CalFresh benefits delayed after verification - how long is 'processing' supposed to take?

same thing happened 2 me last fall... took almost 30 days after they said they were "processing" my case. suuuper frustrating! but they did backpay the benefits once approved

Processing time should technically be no more than 30 days from when they received your verification documents. However, many counties are severely backlogged in 2025, especially since the new income limit adjustments went into effect. When they say they've "pulled" your documents, that usually means they've retrieved them from the document scanning system but haven't actually reviewed them yet. Two things you should do: 1. Ask for an expedited determination if you have less than $150 in monthly income and less than $100 in resources 2. Request emergency CalFresh if you're in danger of running out of food (this is separate from expedited service) Did you submit through BenefitsCal or in person? Sometimes documents submitted through the portal take longer to process.

This is RIDICULOUS!!! The system is DESIGNED to make us fail!! I had the EXACT same issue in January and my kids went TWO WEEKS without enough food because some county worker was too LAZY to process my case!!! They told me "pulling" meant they were working on it but that was a LIE - they hadn't even LOOKED at my documents yet!!! They're hoping we'll just give up so they can save money!!!

CALL YOUR STATE REPRESENTATIVE!!! They can move mountains! I was waiting 45 DAYS with no response until I contacted my assembly member's office. Suddenly my case was URGENT to them and approved in 24 hours!!!

After months of struggling with similar issues (took them 6 weeks to process my renewal last time!), I finally found a service called Claimyr that got me through to a real CalFresh worker in under 5 minutes. They basically call the county for you and then connect you when they reach a person. I was skeptical, but it saved me from the constant busy signals and disconnects. Check out their video to see how it works: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 or just go to claimyr.com. This literally saved my sanity during my last verification nightmare.

Yes! When I finally got through, the worker was able to look up my case immediately and saw that my verification docs were just sitting there waiting to be reviewed. She processed them while I was on the phone and my benefits were loaded the next day. Sometimes you just need to get to an actual person who can help.

I work for a nonprofit that helps people with CalFresh applications, and I can tell you that "pulling" and "processing" mean two different things in the system. "Pulling" just means they've retrieved your documents from the electronic queue, while "processing" means they're actually reviewing your case. Processing should take 3-5 business days at most, not weeks. If it's been more than a week since they told you they're "processing" your case, something isn't right. When you do get through, ask specifically if there are any missing documents or verification issues. Sometimes they need additional info but the notice gets lost in the mail. Also, make sure to mention that you've been without benefits for over a month - they should be providing expedited service at this point, especially since you have children in the household.

Have you checked if your county has a CalFresh office you can visit in person? I gave up on phone calls completely and just went to my local office in San Bernardino. Waited about 2 hours but got everything resolved in one visit. Sometimes face-to-face is the only way to get answers. Also check if your kids' school has an emergency food pantry while you wait. Many schools started those after the pandemic.

One more thing to check: log into BenefitsCal and make sure your contact information is correct. I've seen cases where workers try to call for clarification but have the wrong phone number, then the case just sits there. Also, verify that all documents you uploaded are showing as "received" in the system. And just a heads-up - if your case is approved, benefits should be backdated to when they were supposed to resume, so you won't lose out on the full amount you're entitled to, even with the delay.

I went through something similar last year - the "processing" stage took about 2 weeks for me after they said they pulled my documents. One thing that really helped was keeping a detailed log of every call attempt and who I spoke with (if anyone). When I finally got through, I was able to reference specific dates and the worker who told me they were "processing" my case. Also, don't forget to ask about interim benefits if you're still waiting - some counties will provide temporary assistance while they finish processing renewals, especially when there are kids involved. The worker should have offered this option given how long you've been waiting. Hang in there - I know it's incredibly stressful when you're trying to feed your family. The system is definitely not designed with families' urgent needs in mind.

I'm dealing with almost the exact same situation right now! It's been 4 weeks since I submitted my renewal docs and they keep telling me it's "in processing" every time I manage to get through. My case worker said the same thing about "pulling" my documents but honestly I think that just means they finally found them in their system. What's really frustrating is that my previous renewal only took about 10 days total, so this delay feels abnormal. I've been rationing groceries and my 7-year-old keeps asking why we can't buy his favorite cereal anymore. It breaks my heart. I'm going to try that Claimyr service someone mentioned - anything to avoid those endless busy signals. Also planning to visit the office this Friday if I still don't have answers. We shouldn't have to jump through so many hoops just to feed our families! Keep us updated on how it goes with getting through to them. Sending you strength during this stressful time - you're definitely not alone in this struggle.

I'm going through the exact same thing right now! Submitted my renewal docs 3 weeks ago and they keep saying it's "processing" but nothing is happening. My benefits stopped last month too and I'm getting desperate trying to stretch what little food we have left. Reading through all these responses is both helpful and infuriating - it's clear this is a widespread problem with the system. The fact that processing should only take 3-5 days but we're all waiting weeks is unacceptable when families are going hungry. I'm definitely going to try calling my state representative like Freya suggested - I had no idea that was even an option. Also going to look into that Claimyr service to get through the phone lines. In the meantime, I found a few food pantries through 211 that have helped bridge the gap. Check if your area has a "Little Free Pantry" - those have been a lifesaver for grabbing snacks for the kids when I can't afford groceries. Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences and advice. It helps to know we're not alone in dealing with this broken system, even though no family should have to go through this stress just to get basic food assistance.

I'm so sorry you're going through this - the stress of not being able to provide for your kids while dealing with bureaucratic delays is just heartbreaking. I went through something similar about 6 months ago and it took almost 5 weeks total from when I submitted my renewal docs. What finally worked for me was a combination of things: I kept a detailed log of every call attempt (dates, times, who I spoke with), contacted my local food bank through 211 for immediate help, and most importantly - I filed a complaint with the California Department of Social Services. You can do this online and they're required to investigate processing delays that exceed 30 days. Also, when they say "processing" they should be able to give you a more specific timeline. Ask them directly: "What specific step in the processing is my case currently at, and what is the expected completion date?" Don't let them give you vague answers. In the meantime, definitely look into local food pantries and ask your kids' school counselor about emergency food resources. Many schools have weekend backpack programs or emergency pantries specifically for situations like this. You shouldn't have to choose between feeding your children and paying rent. Keep advocating for yourself - you deserve better service than this!

I'm dealing with this exact same issue right now and it's so frustrating! My renewal has been "processing" for over a month now and my worker keeps giving me the runaround every time I call. What really bothers me is that they act like this delay is normal when families are literally going hungry waiting for their benefits. I tried going to the office in person last week and they told me the same thing - "it's processing" - with no actual timeline or explanation of what that even means. The lack of transparency in this system is unacceptable. Reading through all these responses has been both validating and maddening. It's clear this isn't an isolated issue but a systemic problem with how CalFresh renewals are handled. No family should have to stress about feeding their children because of administrative delays that could be easily prevented with proper staffing and systems. I'm definitely going to try some of the suggestions here - especially contacting my state representative and filing a complaint with the state. We shouldn't have to jump through all these hoops, but if that's what it takes to get our cases moving then so be it. Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences and advice!