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This thread is incredibly helpful! I'm also expecting a tax refund soon (around $4,200) and had the same exact worries about losing benefits. Reading everyone's experiences and especially hearing from the eligibility worker about the 12-month exemption rule has been so reassuring. One thing I wanted to add - for anyone in a similar situation, I found it helpful to take screenshots of official government websites that explain these rules. I kept getting conflicting information when I googled it, but having official sources saved helped when I talked to my worker. The CalFresh website has a section about excluded resources that mentions tax refunds specifically. Sean, thanks so much for asking this question! It's exactly what so many of us needed to hear. And the tip about Claimyr is gold - I'm definitely going to try that next time I need to reach my county office.
This is such a valuable thread for anyone dealing with tax refund questions! I'm actually in a similar boat - just filed my taxes and expecting around $3,500 back. I was completely panicking about how it might affect my CalFresh benefits until I found this discussion. The 12-month exemption rule is huge news to me - I had no idea that existed! Natasha, your tip about screenshotting official sources is brilliant. I've been burned before by getting different answers from different people, so having the official documentation ready sounds like a smart move. And Sean, I can't thank you enough for posting this question. It's exactly what I needed to see right now! I'm definitely going to try that Claimyr service too - sitting on hold for hours with the county office is just impossible when you're juggling work and kids. This community is seriously amazing for sharing real, practical advice that actually helps families navigate these complex systems.
This entire discussion has been incredibly eye-opening! I'm currently waiting on a tax refund of about $5,200 and was absolutely terrified about how it might impact our family's benefits. Reading through everyone's experiences - especially learning about the 12-month exemption rule for CalFresh - has been such a relief. What really stands out to me is how much confusion there is around these rules. I spent hours trying to research this online and kept finding contradictory information. Having an actual eligibility worker explain the specifics made all the difference. It really shows how valuable this community is for getting real, accurate guidance from people who've been through similar situations. I'm definitely going to save copies of my tax documents like Zoe suggested, and I'll probably try that Claimyr service too since my county office is notorious for long hold times. Sean, thank you so much for asking this question - it's helping way more people than just you! And thanks to everyone who shared their knowledge and experiences. This is exactly the kind of support families need when navigating these complex benefit systems.
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I'm so glad I found this thread! I've been having the exact same issue for the past few months and was starting to think there was something wrong with my case. It's such a relief to know that there's actually a predictable schedule based on your case number - I had no idea! I'm going to dig out my paperwork tonight and figure out what day mine should come. It's honestly kind of frustrating that they don't make this information more prominent when you first get approved. Like others mentioned, you get so much paperwork but somehow miss the most important detail about when you'll actually receive your benefits. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and tips!
I totally feel you on this! When I first got CalFresh, I was so overwhelmed by all the paperwork that I completely missed the deposit schedule info too. It really should be highlighted better - maybe on the front page or in bold letters! Once you find your case number and figure out your day, I'd recommend doing what others suggested and setting up those text alerts. It made such a huge difference for me. You're definitely not alone in being confused about this - seems like it's a common experience for new recipients. Hope you get it all sorted out!
I'm new to CalFresh and this thread has been incredibly helpful! I just got approved last week and was wondering about this exact thing. My case worker mentioned something about a deposit schedule but I honestly zoned out during that part of the conversation because there was so much information to process. Reading everyone's experiences makes me feel so much better - it sounds like being confused about the timing is totally normal when you're starting out. I'm going to look up my case number tonight and figure out my deposit day. Thanks to everyone who shared the schedule breakdown and app recommendations!
Welcome to CalFresh and to the community! Don't worry about zoning out during that conversation - there really is SO much information thrown at you during the approval process that it's impossible to remember everything. I think most of us here had that same experience of feeling overwhelmed by all the details. The good news is that once you find your case number and figure out your deposit day, it becomes second nature. And like others mentioned, those text alerts and apps really do make a huge difference in keeping track of everything. Feel free to ask questions here anytime - everyone is super supportive and we've all been in your shoes!
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Just wanted to follow up - were you able to resolve your PIN issue? If you're still waiting, I recommend contacting your local food bank as well. They can often provide emergency food assistance while you wait for your CalFresh benefits to become usable.
