As someone who went through a similar experience when I had surgery last year, I just want to echo what others have said about not panicking. The system really is designed to handle these kinds of life disruptions. One thing I learned that might help others - if you're going to be in the hospital for an extended period, you can actually designate an authorized representative (like a family member or trusted friend) to handle your CalFresh paperwork on your behalf. They just need to fill out a form and provide ID. This could prevent missing deadlines in the first place. Also, many hospitals have patient advocates or social workers who are familiar with benefit programs and can help coordinate with county offices if needed. I'm so glad you got everything sorted out and that this thread turned into such a helpful resource for others who might face similar situations!

I'm new to CalFresh and this thread has been incredibly educational! I had no idea about the 274-day rule or that hospitalization counts as "good cause" for missing deadlines. Reading through everyone's experiences and the practical tips like using Claimyr and setting up authorized representatives has really opened my eyes to how the system actually works. It's so reassuring to see a community where people share real solutions and support each other through these challenges. As someone who has chronic health issues, I'm definitely going to look into setting up an authorized representative proactively. Thank you all for creating such a helpful resource - I'm bookmarking this entire thread for future reference!

One more thing that might help future users - if you're getting the "restricted" error but you know you're at an approved store like Walmart, try logging out of your Instacart account completely and logging back in before attempting checkout again. I had this weird glitch where my EBT card kept showing as restricted at Walmart even after I'd successfully used it there before. Customer service told me their system sometimes holds onto old error states and logging out/in forces it to refresh. Also, if you're using the mobile app, try switching to the desktop website version - sometimes the mobile apps have bugs that the web version doesn't. These technical workarounds shouldn't be necessary but unfortunately the online EBT systems are still pretty buggy!

This thread is incredibly helpful! I work at a local food bank and we get questions about online EBT shopping all the time. I'm definitely going to bookmark this conversation to share with clients who are struggling with the same issues. The breakdown of which stores actually accept EBT online vs in-store is something I wish was more clearly communicated by the retailers themselves. Also really appreciate the technical troubleshooting tips - the logout/login fix and switching between mobile app vs desktop site are things I never would have thought to suggest. It's so frustrating that people have to become tech support experts just to buy groceries online with their benefits! Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this is exactly the kind of real-world knowledge that makes a difference for families trying to navigate these systems.

Just wanted to add another perspective as someone who works at a grocery store and sees CalFresh customers every day! One thing that might help you decide is to think about your transportation situation too. Costco locations are often in more suburban areas and you might need a car to get there easily, plus you'd need a way to transport bulk items home. If you're relying on public transit or walking, smaller local stores might be much more practical for regular shopping trips. Also, I've noticed that many of our CalFresh customers do really well with our weekly sales - we rotate different staples on deep discount each week (like rice one week, pasta the next, etc.) and they stock up during those sales cycles. It's like getting bulk pricing without needing a membership or buying huge quantities all at once. Most grocery stores have apps now that show you the weekly ads in advance so you can plan around the best deals!

As someone who's been on CalFresh for about a year, I wanted to share what's worked best for me as a single person! I actually tried the Costco route early on but quickly realized it wasn't the best fit. The membership fee ate into my tight budget, and I kept ending up with way more food than I could use before it spoiled - which felt awful when every dollar counts. What's been a game-changer for me is focusing on stores with great loss-leader sales (items sold below cost to get you in the door) - places like Kroger, Safeway, and even Target often have amazing deals on staples like pasta, canned goods, and frozen vegetables. I use the Flipp app to compare weekly ads across all the stores in my area and plan my shopping around the best deals. I've also found that many stores have "manager's special" sections for meat and produce that's close to its sell-by date - perfect for meal prep if you're cooking and freezing right away. My advice would be to spend your first month or two learning the sale cycles at 2-3 nearby stores rather than jumping into a warehouse membership. Once you know your eating patterns and have a feel for local pricing, you can always revisit the Costco question! Welcome to the CalFresh community - it gets easier as you learn the system!

I went through this exact situation about 6 months ago when I got custody of my nephew. The custody agreement is absolutely your most important document - that's what proves legal responsibility and residency. I uploaded that along with his birth certificate and a letter from his school through BenefitsCal. My benefits went from $192 to $378 per month, which was incredible! The process took about 11 days and my existing benefits continued without any interruption. Since your son was previously on his mom's case in another county, definitely mention that specific detail in your change report. The county workers are used to handling these cross-county situations and they'll coordinate the removal automatically once you provide that information. One thing that really helped me was calling my caseworker first to give them a heads up that I'd be submitting a household change. It seemed to flag it in their system and maybe helped with processing time. Also, take screenshots of everything you upload - just in case you need to reference confirmation numbers later. The relief of having adequate food benefits for both of you will be so worth getting this paperwork sorted out quickly!

I just went through this same process when I got custody of my daughter earlier this year! The custody agreement you have is definitely the most important document - that alone proves legal responsibility and residence. I uploaded that plus her birth certificate and a letter from her doctor's office showing my address through BenefitsCal. My benefits increased from $203 to $389 within about 10 days, which was such a relief for our grocery budget. Your existing benefits won't be interrupted at all - they just recalculate based on your new household size. Since your son was on his mom's case in another county, definitely mention that in your change report. The workers handle that coordination between counties automatically once you give them those details. One tip that really helped me: call your caseworker first to let them know a household change is coming. It seemed to help with processing speed. Also keep copies/screenshots of everything you submit. The peace of mind of having adequate food benefits for both of you will be so worth it!

Thank you all so much for the advice! We're going to try this plan: 1. She'll apply for WIC this week (already made appointment) 2. She'll apply for the Pregnant Woman Only CalWORKs program and specifically ask for that 3. Once she gets CalWORKs, apply for CalFresh as a separate household I'll let you know how it goes. Really grateful for all the detailed explanations about these confusing rules!

Just wanted to add that if she runs into any issues with the CalWORKs application, she can also contact her local legal aid organization. Many counties have advocates who specialize in helping people navigate benefit applications, especially for pregnant women. They know all the rules and can sometimes even attend appointments with you or make calls on your behalf. In my experience, having an advocate involved really speeds things up and makes sure workers apply the correct policies. Also, keep copies of everything - applications, denials, approvals - because these cases can get complicated and you might need to reference things later!