Another thing that might help - if your sister's son has any after school activities or sports, check if the school district has a "supper program" or evening meal service. Some California districts expanded their meal programs to include dinner for kids who stay late for activities or tutoring. It's usually free just like breakfast and lunch now. Also, during school breaks (winter, spring break), some districts continue offering grab-and-go meals even when regular classes aren't in session. Worth calling the school's main office or nutrition services to ask what's available - these programs aren't always well advertised but can really help bridge those gaps when kids are home more and eating more meals at home.

I'm new to this community but wanted to share something that helped us when we were in a similar situation. Besides all the great advice already given, I'd suggest your sister also check if her local library has any food assistance programs. Our library partners with local food banks to distribute boxes of groceries once a month - no questions asked, just show up. They also sometimes have cooking classes that include take-home ingredients. Libraries are becoming real community hubs for all kinds of support services, not just books! Also, if she's on social media, many neighborhoods have "Buy Nothing" groups where people share extra groceries, especially bulk items from Costco that families can't use up. It's a great way to get fresh produce and pantry staples without any paperwork or waiting in lines.

Congrats on your approval, Amina! That 5-week wait sounds absolutely exhausting. I'm a CalFresh recipient in Fresno County and wanted to share what worked for me when I was in a similar situation. When I got approved, I was also really low on groceries and couldn't wait for the mail. I went to my county office the day after approval and explained that I had an emergency food situation - they issued me a temporary card on the spot that I could use immediately while waiting for my permanent card to arrive. You just need to bring your ID and any approval paperwork they gave you. The process took about 30 minutes total. Even if you think you can wait a few more days, it might be worth calling your LA County office to ask about emergency card issuance just to have that option available. Also, many local churches and community centers have food pantries that can help bridge the gap - no paperwork required, just show up. You've gotten through the hardest part of this whole process, so don't give up now! The finish line is so close.

Hey Amina! Congratulations on getting approved - that 5 week wait must have been incredibly stressful! I'm in Alameda County and just went through this exact same situation about 6 months ago. My benefits were loaded within 2 business days of approval, but my card took almost a full week to arrive in the mail. The anxiety of not knowing when you'll be able to buy groceries is real! A couple of tips that helped me: First, if you have your case number, you can call 1-877-328-9677 (the EBT customer service line) to check if your benefits have been loaded even before your card arrives. Second, if you're really running low on food, most LA County offices can issue an emergency/temporary card the same day if you go in person with your ID and approval notice. And finally, don't forget that food banks are always an option to help bridge the gap - no waiting required. You've made it through the hardest part of this whole process, so hang in there! That $487/month is going to make such a difference for your food security. Hoping your card shows up in the next few days!

So glad you got it resolved! This is exactly why I always recommend people be persistent and try multiple approaches. The fact that a trainee never sent the verification request notice is unfortunately typical - there seems to be a breakdown in communication when cases get passed between trainees and supervisors. For anyone else reading this thread who might be in a similar situation: Alice's experience shows how important it is to actually speak with someone rather than just waiting. Whether you use Claimyr, go in person, or keep calling until you get through, don't just assume "no news is good news" when it comes to recertifications. The system has too many gaps right now. Also worth noting that Alice's case shows why it's so important to check your BenefitsCal account regularly for any electronic notices, since paper notices sometimes don't get mailed out properly.

Welcome to the community, Miguel! You're absolutely right to be proactive about your application. One thing I learned from going through this nightmare is to always screenshot or print confirmation pages when you submit documents online - I'm so glad I had that December submission confirmation because it proved I submitted on time. Also, if your case seems to be taking longer than 30 days, don't hesitate to ask specifically about the status and whether any additional verification is needed. The squeaky wheel definitely gets the grease with these county offices. Good luck with your application!

Hi Joshua! I'm new to this community but have been reading through all the great advice everyone's shared. I was in a very similar situation about 6 months ago - getting CalFresh but struggling to cover all my food costs, and I was also considering applying for General Relief. After reading everyone's experiences here, I'd definitely echo what others have said about reporting your rent increase to CalFresh first. When I reported my rent going up $165, my benefits increased by about $76/month, which really helped stretch my grocery budget. The process was much simpler than I expected - just had to submit documentation through BenefitsCal and it processed in about 10 days. The General Relief program sounds way more complicated than I initially realized. The workfare requirements, loan repayment aspect, and all the bureaucratic requirements that people have mentioned would have been deal-breakers for me. Plus the fact that they can make you apply for disability and then recover money from your backpay is something I never would have known about without reading this thread. I'd also suggest checking out some of the mobile food pantries in San Bernardino County while you're waiting for any benefit changes to process. Some of them have really stepped up their programs and can help bridge the gap without any paperwork headaches. Good luck with whatever you decide - sounds like you have some great options to explore before dealing with the GR complications!

Hi Joshua! I'm new to this community but have been reading through all the helpful advice everyone's shared. Based on everything I've learned here, I'd definitely recommend reporting your rent increase to CalFresh first - it sounds like that could potentially solve your problem without all the complications that come with General Relief. I had no idea before reading this thread that rent increases could boost your CalFresh benefits! The experiences people have shared about getting $70-90/month increases from rent bumps of $150-200 sound really promising for your situation. And the processing time of 1-2 weeks that people mentioned is way better than dealing with all the GR requirements. The General Relief program sounds much more complicated than I initially thought - the workfare hours, loan repayment, forced disability applications, and all the bureaucratic hoops seem like a lot of hassle for $391/month. Plus the fact that it's actually a loan you have to pay back eventually is something I definitely wouldn't have known without reading everyone's experiences. I'd also suggest looking into the food banks and mobile pantries that people mentioned while you're waiting for any CalFresh changes to process. It sounds like San Bernardino County has some good options that could help bridge the gap without any paperwork headaches. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this community is such a valuable resource for navigating these complex benefit programs! Good luck Joshua - sounds like you have some great options to explore before dealing with the GR complications.

Just wanted to share my experience since I went through this process recently! I'm 64 and had been on CalFresh for almost 2 years without knowing about RMP. When I finally called my county office (San Diego), the worker was really helpful and explained that even though I qualified by age, they don't automatically enroll people - you have to specifically request it. She activated my RMP coding right there on the call and gave me a confirmation number. Took about 48 hours to become active. The first time I used it was at a Subway and I was so nervous, but it worked perfectly! The staff there said they see RMP cards all the time so don't worry about feeling awkward. One thing I learned: make sure to ask the county worker to email or mail you the list of participating restaurants in your area. Some places that look like they should accept it (like certain fast food chains) don't actually participate, while some smaller local spots do. Having that official list saved me from some embarrassing moments at the register!

I'm 68 and just got CalFresh benefits started last month after retiring. Had no idea about this Restaurant Meals Program until reading through all these comments! This is exactly the kind of information they should be giving people when they first sign up. I live alone and sometimes cooking full meals feels like too much work, especially on days when my arthritis flares up. Being able to grab a hot meal at a restaurant with my EBT card would be a game changer. Going to call my county office tomorrow and specifically ask for "Restaurant Meals Program enrollment" - thanks to everyone who shared that tip about using the exact terminology! Also planning to ask for that official restaurant list so I know which places actually participate. Really appreciate this whole thread, you all have been more helpful than any government website I've tried to navigate!