10-year-old CalFresh overpayment claim - Is there really no statute of limitations?

There's a difference between the state and federal statute of limitations for CalFresh overpayments. The 3-year limit you found online might be referring to state-funded portions, but CalFresh is primarily federally funded, which has different rules. In my experience working with clients, they can absolutely pursue collections on federal benefit overpayments beyond 3 years. However, you should request a detailed breakdown of how they calculated the overpayment and verification of when they first attempted to notify you. If they can't prove they tried to collect before now, you might have some options.

omg this SAME THING happened to my cousin last month but it was from 2016!!! she ended up just setting up a payment plan for like $25 a month cuz she didnt wanna deal with fighting it. so messed up they can come after u after all this time 😡

YOU SHOULD DEFINITELY FIGHT THIS!! The county CANNOT just bill you after 10 years without proof they tried to collect before. Request ALL their documentation immediately. Ask specifically for: 1. Original overpayment notice (they had to send one when they discovered it) 2. Proof of their collection attempts over the years 3. Detailed breakdown of the alleged overpayment 4. Administrative hearing request form I had a $1,900 overpayment from 2018 that I got dismissed because they couldn't prove they sent me the original notice. The system is BROKEN but you have rights!!

theres definately a statute of limitation on this stuff. my brother in law works for the county and he says they cant go back more than 3 years for most stuff but sometimes theres exceptions. you should ask for a fair hearing, thats your right. good luck!

I've helped many clients with CalFresh overpayment claims. Here's what you need to know: 1. For FEDERAL programs like CalFresh, there is indeed no statute of limitations on collection, according to federal regulations at 7 CFR 273.18 2. However, they must have evidence of the overpayment calculation, proof they notified you at your address of record at the time, and documentation of collection attempts 3. You have the right to request a fair hearing within 90 days of receiving this new notice 4. You can request a payment plan if the claim is valid - they must accept reasonable offers based on your current financial situation Your best approach is to request a full Administrative Hearing and demand complete documentation. If they can't produce records showing they properly notified you at the time, you may have grounds for dismissal under procedural requirements.

I had this happen but with unemployment not calfresh. Try calling ur county worker direct but GOOD LUCK actually reaching a person lol I tried for weeks!!!

wait i just remembered something!!! my friend who works at legal aid told me that if u can prove "administrative error" the debt can be waived. like if they made the mistake not u? worth asking about!!

I'm still FURIOUS they can come after people after TEN YEARS!!! What about the interest you could have earned on that money if you'd known about this debt?? The system is COMPLETELY biased against recipients. FIGHT THIS ALL THE WAY!!! And report back what happens please!!

I'm going through something similar right now with a 2015 overpayment claim that just showed up last month. After reading through all these responses, I wanted to add that you should also request a "waiver of collection" if you're experiencing financial hardship. Even if the overpayment is valid, they're supposed to consider your current ability to pay. I found out about this from a paralegal at our local legal aid office - apparently it's in the federal regulations but they don't advertise it. Also, document EVERYTHING from this point forward - every phone call, every letter, every interaction. Good luck fighting this!

I'm dealing with a similar situation - got an overpayment notice from 2017 just last week! After reading through everyone's advice here, I immediately called and requested all their documentation. Turns out they had my old address from 6 years ago and claimed they'd been "sending notices" there even though I updated my address with them multiple times. The worker I spoke with seemed surprised when I knew to ask for proof of their collection attempts and administrative hearing forms. I think a lot of people just pay these without realizing they have rights. Thank you all for sharing your experiences - it's helping me feel more confident about fighting this!

I'm a new member here and this thread has been incredibly eye-opening! I had no idea that CalFresh overpayments could be pursued after so many years. Reading everyone's experiences is both helpful and honestly pretty terrifying - it makes me want to go back and double-check all my old paperwork just in case. @Isaiah Sanders, I really hope your hearing goes well! It sounds like you've gotten some excellent advice here about requesting documentation and proving they didn't properly notify you. The fact that so many people are dealing with these ancient claims makes me wonder if there's some kind of systematic issue with how they're handling these cases. Please keep us updated on what happens - your experience could help other people who find themselves in similar situations!

This thread has been so helpful! I'm new to the community and unfortunately dealing with a similar situation - just received an overpayment notice for CalFresh benefits from 2016 for $1,800. I'm a single mom working two part-time jobs and barely making ends meet as it is. The idea of having to pay back money from 8 years ago is overwhelming, especially when I don't even remember what happened back then. Reading everyone's advice about requesting documentation and asking for hearings gives me hope that I can fight this. I'm particularly interested in what @Chloe Taylor mentioned about the waiver of collection for financial hardship - that might be exactly what I need. Does anyone know if having young children is considered when they evaluate financial hardship? I have a 6-year-old and childcare costs eat up most of my income. Thank you all for sharing your experiences - it's comforting to know I'm not alone in this situation!

I'm new to this community but sadly not new to dealing with government benefit issues. Reading through everyone's experiences here is both validating and infuriating - it's clear that these old overpayment claims are happening to people all across California right now. What strikes me most is how many people mentioned they never received proper notification over the years, yet the county offices act like this is standard procedure. @Isaiah Sanders, your situation is particularly egregious - 10 years is just unconscionable, especially when you've moved multiple times and kept your address updated with other agencies. I wanted to add one thing I learned from my own experience with bureaucratic nightmares: always send any requests for documentation or appeals via certified mail with return receipt requested. That way you have proof of when you submitted everything and they can't claim they "never received" your paperwork. Also, if anyone is feeling overwhelmed by the legal aspects, many areas have legal aid societies that offer free consultations for low-income individuals dealing with government benefit issues. Don't let them intimidate you into just paying - you all have rights and it sounds like many of these cases have serious procedural problems that could work in your favor!

I'm new to this community but unfortunately not new to dealing with government benefit bureaucracy. Reading through everyone's experiences here is both eye-opening and deeply concerning - it seems like there's definitely a pattern of these old CalFresh overpayment claims suddenly appearing after years of silence. What really bothers me is how the system seems designed to overwhelm people into just paying without understanding their rights. @Isaiah Sanders, I'm really rooting for you in fighting this 10-year-old claim - it's absolutely ridiculous that they can come after you after so long, especially when you've been responsible about keeping your address updated with other agencies. I wanted to add something that might help everyone dealing with these situations: if you're having trouble getting through to county workers by phone, try showing up in person at your local office first thing in the morning. Sometimes face-to-face interactions get better results than endless phone tag. Also, bring a notebook and write down the name of every person you speak with, along with dates and what was discussed. Having that paper trail can be incredibly valuable if you need to escalate your case later. This community is such a valuable resource - thank you all for sharing your knowledge and experiences!