CalFresh office won't answer - can Assembly Members help with social services like they do with EDD?

YES they definitely can help!!! I had the exact same problem last year when my CalFresh recertification got "lost" even though I submitted everything on time. Couldn't get thru to anyone for 3 weeks. I contacted my Assembly Member and their district office has staff specifically assigned to help with state agency problems including social services. They had someone from the county call me back within 48 hrs. Just google "California Assembly Member" plus your zip code to find yours.

Assembly Members' offices absolutely can assist with CalFresh issues. I work in constituent services (not for an Assembly office), and this is a common service they provide. Make sure to sign their authorization form allowing them to inquire about your case - they'll need your permission to access your information. Bring your case number and any notices you've received. They can often get priority responses from county supervisors that regular customers can't access. Also, you might want to check your BenefitsCal account if you have one. Sometimes there are notices explaining benefit stoppage that don't make it to you by mail.

Assembly members can def help BUT dont expect miracles. My cousin tried this route and it still took like 2 weeks to get anywhere. Better than nothing tho.

Have you tried Claimyr to get through to CalFresh? I was dealing with a similar situation where I couldn't reach anyone for weeks, and Claimyr got me connected with an actual human at the county office in about 20 minutes. They basically wait on hold for you and call you when a real person picks up. I watched their demo video (https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8) and it worked exactly like they showed. You might want to try that before going the Assembly Member route since it could be faster. Their website is claimyr.com if you want to check it out.

As a former county eligibility worker, I can share that Assembly Member inquiries are taken very seriously within Social Services/CalFresh offices. They typically get routed directly to a Supervisor or Program Manager rather than regular staff. Your case would be flagged as a priority. There are a few common reasons benefits suddenly stop without notice: 1. A required quarterly/semi-annual report (SAR7) was due and not received/processed 2. Mail was returned to the county as undeliverable 3. The system flagged potential duplicate aid or unreported income 4. A system error occurred during the batch processing of benefits An Assembly Member inquiry will typically get you a call back within 2-3 business days. Be sure to clearly explain the timeline of events, when your benefits stopped, and what steps you've already taken. The more documentation you have, the better.

OMG THE ASSEMBLY MEMBER THING TOTALLY WORKS!!!!! I had an issue with CalWorks (not CalFresh but same department) where they claimed I never submitted my quarterly report even though I had the receipt!!!! I called and called and got nowhere for a MONTH. Then someone told me about contacting my Assembly Member and I swear to god I had a supervisor from the county calling me THE NEXT DAY apologizing and saying they found my paperwork and would rush my benefits. Try it!!!

why does our system have to be so broken that we need to involve politicians just to get basic services we're entitled to?? this country is a joke. ive been on calfresh for 4 years and every single time something goes wrong i have to jump through 500 hoops to fix it. its like they WANT people to give up and go hungry.

one more tip - when u contact ur assembly member make sure to tell them its an EMERGENCY cuz ur family has no food. that gets them moving faster. good luck!!

Another option while you're waiting for the Assembly Member response - try contacting the CalFresh Ombudsman office directly. They're specifically set up to handle complaints when the regular system isn't working. You can find your county's ombudsman contact info on the CDSS website. They have more authority than regular workers to escalate issues and can sometimes resolve problems faster than going through regular channels. Also, if you have any documentation showing you submitted your paperwork (like email confirmations or receipts), gather all of that before contacting your Assembly Member - it will help them advocate for you more effectively.

I'm so sorry you're going through this - the CalFresh system can be incredibly frustrating when you can't reach anyone. Yes, Assembly Members absolutely can and do help with CalFresh issues! I had a similar experience about 8 months ago when my benefits were cut off due to what turned out to be a computer error on their end. After weeks of getting nowhere with regular customer service, I contacted my Assembly Member's office and they had a county supervisor call me back within 3 days. Here's what I learned from the process: bring copies of EVERYTHING - your case number, any notices you received (or didn't receive), confirmation of documents you submitted, dates you called, etc. The more documentation you have, the stronger your case will be. Also, don't just contact your Assembly Member - you can also reach out to your county supervisor's office. They often have staff dedicated to constituent services who can intervene with county departments. In the meantime, please check if your county has emergency food assistance programs while you're waiting for this to get resolved. Many food banks and community organizations can provide immediate help. Hang in there - you shouldn't have to go through this bureaucratic nightmare just to get the benefits you're entitled to.

I'm really sorry you're dealing with this - the CalFresh system can be absolutely maddening when you can't get through to anyone. From reading all these responses, it sounds like contacting your Assembly Member is definitely your best bet. I went through something similar last year (though with Medi-Cal, not CalFresh) and my Assembly Member's office was a lifesaver. One thing I'd add - when you contact them, ask specifically if they have a "constituent services coordinator" who handles social services issues. Some offices have staff who specialize in different areas, and having someone who knows the CalFresh system can make a huge difference in how quickly they can help you. Also, while you're waiting for that to get resolved, have you checked with 211? You can dial 2-1-1 or go to 211.org and they can connect you with emergency food resources in your area. I know it doesn't fix the underlying problem, but at least it might help with the immediate food insecurity while you're fighting this bureaucratic battle. Hang in there - you shouldn't have to go through all this just to get benefits you're entitled to, but it sounds like you have some good options to pursue now.

I'm dealing with a very similar situation right now - my CalFresh benefits were discontinued last month with no explanation, and I've been calling for weeks with no luck getting through to anyone. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful, especially learning about the Assembly Member option and the ombudsman office. One thing I wanted to add that might help others - if you're struggling to reach your county office by phone, try calling right when they open (usually 8am). I've had slightly better luck getting through during the first 30 minutes they're open, though even then it's hit or miss. Also, if your county has multiple office locations, sometimes the smaller satellite offices are easier to reach than the main downtown location. @Charlee Coleman I hope the Assembly Member route works out for you quickly! It's absolutely ridiculous that families have to go hungry while dealing with these bureaucratic nightmares. The system is definitely broken when we need politicians to intervene just to get basic customer service.