@Zainab Ahmed I went through this exact nightmare 6 months ago when my benefits suddenly stopped. Here's what finally worked: 1) Call the state CalFresh hotline at 1-877-847-3663 instead of your county office - sometimes they can see issues the county can't. 2) If you can't get through by phone, use the "Contact Us" form on the MyBenefitsCalWin website and mark it as URGENT - they responded to mine within 24 hours. 3) Most importantly, if your benefits were cut without proper notice, you can get emergency replacement benefits while appealing. Ask specifically for "replacement benefits pending appeal" when you do get through to someone. Don't give up - you and your kids deserve to eat while this gets sorted out!

I feel for you so much - this happened to my family last year and it's absolutely heartbreaking when you can't feed your kids because of bureaucratic failures. Here's what saved us: go to your county CalFresh office first thing in the morning (like 7:30am before they officially open) and wait in line. When they open, tell the front desk worker you need EMERGENCY FOOD ASSISTANCE and that your children haven't had adequate meals. Use those exact words. They have discretionary emergency funds for situations like yours and can often issue temporary benefits same-day while your case gets reviewed. Also, download the GetCalFresh app - sometimes their chat feature connects you faster than calling. And please don't feel ashamed about reaching out to local food pantries in the meantime. Your kids need to eat NOW while you're fighting this system. You're doing everything right, mama. This isn't your fault.

I'm new to this community and just started with CalFresh about 6 weeks ago, so reading about your card getting randomly canceled is really nerve-wracking! It's crazy that this can happen even when your case is active and you have benefits available. From all the helpful advice shared here, it seems like the consensus is to call your county office directly first thing in the morning (right at 8am) rather than the general EBT customer service line. Multiple people have mentioned this strategy cuts down wait times significantly. I'm also taking notes on asking about emergency EBT lines and the possibility of getting a same-day replacement card if you go to the county office in person early. It's at least somewhat reassuring that your $178 in benefits are safe and will transfer automatically to your new card. I really hope you were able to get through to your county office and resolve this quickly today! As a new CalFresh recipient with young kids myself, this kind of system glitch is exactly what keeps me up at night worrying. Please let us know how it turns out - it would be really helpful for other newcomers like me to know what the resolution process looks like. Hoping your family can get groceries soon!

I'm really new to this community and just started receiving CalFresh benefits about 3 months ago, so reading about your card suddenly getting canceled is honestly terrifying! It's so scary to think this could happen to any of us even when our cases are active. From all the great advice everyone has shared, it sounds like calling your county office directly first thing in the morning (right at 8am when they open) is definitely the way to go instead of the general EBT customer service line. The tip about asking if your county has emergency EBT phone lines for urgent issues is also really helpful - I had no idea that was even a thing! It's at least somewhat reassuring that your benefits are still there and will automatically transfer to a new card once you get one. But I can't imagine how stressful this must be when you need to feed your kids right now. I really hope you were able to get through to your county office today and get this sorted out quickly! As a newcomer to both this community and the CalFresh system, it would be really helpful to hear how the resolution process went if you're able to update us. No family should have to deal with these kinds of system glitches, especially when kids are involved. Sending positive thoughts your way!

I'm going through a similar situation right now and this thread has been so helpful! I was also confused about whether I could apply for just CalFresh without the cash benefits. Reading everyone's experiences has really clarified things for me. One thing I wanted to add that might help others - I called my county office yesterday and they told me that during the application process, they'll also ask if you want to be referred to other programs you might qualify for (like WIC if you have young children, or utility assistance programs). You can say no to those referrals if you're only interested in food benefits. The worker I spoke with also mentioned that having your Social Security cards for all household members, birth certificates for children, and recent pay stubs ready will speed up the process significantly. She said missing documents are one of the biggest reasons for application delays. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - it's made me feel much more confident about starting my own application!

