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I just wanted to follow up - how did it go with reporting your changes? Were you able to reach someone at the county office?
I'm in a similar situation - just started community college this semester while working reduced hours. One thing I learned is that you should also ask about the Student Success Grant when you report your changes. Some counties have additional food assistance specifically for students that can supplement your CalFresh benefits. Also, if your school has a food pantry, that can help bridge any gaps while your case is being processed. The combination of reporting the income decrease AND the additional childcare expenses you mentioned should actually put you in a better position benefit-wise. Good luck with school and don't stress too much - it sounds like you're doing everything right!
This is really helpful advice! I hadn't heard of the Student Success Grant before. Do you know if this is something I need to apply for separately or if they automatically consider you when you report student status? Also, my community college does have a food pantry that I've been too nervous to use, but you're right that it might help during the transition period. Thanks for the encouragement about doing everything right - I've been so worried about messing something up and losing benefits entirely.
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The free/reduced lunch application is pretty straightforward. Schools typically send the forms home during the first week of school, or you can ask for one during enrollment. If you're already approved for CalFresh, your children automatically qualify for free school meals - you'll just need to provide your CalFresh case number on the form. This automatic eligibility is called "direct certification" and should make the process very simple for you next year.
Oh that's a relief! I didn't realize CalFresh approval would automatically qualify them. That makes things much easier. Thank you for all the helpful information everyone!
Just wanted to add that some school districts in California offer "hybrid" or "independent study" programs that might be perfect for families like yours who want to homeschool but still maintain school enrollment. These programs often allow kids to do most of their work at home while being officially enrolled in the district, which would make them eligible for P-EBT and free lunch programs. It might be worth looking into for next year - you'd get the flexibility of homeschooling with the benefits of being in the system. My neighbor's kids are in one of these programs and she loves it!
This is such valuable information! I'm the original poster and I had no idea these hybrid programs existed either. @Mia Roberts could you share more details about how your neighbor found and enrolled in one of these programs? I m'definitely interested in exploring this option for my twins next year. It sounds like it would solve both my homeschool preference and the P-EBT eligibility issue. Are these programs available in most California districts or only certain ones?
I'm also really interested in learning more about these hybrid programs! As someone new to California's school system, I had no idea there were so many options available. @Mia Roberts if you could share some specifics about how your neighbor got started with their program, that would be incredibly helpful. I m'wondering things like: do you need to live in a specific district to qualify, what s'the application timeline, and are there any academic requirements? This could be a game-changer for families who want the flexibility of homeschooling but need to maintain official enrollment for benefits like P-EBT.
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Just to provide official information: The 2025 CalFresh COLA (Cost of Living Adjustment) takes effect on March 1st, 2025. The maximum monthly allotment for a household of 2 will increase from $439 to $492 (not $490, there's a slight difference). Your February issuance was correct at the 2024 rate. Regarding children under 6: The SNAC program provides supplemental nutrition benefits for young children in CalFresh households. Your nephew should automatically qualify if he's been properly added to your case. The benefit amount is approximately $77/month per eligible child under 6 and should appear as an additional deposit on your regular EBT card (not a separate card like the old P-EBT program used). I recommend checking your next deposit in March. If you don't see both the increased base amount AND the additional SNAC benefit for your nephew, contact your county office for assistance.
Wait so it's actually $492 not $490? My worker definitely said $490. Why can't they all get their information straight?? This is so frustrating.
Yes, the exact amount is $492. Sometimes workers round numbers when speaking with clients, or they might have been looking at outdated information before the final rates were published. The difference is only $2, but you're right that accuracy is important. The official benefit charts should be available on your county's website if you want to verify the exact amounts.
Thanks everyone for clarifying this! I'm new to CalFresh and just got approved last month, so I'm still learning how everything works. My first deposit was only $219 for just myself (household of 1) and I was wondering if that would go up in March too. From what I'm reading here, it sounds like all the benefit amounts increase with the COLA adjustment, not just the higher household sizes. Is that right? Also, I'm really glad I found this community - navigating all the CalFresh rules and timing has been confusing and you all seem to have way more accurate information than what I got from my county worker during orientation!
Welcome to CalFresh and to the community! Yes, you're absolutely right - the COLA adjustment applies to all household sizes, including single-person households. Your benefit should increase from $219 to approximately $233 starting with your March deposit (the exact amount might vary slightly based on your specific circumstances). And I totally agree about this community being helpful! When I first started, I was so confused about timing, deposit dates, recertification requirements - you name it. The people here have been a lifesaver for getting straight answers when county workers sometimes give conflicting info. Don't hesitate to ask questions as they come up!
