CalFresh hotline keeps disconnecting - need advice on options besides visiting office in person

Have you tried emailing them? I think there's an email address on the back of the notices they send you. That sometimes works better than calling.

I completely understand your frustration. The phone system issues with CalFresh offices have been widespread in 2025. There are a few alternatives you could try: 1. Submit your recertification through BenefitsCal.com if you haven't already - you can upload verification documents there too 2. See if your county offers early morning or evening appointments once a week (some do now specifically for working people) 3. Check if there's a community-based organization in your area that can help with CalFresh - many have partnerships with county offices and can sometimes get through 4. If your recertification interview is the issue, you might be eligible for a waiver if you've been a recipient for a while with no household changes What county are you in? That might help with more specific advice.

just mail in your stuff with a note explaining your situation. thats what i did when this happened to me last month and they processed everything fine. the phone system is a joke everywhere now

I had the EXACT same problem last month with my SAR7 - constant disconnects when calling for questions. I found this service called Claimyr that got me through to a real person at my county office in less than 10 minutes. They basically call and wait on hold for you, then connect you when a real person answers. Literally saved my benefits from being discontinued. Their website is claimyr.com and they have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 It got me through immediately when I had been trying for days with no luck. My recertification would have been late without it.

OMG THE PHONE SYSTEM IS THE WORST!!! I've been on CalFresh for 3 years and it's never been this bad. Last month I called 27 TIMES before getting through! One thing that helped - call exactly when they open, like literally dial at 7:59am if they open at 8am. Also try calling on Wednesday, for some reason that day seems less busy at my county office. And I know this sounds weird but try calling from a different phone. My calls from my cell always dropped but when I borrowed my mom's phone it went through fine. Might be something with certain carriers?

y don't u just go in person like the other person said, that's what i do and never have problems

Hey there - I work at a community organization that helps with benefit access (not in your county though). Another option - check if your county has drop boxes where you can leave documents after hours. Many offices installed these during COVID and kept them. For the interview requirement, if you write a hardship letter explaining your work situation and include it with your documents, many counties will attempt to contact you outside normal business hours. Make sure you note the best times to reach you. Also, some libraries and community centers now have direct phone lines to county benefits offices that bypass the regular call system. Might be worth checking if any near you offer this service.

this happened to me FOREVER until i went through my assembly members office! call your local state representative and ask to speak to their caseworker who handles EDD/CDSS cases. they have special direct lines to CalFresh supervisors and can fix stuff FAST. seriously saved me when i was about to lose everything

They REALLY need to fix their phone systems!!! I heard they got a new system in 2024 that was supposed to improve things but it's way worse now. My friend works for the county (not CalFresh dept) and said they know it's a disaster but don't have budget to fix it until next fiscal year. So frustrating!!!!

Based on your comments about being in Alameda County and having complicated income documentation, I'd recommend trying these specific approaches: 1. Alameda County has an Emergency Response Team for urgent cases that might be discontinued. Call the main line but immediately ask for the ERT when you get through. 2. They also have an email specifically for recertification issues: AlamedaRenewal@acgov.org (different from their general email) 3. Your case about inconsistent work hours is actually a perfect example of what qualifies for their new Flexible Interview Pilot Program. Note that specifically in your communication. 4. Document all your attempts to contact them (dates/times of calls, screenshots of call logs, etc.). If your benefits are discontinued despite your efforts, this documentation will help with expedited reinstatement. Hope this helps! The system is challenging but there are some workarounds if you know what to ask for.

have u tried faxing ur docs? sounds old school but my worker told me they actually check faxes faster than emails now because they get less of them

I'm dealing with something similar in Orange County and found a few things that actually worked. First, try calling the CalFresh office through their TTY line (711) even if you don't need hearing assistance - it often connects faster because fewer people know about it. Second, if you have a smartphone, try using a VoIP app like Google Voice to call instead of your regular phone service - I noticed way fewer dropped calls that way. Also, some counties have started doing "virtual walk-ins" where you can video chat with a caseworker during specific hours - check if Alameda County offers this. Finally, if all else fails, you can file a complaint with the California Department of Social Services about the phone system issues, and they'll often intervene to help get your case resolved. Don't give up - you shouldn't have to lose benefits because their system is broken!

I'm sorry you're going through this - the phone system issues are absolutely maddening! I went through the same nightmare last year and here's what finally worked for me: I contacted my local Legal Aid office and they had a direct contact at the county CalFresh office who could schedule phone interviews outside normal hours. Many Legal Aid organizations have these special relationships with county offices specifically for situations like yours where work schedules conflict with office hours. Also, if you're comfortable sharing which part of Alameda County you're in, some community centers and food banks have CalFresh navigators who can actually make three-way calls with you and the county office. The food bank in my area had someone who could get through to caseworkers way faster than I ever could on my own. One more thing - if your recertification gets delayed because of their phone system failures, make sure to document everything and request "good cause" when you do finally connect. They're supposed to backdate your benefits if the delay was due to their technical issues, not your lack of trying. Don't let them penalize you for problems that are completely out of your control!

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this frustrating situation! The phone system problems are unfortunately widespread right now. Based on what others have shared, I'd recommend trying multiple approaches at once: 1. Try calling using Google Voice or a different phone/carrier as some people mentioned - the connection issues might be carrier-specific 2. Call right at opening time (7:59am if they open at 8am) on a Wednesday 3. Contact your Assembly member's office - they have caseworkers who can get through to CalFresh supervisors directly 4. Email AlamedaRenewal@acgov.org and mention the Flexible Interview Pilot Program for your work schedule conflicts 5. Look into Legal Aid in the Oakland area - they often have direct contacts for after-hours interviews The fact that you're working two jobs and trying so hard to complete your recertification shows you're doing everything right. Don't let their broken system discourage you - there are people and organizations specifically set up to help navigate these exact problems. Keep documenting your attempts and don't give up! Your kids need those benefits and you deserve to get the help you're entitled to without jumping through impossible hoops.