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