CalFresh benefits not loaded today despite submitting SAR7 - holiday weekend panic!

This happened to me twice last year. There could be a few reasons: 1. Sometimes there's a processing delay even after approval (especially around holidays) 2. Your SAR7 might have been approved but flagged for further verification of something 3. The EBT system might be having technical issues Did you get any other notices in the mail or on BenefitsCal after your approval? Sometimes they send approval but then request additional verification for specific items that can hold up your benefits.

check ur benefitsCal account!! somtimes they post notices there that never come in the mail. happened to me and i missed a verification deadline because i didnt know they wanted more proof of income

The county systems are NOTORIOUS for glitches around holidays. I've been on CalFresh for 5 years and EVERY SINGLE HOLIDAY there's some kind of problem with either the EBT system or the county processing. And of course it ALWAYS happens when you need the food the most!!! The workers probably all rushed to finish their work before the long weekend and made mistakes. I guarantee you're not the only one this is happening to.

I work with CalFresh recipients and see this situation often. A few things to try: 1. First, double-check your regular issuance date. Some counties have different schedules based on case numbers, and holidays can sometimes affect this. 2. Check if you've hit your Income Reporting Threshold (IRT) recently without reporting it. This can cause a hold even after SAR7 approval. 3. Look for any discontinued notice. Sometimes they're sent separately from the SAR7 approval. You'll likely need to speak with a county worker on Tuesday after the holiday. In the meantime, if you're in a food emergency, call 211 to locate food banks open during the holiday weekend.

Have you tried checking your balance through the ConnectEBT app instead of just the website? Sometimes the website doesn't update right but the app shows the correct balance. Also try making a small purchase (like $1) somewhere - sometimes the money is there but just not showing up in the system.

When I had this issue last year, I found out they were reviewing my case because someone with the same name as me was flagged in the system. Took me DAYS of calling to reach anyone at the county office. I finally used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through - they keep calling the county for you and connect you when they reach a real person. Saved me hours of hold time. They have a demo video that explains how it works: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 Otherwise you'll probably be stuck waiting until Tuesday, unfortunately. The county office answering system is the worst during normal times, let alone holiday weekends.

One other thing to check - did you get your annual recertification packet recently? Sometimes people confuse the SAR7 (Semi-Annual Report) with the annual recertification. If you missed your recertification deadline, that would explain the benefits stopping even after a successful SAR7. The two processes are separate even though they both review eligibility.

This is EXACTLY why I keep screenshots of EVERYTHING related to my benefits. Every approval letter, every confirmation number, every SAR7 submission. The system is DESIGNED to make us fail and then they blame us! Make sure when you finally reach someone on Tuesday that you have your approval letter ready to reference with the date and any case numbers or confirmation numbers.

try going to the actual county office on tuesday morning! sometimes they can fix things faster in person than over the phone

Just to clarify something important: If you did complete your recertification (the comprehensive annual review) and were approved for 12 months, your benefits should definitely have been issued. However, sometimes there can be a change in your issuance date after recertification. Check your approval notice carefully - it should specify your new issuance date somewhere on the notice. It's possible your date shifted by a few days. If the notice confirms today should be your issuance date, then Tuesday you'll want to ask the worker to check if there was a "hold" placed on your case for any reason. Even with an approval, sometimes administrative holds can occur that delay benefit issuance.

I'm so sorry this is happening to you, especially on a holiday weekend when you need the food most! I've been on CalFresh for about 3 years and unfortunately this kind of thing does happen more often around holidays. Since you have your approval letter stating benefits should be available on the 1st and it's clearly documented, I'd suggest a few things for the weekend: 1. Definitely call 211 like Yara mentioned - they can connect you with emergency food pantries that might be open during the holiday 2. Check if your local churches or community centers have weekend food distributions 3. If you have any friends/family on social media, don't be afraid to ask for help - people are usually understanding about CalFresh delays For Tuesday, I'd recommend calling the county office right when they open (usually 8am) and have your approval letter in hand with all the dates and case numbers. Sometimes being the first caller of the day gets you through faster. If you can't get through by phone, definitely consider going in person even if it means taking time off work - your benefits are worth it. This really shouldn't be happening with a valid approval letter. Hang in there - you'll get this resolved!

I've been through this exact same situation before! Last year my benefits were delayed 4 days during Labor Day weekend and I was panicking just like you. Turned out there was a system update that caused processing delays, but of course they don't tell you that until after the fact. A couple things that helped me during the wait: - Download the "Food Finder" app - it shows food pantries and soup kitchens near you with current hours - Some WIC offices also have emergency food boxes even if you're not on WIC - Dollar Tree accepts EBT and has decent non-perishables if you have even a few dollars to stretch The good news is that once they fix whatever the issue is, your benefits usually get backdated to when they were supposed to be issued. So if you do end up spending your own money this weekend, you'll still have your full benefit amount when it comes through. Keep that approval letter handy and don't let them tell you on Tuesday that you need to reapply or anything like that - you have documentation that you were approved! Sometimes the workers don't have all the info and will try to make you start over.