CalFresh benefits transfer to new county - stuck on hold for hours and SAR7 already submitted

adding ur new address on the SAR7 isnt enough, u need to specifically tell them ur moving counties. did u check BenefitsCal? u might be able to do the transfer online without calling

You definitely need to do more than just update your address on the SAR7. County transfers require specific notification and coordination between counties. Here's what you should do: 1. Call Riverside County instead of Sacramento (since that's where you're moving to). Their workers can often initiate the transfer process from the receiving end. 2. If you can't reach anyone by phone, submit a written request for county transfer through BenefitsCal in the document upload section. Write a simple letter stating you've moved from Sacramento to Riverside County and need your CalFresh case transferred. Include your case number, new address, and contact information. 3. Make sure to specifically mention it's a COUNTY TRANSFER, not just an address change. The timing is important - county transfers typically take 30 days to complete, so if your benefits are due in 2 weeks, Sacramento will likely still issue that payment, but Riverside would handle the following month's benefits.

This happened to me last year when I moved from LA to San Bernardino. The most important thing is to make sure BOTH counties know about the transfer. Just updating your address on the SAR7 isn't enough - the worker who processes it might just update your address but not realize you need a county transfer. I spent WEEKS trying to get through on the phone with no luck. Finally I just walked into the San Bernardino office on my lunch break and they helped start the process right away. But I know you said you can't do that with your work schedule.

OMG the CalFresh phone system is THE WORST!! I swear they design it to make us give up. I spent 5 days trying to reach someone when I needed to report a job loss last year. The whole system is broken!!!!

I work for a community organization that helps people with CalFresh issues, and county transfers are one of the most common problems we see. Here's what you need to know: 1. You need to specifically request a county transfer - just updating your address on the SAR7 isn't sufficient. The system doesn't automatically detect and process county changes. 2. Technically, Sacramento County (your current county) is responsible for initiating the transfer to Riverside, but in practice, either county can start the process. 3. You have a few options that don't require waiting on hold forever: - Send a signed letter requesting transfer via fax to Sacramento County - Upload a county transfer request through BenefitsCal (under "Submit Verification") - Email your worker directly if you have their email address - Try calling during non-peak hours (right when they open or in the middle of the month) 4. The transfer should take 30 days or less, and your benefits should continue uninterrupted if done properly. Sacramento will issue benefits until the transfer is complete, then Riverside takes over. 5. Make sure both counties have your current phone number so they can contact you if there are any issues with the transfer.

Have u tried using Claimyr? It saved me SO much time when I was trying to reach my county worker about a similar issue. Instead of waiting on hold forever, they call and wait in the queue for you, then call you when they get a real person. I used it when I needed to report a household change and was never able to get through. Check out their site claimyr.com and they have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 The best part is you can go about your workday and they just call you when they reach someone. Saved me hours of hold time!

Wait, do you have to reapply completely when you switch counties? I thought your benefits just transfer automatically when you report a new address. Now I'm confused because I'm planning to move to a different county next month too.

When my sister moved counties last year, she ended up having to reapply because the transfer got messed up somehow. The new county said they never received her case info from the old county. Just make sure you follow up regularly to check on the status of your transfer.

One more important tip: start checking your EBT card balance frequently during the transfer period. If you notice your benefits don't get loaded when expected, contact both counties immediately. Sometimes transfers can cause delays in benefit issuance, but if you're proactive, they can often fix it quickly. Also, once the transfer is complete, your benefit amount might change slightly because some counties calculate utility allowances differently. Don't be surprised if there's a small adjustment in your benefit amount after the transfer.