CalFresh recertification stuck in 'pending' for 2 months in Stanislaus County - trainee has my case?

Unfortunately this is pretty common in Stanislaus County right now. They've been training a lot of new workers due to high turnover. Your recertification should have been processed within 30 days, so they're definitely out of compliance. A few suggestions: 1. Call the main office and specifically ask to speak with the supervisor who has your case (get their name if possible) 2. Request "expedited service" since you're about to run out of benefits 3. Ask them to check if they need additional verification documents 4. If they say they have everything they need, request that they process it while you're on the phone You shouldn't lose benefits as long as you submitted your recertification before the deadline. If they don't process it in time, they should issue retroactive benefits back to when your current certification period ends. Make sure to keep documentation of when you submitted everything.

i had the exact same problem!!! my case was with a trainee for like 6 weeks and nobody did anything until i went to the office and started crying (not on purpose lol just frustrated). suddenly they found a supervisor who processed it right away. the system is so broken they just let cases sit there. btw don't bother with the main phone number its useless

You might want to try Claimyr if you need to get through to Stanislaus County by phone. I was in the same situation with my recertification stuck in pending for almost 2 months, and I couldn't get past their phone system. Claimyr got me through to an actual caseworker in about 15 minutes, and they were able to pull up my file and process it while I was on the phone. Their website is claimyr.com and they have a video showing how it works here: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 I was desperate after trying for weeks, and it worked for me. Worth a try if you're in the same boat.

I work for a community organization that assists with CalFresh applications in Stanislaus County. Here's what's happening: the county recently implemented a new case management system that has created significant backlogs, especially for recertifications. They're prioritizing new applications over recerts because of performance metrics. Your best course of action is to request an "Administrative Review" of your case. This formally documents that your case is overdue and requires supervisory intervention. You can request this via the BenefitsCal portal under "Contact My County" or in person. Also important: if your benefits lapse due to the county's processing delays, you are entitled to retroactive benefits from the date your certification period ended, provided you submitted your recertification on time. Make sure to keep documentation of when you submitted your recertification paperwork. If you experience food insecurity during this time, please visit local food banks - they don't require CalFresh verification right now due to these widespread delays.

The county is LYING to you!!!! They are REQUIRED BY LAW to process recertifications within 30 days!!! They did this to me last year and I ended up filing a "state hearing request" which got their attention REAL QUICK. Suddenly my case was approved the NEXT DAY after I filed for the hearing. Don't let them push you around!!! File a state hearing request through the BenefitsCal website (look under "appeals") and watch how fast they suddenly find time to process your case!!!

have u tried checking benefitscal.com? sometimes the workers update the status there but forget to mail the notice. my friend got approved but never got a letter, she only found out when she checked online

As a follow-up to my earlier comment, since you mentioned your benefits expire in 5 days, I wanted to clarify something important: If you submitted your recertification before the 15th day of the last month of your certification period, your benefits should continue uninterrupted even if they haven't finished processing your recertification yet. The regulation is called "Aid Pending" - basically, they have to keep your benefits going at the same level until they make a determination on your recertification. If you submitted in mid-December and your certification period ends in February, they should automatically extend your benefits. If your EBT card doesn't get loaded with benefits on your regular issuance date, call immediately and reference "Aid Pending" regulations. Sometimes the computer system doesn't automatically extend benefits even though regulations require it.

stanislus county is the WORST!!! my sister works for san joaquin county and says stanislaus is always behind on everything. they had a bunch of workers quit last year and now everything is messed up. my recert took 7 weeks to process!!! good luck

have u tried emailing instead of calling? sometimes thats better cuz you can attach docs and stuff. i think the email is DFACustomerService@stancounty.com

Update on my situation: After using Claimyr to get through to a worker, I found out my case was stuck because they needed verification of my rent that I already submitted. The worker was able to find it in their system and process my recertification while I was on the phone. Apparently cases with trainees often get stuck because supervisors have huge backlogs of cases to review. The worker told me they're prioritizing cases where people actively follow up.

Just wanted to add that you have the right to request an Expedited Recertification review since your benefits are about to expire. When you contact them (whether by phone, in person, or through BenefitsCal), specifically state "I am requesting an expedited determination due to immediate need." This triggers certain regulatory timeframes they must adhere to. Also, document every contact attempt you make - date, time, and outcome. This creates a paper trail showing your due diligence if you need to escalate to a state hearing later.

UPDATE: I finally got through using that Claimyr service someone recommended here (thanks!!!). Turns out they DID need additional verification! The trainee never sent me the notice requesting it, so my application was just sitting there. The supervisor I spoke with was actually really helpful and processed everything while I was on the phone. My recertification is now approved for another year! They said my benefits should be loaded on my normal issuance date with no gap. Thank you all for your help!!!

So glad you got it resolved! This is exactly why I always recommend people be persistent and try multiple approaches. The fact that a trainee never sent the verification request notice is unfortunately typical - there seems to be a breakdown in communication when cases get passed between trainees and supervisors. For anyone else reading this thread who might be in a similar situation: Alice's experience shows how important it is to actually speak with someone rather than just waiting. Whether you use Claimyr, go in person, or keep calling until you get through, don't just assume "no news is good news" when it comes to recertifications. The system has too many gaps right now. Also worth noting that Alice's case shows why it's so important to check your BenefitsCal account regularly for any electronic notices, since paper notices sometimes don't get mailed out properly.

Welcome to the community, Miguel! You're absolutely right to be proactive about your application. One thing I learned from going through this nightmare is to always screenshot or print confirmation pages when you submit documents online - I'm so glad I had that December submission confirmation because it proved I submitted on time. Also, if your case seems to be taking longer than 30 days, don't hesitate to ask specifically about the status and whether any additional verification is needed. The squeaky wheel definitely gets the grease with these county offices. Good luck with your application!

As someone who just went through a similar situation with Stanislaus County last month, I want to echo what others have said about being persistent and not giving up. My recertification was also stuck with a trainee for weeks, and it turned out they needed bank statements that I had already submitted twice! One thing that really helped me was keeping a detailed log of every phone call attempt, including the time I called and how long I was on hold before getting disconnected. When I finally got through to a supervisor, I was able to show them this pattern of failed communication attempts, and they seemed to take it more seriously. Also, for anyone dealing with this - if you have children and your benefits are about to expire, make sure to mention that you have kids when you speak to workers. They're supposed to prioritize families with children for expedited processing. It shouldn't make a difference, but unfortunately it sometimes does. The system is clearly broken right now, but don't let them make you feel like it's your fault or that there's nothing you can do. You have rights, and there are regulations they're required to follow. Keep advocating for yourself!

As someone who's new to this community and currently navigating my first CalFresh application, reading through this entire thread has been both eye-opening and incredibly helpful. Alice, I'm so glad you finally got your recertification approved! Your experience really highlights how broken the communication system can be when cases get stuck with trainees. What strikes me most is how many different strategies people shared - from using Claimyr to get through phone systems, to requesting Administrative Reviews, to mentioning "Aid Pending" regulations. It's concerning that applicants need to know so many workarounds just to get basic services processed on time, but I'm grateful this community exists to share these insights. The advice about documenting everything, checking BenefitsCal regularly for electronic notices, and being persistent really resonates with me. I've already started taking screenshots of my submissions and plan to be much more proactive about following up if my case seems to be taking too long. Thank you to everyone who contributed solutions and encouragement here - it's clear this community really looks out for each other, and as a newcomer, that's incredibly reassuring when dealing with such a complex and sometimes frustrating system.