CalFresh application stuck since June - caseworker won't return calls after 7 weeks waiting

THEY DO THIS ALL THE TIME!! I waited 9 weeks last year and when I finally got through they claimed they "never received" my verification documents even though I uploaded them twice and had confirmation numbers. The county offices are deliberately slowing down applications hoping people give up. Ask for a supervisor immediately and mention you're considering filing for an administrative hearing due to violating the 30-day processing requirement. That usually gets their attention real quick. Demand expedited processing if you have little/no income right now!

I was in a similar situation last month and found this service called Claimyr that helped me get through to my CalFresh worker after weeks of trying. You can check it out at claimyr.com - they basically call the county for you and then connect you when they reach a real person. I was skeptical at first but they got me through in about 25 minutes when I'd been trying for days. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8. It was such a relief to finally talk to someone who could check my application status.

Here's what you need to do immediately: 1. Submit a formal complaint through BenefitsCal AND call the main CalFresh customer service line (not your worker). Tell them you've been waiting beyond the 30-day requirement and need immediate assistance. 2. You're absolutely right that CalFresh has a 30-day processing requirement from the date of application. The county is in violation of this requirement. 3. Request an Expedited Services determination if your household income is below the gross monthly income limit (about $3,500 for a family of four in 2025) and your resources are under $150 with less than $100 in liquid resources. 4. Ask for the county's Civil Rights Coordinator and file a formal complaint about lack of access to your assigned worker. Don't give up! This is unfortunately common but you can escalate it to get results. The system is designed to be difficult, but persistence pays off.

my cousin had this exact same thing happen!!! she waited like 2 months and then finally went IN PERSON to the county office (which was a whole day thing with her kids) and magically they found her application and processed it that same day. sometimes u have to show up physically or they just ignore u

I'm sorry you're dealing with this frustrating situation. One thing that might be happening is that your case could be stuck in what's called "pending verification" status, even though you submitted everything. This happened to me earlier this year. Sometimes the documents don't get properly attached to your case or they get marked as "received" but not "processed." It's also possible your worker is out on extended leave and your case hasn't been reassigned. If you call the main CalFresh number, ask specifically: "Is my case pending verification or is it in ready-to-work status?" Also ask if your assigned worker is currently active. If they say your worker is out, request immediate reassignment due to the processing delay. And yes, if approved, your benefits should be backdated to your application date, so you won't lose any benefits you're entitled to because of their delay.

have u tried checking ur status on benefitscal? sometimes it updates there even when nobody calls u back. also make sure ur phone can accept blocked numbers cuz sometimes the county calls come thru as blocked or unknown and if u have those rejected u might miss them

Just went through ur EXACT SITUATION!! After calling for 2 months, I found out my caseworker had QUIT back in JUNE and nobody bothered to reassign my case!!! Nobody called to tell me or anything! I only found out when I finally got through to a supervisor who was like "oh yeah she doesn't work here anymore" like it was nothing!!! The system is BROKEN and they don't care if we starve while waiting!!

Regarding your question about backdating - yes, when your CalFresh is finally approved, you will receive benefits retroactive to your application date (June 6th). So you won't lose any benefits due to their delay. One important thing to note: while you're waiting, keep extremely detailed records of every attempt to contact them. Note the date, time, who you spoke with (if anyone), and what was said. This documentation is crucial if you need to file for a state hearing. Also, consider reaching out to a local legal aid organization that specializes in benefits issues. They can often make calls on your behalf that get faster responses than when clients call directly. Most counties have legal aid services that help with CalFresh issues at no cost. Finally, check if you submitted your income verification correctly. Sometimes applications get delayed because pay stubs don't show the required 30 days of income history, or self-employment documentation isn't sufficiently detailed. This is a common hold-up point in the process.

did u get one of those confusing "verification checklist" forms in the mail? sometimes they send those even after u already gave them the stuff and if u dont send it again they just let ur case sit there. check ur mail carefully, sometimes the letters look like junk mail

UPDATE: I called the general CalFresh number this morning and requested a supervisor after explaining my situation. They told me my case was assigned to a different worker weeks ago but nobody updated the contact info in the system!! I have an appointment with the new worker tomorrow morning. Thank you everyone for your advice. I'll update again after my appointment.

