounds like your financial situation might meet these criteria.

anybody know if the EBT card comes in the mail automatically or do u have to request it? still confused bout the whole process tbh

my neighbor had the exact same problem last month and she ended up going IN PERSON to the office. waited like 4 hours but got her interview scheduled that day and approved like a week later. sometimes u gotta show up physically to get anything done with these guys lol

I wanted to add some important information about the consequences of the county's delay. When your application is finally approved, you should receive benefits retroactive to your application date. Make sure to keep all grocery receipts during this waiting period as evidence of your food expenses. If they don't automatically backdate your benefits to your application date, cite the MPP Section 63-503.13 which mandates retroactive benefits for delayed applications. Also, don't be discouraged from applying for emergency CalFresh (expedited service) even at this point - you can still request it if you meet the criteria mentioned earlier. The county must conduct an expedited service screening for all applications regardless of how the application was submitted.

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - been waiting 7 weeks for my CalFresh interview in San Bernardino County. Reading all these responses is both helpful and frustrating because it confirms this isn't just bad luck, it's a systemic problem. I had no idea about the 30-day federal requirement or that I could request expedited processing. @Sofia Martinez I really hope you get this resolved soon. It's unconscionable that people are being forced to choose between rent and food while bureaucrats sit on applications. I'm going to try calling every day like @Yara Khoury suggested and specifically ask about expedited service. We shouldn't have to become experts in government regulations just to get basic food assistance, but here we are. Has anyone had success with contacting their county supervisor's office? I'm wondering if political pressure might help move things along faster.