I wanted to chime in as someone who works in social services (though not specifically for CalFresh). Your situation is actually very common and nothing to worry about! The key thing to remember is that CalFresh eligibility is entirely based on household composition - meaning who lives together and purchases/prepares food together. Your relationship status with your children's father doesn't matter for CalFresh purposes, only whether he's part of your food-purchasing household (which he's not since he lives elsewhere). When you apply, you'll check the box for CalFresh only and leave CalWORKs unchecked. During your interview, just explain that you live with your children, their father lives separately, and occasionally provides some financial help. Be honest about any regular support he gives - they're required to ask about income sources, but occasional help with expenses typically doesn't count as regular income. The eligibility workers have seen every family arrangement you can imagine. They're not there to judge your living situation, just to determine if you qualify for benefits based on your household's needs. Your situation is straightforward once you frame it in terms of who shares your home and meals. Good luck with your application!

I feel your pain so much! I went through this exact same nightmare about 6 months ago and it nearly drove me to tears. What finally worked for me was calling at 7:54am on Wednesday mornings - seems like there's a tiny window where their system is fully loaded but before the flood hits. I also discovered that saying "I need to report a change" to the automated system sometimes gets you to a less busy queue, even for recertification questions. One thing that really saved me was emailing my county supervisor's office about the phone issues. I explained that I was trying to comply with my recertification deadline but couldn't reach anyone after dozens of attempts. They forwarded my email to the CalFresh director and I got a call back within 2 days! Sometimes you have to escalate above the regular system. Also, document EVERYTHING - every call attempt with times, every busy signal, every error message. If you do miss your deadline because you genuinely couldn't get through, this documentation can help appeal any benefit interruption. Don't let this broken system make you feel like you're not trying hard enough - you're doing everything right and your family deserves these benefits!

I'm so sorry you're going through this - the phone system really is a nightmare! I've been in similar situations and it's that helpless feeling when you're doing everything right but can't even get basic help. One strategy that's worked for me is calling at exactly 7:53am on Tuesday mornings - even earlier than what others mentioned. There seems to be a very brief window where their system is ready but before the call flood begins. Also, when you get the automated menu, try pressing the option for "food assistance application" instead of "existing case questions" - sometimes it routes to a less congested queue and workers can still help with recertification once you explain. If the calls keep failing, definitely try that statewide CalFresh line at 1-877-847-3663 that someone mentioned earlier. They can't do everything but they might be able to clarify what documents you need or even grant a small extension while you keep trying to reach your local office. Keep documenting every attempt - times, dates, error messages. This paper trail could be crucial if there are any issues with your deadline. You're fighting for your family and that matters. Don't let a broken system defeat you - you've got this!

I'm 65 and have been on CalFresh for about 8 months - wish I had known about RMP sooner! Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly helpful. I had no idea you had to specifically request enrollment rather than it being automatic. For anyone hesitant about calling, I just wanted to add that it's totally worth the effort. I finally got through to my county office last week (Alameda County) and the worker was surprisingly patient and helpful. She not only enrolled me in RMP but also explained a few other programs I qualified for that I didn't know existed. One tip I haven't seen mentioned yet: if you're nervous about using your card at restaurants for the first time, I found that calling ahead to confirm they participate in RMP can save you any awkwardness. Most places are familiar with the program and can tell you right over the phone if they accept CalFresh EBT for hot meals. Makes the whole experience much smoother!

I'm 63 and just got approved for CalFresh two weeks ago. This whole thread has been a goldmine of information! I had absolutely no clue about the Restaurant Meals Program - my caseworker never mentioned it during my application process. It's honestly frustrating that they don't automatically inform eligible seniors about this benefit. I'm planning to call my county office (Orange County) tomorrow morning to request RMP enrollment. Based on everyone's advice here, I'm going to specifically ask for "Restaurant Meals Program enrollment" and request the official list of participating restaurants. The tip about getting a confirmation number is smart too - I'll make sure to ask for that. One question for those who've been through this process: when you call, do they typically handle the enrollment immediately over the phone, or do you need to schedule an appointment or submit additional paperwork? I'm hoping it's as straightforward as some of you have described, but every county seems to do things a little differently. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences - this community is more helpful than any government website!