I'm so sorry you're going through this - the stress of waiting for benefits while your family needs food is absolutely heartbreaking. I had a similar experience earlier this year and here's what finally worked for me: I called the main CalFresh hotline and asked to speak with a "lead worker" (not just a supervisor). The lead worker was able to see that my case had been sitting in "pending verification" status even though I'd submitted everything. Turns out there was a technical glitch that prevented my documents from being properly processed in their system. She was able to manually push my case through that same day. Also, definitely ask about expedited processing - with your reduced hours, you likely qualify. The whole system is frustrating but don't give up! Your persistence will pay off and you'll get those backdated benefits once it's resolved.

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this nightmare - 7 weeks is completely unacceptable! I went through something similar last year and here's what finally broke the logjam for me: I called the main CalFresh customer service line and told them I needed to file a "failure to act" complaint because my case exceeded the 30-day processing requirement. They immediately transferred me to a county supervisor who was able to see that my application had been sitting in someone's queue for weeks without being touched. She processed it within 2 days after that call. Also, definitely mention that you have children at home - they're supposed to prioritize households with kids under 18. Document every call you make from now on (date, time, who you spoke with) because if this drags on much longer, you can request a state hearing. The system is broken but there are ways to make it work. Don't let them wear you down!

I'm dealing with almost the exact same thing right now! Applied in early July and it's been radio silence from my caseworker for over a month. What's really frustrating is that I can see on BenefitsCal that they received all my documents but the status just says "Under Review" with no timeline. One thing that helped me get some answers was calling the CalFresh hotline at 1-877-847-3663 and asking them to check if my assigned worker is still active. Turns out mine had been reassigned to a different caseload but nobody bothered to update my file! They were able to connect me directly to the new worker who actually answered the phone. Also, I found out that if your household has less than $150 in resources AND your monthly income is below the gross income limit, you can request expedited processing which means they have to get you benefits within 7 days. Might be worth asking about given your situation with reduced hours. The whole system is designed to make us give up, but keep fighting! Your kids deserve those benefits and you've done everything right. Don't let them wear you down.

I'm so sorry you're going through this - the system is absolutely broken and it's infuriating that families are left hanging like this! I had a similar nightmare experience where my application sat untouched for 10 weeks. What finally worked for me was going nuclear and contacting my state assembly member's office. They have constituent services departments that can actually light a fire under the county offices when regular channels fail. I emailed my assemblymember's office explaining the situation (7+ weeks, unresponsive caseworker, family with kids) and within 3 days I got a call from a county supervisor who personally handled my case. It sounds dramatic but sometimes you need someone with actual authority to make a phone call on your behalf. You can find your assembly member at findyourrep.legislature.ca.gov. Also, definitely document every single interaction from now on - dates, times, names if you get them. The county is clearly violating the 30-day requirement and you have grounds for a formal complaint. Don't let them exhaust you into giving up - your family deserves these benefits and you've done everything right!

This is absolutely maddening and unfortunately way too common! I went through something very similar earlier this year - 8 weeks of complete silence despite submitting everything they asked for. What finally worked for me was calling the main CalFresh line and specifically asking to speak with a "quality assurance supervisor" rather than just a regular supervisor. I explained that my case had exceeded the 30-day processing requirement and I needed immediate escalation. The QA supervisor was able to see that my documents had been uploaded but never actually reviewed by anyone - they were just sitting in a digital queue. She fast-tracked my case and I was approved within 48 hours after that call. Also, with kids at home and reduced income, you should definitely qualify for expedited processing. When you call, use these exact words: "I am requesting expedited CalFresh services due to financial emergency and the county's failure to process my application within the required timeframe." Don't let them make you feel like you're being unreasonable - 7+ weeks is a clear violation of federal requirements and you have every right to demand immediate action. Your family shouldn't have to suffer because of their incompetence!

I'm so sorry you're going through this - the stress of not knowing when your family will get the help they need is just awful. I've been following this thread and wanted to share something that might help: if you haven't already, try calling the CalFresh hotline at 1-877-847-3663 and ask specifically for a "lead worker" to review your case for "failure to act." Tell them you've exceeded the 30-day processing requirement with children in the household and need immediate escalation. Also, since you mentioned your hours were cut, you very likely qualify for expedited processing (7-day turnaround) if your household has less than $150 in resources or your monthly income is below the gross limit. They're required to screen for this but often don't unless you specifically request it. One more thing - if the phone route doesn't work, consider filing a complaint through the California Department of Social Services online complaint system. Sometimes having an official complaint number gets county offices moving faster than anything else. You've already done everything right, and your persistence is going to pay off. Don't let them make you feel like you're asking for too much - feeding your family is a basic need and you deserve these benefits!

