Can I drop off my CalFresh renewal application in person instead of mailing it?

Yes, most county offices are open now for in-person services! I work as a community resource specialist and can confirm that you can definitely drop off your renewal application in person. Most counties have a drop box in the lobby if you don't want to wait to see someone, or you can wait and get a receipt that proves you submitted it. Just make sure to check your specific county office hours before you go - many are open Monday-Friday 8am-5pm but some close early on certain days. Also bring ID with you just in case they need to verify who you are. The receipt is really important since it proves you submitted on time in case anything gets lost internally.

i just renewed mine last month and dropped it off in person. they hav a drop box in the lobdy so u dont even need to talk to anyone if ur in a hurry. but if u want help filling it out maybe go early in morning cuz later in day the wait times r crazy

The county offices are definitely open, but BEWARE - I dropped off my renewal papers in the lobby drop box last month and I just found out they somehow LOST MY APPLICATION completely! Now I'm scrambling because they sent me a discontinuance notice even though I submitted it weeks before the deadline! Make sure you get a RECEIPT or take a picture of yourself putting it in the drop box with the date showing or something. These people are so incompetent sometimes I swear. Now I have to start all over and might lose a month of benefits.

County eligibility worker here. Yes, all county offices should be open for in-person services now, including document drop-off. I recommend these options in order of reliability: 1. Submit electronically through BenefitsCal.com (most reliable, gives confirmation) 2. Hand to a worker in person and get a receipt (very reliable) 3. Use the office drop box (reliable but get proof) 4. Mail it in (least reliable) If you use the drop box, take a photo of your documents with the drop box and office visible, and write down the date and time. If possible, ask the security guard or front desk person to initial a note confirming you dropped it off. Also remember that your renewal must be RECEIVED by the 15th, not postmarked by then. So plan accordingly.

If your county office is really far away or hard to get to, I had a lot of trouble connecting with someone at my county office about my CalFresh renewal last month. I found this service called Claimyr that got me through to a real person on the phone in like 5 minutes when I'd been trying for days. Their website is claimyr.com and they have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8. I was able to ask about my renewal options and they told me exactly where to drop it off and what hours they were open. Saved me a wasted trip!

Why not fax it? That's what I always do. Most UPS stores or FedEx offices have fax services. It costs a few dollars but you get a confirmation page showing it went through. Then you have proof and don't have to drive to the county office. Just make sure you include your case number and SSN on EVERY PAGE so they can match it to your case if pages get separated.

u can also take pictures of ur renewal form with ur phone and upload it on the BenefitsCal app I do that every time its super easy and u dont need to go nowhere or mail nothing

Just to add one more important tip - no matter how you submit your renewal (in person, online, fax, etc.), call the county office or check your BenefitsCal account after about 5-7 days to confirm they received it and that it's being processed. Don't wait until after the deadline to discover there was a problem with your submission. Many people assume everything is fine until their benefits suddenly stop. Being proactive can prevent gaps in your benefits.

I work at a local community center and help people with benefit applications all the time. Based on what everyone's shared here, I'd definitely recommend trying the BenefitsCal website or app first - it's usually the most reliable and gives you instant confirmation. But if you're more comfortable with in-person, most county offices are open now and you can absolutely drop it off. Just a heads up - if you go in person, try to go mid-week (Tuesday-Thursday) and earlier in the day if possible. Mondays and Fridays tend to be swamped, and late afternoons can have really long wait times. Also, bring a pen in case you need to fill anything out while you're there - sounds silly but I've seen people get frustrated when they can't find one to borrow! Whatever method you choose, definitely follow up like others mentioned to make sure it was received and processed.

Just want to add that if you're still nervous about any of these methods, you can also call your county office and ask them to walk you through the renewal process over the phone. Some counties will even accept verbal renewals if your case is straightforward and you haven't had any major changes. When I was pregnant last year and couldn't get out easily, my caseworker did my whole renewal over the phone and just had me confirm my information. It took maybe 15 minutes and saved me so much stress! Not all counties do this but it's worth asking about, especially if transportation or mobility is an issue for you.

As someone who's been through the CalFresh renewal process a few times now, I'd definitely recommend the BenefitsCal website/app route first - it really is the most reliable and you get that instant confirmation which gives you peace of mind. But if you do decide to go in person, I've found that bringing a folder with copies of everything helps keep things organized, and definitely ask for a receipt no matter what! One thing I learned the hard way is to take screenshots or photos of any confirmation pages you get online, because sometimes those confirmation emails can end up in spam folders. Also, if you're worried about the mail system, you could always do certified mail with a return receipt as another backup option - it costs a few extra dollars but gives you tracking and proof of delivery. Whatever you choose, you've got plenty of time before the 15th, so don't stress too much! The system works, it just helps to have a backup plan.