CalFresh denial after submitting SAR 7 with no changes - can't reach ANYONE on phone

The CalFresh phone situation is frustrating but there could be a few reasons for denial even if you didn't report changes. Sometimes they still need additional verification documents that weren't mentioned in your denial letter. Check if the letter has any code like "810" or "811" which would tell you what verification they're missing. Also, make sure you didn't hit your Income Reporting Threshold (IRT) even if your income feels the same to you - sometimes small increases can put you over without realizing it. The county workers are definitely overwhelmed right now with case backlogs and staffing issues.

omg same thing happnd to me last month!!! i called like 50 times and never got thru. ended up having to physically go to the office and wait for like 3 hrs but at least got answers. aparently they needed some verification that they never asked for? so stupid

Check your mail carefully! I had a similar situation where I got denied after submitting my SAR 7, and it turned out they had sent a separate request for verification of my rent two weeks earlier that I missed. Code 815 usually means they requested verification that wasn't provided. Look through ALL your mail from the county for the last month - sometimes these requests are sent separately from the SAR 7 form and look like junk mail. Check your BenefitsCal account too - sometimes they upload document requests there but don't notify you.

Hey there, I work for an advocacy org that helps with CalFresh issues. Code 815 typically means "Failure to provide essential information" - which is frustratingly vague. Based on what you've shared, it sounds like they may have sent a verification request separately from your SAR 7 that either got lost in the mail or wasn't clear. Two things I recommend: 1) Submit an appeal RIGHT AWAY - you only have 90 days from the denial date. You can do this through BenefitsCal or by filling out the back of your denial notice. This protects your rights even if you resolve it another way. 2) Have you tried using Claimyr? It's a service that holds your place in the county phone queue and calls you back when a worker is available. I've had clients use it with good results for these exact situations. Their website is claimyr.com and they have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/jzISHxCPLwE The appeal is most important though - it forces them to review your case and give you a hearing date.

the whole system is DESIGNED to kick ppl off n make it impossible to get back on!!!! they WANT u to give up!!!! same thing happened to my cousin, she kept calling for WEEKS and they kept ignoring her!!!

I had this EXACT same issue in January. Got denied after submitting SAR 7 with no changes. I ended up using that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier and actually got through to a worker in like 20 minutes after trying for weeks on my own. Turns out they had sent a verification request to my old address even though I'd updated it months ago. The worker was able to reopen my case right away once I sent in the verification they needed. The most annoying part was that it was something they already had in their system! But at least I got it fixed.

Sorry your going thru this. I had similar problem but with my calworks. Its so stressful when you cant talk to anyone!! Just FYI if you do get your benefits back they should give you the benefits you missed too. Make sure to ask about that when you finally reach someone. They owe you those benefits if the denial was there mistake.

Just checking back - were you able to get through using Claimyr? If you did file an appeal, you should receive a hearing date notice within 2-3 weeks. Also, if you're really in a bind for food before this gets resolved, check with local food banks - many have emergency provisions for situations exactly like yours where benefits were cut off unexpectedly.

That's such great news that you got it resolved! Your experience is a perfect example of why it's so important to check spam folders regularly for government communications. I'm a newcomer here but I've been dealing with similar issues with my own case. It's really helpful to see that Claimyr actually works - I was skeptical about paying for a service to help with something that should be free and accessible. Thanks for sharing the update and I'm glad you'll be getting your missed benefits back too!

This is such a helpful thread! I'm new to this community but have been struggling with CalFresh issues myself. @Gemma Andrews I'm so glad you got your case resolved - what a nightmare that whole experience must have been! Your story really shows how broken the communication system is when important verification requests get buried in spam folders. I had no idea about Claimyr either and will definitely keep that in mind if I run into phone issues. @Melina Haruko thank you for sharing those advocacy resources and explaining what the error codes mean - that kind of insider knowledge is invaluable when you're trying to navigate this system on your own. It's frustrating that we need workarounds and third-party services just to access basic support, but I'm grateful there are people here sharing what actually works.

I'm new to this community but wanted to share my experience since it might help others. I had a similar CalFresh denial situation last year where I got cut off after submitting my SAR 7 with no changes. Like you, I couldn't reach anyone by phone for weeks. What finally worked for me was going through my local assembly member's office - they have caseworkers who can contact the county directly on your behalf. I called my assembly member's district office, explained the situation, and they were able to get through to my caseworker within 2 days. Turns out the county had made an error in processing my SAR 7. The assembly member's office didn't charge anything and they were really helpful throughout the process. Might be worth trying if the Claimyr approach doesn't work out - you can find your assembly member on the CA legislature website by entering your zip code.

I'm new to this community but this thread has been incredibly eye-opening about the CalFresh system! @Gemma Andrews I'm so relieved you got your benefits restored - what a stressful ordeal that must have been. Your experience really highlights how many hidden pitfalls exist in the system. I had no idea verification requests could end up in spam folders or that there were services like Claimyr to help with the broken phone system. @Melina Haruko thank you for explaining what code 815 means and for the advocacy resources - having someone who actually understands the system codes is invaluable. @Chloe Taylor the assembly member suggestion is genius, I never would have thought of that approach. It's both helpful and infuriating that we need all these workarounds just to access basic services. I'm bookmarking this entire conversation as a resource guide. Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences and solutions!

I'm new to this community but wanted to share something that might help others in similar situations. When I was having issues with my CalWORKS case last year, I discovered that many counties have a separate "expedited" phone line for people whose cases were closed in error. It's not well-publicized, but if you call the main number and specifically ask to be transferred to the "case closure review unit" or "expedited services," you might get through faster than the general customer service line. Also, I learned that if you mention you're facing "immediate hardship" due to the closure, they're supposed to prioritize your call. It's frustrating that we have to know these magic words, but it worked for me when nothing else did. @Gemma Andrews I'm so glad you got your situation resolved through Claimyr - it's encouraging to see that there are multiple paths to getting help even when the main system fails us!