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As a newcomer to this community, I'm really impressed by how supportive and informative this discussion has been! Reading through @Dmitry Ivanov's journey from $23 to $180 in benefits is both encouraging and frustrating - encouraging that the system can be corrected, but frustrating that so many eligible deductions aren't automatically applied. I'm currently in the middle of my own CalFresh application process and had no idea about things like the Standard Utility Allowance or that childcare expenses could be deducted. This thread has been incredibly educational and I'm definitely going to review my application to make sure I didn't miss anything important. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences and advice - @Ava Garcia's detailed explanations about the calculations were especially helpful, and @Zainab Ismail's tip about Claimyr for getting through to caseworkers could be a real lifesaver. It's clear that persistence and knowing what questions to ask makes all the difference in navigating this system successfully.
@Sofia Martinez Welcome to the community! I m'also new here and have been following this thread closely. It s'really striking how @Dmitry Ivanov s experience'highlights the gaps in the application process - the fact that essential deductions like childcare and utility allowances aren t clearly'explained or automatically included seems like a systemic issue that affects so many families. What I find most valuable about this discussion is how it shows the importance of community knowledge sharing. Without everyone s input'here, @Dmitry Ivanov might have just accepted that $23 and struggled to feed his family. The collective wisdom about things like the Standard Utility Allowance, childcare deductions, and even practical tips like using Claimyr to reach caseworkers is incredibly powerful. As newcomers, we re really fortunate'to have access to this kind of real-world guidance. It makes me wonder how many other families are out there getting inadequate benefits simply because they don t know what'questions to ask or what deductions they re entitled to.'This community is clearly filling a crucial gap in helping people navigate these complex systems effectively.
As a newcomer to this community, I want to thank everyone for this incredibly informative thread! Reading through @Dmitry Ivanov's experience from $23 to $180 has been both eye-opening and encouraging. I had no idea that so many deductions like childcare expenses and the Standard Utility Allowance weren't automatically applied during the initial application process. What really stands out to me is how this community came together to help solve a real problem. @Ava Garcia's detailed explanations of the calculation process, @Zainab Ismail's practical tip about Claimyr, and everyone else sharing their similar experiences created such a valuable resource. It's clear that having this kind of peer support and knowledge sharing is essential for navigating these complex government systems. I'm currently preparing my own CalFresh application and this discussion has already helped me identify several expenses I might have overlooked. It's unfortunate that the system seems designed in a way that requires applicants to be their own advocates and know exactly what to ask for, but at least communities like this exist to help fill those knowledge gaps. Congratulations @Dmitry Ivanov on getting your benefits corrected - your willingness to share your experience will undoubtedly help many other families in similar situations!
@Freya Christensen Welcome to the community! Your observation about needing to be your own advocate is so accurate - it really shouldn t'be this complicated to get the benefits you re'entitled to. As another newcomer, I ve'been amazed by how much collective knowledge exists here that just isn t'readily available through official channels. What struck me most about @Dmitry Ivanov s situation'is how that $23 could have been the difference between his family having adequate nutrition or not. It makes you wonder how many other families are struggling with inadequate benefits simply because they don t know'about deductions like childcare expenses or the Standard Utility Allowance. This thread has definitely motivated me to be more thorough with my own application and to not just accept whatever initial determination I receive. The fact that people here freely share practical tips like using Claimyr to actually reach a caseworker, or knowing to ask specifically about utility allowances, shows how valuable this community support really is. Thanks to everyone for creating such a helpful resource for navigating these systems!
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o ya forgot 2 say mandela foods coop in west oakland does somthing similar 2. not sure if its the same program but they give u extra $ 4 veggies when u use ebt
Thanks for mentioning Mandela! That's actually not far from me when I'm in Oakland. Will definitely check them out too.
This thread has been so helpful! I'm actually a new CalFresh recipient myself (just got approved two weeks ago) and had no idea about any of these programs. I'm in Sacramento but travel to the Bay Area sometimes for my job. Does anyone know if Sacramento has similar Market Match programs? I'd love to stretch my benefits further, especially since I'm trying to eat healthier. Also wondering - do these programs work the same way everywhere or are there different rules depending on the county? Thank you all for sharing your experiences - this community is amazing for newcomers like me who are still learning how to navigate all these resources!
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One more thing to note - if the 8th falls on a weekend or holiday, your benefits should still load on that day. CalFresh deposits don't get delayed like some other government payments. Just want to make sure you know that for future months!
That's great to know! Thanks for all the helpful information everyone.
