Uploading angry letter to BenefitsCal instead of documents - Will CalFresh cancel my benefits?

omg i would have done the same thing honestly. the wait times are INSANE!! like do they expect us not to eat while they take forever to process simple documents??

I understand your frustration, but uploading an angry letter probably wasn't the best move. CalFresh workers are just following protocol and they're extremely understaffed right now. That said, I don't think they'll cancel your benefits over this - they deal with frustrated clients all the time. Your best option is to call first thing Monday morning (like 7:55am when they open at 8) and explain the situation. Apologize for the letter and ask what specific documents they still need. Keep it professional on the call, even if you're put on hold again. Also, check your BenefitsCal account messages section - sometimes they send specific requests there that explain exactly what's missing rather than waiting for you to call.

If your case is time-sensitive and you need to reach a CalFresh worker quickly, I'd recommend trying Claimyr. I was in a similar situation with documents pending for weeks and couldn't get through the phone system. Claimyr got me connected to a live person in about 20 minutes instead of waiting hours. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 and their website is claimyr.com. Saved me from losing my benefits when I was in verification pending status.

I'm a former eligibility worker, and I can tell you it's actually not that uncommon for people to upload frustrated messages or letters. While it's not ideal, they won't deny your benefits for that reason alone. Benefits decisions are based on eligibility factors (income, household size, resources, etc.), not on whether you expressed frustration. However, here's what you should do immediately: 1. Log back into BenefitsCal and upload the actual requested documents ASAP 2. Add a brief note apologizing for the previous upload 3. Check your Notices section to see if there's a specific deadline for these verifications 4. If your case is in "Verification Pending" status, they typically give you 10 days to provide documents before taking adverse action If your benefits were already approved but just not loaded to your EBT card, that could be a separate technical issue with the EBT system rather than your eligibility.

I did something similar last year when they kept asking for the same documents over and over. I wrote a pretty nasty note in the comments section (not as bad as uploading a whole letter though lol). They actually called me the next day! Maybe your angry letter will actually get someone's attention faster than the regular documents do 😂

While I understand your frustration with the system, it's important to approach these situations professionally. The CalFresh program follows strict federal and state regulations for verification requirements, and workers are required to verify certain elements before benefits can be issued. That said, you can quickly solve this by: 1. Uploading the correct verification documents immediately 2. Writing a brief apology in the comments section 3. Checking your SAR7 due dates to make sure you haven't missed a reporting deadline 4. Verifying your current address is correct in the system If your benefits were already approved but not issued, this could indicate an EBT card problem rather than an eligibility issue. In this case, you might need to contact the EBT customer service line (different from the regular CalFresh number) at 1-877-328-9677. Also, check if you've hit your Income Reporting Threshold (IRT), which would require mid-period reporting. Missing an IRT report can cause benefit delays.

i wouldnt worry about it too much tbh. the workers see that kinda stuff all day. my cousin works for the county and she says ppl upload all kinds of weird stuff sometimes. just call and say sorry and upload the right docs.

Just wanted to follow up - were you able to resolve this? Did they load your benefits?

So glad to hear you got it resolved! This is exactly why I always tell people not to panic too much about these situations. The system has issues but the workers are usually understanding when you explain what happened. Thanks for updating us - it's helpful for others who might be in similar situations to know that these things can work out even when they seem scary at first.