Desperately need to reach a CalFresh worker - can't get past EBT automated system

omg same!!! been trying 4 days straight to reach someone. tried calling at 8am sharp when they open and still got nowhere. the system is rigged to keep us out i swear

I've been through this frustrating experience too. Here's what actually works: don't call the EBT customer service line for benefit amount questions. That line is only for card issues (lost/stolen/PIN problems). For questions about your benefit amount decreasing, you need to contact your specific county office directly. The number should be on any of your approval/change notices. If you can't find it, you can look up your county CalFresh office number online by searching "[your county] CalFresh phone number". When you call the county office, try these tips: 1. Call early in the morning (first 30 minutes after they open) 2. Have your case number ready 3. If asked for a reason, say "urgent benefit reduction without notice" 4. Be prepared to verify your identity with DOB, address, etc. Also, check your BenefitsCal account online if you have one - sometimes there are notices there explaining benefit changes that never arrived in the mail.

try pressing 2 then 1 then 4 when u call. thats how i got thru last time. but yeah they never pick up most days lol good luck

If you're having trouble reaching someone at your county CalFresh office, you might want to try using Claimyr. It's a service that waits on hold for you and calls you back when a real person answers. I used it last month when I was in a similar situation with an unexplained benefit reduction. I spent days trying to get through the normal way but kept getting disconnected. With Claimyr, they got me through to a worker in about 40 minutes while I was able to keep working. You can see how it works in their demo video: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 Their website is claimyr.com if you want to check it out. It was a lifesaver when I needed to get my issue resolved quickly.

Your benefits might have decreased if you didn't submit your Semi-Annual Report (SAR7) on time. This happened to me last year, and I didn't receive any notice either until AFTER my benefits were cut. Check your BenefitsCal account to see when your last SAR7 was due. If that's the case, you'll need to submit the form immediately. You can download it from the BenefitsCal website or pick one up at your county office. If you submit it within 30 days of the end of your SAR period, they should restore your full benefits. But yes, you'll definitely need to speak with a human to get this resolved quickly. The EBT customer service can't help with this - you must reach your county office directly.

I work for a nonprofit that helps people navigate benefits, and this is unfortunately a very common problem. Here's what you should know: 1. The EBT customer service line (the number on your card) is only for card-related issues - lost/stolen cards, PIN resets, or checking your balance. They cannot help with benefit amount questions. 2. For benefit amount changes, missing recertifications, or SAR7 issues, you need to contact your county office directly. 3. Every county office has specific call hours and procedures. Some counties only accept calls on certain days for certain case numbers. 4. If your benefits decreased without notice, it's likely due to one of these reasons: - Missing SAR7 (Semi-Annual Report) - Unreported income that was discovered - Household composition change not reported - Crossing the Income Reporting Threshold (IRT) 5. The fastest way to resolve this is to visit your county office in person if possible. Bring ID and your case number. If you can't visit in person, try to reach a supervisor by calling early in the morning and specifically asking for urgent assistance with a benefit reduction affecting children's food security.

THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS DESIGNED TO MAKE US GIVE UP!!! i spent 3 DAYS trying to reach someone last month when they suddenly cut my benefits because of a "missing document" that I DEFINITELY turned in!!! when i finally got through they admitted it was THEIR ERROR but i had to go 2 weeks with reduced benefits while they "fixed" it. NO APOLOGY nothing. and they wonder why people get so angry with them...

UPDATE: I finally got through to someone! I followed the advice to call the county office directly (not the EBT line) first thing in the morning. After about a 45-minute wait, I spoke with a worker who confirmed I missed my SAR7 deadline. She helped me submit it over the phone and said my benefits should be restored within 10 days, and they'll issue supplemental benefits for what I missed this month. For anyone else in this situation - definitely call your specific county office, not the EBT customer service line. And keep copies of EVERYTHING you submit. I'm setting calendar reminders for all my future SAR7 and recertification deadlines so this doesn't happen again. Thanks to everyone who helped!

This is such valuable information for everyone dealing with CalFresh issues! I've bookmarked this thread because the distinction between EBT customer service (card issues only) vs county office (benefit questions) is something I never understood before. It's frustrating that this isn't made clearer when you're trying to get help. The SAR7 deadline reminders are a game-changer too - I had no idea missing that could cause such a sudden benefit drop. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and solutions here!

