Fed up with CalFresh phone system! Can't reach a real person after hours of trying - need help now

Same boat last week! Try calling right at 7:58am before they officially open at 8. Sometimes u get lucky and someone picks up as they're getting ready for the day. Also try Wednesdays around 2pm - for some reason that worked for me once.

The phone system is honestly designed to prevent you from speaking to anyone. Complete disaster! I had success by calling, then immediately asking for the supervisor when someone finally picked up. Don't explain your issue to the first person - just politely ask for a supervisor and they usually transfer you instead of putting you back in the queue. Also, make sure you're calling the right number. Each county has like 5 different numbers and only one or two actually work for cases that are already active.

I work with CalFresh clients regularly, and the phone system issues are unfortunately very common. A few tips that might help: 1. Make sure you're calling your specific county number, not the general CalFresh line 2. Try calling Tuesday-Thursday as Mondays and Fridays tend to have highest call volumes 3. If you get through but are put on hold, stay on the line no matter what - some counties have systems that disconnect after 10-15 minutes of holding 4. Have your case number and verification documents ready when you call 5. If your SAR7 was submitted but benefits weren't issued, this is likely a processing delay or a verification issue If you submitted your SAR7 two weeks ago, check your BenefitsCal account to see if there are any notifications about missing verification. Sometimes they need additional documents but the notice gets lost in the mail.

I had this EXACT problem back in January and discovered a service called Claimyr that basically waits on hold for you and calls you back when they get a real person on the line. Saved me hours of frustration. Their website is claimyr.com - they have a video that explains how it works: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 It's the only way I could actually talk to someone about my recertification issues. When you're dealing with feeding your family, spending all day on hold just isn't an option.

The phone system is completely broken by design. They don't want to help people. I've had my benefits incorrectly stopped FOUR TIMES in the past year and each time it takes 2-3 weeks to fix because no one answers the phones. Our tax dollars pay for this "service" but they treat us like we're trying to scam them. I've found that physically going to the office is the ONLY reliable way to get help, even though it means taking time off work. Bring ALL your paperwork and don't leave until they fix it. It's ridiculous we have to do this but that's the sad reality.

One thing nobody mentioned is checking if your SAR7 had any errors. If you left any sections blank or didn't provide proof of income, they'll stop your benefits without necessarily contacting you first. I had this happen when I forgot to include one of my pay stubs. When I finally got through, they told me my form was incomplete, but I never got any notification about it. Double-check your uploaded documents on BenefitsCal if you can.

i had a problem reaching the calfresh people last yr when my address changed. tried for 2 weeks straight and nothin. ended up emailin my county worker directly. do u have their email? sometimes its on old letters they sent u. worth a try if calling isnt working

Just to follow up on the SAR7 issue - even if your form shows as "received" in the system, there are a few things that commonly cause processing delays: 1. Income verification didn't match what you reported 2. Changes in household composition (someone moved in/out) 3. Changes in expenses that weren't fully documented 4. System glitches where the form is received but not assigned for processing For your immediate food needs, remember you can also contact local food banks while you get this sorted out. The CalFresh issues can often be resolved with retroactive benefits once you reach someone, but that doesn't help in the short term when your family needs to eat.

Quick update - I just talked to my friend who works for the county (different department, but still). She said that right now they're especially swamped because of the mid-year review process and staffing shortages. She suggested trying to call on Thursday afternoons because that's when they're least busy in her experience. Also, did you check if your recertification period ended? Sometimes the SAR7 gets confused with the annual recertification, which is a different form (SAWS 2) and might be what's actually needed.

I feel your pain! I went through this exact same nightmare last month. Here's what finally worked for me: I used the "callback" option if your county has it - some counties have a number where you can request a callback instead of waiting on hold. Also, try calling the general information line first and ask them to transfer you directly to your caseworker - sometimes that bypasses the main queue. If all else fails, try calling during lunch hours (11:30am-1pm) when call volume might be lower. The whole system is broken but don't give up - your kids need those benefits and you deserve to get this fixed! Keep all your documentation ready and maybe try that Claimyr service others mentioned if you're still stuck tomorrow.

