I just wanted to chime in with another tip that helped me get through to DPSS last week! If you're calling and getting the busy signal or "high call volume" message, try calling from a different phone number - sometimes they have limits on how many times the same number can call in a short period. I used my work phone after my cell kept getting rejected, and it went through immediately. Also, I noticed that if you call right after lunch time (around 1:30 PM), there's sometimes a sweet spot when call volume drops briefly. I know everyone's saying early morning works best, but this afternoon window might be worth trying if you can't make those 7:30 AM calls. Just another option to add to the toolkit! Good luck everyone! 🍀

I'm going through the exact same struggle right now! Been trying to get through for my recertification for over a week. Reading through all these comments has been incredibly helpful - I had no idea about so many of these strategies! I'm definitely going to try the 7:30 AM sharp approach with the specific menu sequence, and I love the tip about saying "representative" to the voice system. It's honestly ridiculous that we need a whole playbook just to talk to someone about basic food assistance, but I'm so grateful everyone is sharing what actually works. The stress of potentially losing benefits while fighting with their phone system is real. Going to arm myself with coffee, all my documents, and multiple phone numbers tomorrow morning. Thanks everyone for turning this frustrating situation into a community effort! 💪

I've been in a similar situation with CalWORKs payments before, and it's incredibly stressful when you're counting on that money. One thing that helped me was setting up text alerts through the EDD/DPSS system - they'll send you notifications when payments are processed or if there are any issues with your case. Also, if you have a smartphone, the MyBenefits CalWIN app can sometimes show payment status updates faster than calling. For your homeless housing assistance, definitely keep all your hotel receipts organized in a folder or envelope - I learned the hard way that they might ask for them weeks later. The waiting is the worst part, but hang in there. Most of these system delays get resolved within a few days, even though it feels like forever when you need the funds. Sending you positive vibes that everything gets sorted out quickly! 💙

Hey there! I'm pretty new to navigating all this stuff, but I wanted to share what happened to me last week. My CalWORKs payment was delayed by 3 days and I was freaking out because I needed it for rent. I ended up going to the DPSS office in person (on Wilshire Blvd) and they were actually really helpful - way better than trying to get through on the phone. The lady there told me that when there are system issues, sometimes visiting in person can help them manually check your case status and even expedite things if needed. I know it's a pain to travel there, especially if you don't have reliable transportation, but it might be worth it if the phone lines aren't working out. Also, bring your ID and any paperwork you have - they can pull up your whole case file right there. Hope your payment comes through soon! 🤞

I'm so glad I found this thread! I've been trying to reach CalFresh for about 10 days now and was starting to think I was losing my mind. Reading everyone's experiences here is both comforting (I'm not alone!) and infuriating (this system is clearly broken for EVERYONE). The 8 AM + spam the 0 button strategy that literally every successful person has mentioned is definitely going on my to-do list for tomorrow morning. I've been calling at random times and getting nowhere, so having an actual game plan based on what's worked for others gives me hope. It's honestly tragic that we need to treat accessing basic food assistance like cracking some kind of secret code, but I'm so grateful for this community sharing their battle-tested strategies. Special shoutout to @Mei Wong for that incredibly detailed guide - I'm bookmarking this entire thread! Here's hoping we all get through eventually and can help the next wave of people dealing with this bureaucratic nightmare. Stay strong everyone! 🤞

I've been dealing with this exact same frustration for the past few weeks! After reading through all the amazing strategies everyone has shared here, I'm feeling much more optimistic about finally getting through. The 8 AM + spam 0 technique that literally everyone successful has mentioned is definitely my plan for tomorrow morning. I had no idea this was such a widespread problem - I was starting to think I was just terrible at navigating phone systems! It's honestly ridiculous that we need to develop elaborate battle plans just to access basic food assistance we're entitled to, but I'm so grateful for this community sharing their hard-won wisdom. @Mei Wong your comprehensive guide is absolutely invaluable - thank you for taking the time to help all of us navigate this broken system! It gives me hope knowing that persistence really does pay off eventually, even when the system seems designed to make us give up. I'll definitely report back with my results and any new tips I discover along the way. Stay strong everyone - we've got this! 💪

This happened to my cousin last month. She ended up having to reapply completely. It sucks, but sometimes starting over is faster than trying to fix the old application. Might be worth considering if nothing else works.

I went through this exact same situation about 6 months ago! The key is persistence and documentation. Here's what finally worked for me: I filed a complaint with the LA County Board of Supervisors through their online portal. Within 48 hours, someone from DPSS called me directly and fast-tracked my case. Also, make sure to request expedited processing since you're already experiencing a gap in benefits - they're supposed to prioritize cases where people have been wrongfully cut off. Keep copies of EVERYTHING and don't be afraid to escalate. You got this! 💪

This whole benefits system is a joke. Always some kinda problem 🙄

I had this exact same issue a few months ago! What worked for me was going to a grocery store and doing a cash back transaction instead of using an ATM. For some reason, the point-of-sale systems work even when the ATM network is having problems. You can buy something small like gum and get cash back - saved me when I really needed access to my benefits. Hope this helps until you can get through to customer service!