Where to upload CalFresh verification documents online? BenefitsCal not working
Hey everyone! I need to send some income verification papers to my CalFresh worker ASAP but I can't remember the website where we can upload documents. I tried BenefitsCal.com but it keeps giving me an error when I try to login. Is there another site I can use? My worker is requesting proof of my new job by Friday or my benefits might get cut. I've been calling the county office all day but just getting the automated system. Any help would be appreciated!
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Yara Campbell
BenefitsCal.com is the right website (replaced the old C4Yourself). Sometimes it has maintenance at night. Try clearing your browser cache or using a different browser. What kind of error message are you getting?
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Ella rollingthunder87
•It says something like 'session timed out' even though I just started. I've tried both Chrome and Safari on my phone. Gonna try my laptop now.
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Isaac Wright
You can also use the CalFresh Mobile app to upload documents if you have it installed. Another option is to email the docs directly to your county office - most counties have an email for document submissions. What county are you in? I can try to find the right email for you.
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Ella rollingthunder87
•I'm in Los Angeles County. I didn't know about the mobile app! I'll look for that right now, thanks!
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Maya Diaz
BenefitsCal has been HORRIBLE lately!! I spent 3 hours trying to upload my SAR7 last month and the site kept crashing. Ended up having to fax my papers from the library for $1.75 a page smh
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Tami Morgan
•same!!! its like they WANT us to miss deadlines so they can cut our benefits 🙄
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Rami Samuels
If BenefitsCal isn't working for you, here are some alternatives: 1. Los Angeles County DPSS document upload email: DPSSCustServ@lacounty.gov 2. MyBenefits CalWIN (alternate portal): https://mybenefitscalwin.org 3. CalFresh Mobile App (search app store) 4. County office drop box (they're usually accessible 24/7 outside the building) 5. Fax - though I don't recommend due to cost Make sure any documents you send include your case number and name on each page. Take screenshots/photos as proof you submitted them.
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Ella rollingthunder87
•Thank you so much! This is really helpful. I'll try the email option since I have the documents scanned already. Should I call to confirm they received them after I email?
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Haley Bennett
I had this same issue last week! For me, BenefitsCal worked after I tried late at night (like 11pm). I think their system gets overloaded during business hours. If you can't wait, definitely try the email option that was mentioned.
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Douglas Foster
•I always do my CalFresh stuff at like 1am and never have problems lol. Must be when their servers aren't busy
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Rami Samuels
To answer your question about following up - yes, definitely call to confirm they received your documents. But be prepared for long wait times when calling LA County DPSS. If you need to reach someone quickly, I've had good results using Claimyr (claimyr.com) - it's a service that navigates the phone system for you and calls you back when a real person is on the line. Saved me hours of waiting. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8
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Ella rollingthunder87
•That sounds amazing! I'll check it out. I once waited 2 hours on hold just to get disconnected. So frustrating.
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Tami Morgan
dont forget u can also use the YourBenefitsNow! website for LA county! its older but sometimes works when BenefitsCal is down. just google it
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Yara Campbell
•YourBenefitsNow is actually being phased out. They're moving everyone to BenefitsCal, so that might not work for much longer.
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Ella rollingthunder87
UPDATE: I got into BenefitsCal finally! Had to create a completely new account even though I already had one. Not sure why, but at least it worked. My documents are uploaded now. Thanks everyone for your help!
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Haley Bennett
•That's great! Make sure to screenshot your confirmation page as proof. I've had workers claim they never received documents even when I uploaded them properly.
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Hugh Intensity
•So glad you got it working! @Ella rollingthunder87 Yes definitely keep those screenshots - I learned that the hard way when my worker said they didn t'get my verification and I had no proof I submitted it. Also bookmark all those backup options people shared just in case this happens again!
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Annabel Kimball
•Awesome news! I'm a newbie here but had the same issue last month. Creating a new account seems to fix a lot of login problems with BenefitsCal. For future reference, I keep the email addresses and backup methods people mentioned bookmarked in case the site goes down again. Hope your benefits stay secure!
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Omar Hassan
•That's such a relief! @Ella rollingthunder87 I m'pretty new to navigating all this CalFresh stuff, but this thread has been super helpful. I m'bookmarking all those backup options everyone shared - the email upload and mobile app especially. It s'crazy that we have to jump through so many hoops just to submit required documents. Glad you got it sorted before your deadline!
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Levi Parker
•That's awesome that you got it working! I'm fairly new to dealing with CalFresh but this whole thread has been incredibly helpful. The fact that you had to create a completely new account is so weird - makes me wonder if there's some bug in their system when accounts get old or something. I'm definitely saving all the backup methods people shared here like the email option and mobile app. It's ridiculous that the main system is so unreliable when people's food security depends on it!
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Keisha Jackson
•That's such great news! I'm new to this community but have been dealing with similar BenefitsCal issues myself. The system seems to have so many glitches - I've heard from other people that creating a new account sometimes fixes weird login loops and session errors. Really glad this thread exists because I had no idea about all these backup options like the LA County email and mobile app. Definitely saving this info for when I inevitably run into problems again!
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Jasmine Hernandez
•So happy you got it sorted out! I'm pretty new to this whole CalFresh process and this thread has been a lifesaver. The fact that you had to make a brand new account is wild - sounds like their system has some serious bugs. I'm definitely saving all these backup methods people shared, especially that LA County email address. It's frustrating that we have to have so many workarounds just to submit basic paperwork, but at least this community has each other's backs!
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Gabrielle Dubois
•That's fantastic! I'm relatively new to this community and CalFresh in general, but this whole discussion has been incredibly eye-opening. The workaround of creating a new account is so bizarre - it really highlights how buggy their system can be. I'm definitely bookmarking all the alternatives everyone shared like the email submission and mobile app. It's kind of sad that we need so many backup plans just to submit required documents, but I'm grateful for communities like this where people actually help each other navigate these broken systems. Hope everything goes smoothly with your benefits renewal!
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