I've been dealing with CalFresh for about 3 years now and honestly the phone system has gotten worse every year. What worked for me recently was calling multiple county numbers in a row - sometimes one line is completely jammed but another goes through. Also, if you do get someone on the line, ask them to put a note in your case file about the issue and get their name/employee ID. That way if you have to call back, the next person can see what's already been discussed. For the SAR7 issue specifically, make sure you check if there's a "pending verification" status in your account - sometimes they receive the form but flag it for additional review without telling you. Hope you get through soon, this stuff is so stressful when you have kids depending on it!

I've been through this exact frustration multiple times! One trick that worked for me was calling the state-level CalFresh hotline (1-877-847-3663) instead of my county office. They can sometimes see your case status and even contact your county worker directly on your behalf. It's still not guaranteed you'll get through quickly, but I've had better luck with them than my local office. Also, if you have a local community organization that helps with benefits (like a food bank or community center), they sometimes have direct contacts at the county office that regular people don't have access to. Worth asking around! The fact that your SAR7 shows as received but benefits didn't load suggests there's definitely a processing issue that needs human intervention. Don't give up - you're fighting for your family and that's completely justified!

I'm going through something similar right now - my recertification got delayed and I've been trying to reach someone for over a week! Reading through all these suggestions is really helpful. I wanted to add that some counties also have a "chat" feature on their website that might be easier than calling. It's usually buried in the "Contact Us" section. I tried it once and while the wait was still long, at least I knew I was in a queue instead of getting hung up on. Also, if you're on Facebook, check if your county has a CalFresh/social services Facebook page - I've seen people get responses there when nothing else worked. It's worth trying every avenue when your family's food security is at stake. Keeping my fingers crossed that you get through soon! The system really needs to be fixed but in the meantime we have to use whatever workarounds we can find.

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now and it's incredibly stressful! One thing that helped me was calling the 211 helpline (just dial 2-1-1) - they have staff who specialize in navigating these government systems and can sometimes make calls on your behalf or connect you to local advocates who know the ins and outs of your county office. They also keep lists of which county numbers are actually working vs. which ones are just dead ends. Another tip: if you have any paperwork from when you first applied, there might be a direct fax number listed - sometimes faxing a brief explanation of your urgent situation with your case number gets faster attention than calling. I know it shouldn't be this hard to get help feeding our families, but don't give up! The retroactive benefits once this gets resolved will help make up for the lost time.

I'm so sorry you're going through this - the CalFresh phone system is absolutely brutal! I went through something similar a few months ago and what finally worked was a combination of strategies. First, I started calling at exactly 7:59 AM - not 8:00, but literally a minute before they open. Sometimes you can catch someone as they're settling in for the day. Second, I found that calling on Tuesday around 2:30 PM had better success rates than other days/times. But honestly, the thing that saved my sanity was using that Claimyr service someone mentioned above - it really does work and saved me from spending entire days glued to my phone. For your SAR7 issue specifically, since it shows as received but no benefits loaded, there's definitely a processing error that needs human attention. Don't let them brush you off when you do get through - be polite but firm that this is urgent and affecting your family's ability to eat. Also grab your case number and have all your documents ready before calling. You've got this - keep pushing until someone helps you!

I'm new to CalFresh but this thread is incredibly eye-opening about how broken the system is! I'm currently going through my initial application process and now I'm worried about what I'll face if I need help down the road. Just wanted to say thank you to everyone sharing all these strategies - I'm bookmarking this post for future reference. @StarSurfer I really hope you get through soon and get your benefits restored. The fact that families have to jump through this many hoops just to access basic food assistance is honestly shameful. Definitely going to try that 211 helpline tip if I ever run into issues - never knew that resource existed. Sending positive vibes that one of these many suggestions works for you! 🤞

I just went through this exact nightmare last month and wanted to share what finally worked for me! After reading through all these great suggestions, I'd add one more trick: try calling during the lunch shift change around 12:30-1:00 PM. Sometimes there's a brief window when the afternoon staff is settling in and call volume drops slightly. Also, when you do get through (and you will!), immediately ask them to email you a summary of what was discussed and any next steps - this saved me when I had to call back later. For your SAR7 situation, since it shows received but benefits didn't load, there might be a "pending review" flag that only they can see in their system. Don't be afraid to ask them to check the case notes for any alerts or holds. The system is absolutely broken, but your persistence will pay off. Your kids shouldn't have to wait for food because of bureaucratic failures. Keep fighting! 💪