I'm actually going through this exact same situation right now with my diabetic father who lives with me and requires a very specific renal diet. What really helped us was creating a "food separation plan" document that we gave to the caseworker. It detailed exactly how we handle everything - separate grocery shopping trips, separate storage areas, separate cooking times, even separate dishes/utensils that we keep clean for his medical needs. We also got his dietitian to write a letter explaining that ANY cross-contamination or sharing could be dangerous for his kidney function. The caseworker seemed much more convinced when we presented it as a comprehensive plan rather than just saying "we eat separately." It took about 6 weeks total but they finally approved our separate household status. Keep fighting for this - your medical restrictions are completely valid and they have to accommodate legitimate medical necessity!

I'm dealing with a similar situation but with my elderly mother who has severe diabetes and kidney disease. What finally worked for us was being extremely detailed about the FINANCIAL separation, not just the food separation. We created a simple spreadsheet showing exactly how much each person spends on groceries per month, where they shop, and even which payment methods they use (my mom uses her SSI debit card, I use my checking account). The caseworker said this financial documentation was just as important as the medical letters because it proves we're truly operating as separate economic units. Also, if your adult children have any income at all (unemployment benefits, odd jobs, etc.), make sure to document that they're using THEIR money for THEIR food. The key phrase that worked for us was explaining that we are "financially and nutritionally independent households sharing only housing costs." Good luck - don't give up! The system is frustrating but your medical needs are absolutely legitimate grounds for separate household status.

mine worked this morning! try again

Just wanted to add for anyone still having issues - I work at a community center and we help folks with CalFresh questions regularly. If the phone system is still giving you trouble, you can also check your benefit amount by logging into your EBT account online at ebtEDGE.com. Create an account with your card number and you can see your transaction history and upcoming deposits there too. Sometimes that site updates faster than the phone system during maintenance periods. Also, if you're ever unsure about benefit changes, keep your most recent CalFresh notice - it shows your monthly amount and any upcoming changes to your case.

I went through this exact same situation with my daughter who has cerebral palsy! The key thing that helped us was requesting a "disability determination" for CalFresh purposes, even though she doesn't receive SSI. You can ask your county worker to evaluate whether your children meet the disability criteria based on their medical conditions and functional limitations. Also, don't forget about these often-overlooked medical expenses that count toward your deduction: - Special foods/supplements if medically necessary - Assistive technology or adaptive equipment - Physical/occupational therapy copays - Behavioral therapy sessions - Special transportation costs (like wheelchair-accessible vehicles) When I appealed, I submitted a detailed monthly budget showing ALL disability-related expenses, and it made the difference between denial and approval. The appeal process took about 6 weeks for us, but we received retroactive benefits back to our original application date. Definitely worth fighting for!

I'm going through something very similar right now! My daughter has autism and ADHD, and we were also initially denied CalFresh. What I've learned from this thread and my own experience is that you really need to be persistent about getting those medical expenses counted. One thing that helped me was creating a monthly expense tracker specifically for disability-related costs. I included everything - copays, gas to appointments, special dietary needs, even the sensory tools her therapist recommended. It's shocking how much it all adds up to when you actually document it properly. Also, don't give up if the first worker you talk to doesn't seem knowledgeable about disability deductions. I had to speak with three different people before I found someone who really understood the medical expense rules. Some workers just aren't trained well on these special circumstances. The appeal is definitely worth it - I wish I had done it sooner instead of just accepting the initial denial. Your $800+ in monthly medical expenses should make a huge difference in your eligibility calculation. Keep pushing for your family!

Can someone explain what counts as an overissuance? I just got a raise last week and havent reported it yet cuz my SAR7 isnt due until next month. Am I gonna get in trouble now??

Just wanted to add that you should also keep all your paperwork related to the overissuance! I kept copies of the original notice, the repayment agreement, and I screenshot my EBT balance each month showing the reduced amount. This helped me when I had questions later about how much I'd already paid back. Also, if you're struggling with the reduced benefits, some food banks have extra resources for people dealing with benefit reductions - might be worth checking out while you're waiting for it to go back to normal.

Hi Isabella! I'm new to this community but just went through this exact same experience with my son's P-EBT card last week. Got that same terrifying "Can't access your account" message right after setting up the PIN, and I was convinced I'd have to start all over. But I tried using the card at Kroger the next morning with the PIN I had created, and it worked perfectly! Reading through all these responses, it's clear this is a super common glitch with California's P-EBT system - the PIN actually gets saved despite that scary error message. It's so frustrating that they haven't fixed this technical issue when it's obviously happening to tons of people. But at least now I know for future reference (and can warn other parents in my area) that the error doesn't mean the PIN setup failed. Thanks for starting this thread - it's going to be so helpful for other families dealing with this same confusing situation!

Hi Isabella! I'm new to this community but just had to chime in because I literally went through this exact same thing with my daughter's P-EBT card just three days ago! I got that same "Can't access your account" error right after setting up the PIN and was absolutely panicking that I'd messed something up. After reading through everyone's experiences here, I'm so relieved to see this is clearly a widespread system glitch and not user error. I ended up trying the card at Walmart yesterday with the PIN I had originally set up, and it worked perfectly! It's honestly ridiculous that California's P-EBT system has such a consistent technical issue with the confirmation process, but at least the actual PIN setup goes through despite that scary error message. Thanks so much for starting this thread - it's going to save so many other families the stress and confusion of wondering if they need to start the whole process over. This community is such a valuable resource for navigating these government benefit systems!