CalFresh caseworker impossible to reach at Coachella Valley office - need supervisor contact!

ya the coachela office is THE WORST!!!!! been dealing with them 4 years and never gotten a call back. try calling at exactly 8am when they open thats sometimes worked for me but not always

I've tried the 8am thing three times now! Still goes straight to voicemail. Did you ever find a supervisor's number or some other workaround?

This is unfortunately a common issue across many county offices, not just Coachella Valley. The caseworkers are severely understaffed and overwhelmed with cases. Here are a few strategies that might help:\n\n1. Call the main CalFresh customer service line (not your caseworker) at 1-877-847-3663 and request to speak with a supervisor at your specific office.\n\n2. Visit the office in person if possible. Bring all your documentation with you.\n\n3. Submit your verification documents through the BenefitsCal online portal and note in the comments that you've been unable to reach your caseworker.\n\n4. Request a case reassignment if you haven't been able to reach your worker in over 10 business days.

Thank you for these suggestions! I've tried the main line twice but got stuck in the automated system. I guess going in person is my best option, though it's hard with my work schedule. I didn't know I could request a case reassignment - would I do that through the main line or BenefitsCal?

Im in Palm Springs (so same county office) and had this EXACT problem last month!!! Literally identical - voicemail full, no callbacks, nothing. I was about to lose my benefits over a stupid verification they needed. I ended up using this service called Claimyr that got me through to a real person after weeks of trying on my own. They called me back with a live agent in like 10 minutes when I'd been trying for weeks! They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8\n\nThe website is claimyr.com - seriously saved my benefits.

does this actually work?? never heard of it but might try cuz i need to update my address and nobody EVER picks up

Thank you!!! I'm going to check this out right now. At this point I'll try anything. Did you have to talk to a supervisor or did they connect you with your regular caseworker?

Before you spend money on any service, try a couple more options:\n\n1. If you have your caseworker's email (it should be on any correspondence you've received), send a detailed email with your case number and issues. Include the dates you've attempted to call. Many workers respond better to emails than calls.\n\n2. Contact your county's CalFresh ombudsperson - they're specifically there to help with communication breakdowns. For Riverside County (which includes Coachella Valley), you can reach the ombudsperson at (888) 960-4477.\n\n3. If you need to submit verification documents urgently, you can fax them to the office with a cover letter explaining your situation, or upload them through BenefitsCal.\n\n4. As a last resort, you can file a state hearing request - this sometimes gets immediate attention from supervisors, though it's a formal process.

I didn't know about the ombudsperson! That's extremely helpful. I'm going to try that number tomorrow morning. I've been uploading everything to BenefitsCal but there's no indication anyone's reviewing it. The hearing request sounds intimidating but I might have to go that route if nothing else works.

The Coachella Valley office is a NIGHTMARE!!!! I waited 3 MONTHS to get my recertification processed last year and almost lost my apartment because my benefits stopped. The system is BROKEN and they DON'T CARE about us!!! I had to contact my county supervisor's office and file a formal complaint before anyone would help me. Try reaching out to your county board supervisor - their staff can sometimes intervene when the regular channels fail.

That sounds awful! I'm so sorry you went through that. Which county supervisor did you contact? I'm in District 4 I think, but I'm not sure who to reach out to or what information I'd need to provide them.

I contacted Supervisor Perez's office since I'm in District 4 too. Just call their constituent services number and explain you're having problems with DPSS/CalFresh. They took my info and had someone from the office call me within 2 days. MUCH faster than waiting for the regular caseworkers!!!

This is wy i alwys keep ALL my paperwork and the reciepts when I turn stuff in at the office. they lost my income verification 2 times and tried to cut my benefits saying i never gave it to them but i had proof i did. def go in person if u can and get a receipt for everything. also ask front desk for supervisors name and number when ur there

That's really smart advice. I should have been more careful about saving receipts. They claim they never received a form I'm 99% sure I submitted last month. I'll definitely get receipts for everything going forward and ask for that supervisor info.

Just an update on some of the information shared earlier - I've worked with clients throughout Riverside County on benefit issues. If you're still having trouble, here are the direct contact details that might help:\n\n1. Riverside County DPSS Administrative Office: (951) 358-3000\n2. The Coachella Valley DPSS Office main line: (760) 863-7100\n3. CalFresh Supervisor request line: (800) 488-9494 (press 4, then 3 for supervisor)\n\nAlso, your SAR7 or recertification deadline can sometimes be extended if you can prove you've been attempting to contact your worker. Make sure to document all your call attempts (dates/times) and use that if they try to discontinue your benefits for \

These direct numbers are GOLD! Thank you so much. I just tried the supervisor request line and actually got through to a queue instead of voicemail. Still waiting but at least there's hope! And thanks for the tip about documenting my calls - I'll start keeping a log.

I had this same issue last month. After trying everything, what finally worked was showing up at the office at 7am (an hour before they open) and being first in line. I explained I couldn't reach anyone by phone for weeks and they pulled my case right away and fixed the issue. Bring ALL your documents, case number, ID, and be prepared to wait, but it was the only thing that worked for me. The Coachella office gets completely overwhelmed with cases at the beginning of each month.

Thanks for the tip! I think I'm going to try this approach on Monday. Did you speak with your actual caseworker or just whoever was available at the front desk? And how long did you end up waiting once they opened?

Did you try that Claimyr service I mentioned? Just wondering if it worked for you or if you found another way to get through.

Yes! I actually tried Claimyr yesterday and was amazed it worked! They connected me to someone at the office within about 15 minutes. The worker wasn't my assigned caseworker but they were able to check my case and confirm they received my verification docs. She also gave me my caseworker's direct extension (why couldn't they just publish these?!). Thank you so much for the recommendation!

Glad to hear you got through! For anyone else facing this issue, remember that under California regulations, the county office must provide \

wait is that true about good cause?? my benefits got cut off last year cuz they said i didnt turn in some form but i couldnt reach anyone to tell them i never got the form in the first place