Called by (858)812-6564 for CalFresh renewal - is this legitimate?

omg i got same call last week!! didnt answer but they left message about verification. i was scared to call back too

That's actually a San Diego County HHSA number. It's legitimate - they're probably doing early outreach for your recertification or there might be a verification they need before your actual recertification date. It's worth calling back, but you can also log into your BenefitsCal account to check if there are any pending tasks or notices that explain what they need.

I NEVER return those calls directly!!! They always say it's urgent but half the time they're just doing random checks. Always call the main CalFresh number on your approval letter instead (the one on your county's official website). That way you KNOW you're talking to the right people. The system is SO BROKEN they'll discontinue you for not responding to a call you didn't even know was legitimate!!!!

I've had experience with this exact situation. The number is legitimate (San Diego County uses that prefix), but here's what I recommend: 1. Check your BenefitsCal portal first for any notices 2. If you don't see anything there, call the main CalFresh customer service line (not the number that called you) 3. When you reach them, explain you received a call from this number and want to verify what's needed Sometimes they do early outreach for missing verification documents or income changes that might affect your eligibility before your actual recertification date. Better to address it now than wait until you're at risk of discontinuance.

I tried calling the main CalFresh number (not this specific one) last month about my SAR7 and was on hold for 2 hours before getting disconnected. So frustrating! I ended up using Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through - they held my place in line and called me back when an agent was available. Saved me so much time! They have a video demo if you want to see how it works: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8

my sister had someone call her from a county number but it was for her calfresh quarterly report form thing not recertification... maybe they confused u for someone else or ur dates got mixed up in there system??

i had something similar happen last month. turns out i had crossed the IRT (Income Reporting Threshold) without realizing it because of some overtime at work. they were calling to tell me i needed to update my income info. worth checking if anything has changed with your income or household recently.

I actually work as a CalFresh eligibility worker and can confirm that (858)812-6564 is a legitimate San Diego County HHSA number. We do sometimes call clients early for various reasons - missing verification documents, income changes that need to be reported, or system-generated alerts that require follow-up. The fact that your daughter started working recently is probably the trigger here. Even if her income seems small, it could push your household over the Income Reporting Threshold, which requires immediate reporting. I'd recommend calling back during business hours (8am-5pm) and have your case number ready. You can also verify by calling the main HHSA number first if you want extra peace of mind, but this is definitely a legitimate call that you should respond to.

I had a very similar experience a few months ago! Got a call from what seemed like a county number about my benefits, but I was so paranoid about scams that I ignored it for a week. Turns out it was legitimate - they needed updated bank statements because my account information had changed. By the time I finally called back, they had already started the discontinuance process and I had to scramble to get everything sorted out. Definitely learned my lesson about responding promptly to these calls! The advice about checking BenefitsCal first and then calling the main county number is spot on. That's exactly what I should have done from the start.

I work at a community legal clinic and we see this situation a lot! That number is definitely legitimate - it's San Diego County's main eligibility line. Given that your daughter just started working, they're likely calling about Income Reporting Threshold (IRT) requirements. Even part-time work can trigger this if it pushes your household income over the threshold for your family size. Don't panic though - this is totally fixable! Just call them back with your case number, daughter's pay stubs, and work schedule. They'll recalculate your benefits based on the new income. It's much better to handle this now than wait and risk an overpayment situation later. The county workers are actually trying to help you stay compliant!

I've been through this exact situation before! That number is definitely legitimate - it's San Diego County HHSA. Since your daughter just started working, they're probably calling about Income Reporting Threshold (IRT) requirements. Even if her job seems small, it could push your household over the reporting threshold. Here's what I'd do: 1) Log into BenefitsCal to check for any notices first, 2) Call the main county number (not the one that called you) to verify what they need, 3) Have your case number and daughter's work info ready when you call. Don't stress too much - this is very common and totally fixable! The workers are actually trying to help you stay compliant rather than looking for reasons to cut your benefits. Better to handle it now than risk issues later.

I've been in a similar situation and it's so nerve-wracking! That number is legitimate - it's definitely San Diego County HHSA. Given what others have mentioned about your daughter's new job, that's almost certainly why they're calling. The Income Reporting Threshold rules are confusing but super important to follow. I'd recommend doing exactly what others suggested - check your BenefitsCal account first, then call the main county line to verify what they need. Don't wait too long though! I made the mistake of putting off a similar call for two weeks and it just made everything more stressful. The county workers have been pretty understanding in my experience when you're proactive about reporting changes. You've got this!

