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You can check your household composition on BenefitsCal.com if you have an account. Log in and look at your case summary - it should show all household members currently on your case. While you're there, also check if there are any electronic notices you might have missed. Sometimes they send communications through the portal without sending a paper copy.
I just checked BenefitsCal and both kids are still listed in my household. But I did find a Notice of Action in my messages that wasn't mailed! It says there was an "income change" but doesn't specify what changed. Shows my work income correctly but has an additional $425 listed as "other unearned income" - that's definitely the child support being counted wrong!
That confirms it - they're incorrectly counting your child support as income. Per CalFresh regulations (MPP Section 63-502.2), child support received is specifically excluded from countable income. When you get through to a worker, direct them to that regulation. Also, since you've found the error, you have a right to request retroactive benefits for any months you received less than you were entitled to. Make sure to specifically ask for that when they fix the error.
@Yuki Yamamoto This is exactly what happened to me 6 months ago! The county worker initially insisted child support counted as income and kept giving me the runaround. I had to escalate to a supervisor and reference that exact regulation Andre mentioned. It took 3 weeks but they finally corrected it and gave me back pay for 2 months. Don t'give up - you have the documentation now showing their error. When you call, be persistent and don t'accept that "s'just how the system works as" an answer. You ve'got this!
@Yuki Yamamoto I just went through something similar last month! My benefits got cut from $289 to $23 because they counted my tax refund as monthly income. When I finally got through took (6 phone calls over 3 days ,)the worker admitted it was a data "match error where" their system automatically flagged child support payments as unreported income. She fixed it in like 10 minutes once I explained the situation and referenced that regulation number @Andre Rousseau mentioned. They restored my full benefits retroactively and it showed up on my EBT card within 48 hours. Definitely try the Claimyr service - that s what'finally got me through to a real person. Stay strong, you ve got'all the documentation you need to prove this is their mistake!
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This thread has been super helpful! I'm also in the Sacramento area and had no idea about this benefit. For anyone else who's hesitant about the checkout process, I'd suggest starting small - maybe just grab a packet of lettuce seeds or a small basil plant on your next grocery trip to test it out. That way if there are any issues, it's not a big purchase. I'm definitely going to hit up that Walmart on Florin Road this weekend to see what they have available. Has anyone tried growing anything that did surprisingly well in containers? I'm thinking about starting with herbs since they seem pretty forgiving for beginners.
Great idea to start small! For container herbs, basil is definitely super forgiving and you'll use it all the time in cooking. Mint grows like crazy in pots (actually better in containers because it can take over a garden if planted directly). Parsley and cilantro are also really easy and regrow after you cut them. I'd avoid rosemary to start with since it's pickier about watering - learned that the hard way! And definitely test the checkout process with something small first, that's smart thinking.
I'm so glad I found this thread! I've been struggling to make my CalFresh benefits stretch each month and never knew about the seeds and plants option. This could be a game changer for me. I have a small patio that gets decent morning sun, so I'm thinking of starting with some cherry tomatoes and maybe lettuce since those seem to be mentioned as beginner-friendly. Does anyone know if there are any community gardens in Sacramento that might offer classes or help for people just starting out? I'm worried about wasting money on plants that I might accidentally kill while I'm learning. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - it's really encouraging to see how much money people are saving!
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btw has anyone noticed the benefit amounts went up a bit this year? i got like $38 more this month for my family of 4 and wasnt sure if it was a mistake or if theres a cost of living increase thing?
Yes, there was a cost of living adjustment (COLA) for 2025 that took effect in October 2024. CalFresh benefits are adjusted annually based on the Thrifty Food Plan calculations. The increase varies depending on household size, but many households saw a modest increase in their monthly allotment.
I'm new to using CalFresh at farmers markets - is there a way to find out which markets in my area are having these EBT issues before I make the trip? I live pretty far from the downtown market and would hate to drive all that way just to find out the system is down. Also, when you mentioned Market Match doubling benefits, is that available at all farmers markets or just certain ones? Thanks for all the helpful info everyone is sharing here!
