Lost CalFresh phone call connection - can EBT benefits be restored without confirmation number?
I'm so mad right now!! My EBT card showed $0 yesterday even though I should have gotten my CalFresh benefits this week. So I called the county office and waited for like 75 minutes (not even joking). Finally got through to a worker who said they could restore my benefits, but then my stupid phone battery died RIGHT as they were giving me the confirmation number!! I didn't get to write it down or anything. Has this happened to anyone? Will they still have a record of our call in their system? Or am I going to have to start all over with the 2-hour wait time? My kids are hungry and I was counting on those benefits for our grocery trip tomorrow. Really need some advice on what to do!
21 comments

McKenzie Shade
They should definitely have a record of your call in their system. Most county offices have call tracking software that logs all conversations with clients. When you call back, explain exactly what happened and give them your case number, name, and the approximate time you called before. Ask them to check the notes from your previous call. The worker you spoke with likely already started the process to restore your benefits before your call dropped. But it's always good to follow up to make sure it's being processed correctly.
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Caden Turner
AuthorThanks for the reassurance! I'll call them first thing tomorrow morning. Do you think I should mention anything specific about the previous call besides the time? Like should I remember the worker's name or something?
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Harmony Love
omg this happend to me last month!! so frustrating right?? my phone died at the worst time too lol. but dont worry they did have it in there system when i called back. just make sure u have ur case # ready
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Caden Turner
AuthorThat makes me feel better! Did they restore your benefits right away or was there a waiting period? I'm trying to figure out if I need to borrow money for groceries in the meantime.
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Rudy Cenizo
The entire CalFresh system is DESIGNED to be frustrating like this!! I've had my benefits randomly disappear THREE times this year with no explanation. Then they make you wait on hold for hours just to speak to someone who might help you. And heaven forbid your call drops - they act like it's YOUR fault and make you start all over! Yes, they should have notes in their system, but in my experience, half the time they claim they can't find the record of your previous call. It's all about keeping their numbers down by making the process so frustrating that people give up.
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Natalie Khan
This is so true. Happened to my sister last month and they claimed no record of her previous call. The whole system is broken.
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Daryl Bright
I work with CalFresh recipients regularly, and I can assure you that calls are documented in the county's case management system. Here's what to do: 1. Call back and provide your case number, full name, and date of birth for verification 2. Explain that you were previously speaking with a worker about benefit restoration when the call disconnected 3. Ask them to check the case notes from your previous call (give approximate time and date) 4. Request information about when your benefits will be restored If your benefits were removed in error, they should be able to expedite the restoration - typically within 1-3 business days. If they say there's no record, ask to speak with a supervisor and calmly explain the situation again.
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Caden Turner
AuthorThank you for the detailed advice! This is really helpful. I'll follow these exact steps when I call tomorrow. I'm hoping they can expedite since my kids and I really need the groceries. Crossing my fingers for the 1-day timeframe rather than 3 days!
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Sienna Gomez
Have you tried using Claimyr? I was in a similar situation last month with my recertification and kept getting disconnected or waiting for hours. Someone here recommended Claimyr (claimyr.com) and it was a game-changer. They call the CalFresh office for you and then call you back when they reach a real person. Saved me from spending my whole day on hold. They have a demo video that explains it: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 Honestly, it was worth it just to avoid the stress of wondering if I'd get disconnected again after waiting so long.
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Caden Turner
AuthorI've never heard of this before! Is it actually legit? I'm desperate enough to try anything at this point because I cannot spend another hour+ on hold tomorrow.
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Sienna Gomez
Yes, it's completely legit. They basically wait on hold for you with the CalFresh office, then call you when they reach a live person. They connect you directly to the worker. Saved me hours of frustration!
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Kirsuktow DarkBlade
This happens WAY more often than ppl think!! When I was working at the county (not anymore thankfully lol) we got calls like this ALL THE TIME. Here's the deal - yes, they will have notes in the system BUT they're not always complete if the call dropped suddenly. The MOST IMPORTANT thing is to know if the worker actually completed the benefit restoration process in the system before your call dropped. If they did, you're good - benefits usually show up in 1-3 days. If they didn't finish the process, you'll need to call again. Little insider tip: call right when they open in the morning. Wait times are usually shortest then. And be super nice to the worker - they're more likely to go the extra mile to help you!
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Caden Turner
AuthorThat's really helpful insight, thank you! I'll definitely call right when they open. Do you know if they can tell me over the phone whether the benefits will show up on my card or do I just have to wait and check my card balance?
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Kirsuktow DarkBlade
They should be able to tell you the exact date the benefits will be loaded onto your card. Make sure to specifically ask: "Can you confirm the exact date my benefits will be available on my EBT card?" If they give you a vague answer, politely ask for more specifics. Good luck!
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Harmony Love
just wanted to say good luck!! i know how stressful this is especially with kids. hope u get ur benefits back quick!!
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Caden Turner
AuthorThank you so much! It really is stressful. I appreciate the kind words!
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McKenzie Shade
Just wanted to follow up and ask - did you check your BenefitsCal account online? Sometimes you can see messages or notices there that explain why benefits were reduced or stopped. Might give you some information before you call again.
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Caden Turner
AuthorI tried logging in but the website kept giving me an error message. That's actually why I called in the first place. Nothing on my SAR7 should have caused my benefits to stop - I submitted everything on time last month. The whole system is so frustrating sometimes!
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Daryl Bright
Update us when you resolve this! It helps other CalFresh recipients who might face similar issues in the future. If you have success with a particular approach, it could really help someone else in the same situation.
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Caden Turner
AuthorWill do! I'm calling first thing tomorrow morning. If anything works (or doesn't work), I'll definitely share my experience here. Thanks everyone for all the helpful advice!
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Taylor Chen
I'm so sorry this happened to you! The same thing happened to my neighbor a few months ago. When she called back, they did have a record of her call and were able to confirm that the worker had already initiated the benefit restoration process before the call dropped. Her benefits showed up on her EBT card within 2 days. When you call tomorrow, make sure to mention the approximate time of your previous call and ask them to check for any pending actions on your case. Sometimes the worker might have already processed the restoration even if you didn't get the confirmation number. Also, if you're really worried about groceries for your kids, you might want to ask about emergency food assistance options in your county while you wait for the benefits to be restored. Hang in there - it sounds like you have a good chance of getting this resolved quickly!
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