SAR7 processing delay of 3 months - CalFresh benefits on hold and can't buy groceries

yes!! the same thing happened to me 2 months ago. the county is super backed up right now with all the recertifications. when I called they told me 2 weeks then when I called again they said 30 days. it's crazy how they expect us to eat without our benefits!!

This is definitely not normal processing time for a SAR7. By regulation, counties have 10 calendar days to process a complete SAR7. If your form was incomplete, they should have sent you a missing information notice within those 10 days. A few things I would recommend: 1. Ask for a supervisor when you call and explain the 3-month delay 2. Request an "expedited restoration" of your benefits due to hardship 3. Make sure they issue retroactive benefits for any months you were eligible 4. Check if your SAR7 was actually received - sometimes they get lost in the system You can also file for a state hearing if they don't resolve this quickly. You have a right to timely processing.

omg this is the exact reason I switched to uploading my SAR7 through the BenefitsCal website instead of mailing it. At least I get a confirmation number and can see when they receive it. Have you tried making an account there? much better than dealing with the paper forms getting "lost"

This is completely unacceptable. Counties are required to process SAR7s within 10 days. I'd recommend calling and using Claimyr (claimyr.com) to skip the phone wait times and get directly to a caseworker. I was dealing with a similar issue last month and was on hold for HOURS before discovering this service. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 Once you get through, specifically request to speak with a supervisor and mention you need an "expedited benefit restoration" due to hardship. Also ask them to document that you've been calling weekly without resolution. You should absolutely get retroactive benefits for the months you missed.

Similar situation happened with me but it was for recertification, not SAR7. The county is claiming massive backlog and staffing shortages. When you call back, use these exact words: "I am requesting an expedited resolution due to imminent hardship" and "I need immediate benefit restoration." These are trigger phrases that can bump your case up. Also ask for a "Case Alert" to be added to your file. They absolutely should give you benefits for all months you were eligible - request SPECIFIC dates for when the retroactive benefits will be loaded to your card. If they say "it's processing" without a date, they're stalling.

u can also try going into the office in person. sometimes thats the only way to get them to actually do anything. waited 4 months once for emergency calfresh and only got it when i showed up and refused to leave till someone helped me. bring all ur paperwork and the confirmation number from benefitscal.

I'm a former eligibility worker, and while there can definitely be delays, 3 months is completely unacceptable and likely violates several state processing requirements. Sometimes cases get stuck in an electronic queue and need to be manually pulled out by a supervisor. One thing to try: call the main CalFresh customer service line at 1-877-847-FOOD (3663) rather than your county office. They can sometimes escalate cases that are severely delayed. When you call your county office, ask for an "Immediate Need Resolution" and a "Processing Delay Review." Also, document EVERYTHING. Write down who you talk to, dates, times, and what they tell you. This will be important if you need to file a formal complaint.