I just went through something very similar last month! That San Diego number is definitely legitimate - I was skeptical too but it turned out to be a real call from the county. In my case, they were calling because I had started a new job and my income had crossed the reporting threshold without me realizing it. The whole IRT (Income Reporting Threshold) thing is so confusing! Since your daughter just started working, that's probably exactly what's happening here. Even if her hours seem minimal, when you add it to your existing household income it can push you over the limit that requires immediate reporting. I'd definitely recommend calling back sooner rather than later - I waited almost two weeks because I was paranoid about scams and it just made the whole process more stressful. The eligibility worker was actually really helpful once I finally called and got everything sorted out. Better to be safe and get it handled now before it becomes a bigger issue!

I've been getting a lot of these calls lately too and was super suspicious at first! That number is definitely legitimate - it's San Diego County HHSA. I had a similar situation where they called about income changes before my recertification was due. Turns out they have access to employment databases and can see when household members start new jobs, which triggers their system to call about potential IRT violations. Since your daughter just started working, that's almost certainly why they're reaching out. The good news is that being proactive about this actually protects you from potential overpayments down the road. I'd suggest calling back during business hours with your case number and your daughter's employment info ready. The workers I've dealt with have been pretty reasonable when you're trying to stay compliant. Don't let the stress get to you - this is totally normal and manageable!

I can totally relate to your situation! I got a similar call from that exact number a few months ago and was super paranoid about it being a scam. Turns out it was completely legitimate - it's definitely San Diego County HHSA. In my case, they were calling because my roommate had started getting unemployment benefits and our household income had changed enough to trigger the Income Reporting Threshold requirements. The whole IRT thing is so confusing and they don't really explain it well when you first get approved for benefits. Basically, if your household income goes over a certain amount (varies by household size), you have to report it within 10 days even if it's not your regular reporting period. Since your daughter just started working, that's almost definitely what triggered their call. My advice: don't stress too much about it, but definitely don't wait to call back. I waited about a week because I was being cautious and it just made everything more complicated. Check your BenefitsCal account first to see if there are any notices, then call them back during business hours with your case number ready. The eligibility workers have been pretty understanding in my experience when you're trying to do the right thing. Better to get it sorted now than risk your benefits getting messed up later!

I've been dealing with CalFresh for about 3 years now and that number is absolutely legitimate - it's San Diego County HHSA. Based on everyone's comments about your daughter starting work, that's definitely why they're calling. The Income Reporting Threshold system is designed to catch changes like this before they become overpayment issues. I learned this the hard way when I didn't report a small income change and ended up owing money back to the county. Here's what I wish someone had told me: even if your daughter's job seems insignificant, when they calculate your total household income it might push you over the IRT limit for your family size. The county has to follow federal rules about this stuff, so they're actually trying to protect you from bigger problems down the road. My suggestion is to call back today if possible, or first thing tomorrow. Have your case number, your daughter's employer info, her work schedule, and any pay stubs ready. The conversation will probably be quick - they just need to update your case with the new income information and recalculate your benefits. Don't stress about it too much - this happens all the time and the workers are used to handling these situations!

This thread has been super helpful! I'm in a similar situation where I've been hesitant to return calls that seem official but could be scams. Reading all these experiences from people who've actually dealt with this exact number and situation is giving me so much more confidence. It sounds like the key takeaways are: 1) That San Diego number is definitely legitimate HHSA, 2) They probably called about your daughter's new job triggering IRT requirements, 3) Check BenefitsCal first then call back ASAP with your case info ready, and 4) The workers are actually trying to help prevent bigger problems later. Thanks everyone for sharing your stories - it's amazing how much this community helps each other navigate these confusing systems!

I'm so glad I found this thread! I was in almost the exact same situation a few months ago - got a call from that number about my benefits and was terrified it was a scam. Like others have mentioned, that's definitely a legitimate San Diego County HHSA number. The fact that your daughter just started working is almost certainly why they're calling about IRT (Income Reporting Threshold) requirements. I wish I had known about this community when I was dealing with it - would have saved me so much anxiety! The advice here is spot on: check BenefitsCal first, then call back with your case number and your daughter's employment info ready. The eligibility workers really are trying to help you stay compliant rather than looking for reasons to cut benefits. Don't let the stress overwhelm you - this is totally manageable and you're being smart by verifying before just ignoring the call!

I'm really glad you posted about this - I would have been just as suspicious! Reading through all these responses has been so educational. That number is definitely legitimate San Diego County HHSA, and it sounds like your daughter's new job is what triggered the call. I had no idea about the Income Reporting Threshold requirements before seeing this thread - the whole system seems so complex! The consensus seems clear: check your BenefitsCal account first, then call them back during business hours with your case number and your daughter's work info ready. It's actually reassuring to know they're being proactive about helping people stay compliant rather than waiting for us to make mistakes. Thanks for asking this question and helping all of us learn more about how the system works!