I'm so frustrated reading this because it's exactly what happened to me last year! The 30-day rule is supposed to be mandatory but they just ignore it and hope people give up. Here's what finally worked for me: I called the CalFresh customer service line and said "I need to file a formal complaint for failure to process my application within the federally required timeframe." Don't just ask for help - use the word "complaint" because it triggers a different process. They transferred me to a county compliance officer who could actually see what was happening with my case. Turns out my application had been sitting in "pending supervisor review" for 6 weeks because my original caseworker had flagged something minor and then left on vacation without reassigning it. The compliance officer got it approved within 24 hours and I received backdated benefits. Also, definitely mention you have kids - they're supposed to prioritize households with children. Document everything and don't let them make you feel like you're being unreasonable. Seven weeks is absolutely unacceptable and you have every right to demand immediate action!

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this incredibly frustrating situation! Seven weeks is absolutely unacceptable, and you're right that there's a 30-day processing requirement that they're clearly violating. Reading through all the advice in this thread, it sounds like there are several concrete steps you can take immediately: 1. Call the main CalFresh hotline at 1-877-847-3663 tomorrow morning and specifically ask for a "quality assurance supervisor" or "lead worker" - not just a regular supervisor 2. Use these exact words: "I need to file a formal complaint for failure to process my application within the federally required timeframe" - the word "complaint" triggers a different escalation process 3. Request expedited processing since you have reduced income and children at home - they're required to process expedited cases within 7 days 4. Ask them to verify if your assigned caseworker is still active - it sounds like many people discover their worker quit or was reassigned without notification If the phone route doesn't work immediately, contact your state assembly member's office (you can find them at findyourrep.legislature.ca.gov) - their constituent services can often get county offices moving when nothing else works. Keep documenting every interaction and don't let them make you feel unreasonable. Your family deserves these benefits and you've done everything right. The system is broken but all these success stories show there are ways to break through the bureaucracy. Don't give up!

This thread has been incredibly helpful and I'm so sorry you're going through this nightmare! I went through something similar a few months ago and what finally worked was calling the CalFresh hotline and asking to speak with a "case expediter" - which is different from a regular supervisor. When I explained that my case had exceeded 30 days with children in the household, they were able to see that my application had been marked as "pending verification" even though I'd submitted everything through BenefitsCal weeks earlier. Apparently there was a system glitch that prevented my documents from being properly linked to my case file. The case expediter was able to manually attach my documents and push my application through for approval the same day. Also, make sure when you call to specifically mention that you have children and that your income was reduced - both of these factors should qualify you for expedited processing. The whole experience taught me that the regular caseworker system is completely broken, but there are people higher up who actually have the authority and tools to fix these situations quickly. Don't let anyone make you feel like you're being pushy - 7+ weeks with kids at home is completely unacceptable and you have every right to demand immediate action!

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this - it's absolutely infuriating how broken the system is! I went through almost the exact same thing earlier this year and it's heartbreaking when you're doing everything right but still can't get help for your family. Based on all the great advice in this thread, here's what I'd recommend doing immediately: Call 1-877-847-3663 first thing tomorrow morning and ask specifically for a "quality assurance supervisor" or "case expediter" - not just a regular supervisor. Tell them you need to "file a formal complaint for failure to process within the federally required timeframe" and that you're requesting expedited processing due to having children and reduced income. Also ask them to verify if your original caseworker is still active - so many people are discovering their workers quit or got reassigned without any notification! It's possible your case is just sitting in limbo because of a staffing change. The fact that you've been waiting 7+ weeks with kids at home is completely unacceptable and violates federal requirements. Don't let anyone make you feel like you're being unreasonable - you have every right to demand immediate action. And yes, when you do get approved, you'll receive backdated benefits to your original application date so you won't lose anything. Keep fighting - your persistence will pay off and your family deserves these benefits!