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I went through something similar with my grandmother last year when her recertification got messed up due to Social Security income reporting issues. The $340 on her EBT card is absolutely safe to use - that money was already issued for previous months and legally belongs to her. The key thing is getting that appeal filed ASAP since she's already at 2 weeks. I'd also suggest having her contact the family who gave her the holiday bonus to get some kind of written confirmation that it was a one-time payment, not regular income. Even a simple email or note on letterhead would help her case tremendously. Good luck to your mom!
Thank you so much! That's really reassuring to hear from someone who went through the same thing. My mom is actually planning to ask the family for a letter today when she goes to clean their house. Hopefully they'll be understanding about it. It's frustrating that something as simple as a holiday bonus could cause all this trouble, but at least now we know exactly what steps to take. Really appreciate everyone's help on this thread!
I'm dealing with a similar situation right now! My recertification is pending and I've been so worried about what happens if there's any issues. Reading everyone's responses here is really helpful - I didn't know that existing EBT balances stay on the card even after denial. Also the tip about "non-recurring lump sum payment" terminology is gold! I screenshot that for my own files. Hope your mom's appeal goes smoothly and she gets her benefits restored quickly. The fact that it was just a holiday bonus should definitely work in her favor since that's clearly not regular income.
Thanks for sharing your experience! It's so stressful when you're waiting on recertification - I'm glad this thread could help ease some of your worries. The whole process can be really confusing and it's nice to see people sharing practical tips. Definitely save that "non-recurring lump sum payment" phrase - sounds like it could be a game changer for situations like this. Wishing you luck with your pending recertification too! Hopefully it goes through without any issues.
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Thank you for these tips! I'm definitely going to start keeping at least a few days of emergency food on hand. This was too stressful.
This thread is so helpful! I'm new to CalFresh and had no idea that delays like this could happen. I was panicking last night when my benefits didn't show up at the usual time, but reading everyone's experiences and the advice about keeping emergency food supplies really puts things in perspective. It's reassuring to know that the community here is so supportive during these stressful situations. Definitely bookmarking the 211 number and those other tips for the future!
Welcome to the community! I'm glad you found this thread helpful. It can be really overwhelming when you're new to the system and something unexpected like this happens. The people here are amazing at sharing their knowledge and supporting each other through these kinds of situations. Don't hesitate to ask questions - we've all been there and everyone is really understanding about the learning curve with CalFresh.
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I'm a newcomer to this community but wanted to share something that might help with your immediate situation. While everyone's correctly explained that CalFresh is only for food assistance, there's actually a specific program in California called Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP) that many people don't know about. It's administered through local nonprofits and can sometimes provide direct rental assistance. Also, since you mentioned you're in Sacramento, the Sacramento County Department of Human Assistance has something called the Flexible Housing Pool that provides emergency rental assistance specifically for people facing immediate eviction. You need to call them at (916) 874-2072 and explain your pay-or-quit situation. One more thing - document EVERYTHING. Take photos of your pay-or-quit notice, keep records of all your calls and applications. If your landlord tries to rush the eviction process, you'll need this documentation. California's tenant protection laws are strong, but you need to know your rights and have paperwork to back them up. Definitely still apply for CalFresh though - every dollar you save on food can go toward your rent shortfall.
@Ella Lewis This is really helpful information about EFSP and the Flexible Housing Pool! I had no idea these programs existed. I m'writing down that phone number 916 (874-2072) to call first thing tomorrow morning. You re'absolutely right about documenting everything - I took photos of the pay-or-quit notice but hadn t'thought about keeping records of all my calls and applications. I ll'start a folder with all this paperwork. Thank you for mentioning the tenant protection laws too - I need to research my rights better. Already submitted my CalFresh application online and hoping to hear back soon. Really appreciate you sharing these specific Sacramento resources as a newcomer - you ve'given me some concrete next steps to take!