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This whole thread has been such a lifesaver! I'm pretty new to the CalFresh program and honestly had no clue that the state would send out replacement cards for security reasons. When I first signed up a few months ago, I was so worried about all the scam stories I'd heard that I probably would have panicked if I got an unexpected card in the mail. Alice, thank you so much for sharing your experience and walking through the whole process - from the initial concern to the successful resolution. It really helps to see that there are legitimate reasons for these cards and safe ways to handle them. I'm definitely bookmarking that official customer service number (1-877-328-9677) and Samantha's activation steps. It's incredible how much peace of mind comes from understanding these processes. This community is amazing for helping newcomers like me feel more confident about navigating the system!
Absolutely agree with everything you said! I'm also brand new to CalFresh (just got approved last week actually) and this entire conversation has been incredibly educational. Before reading this, I would have definitely freaked out if I received an unexpected EBT card. Alice's experience really shows the importance of staying calm and verifying things through official channels rather than panicking. I'm so grateful for communities like this where experienced members share their knowledge and newcomers can learn from real situations. Already saved that customer service number and screenshot the activation steps - feeling much more prepared now if this happens to me!
I'm really grateful I stumbled across this thread! I just started receiving CalFresh benefits about 3 weeks ago and honestly had no idea the state would proactively send replacement cards for security upgrades. Coming from someone who's still learning the ropes, Alice's experience and how everyone rallied to help with accurate information is exactly what makes this community so valuable. I was already pretty anxious about potential scams since I'm new to all this, so seeing the step-by-step guidance on how to safely verify and activate a replacement card gives me so much confidence. Definitely saving that official number (1-877-328-9677) and the activation process. It's amazing how much clearer everything becomes when you have real people sharing their actual experiences rather than trying to figure it out alone. Thank you Alice for following up with the resolution too - that really helps complete the picture for those of us who might face this situation in the future!
This has been such an informative thread for all of us newcomers! I just joined this community and started receiving CalFresh benefits recently, so I'm still learning about all these processes. Like everyone else here, I had no idea about the proactive security upgrades - I definitely would have been worried if I got an unexpected card too. It's really reassuring to see how Alice handled the situation so carefully and that it worked out well. I'm also saving that official customer service number and the activation steps everyone shared. What I love most about this community is how willing everyone is to share their experiences and help each other out. It makes navigating these government programs feel so much less overwhelming when you have real people who've been through similar situations offering guidance. Thanks to everyone who contributed - this thread is going to be super helpful for future reference!
Isabella Costa
I'm in a very similar situation right now - staying with my brother after losing my housing due to job loss. What really helped me was calling the CalFresh hotline and specifically asking to speak with someone experienced in homeless/transitional housing cases. The first worker I spoke with seemed confused about my situation, but the second one walked me through exactly what I needed. She explained that temporary housing arrangements are actually very common and they have procedures for this. I ended up needing: 1) A simple letter from my brother stating I stay there and that we don't share food/expenses, 2) Any piece of mail I'd received there (I used a bank statement that got forwarded), and 3) A clear explanation that I'm actively job searching and this is temporary. The whole process took about 2 weeks once I had the right documentation. Don't let them make you feel like you're doing something wrong - you deserve food assistance regardless of your housing situation!
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StarStrider
•@Isabella Costa This is exactly what I needed to hear! Thank you for breaking down the specific steps you took. I m'going to ask to speak with someone who has experience with transitional housing cases - that s'such a smart approach. It s'frustrating that the first worker didn t'know how to handle it properly, but I m'glad you persisted. Did you have any issues during your renewal process, or was it smoother once your case was established? I m'starting my new part-time job next week so I want to make sure I report that change correctly too. Your success story gives me confidence that I can get through this bureaucratic maze!
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Ethan Moore
I went through this exact situation about 8 months ago when I was staying with my sister after a roommate bailed on me. The housing verification was definitely the trickiest part, but I want to reassure you that it's absolutely doable. Here's what worked for me: I had my sister write a simple letter stating that I was staying there temporarily, that we buy/prepare food separately, and that I don't pay rent due to financial hardship. I also gathered ANY mail that came to that address with my name on it - even promotional stuff from stores where I'd updated my address online. The key thing the worker told me was that they're not trying to deny you benefits for having unstable housing - they just need to verify you're not double-dipping or sharing food costs inappropriately. When I explained that I keep my few groceries on a separate shelf and cook at different times, that satisfied their requirements. The whole process took about 3 weeks, but I was approved. Also, definitely mention your new job starting next week - showing that you're working toward stability actually helps your case. You've got this! Don't let the bureaucracy discourage you from getting the help you need.
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