Received approval AND denial notice for CalFresh in same week - which one is correct?

omg this happened to me too! the left hand doesnt know what the right is doing at those offices i swear. mine was also approved then denied but then i got benefits anyway lol. just wait and see if u get the card maybe?

DEFINITELY CALL THEM FIRST THING MONDAY!!! Don't wait around hoping it works out. The county offices are NOTORIOUS for sending conflicting notices. I've had this happen THREE SEPARATE TIMES with my CalFresh case!!! The computer systems often generate automatic denials when there's any kind of flag in the system, even if a worker already manually approved you. One time they told me I was approved for $275, then denied for income limits, then approved again but for $180!!! The only way I got it fixed was by calling and calling until I finally got through to an actual person who could explain what happened.

This is a common issue with CalFresh notifications. The approval and denial notices are often generated by different parts of the system that don't communicate well with each other. The most likely explanation is that your case was initially flagged for denial due to missing verification, but then a worker reviewed it, found the documents were actually there, and approved it manually. However, the automated denial notice was already in the queue to be sent. The approval notice is likely the correct one if it came first, especially if it has specific benefit amounts listed. But you should definitely call to confirm. If you call, ask them to check the "case comments" section of your file, which should show the actual status and any notes about why you received conflicting notices.

I actually work with the system that sends these notices (I'm a community partner, not county staff), and I can tell you that the most recent notice is usually the correct one in the system. If your denial came after your approval, unfortunately that's probably the current status in their computer. However, this is almost certainly fixable! Based on the timing, it sounds like someone might have been reviewing verification documents after your initial approval and accidentally marked something as missing. When you call, specifically ask about the "verification status" of your documents and ask them to review what's in the imaging system.

Hey, I've been through this exact same situation before and I know how stressful it is! The problem is that getting through to the CalFresh office on Monday is going to be a nightmare. You'll probably be on hold for hours if you even get through at all. I discovered this service called Claimyr that helped me avoid all that wait time nonsense. It basically calls the county office for you and then calls you back when an actual person answers. Saved me literal hours of my life on hold. Check out how it works here: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 and the website is claimyr.com With conflicting notices like this, you definitely need to talk to a real person who can look at your actual case file. Just ask them to check the case notes and verification status like others have suggested.

This happens because of CalFresh's two-part approval process. Your INITIAL approval is sometimes sent out after your interview if the worker thinks everything looks good. But then a SECOND worker reviews all your verification docs (bank statements, pay stubs, etc.) before final approval. So what probably happened is Worker #1 thought everything was fine and sent approval, but Worker #2 couldn't find one of your documents in their system and sent the denial. I've seen this happen tons of times. Call them and ask for a "case status review" specifically. Also mention you have copies of all submitted verification if needed. Sometimes they can reopen and approve same-day if it was their error.

my cousin got the same thing but her ebt card still got money on it even tho they said she was denied lol. the system is so messed up

Just wanted to follow up - if you do need to resubmit any verification documents, make sure to get a "Document Receipt Confirmation" from the worker. This is a specific form they can provide that lists exactly what you submitted and when. This will protect you if documents get lost again in the future. Also, if they say you're still denied after calling, immediately ask for a "Supervisor Review" before filing a State Hearing request. Supervisor reviews can often be completed within 1-2 days and can overturn incorrect denials without the formal hearing process.

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this stress! This exact same thing happened to my neighbor last year - she got an approval letter on Tuesday and a denial letter on Friday for the same application. It turned out the approval was correct, but a clerical error in their system triggered an automatic denial notice. What helped her was calling first thing Monday morning (like 8 AM sharp when they open) and asking to speak with the specific worker who conducted her interview. She had the worker's name from her interview paperwork. That worker was able to immediately see that all documents were properly submitted and override the denial in the system. Since you have kids depending on these benefits, you might also want to ask about "expedited processing" if there are any delays in getting this resolved. They're supposed to prioritize cases involving children. Keep us posted on how the call goes - rooting for you!

This is unfortunately super common with CalFresh! I've helped dozens of people through this exact situation. The good news is that since your approval notice came first AND included specific benefit amounts and certification dates, that's usually the accurate one in the system. What likely happened is your case got flagged for a routine verification review after approval, but the automated denial notice was generated before a human could actually check that your documents were already on file. The timing you described (approval Tuesday, denial Friday) fits this pattern perfectly. When you call Monday, here's exactly what to ask for: 1. "Can you check the case comments and verification status?" 2. "What's the current case status in CalWIN?" (their computer system) 3. "Can you see all documents submitted at my interview on [date]?" If they can't resolve it immediately, ask for a supervisor review same-day. Don't let them tell you to reapply - this is their system error, not yours. You have rights here! Also keep both notices as documentation. Most importantly - if your EBT card arrives or gets loaded with benefits, that's usually the real indicator that you're actually approved, regardless of what the notices say. The benefits system often works even when the notice system is messed up. Hang in there! This gets resolved 90% of the time with just one phone call.

