California CalFresh

UPDATE: I reported my seasonal job through BenefitsCal yesterday and uploaded my offer letter that shows it's only for 3 months. They already processed it (wow that was fast!) and my benefits are only decreasing by $47/month during the seasonal job period. Not as bad as I feared! Thanks everyone for your help and making sure I didn't get in trouble with an overpayment situation later!

That's awesome that it worked out so well for you! $47 reduction is totally manageable for the extra income you'll be getting. Just wanted to add - when you report the job ending in January, make sure to include your final pay stub showing the last date worked. Sometimes they need that proof to process the change quickly. Also keep copies of everything for your records in case there are any questions later. Good luck with the seasonal job!

Just as a follow up - I checked with our department and there was indeed a system update last night that affected some EBT card services. Most issues should be resolved by this evening. If you're still having problems tomorrow, definitely contact your county office.

I had a similar issue a few months ago where the system kept rejecting my zip code even though I knew it was correct. What finally worked for me was trying different variations - sometimes the system wants just the 5-digit zip, sometimes it wants the zip+4, and sometimes it's sensitive to how fast you enter the numbers. Try pausing between each digit when you enter it, or try entering it really slowly. Also, if you have any letters in your address (like "1234 Main St Apt A"), make sure your zip code in the system matches exactly how it appears on your official correspondence from CalFresh. Sometimes they abbreviate things differently than what you'd expect. Hope this helps!

Thank you all so much for the helpful information! I just submitted our application online through BenefitsCal. I included all the info about my sister moving in and our current income situation. Hopefully it all goes smoothly! I'll update when I hear back about our eligibility.

Best of luck with your application! Just wanted to add that if you need any documents translated or have language barriers during the process, Kern County is required to provide interpretation services for free. Also, don't be discouraged if they ask for additional verification - it's pretty standard. They might want proof that your sister actually lives with you now (like a utility bill with her name, or a statement from you both confirming she's moved in). The whole process can take up to 30 days, but often it's faster. Keep us posted on how it goes!

Update for everyone: I just checked with our county liaison, and they confirmed the PEBT activation system is experiencing technical difficulties due to high call volume. They're working on expanding capacity, but in the meantime, here's the official workaround: 1. Call the regular EBT customer service number (877-328-9677) 2. Select option 2 (for lost/stolen card) 3. Then option 4 (for other card issues) 4. Tell the representative you're trying to activate a PEBT card This route is working for many families right now as a temporary solution. Hope this helps!

I'm having the same issue with my son's card that arrived yesterday! Been trying to activate it since this morning with no luck. Reading through all these comments is actually really helpful - I had no idea this was such a widespread problem during distribution cycles. I'm going to try Emily's workaround with the regular EBT customer service line tomorrow morning. It's frustrating because my son starts back at school next week and we were planning to use these benefits for his meal plan. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and solutions!

It's possible they might pursue child support, but not guaranteed. When you apply for certain benefits like TANF/CalWORKs, counties typically require cooperation with child support enforcement unless you have good cause not to (like domestic violence concerns). Since your dad applied for Medi-Cal in a different county and the father isn't on the birth certificate, there's less immediate connection, but systems do eventually share information. The temporary custody situation might also factor in. If you're concerned about this, you have options: - You can request a "good cause" exemption if pursuing child support would cause harm - You could proactively discuss the situation with your caseworker - The father could potentially establish paternity and arrange support voluntarily The county will likely eventually ask about the father's information. Being upfront with your caseworker about your specific situation is usually the best approach, as they can explain your options based on your exact circumstances.

This is a complex situation with several moving parts. Since the father isn't on the birth certificate and you're in different counties, there isn't an automatic connection in the system right now. However, California's child support system (DCSS) does share information across counties. A few important things to consider: - TANF/CalWORKs applications typically require you to cooperate with child support enforcement, but there are exceptions - The temporary custody arrangement you had might actually work in your favor - it shows he was providing support when you couldn't - Since you now have custody and he's applied for Medi-Cal, his income information is in the system You might want to think about whether pursuing child support would actually benefit you financially versus potentially complicating your current arrangement. Sometimes voluntary support agreements work better than court-ordered ones. I'd recommend being honest with your caseworker about the father's identity and your concerns. They can help you understand your specific options and whether you qualify for any exemptions from child support cooperation requirements.