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mine worked this morning! try again
Just tried again and I can hear mine now too! Same amount as last month thank goodness!
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.
@Diego Castillo It s'the same 4-digit PIN you use at stores and ATMs! When you first got your EBT card, you would have created this PIN either by calling the customer service number or at your first purchase. If you forgot it, you can reset it by calling the EBT customer service line on the back of your card.
@Diego Castillo It s'the same PIN you use at the store! When you set up your ebtEDGE account, just use your EBT card number and the same 4-digit PIN you enter when you buy groceries. The website will walk you through it step by step. Super convenient once you get it set up!
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Just to follow up on the excellent advice above - when you appeal, make sure you specifically mention "medical expense deduction" in your appeal letter. Also, gather these documents to strengthen your case: 1. Diagnosis documentation for both children 2. All medical/therapy receipts from the last 3 months 3. A list of ongoing monthly medical expenses 4. Documentation of any special dietary needs (if applicable) 5. Mileage log for medical appointments CalFresh regulations require them to consider these expenses, but you need to be proactive about presenting them. When properly documented, medical expense deductions can make a significant difference in your eligibility determination and benefit amount. The income limit is effectively raised when these deductions are applied correctly.
Thank you so much for this detailed list! I'll start gathering everything. Should I include their IEPs from school as part of the diagnosis documentation? And for the mileage log, can I create one retroactively based on our appointment history?
Yes, IEPs can be helpful supplementary documentation, especially if they mention specific accommodations related to their diagnosed conditions. For the mileage log, you can absolutely create one retroactively based on appointment records. Just list the dates, destinations, purpose (what type of appointment), and round-trip miles. Be honest but thorough - include all medical-related trips including pharmacy visits for their prescriptions.
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!
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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??
You're fine! You have 10 days to report income changes that put you over the Income Reporting Threshold (IRT) listed on your last approval notice. If your new income doesn't exceed that IRT, you can just report it on your next SAR7 as you planned. Overissuances typically happen when you don't report income that puts you over your IRT within 10 days, or if you provide incorrect information that results in getting more benefits than you were eligible for.
Omg thank you!! Just checked and my IRT is $3,450 and even with the raise Im only at about $2,800 so sounds like Im ok to wait for the SAR7. Phew!
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.
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just wanted 2 check back - did ur card end up working? was the PIN actually set? mine did this twice now
Yes! I tried using it at the store yesterday and the PIN I had set up actually worked perfectly! So even though it gave that weird error, the PIN was successfully saved in their system. Hope this helps others having the same issue.
This is such a common issue with P-EBT cards! I'm a newcomer here but went through the exact same thing with my son's card just a few weeks ago. The system gave me that "Can't access your account" error after I set the PIN, but when I tried using the card at Target the next day, it worked perfectly with the PIN I had created. It seems like their confirmation system is broken but the actual PIN setup goes through. Really glad to see it worked out for you too Isabella! For anyone else dealing with this - don't panic, just try using the card with your intended PIN at a store.
Bethany Groves
Thank you so much for checking! I just logged into my BenefitsCal account and found the form under Report Changes. I've uploaded the receipt and the text from my landlord about the fridge. Fingers crossed they process it quickly!
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Andre Dupont
I'm so glad you were able to submit the form online! That's much easier than trying to get through on the phone. Just wanted to add that if you need food right away while waiting for the replacement benefits, many WIC offices also have emergency food resources even if you're not enrolled in WIC. They sometimes have partnerships with local food banks that can provide fresh produce and dairy. Also, 211 (dial 2-1-1) is a great resource to find all the emergency food assistance in your area. Hope your replacement benefits come through quickly!
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