This situation is so frustrating and unfortunately way too common! I went through something similar last year where I got approved one day and then got a denial notice three days later saying I was "over income" - but my income hadn't changed at all! What worked for me was calling the main county number and when they answered, I immediately said "I received conflicting CalFresh notices and need to speak with someone about my case status TODAY because I have children to feed." Using that exact phrase seemed to get me transferred faster instead of being put on endless hold. The worker who helped me explained that their computer system has multiple "modules" that don't always sync up properly. Sometimes the eligibility determination module approves you, but then the verification tracking module flags your case for denial if it can't find your documents in the right folder in their imaging system. Since your approval notice had specific dollar amounts and dates, that's definitely a good sign that a real person actually reviewed and approved your case. The denial was probably just an automated notice triggered by some technical glitch. One more tip - if you have a smartphone, download the "YourBenefitsNow" app before you call. You can check your case status there and sometimes it shows more current info than what's on the notices they mail out. Good luck and don't give up! This will get sorted out.

I work as a benefits advocate and see this exact situation multiple times per month - you're definitely not alone! The conflicting notices are almost always due to timing issues between different parts of their system processing your case. Here's what I always tell clients in your situation: bring COPIES of both notices when you call, along with copies of all the documents you submitted at your interview. Sometimes the worker can resolve this in under 10 minutes just by looking at what's actually in your case file versus what the automated system thinks is missing. Also, since you mentioned you have kids - if for some reason they can't fix this immediately, make sure to ask about "continuing benefits" while they resolve the error. You shouldn't have to go without food assistance because of their system problems. The fact that your approval notice was so detailed (specific amount, certification period) is really encouraging. That level of detail usually means a human worker actually processed and approved your case properly. The denial notice sounds like an automated glitch. Don't panic - this gets resolved successfully the vast majority of the time! Keep both notices safe as documentation and call first thing Monday. You've got this!

This happened to me about 6 months ago and it was such a roller coaster of emotions! I got approved on a Wednesday for $294/month, then got a denial letter the following Monday saying I didn't provide proof of housing costs - but I had literally handed them my lease and utility bills during my interview! I was so stressed because I'm a single mom and really needed those benefits. When I called, I had to wait on hold for almost 2 hours but finally got through to someone who could actually help. She looked at my case and said "Oh, I see the problem - your documents are all here in the system, but they got scanned under the wrong date so the computer couldn't find them during the automated review." She fixed it right there on the phone and my benefits were loaded onto my EBT card the next day! The whole thing was just a filing error on their end. My advice is definitely call as early as possible on Monday and don't hang up no matter how long the hold time is. Also, if the first person you talk to can't help you, politely ask to speak with someone else or a supervisor. Sometimes you just need to get the right person who knows how to navigate their system properly. You're going to be okay! The approval notice with specific amounts is almost always the correct one. Their computer systems are just really outdated and glitchy. Hang in there!

I'm so sorry you're going through this stress - what an emotional rollercoaster! I haven't personally experienced this with CalFresh, but I work in social services and see system glitches like this fairly often across different benefit programs. From what everyone is saying here, it really sounds like your approval notice is the correct one, especially since it had such specific details. The timing pattern (approval first, then denial a few days later) that others have mentioned does sound like a classic automated system error. I'd definitely echo what others are saying about calling first thing Monday morning. One thing I'd add is to have your case number, interview date, and the names of both notices ready when you call - having all that info at your fingertips can help speed things up once you get through to someone. Also, don't be afraid to advocate for yourself if the first person you talk to seems dismissive or unhelpful. You submitted everything correctly and deserve to have this resolved quickly. Keeping my fingers crossed that you get this sorted out with just one phone call! Please update us on how it goes.

This exact thing happened to my aunt earlier this year! She got approved on a Thursday for $342/month, then got a denial notice the next Tuesday saying she didn't submit her rent verification. But she had given them her lease agreement right at the interview! Turns out their imaging system had a glitch and her documents got "unlinked" from her case file somehow. The worker she talked to when she called said this happens more often than people think, especially when cases are processed during busy periods. She called the county office and the worker was able to see all her documents were actually there - they just weren't showing up in the automated verification check. Got it fixed in about 15 minutes once she reached the right person. The key thing she learned was to ask specifically for them to check the "document imaging system" and not just the case notes. Sometimes the documents are there but filed in a way the computer can't find them automatically. Since your approval came first and had all those specific details, I'd bet that's the correct status. The denial probably got triggered by some automated process that couldn't locate your docs even though they're actually in your file. Definitely call Monday morning - this sounds totally fixable!