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Just to address the benefit amount discrepancy more specifically: For 2025, approximate CalFresh monthly maximums are: - Household of 1: $550 - Household of 4: $750 So it looks like they initially calculated you as a household of 4 (you + 3 kids) during the interview, which would be around $700-750 depending on deductions. But then they've temporarily approved you as a household of 1 while verifying the children, which matches the $550 amount they're now showing. This is actually standard procedure when they need additional verification for some household members. Once they confirm your custody arrangement, they should update your benefits to the full household amount AND provide any retroactive benefits you were entitled to. One tip: when you call, specifically ask for your case to be "expedited for household composition verification" which can sometimes speed things up.
That's exactly what's happening then! $550 for just me and around $750 once they add the kids. Thank you for explaining it so clearly. I'll use that exact phrasing when I call tomorrow: "expedited for household composition verification." Really appreciate everyone's help here!
Hey Luca! Welcome to the CalFresh community - you're definitely not alone in feeling confused by the process. I went through something very similar when I first applied with my kids. One thing that might help while you're waiting is to keep checking your EBT balance online or through the ebtEDGE mobile app. Sometimes benefits load overnight and you won't get a notification. Also, make sure to keep your approval letter handy when you call - having your case number ready makes things go faster. Since you mentioned you're on SSDI, just wanted to mention that your disability income might affect your benefit calculation too, but it sounds like they already factored that in during your interview. The good news is that once they sort out the custody verification, you should see a nice jump in your monthly benefits! Hang in there - the initial process is always the most confusing part. Once everything gets sorted out, the monthly routine becomes much more predictable.
Keisha Taylor
I'm also a single household still waiting for my COLA notice! This thread has been so helpful - I was getting worried that something was wrong with my case. Based on everyone's experiences, it sounds like I should expect around $22-25 increase which would be amazing. My current benefit is $216 so getting close to $240 would really help with these crazy grocery prices. I'm going to try calling that customer service number (1-877-847-3663) if I don't get my notice by Friday. It's reassuring to know they're sending them out in batches and that the increase will load automatically on October 1st even if the notice gets delayed. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and advice!
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Atticus Domingo
•I'm in the exact same situation! Single household here too and still anxiously waiting for my notice. This thread has been such a lifesaver - I was starting to think my case got messed up somehow. It's so reassuring to hear that everyone is getting around the same increase amounts. I'm currently getting $198/month so if I get that $22-25 increase like others, that would put me around $220-223 which would be such a huge help right now. Definitely going to try calling that customer service line if mine doesn't show up by the weekend. Thanks for sharing your current benefit amount - it helps me estimate what to expect! Hopefully we both get our notices this week!
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Ava Martinez
Hey everyone! I'm a single-person household too and just wanted to say this thread has been incredibly helpful while I wait for my notice. I've been checking my BenefitsCal account and mailbox daily with no luck yet, but reading about everyone's experiences has put my mind at ease. Currently getting $185/month, so if the increase is around $22-25 like others have reported, that would bring me to around $207-210 which would be such a relief with food costs being what they are. I'm definitely going to call that customer service number (1-877-847-3663) if I don't hear anything by this weekend. Also planning to look into updating my utility costs since I moved earlier this year and my bills have definitely gone up. Thanks to everyone for sharing their amounts and experiences - it's so helpful to know we're all in the same boat waiting for these notices!
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Brandon Parker
•I'm so glad I found this thread too! I'm also a single household still waiting and was getting really anxious about it. Your current amount is close to mine - I'm at $179/month right now, so with the $22-25 increase everyone's reporting, I should be looking at around $201-204 which would be amazing. I love that you mentioned updating utility costs after moving - I completely forgot that could affect my benefits beyond just the COLA! I moved last fall and my electric bill has definitely gone up. Definitely going to look into reporting that change once I get my notice. It's such a relief knowing we're all in the same situation and that the notices really are just coming out in batches. Fingers crossed we all get ours this week!
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