How do I renew CalFresh benefits in Los Angeles County?
Complete your CalFresh recertification, any required interview, and requested verification by the deadlines in your DPSS notices. You can submit your renewal through BenefitsCal or call 866-613-3777 and select the Renewal Line. The published DPSS telephone menu lists Renewal Line as main-menu option 3.
Renewal, also called recertification, reviews whether your household remains eligible and determines the next benefit amount. Submitting a form is one part of the process; it does not by itself establish that renewal is complete.
Independent information: This website is not affiliated with Los Angeles County, DPSS, or BenefitsCal. We do not accept renewal forms, supporting documents, account credentials, or EBT information.
Check Your Renewal Notice and Dates
Read your mailed notices and the electronic notices available through BenefitsCal. Identify:
- Certification end date: When your current CalFresh certification period ends.
- Form deadline: When DPSS asks you to submit the renewal.
- Interview instructions: Whether you have a scheduled appointment or must call within a stated period.
- Verification deadline: When any requested supporting information must be received.
These dates serve different purposes. Start when you receive the renewal instructions rather than waiting until the certification period ends. If the notice is missing or unclear, contact DPSS to confirm what is due.
A SAR 7 is a periodic report, not the same task as recertification. The DPSS Food and Nutrition page lists reporting changes, submitting SAR 7, and renewing benefits as separate responsibilities. Complete the item actually requested for your case.
Choose a Renewal Method
| Method | Where to start | What to confirm |
|---|---|---|
| BenefitsCal | Sign in to BenefitsCal and open the renewal or recertification task for your case. | The correct case, completed signature and submission, and any remaining interview or verification requirements. |
| Telephone | Call 866-613-3777 and follow the Renewal Line prompts. | The worker can assist with the renewal form, telephone signature, interview, and requested verification. |
| Paper form | Use the renewal packet or the appropriate form from the DPSS CalFresh forms page. | The required signature, submission destination and method, receipt deadline, and interview arrangements. |
The DPSS forms page identifies CF 37 as the CalFresh recertification application and provides several language versions. Follow the packet and instructions applicable to your household, particularly if you receive more than one benefit program.
Renew Through BenefitsCal
- Sign in: Open BenefitsCal.com and complete the account verification steps.
- Find the correct case: Check that the displayed case is yours and is associated with Los Angeles County.
- Open the renewal: Select the available CalFresh renewal or recertification task and review its instructions.
- Update your information: Answer the questions about your household, income, housing and utility expenses, and other circumstances requested.
- Review, sign, and submit: Check your answers, complete the signature steps, and finish the submission.
- Keep proof: Save the confirmation, submission date, and any reference number. Check what remains to be completed.
If you cannot see the case or renewal task, contact DPSS promptly. Explain any account-access or case-linking problem and keep a record of the error. Do not assume your deadline has changed; ask how to complete the renewal by telephone or another accepted method.
BenefitsCal also offers document uploads without an account. Follow the upload fields to identify the correct case and document type. If uploading a completed paper renewal, include its signature and all required pages. Uploading proof alone does not replace the renewal form.
Complete the Interview and Requested Verification
Follow your interview notice. If it gives a scheduled time, be available as instructed. If it directs you to call during a particular window, make the call within that period. Contact DPSS promptly if you need to reschedule.
Have your renewal information and relevant records available. The worker may ask about changes in income, household members, or expenses. Attend the interview even if you are still obtaining a document, and explain what is missing.
For supporting documents:
- Use the reporting period and document types DPSS requests.
- Include all relevant pages and check that images are readable.
- Match uploads to the correct case and retain confirmations.
- Contact DPSS before the deadline if you need help obtaining proof or identifying an acceptable alternative.
Saving a draft, uploading documents, and completing an interview are separate steps. Ask whether the form, interview, and verification requirements are all satisfied, then review the renewal decision notice.
If You Miss a Deadline or Benefits Stop
Contact DPSS immediately if you missed the renewal, interview, or verification deadline. Explain which step is incomplete and when you submitted anything already provided.
If the certification period has ended, ask whether DPSS can still complete the recertification or whether a new application is required. The available procedure and any interruption or adjustment to benefits depend on the timing and circumstances. Do not assume that a late renewal automatically restores a full month's benefits.
If you submitted everything but have not received a decision, provide your submission and interview references. Ask what remains outstanding and how to confirm the renewal's status.
Renewal also involves a current eligibility review. For changes that may affect your case, consult the DPSS Keep Your Benefits page and your individual notices. If you disagree with a denial, reduction, or closure, review the notice's explanation and hearing instructions promptly.
Get Renewal Help
Call the DPSS Customer Service Center at 866-613-3777, Monday–Friday, 7:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m. Pacific Time, excluding County holidays. Follow the Renewal Line prompts for renewal forms, interviews, and verification assistance.
Have your case number, renewal notice, relevant dates, and submission confirmations ready. Use the official contact page for office locations and other contact options.
DPSS provides free translation and interpreter services, including ASL, through 866-613-3777. For disability-related reasonable accommodation assistance, the department lists 844-586-5550.
For BenefitsCal tutorials and FAQs, visit the DPSS resources page. If DPSS tells you to submit a new application, see how to apply through BenefitsCal.
For the department's wider services, see our Los Angeles County DPSS page. Send renewal forms and documents through the designated official service; submissions to this website do not reach DPSS or BenefitsCal.