CalFresh worker can't help with lost mailbox key - where to turn in Contra Costa County?
I lost my house keys yesterday including my mailbox key. I'm in Contra Costa County and wondering if my CalFresh worker can help me get a new mailbox key? I'm worried because I'm supposed to get my recertification paperwork soon and don't want to miss it. I can't afford to pay for a new mailbox key right now ($35!) and don't want my benefits stopped because I missed the paperwork. Has anyone had this problem before? Can the county office help with this kind of situation?
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Olivia Kay
Unfortunately, your CalFresh eligibility worker can't help with replacing mailbox keys - that's not something they handle. For your mailbox key, you'll need to contact your local post office or property management if you're renting. But about your recertification paperwork, you have options! You can call your worker and ask them to send a duplicate copy to your home address (not the mailbox), or even better, sign up for electronic notifications through BenefitsCal.com so you don't need to rely on mail. You can complete your recertification online too.
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Henry Delgado
•Oh i didnt know i could get the papers sent to my actual door instead of mailbox. Thats helpful! I'll try to call my worker tomorrow. Last time i tried calling it took FOREVER to get through tho and i gave up after an hour :
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Joshua Hellan
i had similar problem last yr when i moved and didnt have mailbox key for weeks!! set up online account at benefitscal.com and u can do EVERYTHING there - no mail needed! my worker told me they prefer online anyway cuz its faster
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Henry Delgado
•Thanks for the suggestion! I'll try to set up an online account. Do you know if I need anything special to register? I have my EBT card but not sure if I need my case number or something else?
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Jibriel Kohn
CalFresh workers definitely don't handle keys lol but for real though you should be more worried about getting informed about your recert than the key itself. YOU CAN REQUEST THAT THEY SEND YOUR RECERT PACKET BY EMAIL OR TEXT!!! I don't even bother with mail anymore, it's unreliable. Just call and tell them you want electronic notifications. They're REQUIRED to give you that option.
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Edison Estevez
•Not entirely true. They can send paper notices to your door but they CANNOT email or text your actual recertification forms due to privacy regulations. They can only send reminders and notifications electronically. The actual forms still have to be accessed through BenefitsCal or by mail/in person.
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Emily Nguyen-Smith
I had to call Contra Costa County multiple times last month for my SAR7 issue. What worked for me was using Claimyr.com - it holds your place in the phone queue and calls you back when a worker is available. Saved me literally hours of waiting. You can see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8. After that, you can ask them to note in your file that you're having mail issues so they don't discontinue your benefits if you miss something. They can also tell you exactly when your recertification is due.
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Henry Delgado
•Thank you so much!!! I'm going to try this tomorrow. I hate sitting on hold forever. Did they charge your phone minutes while waiting?
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Emily Nguyen-Smith
•No, that's the best part - it doesn't use your phone minutes while waiting. When I used it, I got a call back in about 40 minutes instead of waiting on hold for 2+ hours. Just make sure you have your case number ready when they call you back.
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James Johnson
Everyone saying go online is assuming you have internet access at home? Not everyone does! Call the county office directly at 925-608-6600 and TELL THEM you need accommodations due to not being able to get mail. They HAVE TO help you by law. I work in social services (not CalFresh) and know they must provide reasonable accommodations.
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Sophia Rodriguez
•This is actually correct information. Under ADA and California state regulations, county offices must provide reasonable accommodations for people with barriers to accessing services. Mail access issues qualify. They can arrange alternative delivery methods for important documents.
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Joshua Hellan
btw if ur in contra costa and need cheap locksmith for mailbox my brother used A1 Locksmith they only charged like $25 which was cheaper than post office. just another option if u need it
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Jibriel Kohn
ANOTHER THING to know is that even if you miss your recertification paperwork deadline, you still have a 30-day grace period to submit it without losing benefits completely!! They might stop benefits briefly but when you submit within that 30 days they'll restore from the discontinuation date. A lot of workers don't tell clients this!!!
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Edison Estevez
•This is partially correct but a bit misleading. If you submit recertification after the deadline but within 30 days of your certification period ending, your benefits can be restored but there may be a gap in service. It's always better to complete recertification on time to avoid any interruption in benefits.
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Aurora Lacasse
Hey Henry! I'm new here but went through something similar last year. Just wanted to add that if you're having trouble getting through to your worker by phone, you can also visit the Contra Costa County office in person at 40 Douglas Dr in Martinez. I know it's not always convenient, but sometimes showing up in person gets faster results than waiting on hold. They have walk-in hours on certain days. Also, when you do get through to your worker (whether by phone or in person), make sure to ask them to put a note in your case file about your mail access issue - this creates a paper trail that protects you if there are any problems with missed deadlines. Good luck!
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