CalFresh benefits not loading on the 5th AGAIN - third month of delays! Anyone else?

same here!!!!! mine was supposed to be loaded on the 10th and NOTHING. called the number on the back of my card and got the "we're experiencing high call volume" then it hung up on me. 😡😡😡

The issuance dates have been messed up since they switched to the new BenefitsCal system. From what I've seen, they're running about 3-5 days behind schedule for most people. My caseworker told me they're "working on the issue" but it's been going on for months now. Make sure when you call to specifically ask for a supervisor and get a case number for your complaint each time. Document everything! And if you're truly in a food emergency, tell them you need emergency benefits because you have no food - they're supposed to remedy that within 3 days.

Ugh this happens to me every other month I swear. The EBT system is just broken. When I call they always tell me "it should be there in 24 hours" but then nothing happens. Try calling your county office directly not the EBT customer service number. Those EBT people can't actually do anything to help.

This is unfortunately becoming a common issue in several counties. The delay is often related to batch processing errors in the CalFresh issuance system. When you call, specifically request to speak with a benefits specialist (not just any worker) and use the phrase "ongoing issuance error requiring supervisor intervention." This gets flagged in their system differently. Also, each county has what's called an Emergency Response Team for cases where benefits are delayed and causing hardship. Ask to have your case referred to this team, which can often process same-day emergency allotments when regular benefits are delayed. Lastly, document every call with date, time, and who you spoke with. If the problem persists after your next direct contact, you can request a State Hearing by calling 1-800-952-5253 or filing online through the CDSS website.

I had the EXACT same problem from November through January! It was a nightmare trying to get through to anyone who could actually help. After spending hours on hold and getting disconnected multiple times, I found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me actually get through to a real person at the county office. They have this system that holds your place in line and calls you back when a worker is available. Saved me so much frustration. They have a video that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 Once I finally got to speak with someone, they fixed the issue with my account and my benefits have been on time since then. Apparently there was some flag on my account that was causing the delays, but nobody bothered to tell me about it.

I work with a community organization that assists CalFresh recipients, and we're seeing this issue across multiple counties right now. There was a system update in March 2025 that's causing delayed issuances for approximately 15-20% of recipients. Here's what you need to do: 1) File a formal complaint through the CDSS website (not just by phone) 2) Request expedited benefits due to hardship - they're required to issue these within 72 hours if you have less than $150 in resources and limited income 3) Contact your county Board of Supervisors office - they can often intervene in these systematic issues 4) If your benefits aren't issued within 7 days of their scheduled date, you qualify for a State Hearing with expedited status Regarding the petition idea - there's actually already one started by the Coalition for CalFresh Reform. I'd recommend joining that effort rather than starting a new one. The link is on their website: coalitionforcalfreshreform.org

my casewrkr told me that the dates on our approval letters are just "target dates" and not guaranteed!!! like wtf am i supposed to do with that?? my kids cant eat target dates. ive been buying groceries on credit cards cuz these benefits are so unreliable now. system is broken af

Update on this issue: I just spoke with someone at my county office and apparently they're aware of the systematic delays. They said the new BenefitsCal system is causing issuance errors for people whose cases were migrated from the old system. They're supposedly implementing a fix by the end of this month. In the meantime, they told me that anyone experiencing delays should: 1. Call their caseworker directly (not the general line) 2. Request an "Administrative Issuance" for the delayed benefits 3. Ask for this to be noted in your case file to prevent future delays Hope this helps some of you. The system is definitely broken, but at least there's a workaround.

I'm dealing with the same thing right now! My benefits were supposed to load on the 3rd and it's been 5 days with nothing. This is my first time experiencing these delays and I'm honestly shocked at how broken the system seems to be. Reading everyone's experiences here makes me realize this isn't just a one-off problem - it's affecting tons of people. I'm definitely going to try calling my caseworker directly like @Aisha Khan suggested and ask for that "Administrative Issuance." It's crazy that we have to jump through all these hoops just to get benefits we're already approved for. Thank you everyone for sharing your tips and experiences - at least now I know I'm not alone in this mess!