Hey Jayden! Just wanted to add that you can also download the "ebtEDGE" mobile app if you haven't already. It's the official EBT app and it works even when the BenefitsCal website is down. You can check your balance, see your transaction history, and it shows your next deposit date right on the main screen. Super helpful for planning grocery trips when you're running low! The app has been way more reliable than the website in my experience.
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I'm so sorry this is happening to you, especially on a holiday weekend when you need the food most! I've been on CalFresh for about 3 years and unfortunately this kind of thing does happen more often around holidays. Since you have your approval letter stating benefits should be available on the 1st and it's clearly documented, I'd suggest a few things for the weekend: 1. Definitely call 211 like Yara mentioned - they can connect you with emergency food pantries that might be open during the holiday 2. Check if your local churches or community centers have weekend food distributions 3. If you have any friends/family on social media, don't be afraid to ask for help - people are usually understanding about CalFresh delays For Tuesday, I'd recommend calling the county office right when they open (usually 8am) and have your approval letter in hand with all the dates and case numbers. Sometimes being the first caller of the day gets you through faster. If you can't get through by phone, definitely consider going in person even if it means taking time off work - your benefits are worth it. This really shouldn't be happening with a valid approval letter. Hang in there - you'll get this resolved!
Thank you so much for the kind words and practical advice! I really appreciate everyone in this community being so supportive. I called 211 and they gave me a list of food pantries, found one that's open tomorrow (Saturday) so that should help us get through the weekend. It's just so stressful when you're depending on these benefits and they don't show up as expected. I know I have the approval letter and everything is documented, but it still makes you worry that something went wrong. I'll definitely be calling right at 8am Tuesday morning with all my paperwork ready. This community has been such a lifesaver - I had no idea about services like Claimyr or that holiday processing delays were so common. Thank you again for taking the time to help!
I've been through this exact same situation before! Last year my benefits were delayed 4 days during Labor Day weekend and I was panicking just like you. Turned out there was a system update that caused processing delays, but of course they don't tell you that until after the fact. A couple things that helped me during the wait: - Download the "Food Finder" app - it shows food pantries and soup kitchens near you with current hours - Some WIC offices also have emergency food boxes even if you're not on WIC - Dollar Tree accepts EBT and has decent non-perishables if you have even a few dollars to stretch The good news is that once they fix whatever the issue is, your benefits usually get backdated to when they were supposed to be issued. So if you do end up spending your own money this weekend, you'll still have your full benefit amount when it comes through. Keep that approval letter handy and don't let them tell you on Tuesday that you need to reapply or anything like that - you have documentation that you were approved! Sometimes the workers don't have all the info and will try to make you start over.
Emma Bianchi
Wow, this thread has been super helpful! I'm new to CalFresh and just applied last month. I was wondering why the myBenefitsCalWIN app on my phone wasn't working properly - it would load but then crash when I tried to check my case status. Sounds like I should skip that entirely and go straight to BenefitsCal.com instead? Also, does anyone know if the BenefitsCal website works better on mobile browsers or should I look for a new app?
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Sasha Ivanov
•Yes, definitely go straight to BenefitsCal.com! The mobile browser version works really well - I actually prefer it to using apps sometimes because it's always up to date. You don't need to download a separate app, just bookmark the website on your phone. Since you're new to CalFresh, you'll find BenefitsCal much more user-friendly than the old system. You can check your case status, upload documents, and even get notifications about important deadlines. Welcome to the program and glad this thread helped you too!
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Sofia Ramirez
Just wanted to add my experience for anyone still struggling with this - I had the exact same problem a few weeks ago and it was so frustrating! The myBenefitsCalWIN app would either not load at all or give me error messages. I finally called my local county office (took forever to get through) and they confirmed that they're moving everyone to BenefitsCal. The worker told me that some people are experiencing a delay in the transition, which is why the old system stops working before they get notified about the new one. She also mentioned that if you have trouble linking your case on BenefitsCal, you can bring your case number and ID to the office and they'll help you set it up. It's annoying that there wasn't better communication about this change, but at least the new system actually works better once you're on it!
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Grace Durand
•This is exactly what I needed to hear! I've been dealing with the same frustrating situation and had no idea there was even a transition happening. It's really disappointing that the county offices aren't proactively informing people about these changes - I almost missed my recertification deadline because I couldn't access my account for weeks. Thank you for mentioning that they can help set up the BenefitsCal account in person if needed. That might be a good backup option for people who aren't as comfortable with technology. It's reassuring to know the new system actually works better once you get past the initial setup hurdles!
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