California CalFresh

Update: I finally found the paperwork buried in my stack of mail! You guys were right - my CalFresh was approved but my CalWORKs application was marked "pending additional verification." They needed proof my kids' father isn't providing support and wanted me to fill out child support paperwork. The letter says I have until the 25th to turn it in! I'm going to fill it out tonight and drop it off at the county office tomorrow. Thank you all for helping me figure this out!

Great news that you found the paperwork! Just wanted to add - when you go to drop off those child support documents tomorrow, bring multiple copies and ask them to stamp one copy as received for your records. Also, if the father truly isn't providing any support, you might need to sign a "good cause" waiver if you don't want to pursue child support through the county (some people have safety concerns about this). The caseworker should explain your options when you turn in the paperwork. Hope your CalWORKs gets approved soon - sounds like you really need that assistance right now!

Hi Bucky! Great question - this is something a lot of people are wondering about right now. From what I understand, California's statewide ABAWD waiver is indeed still in effect and is set to continue through January 2026 as originally planned. The recent federal changes to work requirements primarily affected other SNAP policies but didn't immediately impact existing state waivers. However, I'd strongly recommend calling your local CalFresh office or checking the California Department of Social Services website for the most current information, especially since you're recertifying soon. They'll be able to give you definitive guidance on whether you need to report work hours during your recertification process. It's always better to get official confirmation directly from DSS rather than rely on community knowledge for something this important to your benefits. Good luck with your recertification!

omg i just remembered something important!! if u have school age kids check with their school! my daughters school has a "clothes closet" with free stuff for kids who need it. they don't make a big deal about it either, very private. just ask the counselor!

Hey Luca! I know this is overwhelming when you're first getting started with benefits. Just wanted to add that if you're in a really tight spot right now, many food banks also have clothing programs or can point you to local resources. You can find your nearest food bank through the California Association of Food Banks website. Also, don't give up on calling your county office - try calling right when they open in the morning, that's usually when wait times are shortest. You've got this, and congrats on getting approved for CalFresh - that's a huge help for your family!

This is exactly what happened to me two weeks ago! I was panicking because my recertification was due and I couldn't access anything on MyBenefitsCalWIN. Like others mentioned, BenefitsCal saved me - I was able to complete everything there without any issues. One tip: when you create your BenefitsCal account, it might take a few minutes for your case information to fully sync over from the old system. Don't panic if you don't see everything right away. I refreshed the page after about 10 minutes and all my case details appeared. Also, I'd recommend bookmarking BenefitsCal now since it sounds like MyBenefitsCalWIN is being phased out completely. Better to get familiar with the new system before you're in a time crunch again!

I'm so glad I found this thread! I was getting the same 403 error for the past three days and was starting to panic about missing my reporting deadline. Just tried BenefitsCal based on everyone's recommendations and it worked perfectly - I was able to submit my SAR7 without any issues. For anyone else dealing with this, definitely don't waste time trying to fix the CalWIN site. Just go straight to BenefitsCal.com and create a new account. It literally took me 5 minutes to set up and submit what I'd been struggling with for days. Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences - this community is a lifesaver!

Another option to consider if you're on a tight budget is Sam's Club - they also accept EBT and their membership fee is usually about $15 cheaper than Costco (around $45/year for basic membership). The selection isn't quite as good as Costco but still decent for bulk shopping. Also, some locations offer free one-day passes if you want to check it out first before committing to a membership. You just pay a 10% surcharge on purchases, but it's a good way to test if warehouse shopping works for your needs and budget!

Hey @Nia Thompson! Just wanted to share another money-saving tip that might help you stretch your CalFresh benefits further. Before you decide on Costco or any warehouse store, check out your local food banks and pantries - many of them don't have income restrictions and can supplement your grocery budget significantly. I use CalFresh plus visit my local food bank twice a month, and it's made a huge difference in making my benefits last the whole month. The food bank near me even has fresh produce and sometimes bulk items similar to what you'd find at Costco. It's worth looking into while you're figuring out your shopping strategy! You can find local food banks through 211.org or by calling 2-1-1.