I'm new to this community but wanted to jump in because I went through something very similar last year in Los Angeles County. First, everyone's absolutely right that CalFresh is only for food benefits - I made the same mistake initially thinking it would help with rent. Here's what actually saved me from eviction: **Immediate Action Items:** - Contact your county's 211 service TODAY - they have real-time info on what emergency rental assistance is actually available right now - Apply for CalFresh online immediately so you can redirect food money to rent - Call Sacramento Legal Aid Society at (916) 551-2150 - they can advise you on the actual eviction timeline and your tenant rights **Time Reality Check:** You have more time than 3 days. After a pay-or-quit notice, your landlord has to file an unlawful detainer lawsuit, serve you court papers, wait for your response period, and get a court judgment before any actual eviction can happen. This usually takes 4-6 weeks minimum, even if you don't fight it. **Sacramento-Specific Resources:** - Sacramento Homeless Services Coordinating Council has emergency prevention funds - Try calling St. John's Program for Real Change - they sometimes have rapid assistance for working people facing eviction Don't panic - you have options and more time than you think. Use this time strategically to work through the assistance programs people have mentioned.
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Update: I finally got through to someone helpful! Turns out there's a special verification form for independent study students that my kids' program was supposed to send us back in April. Going to the district office tomorrow to fill it out, but they said even with the delay we should still get the full benefit amount once processed. Thanks everyone for the advice!
That's great news! Yes, even with the delay, you should receive the full benefit amount your children are entitled to. Make sure to bring documentation showing your children were enrolled in the independent study program for the qualifying period. Once the verification is processed, cards are typically mailed within 3-4 weeks.
So glad you figured it out! This is exactly why the system is so confusing - there are all these extra forms and requirements that nobody tells you about upfront. I'm dealing with something similar for my two kids who did independent study this year. Did they tell you if this verification form is something that needs to be done every year, or is it a one-time thing? I want to make sure I don't run into this same issue next time around. Thanks for sharing your update - it gives the rest of us hope that we can get this sorted out!
Sofia Morales
I'm in the same boat as many of you - just found out about this ending and I'm honestly overwhelmed trying to figure out next steps. Reading through everyone's suggestions has been really helpful though. I'm going to try that Claimyr service to actually get through to someone at my county office, and I had no idea about being able to submit a voluntary mid-period report to add expenses. Does anyone know if things like laundromat costs count as utilities? We don't have washer/dryer in our apartment and spend about $60/month at the laundromat. Also planning to hit up some food banks - never thought I'd need to but here we are. Thanks everyone for sharing info and resources during such a stressful time.
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Yuki Watanabe
•Hey Sofia! I'm not sure about laundromat costs specifically counting as utilities, but it's definitely worth asking when you call. I know they count things like phone, internet, heating/cooling costs. Maybe laundromat falls under "other necessary expenses"? Also wanted to mention - if you're new to food banks, don't feel embarrassed about it. I was nervous my first time but the volunteers are usually really kind and understanding. Some places even let you "shop" and pick what you need instead of just giving you a pre-packed bag. We're all just trying to get through this together!
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Zoe Stavros
I'm really sorry to hear everyone is going through this stress. I just wanted to share that I've been meal planning more strategically since I heard about the emergency allotments ending. Things like buying rice, beans, and lentils in bulk have helped stretch my food budget way further than I expected. Also, I discovered that some grocery stores mark down meat and produce that's close to expiration - I've been checking those sections first and then planning meals around what's discounted. It's not ideal having to shop this way, but every little bit helps when you're trying to make the regular benefit amount work. I also started a small container garden on my apartment balcony with herbs and lettuce - even that saves a few dollars each month. We shouldn't have to do all this extra work just to eat, but I figure we might as well share strategies to help each other get through this.
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Jackie Martinez
•These are such practical tips, thank you! I've never thought about checking the marked-down sections first - that's brilliant. I've been so overwhelmed by the news about the emergency benefits ending that I haven't really shifted into "strategize mode" yet. The container garden idea is really smart too. Do you have any recommendations for what herbs grow easiest for beginners? I have a small patio that gets morning sun. Also wondering if anyone knows about community gardens in the area - might be another way to supplement fresh produce without spending as much. Really appreciate everyone sharing these real-world strategies instead of just panicking (though the panic is totally valid too!).
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