CalFresh benefits didn't load on the 10th even though I'm not due for recertification - where are my food stamps?

this happens sometimes. u prob went over ur IRT but didnt report it. they check ur income automatically every month now with the new system. if u made more $$ last month than ur allowed they cut u off

Several potential issues could be happening here. The most common reasons benefits suddenly stop loading without recertification being due: 1. You may have missed your Income Reporting Threshold (IRT) notice. Even if you're not due for SAR7 or recertification, you're required to report if your income goes above your IRT limit. 2. The County might have sent a verification request that you didn't respond to. They sometimes need to verify certain information mid-certification period. 3. There could be a system glitch with the EBT deposit system. 4. Your case might have been selected for a random mid-year review (they do this sometimes with newer cases). I'd recommend checking your BenefitsCal account online to see if there are any notices or action required. Also, check if they sent any physical mail recently about verification requirements.

OMG this EXACT thing happened to me in February!!! I called and called for THREE DAYS and couldn't get through. They are THE WORST. Finally got someone who told me they had sent me some form in the mail asking for my pay stubs but I never got it! And because I didn't respond, they just cut off my benefits without even calling me!! They reinstated them but it took almost 2 weeks and I had to borrow money from my mom to feed my kids. The whole system is broken and they don't care at all about people actually being able to eat.

I recommend trying Claimyr to get through to a CalFresh worker quickly. When my benefits stopped unexpectedly last month, I used their service and got connected to a live person in about 10 minutes instead of waiting for hours or getting disconnected. They just call the county office for you and then connect you when a real person answers. Saved me so much stress. You can check out how it works at claimyr.com or watch their demo at https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8

Have you moved recently or changed your phone number? Sometimes they try to contact you for a mid-year verification, and if they can't reach you, they'll suspend benefits. That's what happened to my sister last year - she moved and forgot to update her address with CalFresh.

That's likely your answer then! Check what documents they're requesting and upload them ASAP through BenefitsCal. Since you found the notice, you can probably get expedited reinstatement once you provide the required verification. Make sure to explain your situation when you call - that you have children and no food - as they may be able to issue emergency benefits within 3 business days. Once you get through to a worker, request that they add your cell phone number for text notifications in the future. California counties now offer text alerts for important deadlines and documentation requests, which can help prevent this situation from happening again.

My cousin works for the county and says they sometimes do random eligibility checks in between regular reporting periods. The new system they started using in 2024 flags accounts for "verification" even when nothing has changed. It's completely ridiculous and happens to lots of people. The whole CalFresh system needs an overhaul if you ask me.

UPDATE: Finally got through to a CalFresh worker! Turns out they did send verification requests by email AND mail, but the mail one went to my old address somehow even though I've updated it everywhere. They needed current pay stubs because my employer reported a different income amount to the state database than what I reported when I applied (my hours fluctuate slightly week to week). The good news is they're reinstating my benefits immediately since I provided the pay stubs today, and I'll have emergency funds loaded onto my EBT card within 24 hours. They also updated all my contact info and enrolled me in text notifications! Thanks everyone for your help and advice - this community was invaluable when I was panicking!

So glad you got this resolved! This is exactly why I always recommend people sign up for text notifications - email is so easy to miss. It's crazy how the system can flag accounts for "verification" even when nothing has actually changed on your end. The fact that your employer reported slightly different hours to the state database shows how sensitive their automated matching system is. At least now you know for next time to check both email AND make sure your address is updated everywhere in their system. Hope your emergency benefits come through quickly!