I just wanted to jump in and share my experience from last month when I had similar BenefitsCal login issues. What finally worked for me was clearing not just my browser cache, but also all stored passwords and cookies specifically for benefitscal.com, then restarting my browser completely before trying again. Sometimes the site gets confused with old login tokens. Also, if you have a local library nearby, they often have computers you can try - sometimes it's an issue with your home internet connection or device. The librarians at mine were super helpful and even knew about the BenefitsCal problems because other people had been coming in with the same issue. Worth a shot if the mobile app and late-night attempts don't work out! Keeping my fingers crossed that the 10-day extension gives everyone enough time to get this sorted.

Me too

Wow, this whole thread has been incredibly eye-opening! I had no idea about any of these features. I've been using CalFresh for over two years and literally the only thing I knew how to do was check my balance. The freeze feature would have saved me so much anxiety when my purse was stolen last year - I immediately panicked and canceled my card, then had to wait over a week for a new one while struggling to buy groceries. Thank you everyone for sharing all this valuable information! I'm definitely going to explore the mobile app and set up those alerts. It's frustrating that these helpful features aren't better communicated to recipients when we first get our cards.

Don't you ALWAYS Need to use your PIN?? I came in here to see if I could pause it like my Bank card and yes Apparently Option 5 does the job Another great thing í. I just want to same money on it Y bf seems to use mine first B4 his .Oh no that's not right.. If we're separated traveling etc. I'd like to have some$ pay for food while visiting family ,it's pricey to gas and hotels etc for a

Quick update on the income limits others have mentioned - for 2025, a single-person household can have gross monthly income up to $2430 for regular CalFresh. However, California has something called "Expanded Categorical Eligibility" which raises the gross limit to 200% of the Federal Poverty Level - about $2868 for a single person. So with your $2743 income, you should still be eligible for the initial screening! The issue might be with how your shelter deduction was calculated. When you appeal, make absolutely sure they understand that the $1762 is YOUR portion of the rent, not the household total. I've seen caseworkers make this mistake before, thinking the total rent is being reported rather than just your share. Also, do you pay utilities separately or is that included in your rent? If you pay utilities, you might qualify for the Standard Utility Allowance which adds about $500 to your shelter costs for deduction purposes.

This is exactly why I think it's so important for people to know their rights when applying for benefits! Your situation with $1762 in rent plus $180 in utilities definitely sounds like you should qualify once they properly calculate the shelter deduction. One thing I'd add - when you file your appeal, consider asking for an "aid pending" status. This means if you're found eligible during the appeal process, your benefits could be backdated to when you originally applied. Not everyone knows about this option but it can be really helpful. Also, since you mentioned feeling nervous about food banks - most are run by really kind volunteers who understand that anyone can need help with food. Many have become like little community hubs where you might even get information about other local resources. The ones I've been to have been nothing but welcoming and respectful. Good luck with your appeal! It sounds like you have a really strong case once they apply all the deductions correctly.

so did u get it working??

That's awesome that it worked out! For future reference, you can also check your PIN status and change it through the MyEBT app if you have a smartphone. It's really convenient and you don't have to wait on hold or worry about getting locked out. Just download it from your app store and register with your card number. Super helpful for checking your balance too without having to call or go to an ATM.