That's amazing news @Zara Shah! So glad you were able to get your emergency PIN and feed your family. Your experience will definitely help other parents in similar situations. It's frustrating that the system makes it so hard to access benefits when people are in urgent need, but at least there are workarounds like the Claimyr service and emergency PIN options that more people should know about. Thanks for updating us on how it worked out!
This is such great news! I'm new to this community but seeing how everyone came together to help @Zara Shah really shows what these forums are all about. I just applied for CalFresh myself and was worried about potential delays, but knowing about resources like Claimyr and the emergency PIN option gives me peace of mind. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - it s'so valuable for newcomers like me to learn from people who ve'actually been through the process!
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This exact same thing is happening to me right now! I'm on day 3 of my card being restricted and I have $520 in benefits I can't touch. The county workers keep telling me "the system shows your card should work" but it clearly doesn't! I've gotten two replacement cards and both died within an hour. Reading through these comments is actually giving me hope that there might be a real solution. I'm definitely going to try calling that EBT customer service line (1-877-328-9677) that Ali mentioned, and I'm going to ask specifically about fraud alerts and account resets like Victoria suggested. It's so maddening that we have to become detectives to figure out their broken system, but at least now I have some specific things to ask for instead of just getting the runaround. Thank you for posting this - knowing I'm not the only one dealing with this mess helps!
I'm so glad this thread is helping you too! It's awful that we're all going through this but at least we can share solutions. Definitely try that EBT customer service number - several people have mentioned it works better than going through the county. And yes, it's ridiculous that we have to become system experts just to access our own benefits! I'm planning to go back to the county office tomorrow morning with a whole list of specific questions based on what everyone shared here. Please update us if you get yours resolved - I have a feeling we're all dealing with the same underlying system issue. Good luck!
This is happening to so many people lately! I went through this nightmare in March and it took almost 3 weeks to resolve. What finally worked for me was documenting EVERYTHING - every visit, every phone call, every worker's name - and then filing a formal complaint with the state. The key breakthrough came when I demanded to speak with an "EBT Systems Administrator" (not just a supervisor). These are specialized staff who can access the backend database and see technical flags that regular workers can't. Once I got to the right person, they found that my account had gotten stuck in some kind of automated fraud review loop. Also, while you're fighting this, make sure to request "immediate need" assistance - the county is required to provide emergency food vouchers when there's a system failure preventing access to your benefits. Don't let them tell you to "just wait" while your kids go hungry! Keep pushing - you deserve access to the benefits you're entitled to, and their system problems are NOT your fault!
Three weeks is insane but I'm glad you finally got it resolved! "EBT Systems Administrator" - that's a really specific title I never would have thought to ask for. The regular workers probably don't even know those people exist. And you're absolutely right about the "immediate need" assistance - I had no idea the county was required to provide emergency vouchers when their system fails. That's huge information! I'm definitely going to use that phrase tomorrow. Thank you for sharing your experience and for the reminder that this isn't our fault - it's so easy to feel like we're doing something wrong when really it's just their broken system.
Miguel Castro
UPDATE: Thank you everyone for your help! I went to my county office this morning and got my EBT card. There was a bit of a line but once I got to the window, it only took about 10 minutes. They said my card had been mailed out but probably got lost. The benefits were already loaded and I set up my PIN right there. So relieved I went before the holiday closure!
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LunarEclipse
•Great news!! Glad you got it sorted out before the holiday!
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NebulaNinja
So glad you got your card! This is exactly why I always recommend going in person when there are delays. The mail system for EBT cards seems to have issues pretty frequently. Thanks for updating us - it's really helpful for others who might be in the same situation to know that going to the office works and doesn't take too long once you get to the window.
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PrinceJoe
•This is such a relief to hear! I'm new to this community and CalFresh, and reading about all these mail delays was making me nervous about my own application. It's really reassuring to know that going to the office is a reliable backup option. Thanks for sharing your experience - it definitely helps newcomers like me understand what to expect and what our options are if things don't go smoothly with the mail delivery.
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