This thread has been so helpful! I'm dealing with a similar situation with my elderly mother who has mobility issues. One thing I wanted to add is that some McDonald's locations in Sacramento do participate in RMP, but you have to specifically ask for a manager because regular employees often don't know about it. The one on Florin Road near 65th Street definitely accepts it - I used it there last week without any issues. Also, for anyone struggling with the phone system, I've found that calling right when they open (8 AM) gives you the best chance of getting through. The lines get jammed later in the day. And if you do get through, ask them to email you the vendor list instead of mailing it - it's faster and you can save it on your phone to reference when you're out. One last tip: some participating restaurants will have a small "EBT Accepted" sticker near their entrance or register, but it's not always obvious. Don't be afraid to ask before ordering - most places are understanding about it, especially if you explain it's for the Restaurant Meals Program.

This has been such an informative thread! I'm also caring for my disabled uncle (71) who just moved here from out of state. Reading all these experiences makes me feel less alone in navigating this confusing system. A few things I've learned that might help others: 1. If you have a smartphone, taking a photo of the "CAN BUY PREPARED MEALS" text on the EBT card can help show cashiers who aren't familiar with RMP - I've had to do this twice already. 2. The Dollar Tree on Broadway surprisingly has a hot food section that accepts EBT for prepared meals - not fancy but cheap and convenient. 3. For anyone with transportation issues, some Uber Eats and DoorDash drivers will let you pay with EBT at pickup if you order from participating RMP restaurants, though you have to call the restaurant directly to arrange this. The inconsistency is definitely the worst part - my uncle was so embarrassed after being turned away that he didn't want to try anywhere else for weeks. But seeing all the success stories here gives me hope we'll find more reliable options. Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences and tips!

UPDATE: I used that Claimyr service someone recommended to reach a worker, and they confirmed my case was discontinued due to the missing SAR7. Good news though - they received the one I submitted yesterday and said they'll process it as a restoration within 3 business days! They also said they'll add a note to my file to send me text reminders for future SAR7 deadlines since I mentioned missing the notice. So relieved this is getting fixed!

This is such a helpful thread! I'm dealing with something similar right now - my benefits got cut off last month and I had no idea about the 30-day restoration rule. Just wanted to add that if anyone is having trouble downloading forms from BenefitsCal, you can also pick them up at any county office or sometimes at local food banks. My local food pantry actually had copies of the SAR7 form and helped me fill it out correctly. Also, @Geoff Richards glad to hear you got it sorted out! The text reminder option sounds really useful.

Hey Liam! I've been following this thread and wanted to add one more consideration - make sure you understand Nevada's background check requirements if you do get approved as a provider. Some states have stricter requirements than others, and the process can take weeks or even months. Also, since you'd be working for a family member, Nevada might have additional documentation requirements to prove the care relationship is legitimate (to prevent fraud). I'd suggest calling Nevada's Medicaid office directly and asking for their "family caregiver" packet or guidelines. Better to know all the hoops upfront than get surprised later!

I'm dealing with a somewhat similar situation helping my grandmother in Riverside County while living in San Bernardino County, and I've learned a few things that might help. First, definitely get clarity from your aunt about what specific program she's enrolled in - "the state" could mean several different things (Medicaid waiver, state-funded programs, etc.) and each has different rules about out-of-state providers. One thing I wish I'd known earlier: some programs require the care recipient to live within a certain radius of the provider's home address, regardless of state lines. In my case, even though both counties are in California, there were still residency requirements I had to navigate. Also, if you do move forward, keep DETAILED records of everything - dates you're in Nevada vs California, all income received, gas receipts if you're claiming travel expenses on taxes, etc. The documentation requirements get intense when you're working across jurisdictions. I use a simple Google Sheets to track it all because my county worker asked for very specific breakdowns during my last review. Have you considered whether your aunt might qualify for any programs that would allow remote check-ins or telehealth support instead? Sometimes there are alternatives that don't require as much physical presence and could simplify the whole situation.

To update everyone here, I checked with my supervisor (I work at a community resource center) about the 2025 Summer EBT program in California, and there are some important details to know: 1. Children must be enrolled in free/reduced meals during the regular school year 2. For pre-K students, they need to be in a school that participates in the National School Lunch Program 3. Benefits are typically $120 per eligible child for the summer 4. Applications are not required - eligible families get the benefits automatically So @OP, once your son starts pre-school, check if his school participates in the national lunch program, and if so, get him enrolled in free/reduced meals. Then he should automatically receive Summer EBT next summer.

Hey Gael! Just wanted to add that you might also want to look into the P-EBT program if it's still available in your area. It's similar to Summer EBT but was created during COVID to help families when kids couldn't get school meals due to closures or reduced hours. Some districts still offer it for pre-K programs. It's worth asking your son's school about both Summer EBT AND P-EBT when he starts in August. Also, with your income level, you should definitely reapply for WIC like others mentioned - having a 4-year-old makes you eligible and it's a great supplement to CalFresh!

BenefitsCal is back up!! Just got in and was able to upload my documents. It's moving really slow though so be patient when you're uploading. At least it's working now!

Just wanted to share another tip that helped me during system outages - if you have a smartphone, try using the mobile browser instead of the desktop version. Sometimes one works when the other doesn't. Also, I've found that trying to access BenefitsCal very early in the morning (like 5-6am) or late at night often works better because there's less traffic on the servers. It's frustrating that we have to work around their technical issues, but these workarounds have saved me multiple times when I had urgent deadlines!