I'm a case manager at a local nonprofit and I see this situation ALL the time! You're absolutely right to feel confused - getting contradictory notices is incredibly stressful, especially when you have kids depending on these benefits. Based on everything you've described, your approval notice is almost certainly the correct one. The fact that it included your specific benefit amount ($386) and certification period (through March 2026) means a human worker actually reviewed and processed your case. Denial notices with vague reasons like "failure to provide verification" are often automatically generated when there's a system hiccup. Here's my recommendation for your Monday call: Call right at 8 AM when they open, and say "I received conflicting CalFresh notices and need immediate clarification on my case status because I have children who need food assistance." Then ask them to check three things: 1) Your current case status in CalWIN, 2) Whether all documents from your interview are in the document imaging system, and 3) Any case notes explaining the conflicting notices. If the first person can't resolve it, immediately ask for a supervisor review. Don't let them make you reapply - this is clearly a system error on their end. Keep copies of both notices as documentation. Also, keep an eye on your mail for an EBT card. Sometimes the benefits system works correctly even when the notice system is glitched. You've got this - stay persistent and don't give up!

This is such a stressful situation, but you're not alone - this happens way more often than it should! I went through something very similar about 8 months ago. Got an approval letter on a Monday with my benefit amount and everything, then got a denial letter that Thursday saying I hadn't provided income verification. But I had submitted all my pay stubs at the interview just like you did! When I called, it turned out their scanner had malfunctioned the day they processed my documents, so even though the worker had everything she needed during my interview, the images didn't save properly in their system. The automated review process then flagged my case as "missing documents" and sent the denial notice. The good news is that once I got through to someone (took about an hour on hold), they could see in the case notes that my worker had already verified everything was complete. They were able to override the denial immediately and my benefits were loaded the next day. Your approval notice sounds legitimate since it has the specific amount and certification dates - that level of detail usually means a real person actually processed your case. Call first thing Monday and ask them to check both the case notes from your interview AND the document imaging system. Most of the time this gets resolved in one phone call once you reach someone who knows how to navigate their system properly. Hang in there!

I'm a new member here but I've been lurking and reading everyone's advice - you all are so knowledgeable and supportive! I haven't experienced this exact situation with CalFresh, but I did have something similar happen with Medi-Cal where I got approved and then denied within the same week due to a "system processing error." From everything I'm reading in this thread, it really sounds like your approval notice is the legitimate one, especially since it has such specific details like the exact benefit amount and your certification period. That level of detail typically means a caseworker actually reviewed and processed your application properly. I just wanted to add one thing I learned from my Medi-Cal experience - when you call on Monday, if possible try to get the direct phone number or extension for the worker who did your original interview. Sometimes calling the main line means you get routed to whoever is available, but if you can reach your original worker, they'll already be familiar with your case and can probably resolve this much faster. Also, document everything from your phone call - get the name of who you speak with, what they tell you, and any reference numbers they give you. If for some reason this doesn't get resolved immediately, having that documentation will be helpful if you need to escalate further. Sending you positive thoughts for Monday's call! Based on all the success stories in this thread, it sounds like this is definitely fixable and you'll have your benefits soon. Keep us posted on how it goes!

I'm new to this community but wanted to share something that might help! I actually work at a legal aid clinic and we help people with CalFresh issues like this pretty regularly. What you're describing is unfortunately super common - we probably see 2-3 cases like this every month where people get conflicting notices due to system glitches or processing errors. The good news is that in almost every case we've handled, the approval notice (especially one with specific benefit amounts and dates like yours) turns out to be correct. One thing I'd suggest when you call Monday is to specifically ask them to pull up your "case narrative" or "case chronology" - this shows a timeline of everything that happened with your case and often reveals exactly when and why the conflicting notices were generated. Sometimes you can even see notes like "documents verified by worker" followed by "automated denial triggered by verification module" which makes it crystal clear what went wrong. Also, if you run into any roadblocks getting this resolved, many counties have a CalFresh Ombudsman or Client Services unit that can escalate these kinds of system errors more quickly than going through regular channels. Don't hesitate to ask about that option if needed. Your situation sounds very fixable - stay persistent and don't let them brush you off! The fact that you submitted everything at your interview and the worker confirmed it was complete should make this a straightforward resolution.