CalFresh login issues with myBenefitsCalWIN - been locked out for days
Hey everyone, I've been trying to log into the myBenefitsCalWIN app for the past 4 days to check my CalFresh balance and it's driving me CRAZY! It keeps saying 'authentication failed' even though I KNOW my password is correct. I even reset it twice! Is anyone else having this problem or is it just me? My recertification is coming up next month and I need to upload some documents. The county office phone line just keeps me on hold forever. Does CalFresh expect us to starve while their app doesn't work?? Should I just drive to the office? I really can't afford to take time off work though...
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Royal_GM_Mark
Yep, I've had the same issue! The myBenefitsCalWIN system has been glitchy ever since they tried updating it last month. Have you tried logging in through the BenefitsCal website instead? They're phasing out myBenefitsCalWIN and moving everything to BenefitsCal.com - that's what my worker told me when I finally got through to someone.
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Jeremiah Brown
•Wait really?? Nobody told me anything about switching to BenefitsCal! Is that why the app stopped working? Do I need to create a new account or something?
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Amelia Cartwright
The transition from myBenefitsCalWIN to BenefitsCal has been causing a lot of confusion. If you already have a CalFresh case, you should be able to create a BenefitsCal account using your personal information (DOB, SSN, case number) and link your existing benefits. Your documents and history should transfer over, but some counties are still having sync issues. For your recertification documents, BenefitsCal is definitely the way to go now.
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Chris King
•this happened to me to and i couldnt figure it out for weeks! finaly my neighbor showed me how to use the new one. you have to create a whole new login its stupid why cant they just keep the same one???
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Rachel Clark
Sometimes neither site works well and you HAVE to talk to a real person. When I needed to upload my verification documents for my CalFresh recertification last month, the site kept crashing. I spent hours trying to get through on the phone. Eventually I used Claimyr.com to get through to a real person at my county office in less than 10 minutes. They have this system where they call for you and then connect you when a real person answers. Saved me so much time! There's a video that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8
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Jeremiah Brown
•That sounds like it might be worth trying because I've called like 6 times now and never gotten through. Does it work with all county offices? I'm in Alameda.
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Rachel Clark
Yes, it works with all California county offices including Alameda. I was skeptical at first but it actually saved me from having to take a day off work to go to the office in person. With your recertification coming up, you definitely don't want to miss that deadline. When I used it, I was able to explain the website issues to my worker and they gave me an extension for uploading my documents.
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Zachary Hughes
•I rember when they switched from the old old system lol. There always messin with stuff that aint broke!! But the new BenefitsCal is actually easier once u figure it out. I had to make a new account but then it worked fine
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Mia Alvarez
I work for a community organization that helps people with benefits, and I can confirm that myBenefitsCalWIN is being phased out. Many counties have already completed the transition to BenefitsCal, which is why you might be experiencing login issues. Here's what you should do: 1. Create a new account on BenefitsCal.com 2. Use the "Link a Case" feature to connect your existing CalFresh benefits 3. For uploading recertification documents, use the "Upload Documents" section under your case If you run into problems linking your case, you'll need to contact your county worker. Unfortunately, the transition hasn't been smooth for everyone.
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Jeremiah Brown
•Thank you SO much for these specific steps! I just tried creating a BenefitsCal account and it worked! I was able to link my case and see my CalFresh balance. Now I just need to figure out how to upload those documents for recertification. Wish the county had actually TOLD us about this change instead of leaving us in the dark!
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Carter Holmes
Is mybenefitscalwin totaly gone now?? i still use it for my medi-cal stuff i think. or maybe not. now im confused which website im using LOL. they all look hte same to me tbh.
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Mia Alvarez
•Some counties are still using myBenefitsCalWIN for certain functions during the transition period, but eventually everything (CalFresh, Medi-Cal, CalWORKs) will be on BenefitsCal. It's definitely confusing during this transition! If you can log in to myBenefitsCalWIN, it may still work for your county, but creating a BenefitsCal account is recommended since that's where everything is moving.
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Jeremiah Brown
UPDATE: I got everything sorted out finally! Created a BenefitsCal account, linked my case, and was able to upload my recertification documents. The new system actually seems easier to use once you get past the initial setup. Thanks everyone for the help! For anyone else having the same problem - definitely try BenefitsCal if myBenefitsCalWIN isn't working for you anymore.
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Royal_GM_Mark
•That's great! Yeah the new system is actually better in some ways. The mobile version works way better than the old app. And you can take pictures of documents right in the app instead of having to scan and upload them separately. Glad you got it working before your recertification deadline!
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Emma Bianchi
Wow, this thread has been super helpful! I'm new to CalFresh and just applied last month. I was wondering why the myBenefitsCalWIN app on my phone wasn't working properly - it would load but then crash when I tried to check my case status. Sounds like I should skip that entirely and go straight to BenefitsCal.com instead? Also, does anyone know if the BenefitsCal website works better on mobile browsers or should I look for a new app?
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Sasha Ivanov
•Yes, definitely go straight to BenefitsCal.com! The mobile browser version works really well - I actually prefer it to using apps sometimes because it's always up to date. You don't need to download a separate app, just bookmark the website on your phone. Since you're new to CalFresh, you'll find BenefitsCal much more user-friendly than the old system. You can check your case status, upload documents, and even get notifications about important deadlines. Welcome to the program and glad this thread helped you too!
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Sofia Ramirez
Just wanted to add my experience for anyone still struggling with this - I had the exact same problem a few weeks ago and it was so frustrating! The myBenefitsCalWIN app would either not load at all or give me error messages. I finally called my local county office (took forever to get through) and they confirmed that they're moving everyone to BenefitsCal. The worker told me that some people are experiencing a delay in the transition, which is why the old system stops working before they get notified about the new one. She also mentioned that if you have trouble linking your case on BenefitsCal, you can bring your case number and ID to the office and they'll help you set it up. It's annoying that there wasn't better communication about this change, but at least the new system actually works better once you're on it!
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Grace Durand
•This is exactly what I needed to hear! I've been dealing with the same frustrating situation and had no idea there was even a transition happening. It's really disappointing that the county offices aren't proactively informing people about these changes - I almost missed my recertification deadline because I couldn't access my account for weeks. Thank you for mentioning that they can help set up the BenefitsCal account in person if needed. That might be a good backup option for people who aren't as comfortable with technology. It's reassuring to know the new system actually works better once you get past the initial setup hurdles!
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