Can I complete my CalFresh recertification online instead of going to the county office?

Yes, you can definitely complete your CalFresh recertification online through BenefitsCal.com! It's actually much easier than going in person. You'll need to create an account if you don't already have one, then link your case using your case number and personal info. The online recertification asks all the same questions as the paper form (SAWS 2 PLUS) but walks you through step by step. Make sure you have current income verification ready to upload (last 30 days of pay stubs). Also, after you submit, check your task list in a few days to see if they requested any additional verification.

I just did mine last month online and it worked fine. Only thing is make sure u upload ALL ur documents the first time. I forgot my rental agreement and they discontinued me for like 2 weeks until I got it fixed. Total nightmare.

ONLINE IS A TRAP!!! I did mine online twice and both times they claimed they "never received it" even though I got a confirmation number. Then when I called, waited on hold for 3+ HOURS, they said I needed to come in anyway!!! The whole system is designed to discourage people from getting benefits they deserve. I always go in person now and get a receipt stamped by a HUMAN BEING that they can't deny later.

I work for a community organization that helps people with CalFresh applications. Yes, you can complete the recertification through BenefitsCal.com. Here's what you need to know: 1. For recertification, you'll need the RE form they mailed you (it has a special barcode) 2. You'll still need to complete a phone interview in most counties 3. Make sure to upload all verification documents: income proof, rent/mortgage, utility bills if you get the utility deduction 4. The system will give you a confirmation number - take a screenshot! 5. Check your message center on BenefitsCal regularly for updates If your county worker doesn't contact you for the interview within 5 days of submitting, call them. Missing the interview is the #1 reason people get discontinued during recertification.

If you're struggling to reach someone by phone at your CalFresh office, try using Claimyr. I was in the same position where I couldn't take off work to go in person, but also couldn't spend hours on hold. Claimyr holds your place in line and calls you back when a worker is available. Saved me so much time! They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 and their website is claimyr.com. I used it for my recertification interview last month.

u can do it online but make sure u write down ur confirmation # and take screenshots of EVERYTHING!!! also the website crashes all the time so do it when u have time not last minute!!! i lost benefits for a month cuz the site crashed halfway thru n i had to start over n missed the deadline 😭

Just to add something important: after you submit your recertification online, you need to watch for a letter or phone call about your interview time. Many counties are now doing on-demand interviews where you call in during a window of several days. If you miss that window, your benefits could stop. The SAR 7 (semi-annual report) doesn't require an interview, but the annual recertification does. If you have trouble getting through on the phone for your interview, call early in the morning as soon as the office opens.

i did mine online last month it was actually pretty easy! but warning they still called me for interview part and i missed it cause i didn't know they would call! so make sure u answer unknown numbers during that time! i had to call back and wait on hold forever to reschedule. good luck!!

One more tip: if your recertification is due by the end of next month, you should submit it by the 15th at the latest. This gives enough time for processing and for them to request any additional information if needed. Also, make sure all your contact information is updated on BenefitsCal so you don't miss important notifications. If you submit everything correctly and complete the interview, your benefits should continue without interruption.

I completed my CalFresh recertification online just a few months ago and it went smoothly! A few things that helped me: I logged into BenefitsCal the night before to make sure I could access my account and had all my documents ready to upload (pay stubs, rent receipt, etc.). The whole process took about 30 minutes. The key is having everything organized beforehand. Also, don't worry too much about the interview - mine was only about 10 minutes and they just verified the information I submitted. They called within 3 days of me submitting online. One thing I wish I'd known is that you can actually request a specific time window for your interview call when you submit, which might help with your work schedule. Good luck - you've got this!

I just went through this same situation a couple months ago! Working two jobs definitely makes it tough. I was able to complete my recertification entirely online through BenefitsCal.com and didn't have to take any time off work. The key things that saved me time: 1) I gathered ALL my documents first (last 4 pay stubs from both jobs, rent receipt, utility bill) and scanned them to my phone, 2) I did it on a Sunday when I had time to focus, and 3) I made sure to answer my phone for about a week after submitting because they called for the interview at a random time. The interview was super quick - maybe 5 minutes - just confirming my income and expenses. The worker was understanding when I explained I work two jobs and couldn't come in person. Don't stress too much about it, the online system actually works pretty well once you get started!

I'm in a similar boat with irregular work hours! I just completed my recertification online last week and wanted to share what worked for me. The BenefitsCal system is actually pretty user-friendly once you get into it. Here's what I learned: make sure you log in with enough time because there are timeouts if you're idle too long. I had all my documents ready as PDFs on my computer first. For the interview, I put a note in the "additional information" section explaining my work schedule and asking them to call between 12-1pm or after 7pm. The worker actually called during my lunch break! The whole interview was maybe 8 minutes - they just verified my income amounts and asked if anything had changed with my household. One tip: if you're worried about missing the call, you can also ask them to text you first before calling. Most counties are doing this now. You've definitely got enough time to get it done before your deadline - just don't wait until the last minute in case you need to upload additional documents!

I just want to add that you should also check if your county has extended hours for phone interviews! I was in the same situation working multiple jobs and couldn't take calls during normal business hours. When I submitted my recertification online, I noticed there was a dropdown menu where you could select "evening hours preferred" or something like that. My county (Los Angeles) actually had workers available until 7pm for recertification interviews, which was a lifesaver. Also, make sure you have your case number handy when you log into BenefitsCal - it'll speed up the whole process. The online system will pre-fill a lot of your information from your previous application, so you mainly just need to update what's changed. Don't let the horror stories scare you - I think the people who have smooth experiences just don't post about it as much! You can definitely get this done without taking time off work.

Hey Charlotte! I totally understand your situation - I was in the exact same boat last year working multiple jobs and stressing about losing my benefits. I successfully completed my recertification online through BenefitsCal.com and it was honestly much easier than I expected. Here's what worked for me: I set aside about an hour on a Saturday morning when I wasn't rushed, made sure I had all my documents saved on my phone (pay stubs from both jobs, rent receipt, utility bill), and logged in early so I wouldn't hit any system timeouts. The online form walks you through everything step by step and even pre-fills information from your previous application. The interview part isn't as scary as it sounds - mine was literally 6 minutes and they just confirmed my income and asked if my living situation had changed. Pro tip: when you submit, there's a section where you can note your preferred interview times, so definitely mention you're only available during lunch or after work hours. Most counties are pretty accommodating about this now. You've got plenty of time before your deadline, just don't wait until the last few days in case they need additional documents. You've got this!