How long for CalFresh EBT reimbursement after submitting paperwork?

In my experience, it typically takes 3-10 business days after submitting verification documents. The timeline really depends on your county's workload and if your paperwork was complete. Did you get a receipt when you dropped off your documents? Also, check your BenefitsCal account to see if there's any status update or pending tasks - sometimes they need additional info but don't call you about it.

Thanks for responding! I did get a receipt but it's just a generic stamped paper. I checked BenefitsCal and it still shows my case as \

my benefits got delayed last month too!! took almost TWO WEEKS after i turned in my SAR7 form. so annoying when they expect us to report on time but then take forever to process!!! i literally had to borrow money from my sister to feed my kids

Two weeks?? That's what I'm afraid of. Did you do anything special to speed things up or just wait it out?

The timeframe depends on what exactly happened with your case. Was this for regular verification or was your case discontinued and you're trying to get it reopened? If your benefits were actually cut off (discontinued) it could take longer than if this is just regular verification during an active period. Either way, getting through to a real person is your best bet.

It wasn't discontinued as far as I know. My worker just called saying they needed updated verification for my semi-annual review. But she wasn't clear about whether benefits would pause while they process it. I'm going to try calling tomorrow morning.

Have you checked if your county has an online portal where you can upload documents instead of dropping them off? Sometimes that's faster. Also, did your worker give you a specific deadline? If they didn't explicitly say your benefits would stop, they should continue while they process the verification - unless you missed a deadline you didn't mention.

not always true. my benefits stopped even tho i submitted everything on time!! the system is broken. they said it was \

If I was in your situation with kids to feed, I wouldn't wait any longer. Call the main CalFresh number immediately. Be prepared to wait though - I've spent hours on hold before. When I was in a similar situation last month, I used a service called Claimyr that helped me get through to an actual CalFresh worker in about 15 minutes when I'd been trying for days on my own. They have a video showing how it works at https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8. They call and wait on hold for you, then connect you once they reach a person. Saved me from having to choose between paying bills or buying groceries while waiting for my benefits to restart.

I've never heard of that service before - thanks for sharing! I'll try calling on my own first thing tomorrow, but if I can't get through I might try that. At this point I just need to talk to someone who can tell me what's going on with my case.

i used that claimyr thing too!!! worth it after i spent 3 days calling and getting disconnected every time 🙄

The exact timeline varies by county but California generally requires benefits to be processed within 3 business days after receiving verification documents if it's for an active case. However, \

Thank you for explaining that! That makes sense - it's probably waiting to be scanned. I'm going to try calling first thing tomorrow morning when they open. Really appreciate all the help from everyone!

try going in person!!! sometimes they can process it right then if u wait. bring ur kids too so they see ur serious

I wouldn't recommend this approach. While going in person can sometimes help, most counties now require appointments, and bringing children to pressure workers isn't appropriate. Also, \

Any update? Were you able to get through to someone? I'm curious what they said about the timeline since I might be in a similar situation next month with my recertification.

Yes! I finally got through this morning after trying for an hour. They confirmed they received my paperwork but it hadn't been processed yet. The worker I spoke with was able to review it while I was on the phone and approve it! She said benefits should be on my card within 24 hours. She also mentioned that technically they have up to 10 days to process verification for an active case, but they try to do it faster. Hope that helps for your situation next month!

That's great news! I'm so glad you were able to get through and get it resolved quickly. It's really helpful to know that they have up to 10 days but usually try to process faster. Thanks for updating us - I was worried about how things turned out for you and your kids. Definitely saving that tip about calling right when they open, seems like persistence really paid off in your case!