This whole thread is so helpful! I've been dealing with a similar situation for weeks - my benefits randomly dropped by $200 and I kept calling that stupid EBT number getting nowhere. Now I understand why - I was calling the wrong place this whole time! Going to call my county office tomorrow morning with my case number ready. It's ridiculous that they don't make it clear which number to call for what. At least now I know about the SAR7 thing too - I should probably check if I missed mine. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences, this is going to save me so much time and frustration!

This thread has been a lifesaver! I'm a single parent who just started receiving CalFresh benefits last month, and I was terrified I'd end up in this same situation without knowing what to do. Reading everyone's experiences has taught me so much about how the system actually works. I had no idea there was a difference between the EBT customer service line and county offices - that seems like such crucial information that should be explained upfront when you first get approved. I'm immediately going to set up calendar reminders for my SAR7 deadlines and bookmark my county office phone number. It's sad that we have to learn these navigation tricks from each other instead of having clear guidance from the system itself, but I'm so grateful for communities like this where people share real solutions that actually work!

As someone who's been navigating CalFresh for about two years now, I can't stress enough how important this thread is for newcomers! The learning curve is brutal when you're first trying to figure out the system. I wish I had known about the EBT vs county office distinction when I started - would have saved me countless hours of frustration calling the wrong number. One additional tip I'd add: if you're having trouble getting through to your county office by phone, many counties also have walk-in hours or appointment systems that might be easier to access. Some even have online chat support through their websites now. And if you're tech-savvy, definitely set up your BenefitsCal online account if you haven't already - you can submit documents digitally and check the status of your case without having to call anyone. It's unfortunate that we have to become experts at navigating bureaucracy just to access basic food assistance, but sharing knowledge like this really makes a difference for people who are struggling. Thanks to everyone who contributed practical solutions here!

I just want to echo what everyone else has said about this thread being incredibly helpful! I'm a CalFresh recipient who's been fortunate enough not to have major issues yet, but reading through all these experiences has been eye-opening. The fact that so many people get stuck calling the EBT customer service line for benefit questions when they should be calling their county office is a huge system failure - that information should be prominently displayed everywhere. I'm definitely going to set up calendar reminders for my SAR7 deadlines now, and I've bookmarked my county office number. It's honestly heartbreaking to read about families struggling to get basic answers about their food assistance while navigating these confusing phone systems. The stress of not knowing if your benefits will be there when you need them, especially with kids to feed, is something no one should have to deal with. Thank you @bb0ad1cb2c9e for sharing your successful resolution and for taking the time to update everyone. Stories like yours give hope to people who are currently stuck in the same frustrating situation. And thanks to everyone who shared practical tips - this community knowledge-sharing is what actually helps people get through these bureaucratic nightmares!

This thread is absolutely golden! I've been struggling with CalFresh for months and had no idea there was such a clear distinction between what the EBT customer service can help with versus county offices. I actually got stuck in that same endless phone loop last week trying to ask about a discrepancy in my benefits and now I understand why I never got anywhere. The SAR7 reminder tip is brilliant - I'm terrible at keeping track of paperwork deadlines and this could save me so much stress down the road. It's really frustrating that these crucial navigation tips aren't provided when you first get approved for benefits. Like, they should literally give you a "CalFresh 101" guide that explains which number to call for what! @bb0ad1cb2c9e thank you so much for updating us with your successful resolution - it gives the rest of us hope that these issues can actually be solved once you know the right steps. I'm going to try calling my county office tomorrow morning with my case number ready. Fingers crossed I can get through as easily as you did! This community is amazing for sharing real solutions that actually work. You're all helping families get the food assistance they desperately need!

Wow, reading through this entire thread has been both eye-opening and incredibly helpful! I'm relatively new to CalFresh and had no idea about the distinction between EBT customer service (card issues only) vs county offices (benefit questions). This is exactly the kind of information that should be clearly explained when you first get approved, but instead we all have to learn it the hard way. I'm definitely setting up calendar reminders for my SAR7 deadlines right now - the idea of benefits suddenly dropping without clear notice is terrifying when you're already struggling to make ends meet. It's also great to know about checking the BenefitsCal account online for notices that might not arrive in the mail. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences and practical solutions here, especially @bb0ad1cb2c9e for the detailed update about successfully resolving the issue. This thread is going to help so many families navigate these bureaucratic challenges. It's frustrating that we have to become experts at navigating the system just to access basic food assistance, but communities like this make such a difference in sharing the knowledge we need to actually get help when we need it most!