California CalFresh

does anyone know if they backdated payments? like if it takes them 30 days to approve me will i get food money for that whole month or just from when they approve me??

Hey Sean! I'm new to this whole CalFresh thing too and was stressing about similar stuff. Reading through everyone's responses here has been super helpful. I just wanted to add that when I applied last month, they also asked about my rent and utility bills during the interview - apparently these can help increase your benefit amount through deductions. Since you're working part-time, make sure to mention all your housing costs! Also, totally agree with what others said about answering unknown calls - I almost missed my interview because I didn't recognize the number. Good luck with your application!

my friend also got help from local churches in san diego when she was about to be evicted. try calling some of the bigger ones. they sometimes have emergency funds 4 rent

I'm new to this community but wanted to share something that helped me when I was in a similar situation last year. The San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency actually has an online portal where you can submit rental assistance applications 24/7, which helped me avoid the phone wait times. It's called the "MyBenefits CalWIN" portal and you can access emergency assistance applications through there. Also, if you're already receiving CalFresh, you might qualify for the Emergency Food and Shelter Program through United Way San Diego - they sometimes have funds for rent assistance too. The application process was much faster online than trying to call. Hope this helps and you find the assistance you need!

Unfortunately, the emergency allotments were tied specifically to the COVID-19 public health emergency declaration, which has ended. It would take new federal legislation to implement something similar again. If you're struggling, I'd recommend: 1. Check with local food banks - many have really improved their offerings 2. Look into the CSFP (Commodity Supplemental Food Program) if you have seniors in your household 3. Ask about the restaurant meals program if you're in a county that offers it and are eligible (elderly, disabled, or homeless) 4. Make sure you're claiming all allowable deductions on your CalFresh case Also, when you complete your SAR7 in June, that's a perfect time to make sure all your expenses are updated to potentially increase your benefits.

I'm new to CalFresh and this thread has been super helpful! I just applied last month and was wondering about the benefit amounts. One thing I wanted to add - if you're having trouble making your benefits stretch, check if your county has a CalFresh Healthy Living program. They offer free nutrition education classes that teach you how to meal plan and shop smart with your EBT benefits. I just started attending these classes in my county and learned some great tips for stretching my food budget. They even give you recipes and sometimes cooking demos. It's not extra money but it definitely helps make what you get go further!

UPDATE: My supplemental benefits just loaded onto my EBT card this morning! I'm in Contra Costa County with a case number ending in 7. It was exactly 40% of my regular benefit amount. Such a relief! Hope everyone else gets theirs soon too!

Just wanted to share that I'm still waiting for mine in Riverside County (case ending in 4). Called the customer service line this morning and they confirmed the supplemental benefits are rolling out through April 26th based on case numbers. The rep said if you don't see yours by the 26th, then call back to check on any issues with your account. Fingers crossed everyone gets theirs soon! This extra help will make such a difference for so many families struggling right now.

just wanted to say i had a similar problem with BenefitCal last month when i tried to add my newborn to my calfresh case and i ended up going to the office in person which was actually way faster than i expected. went at 2pm on a wednesday and was in and out in 40 min. sometimes in person is actually easier than dealing with the site!

This is such a widespread issue! I'm dealing with the same thing trying to upload my rent receipts for my annual review. The site keeps timing out after I select my files. I've been stressed about missing my deadline too. Based on what everyone's sharing, I'm going to try the mobile app first thing tomorrow morning, and also email my documents to the county address that @Aisha Abdullah shared. It's so frustrating that we have to jump through all these hoops just to maintain our benefits, but I'm grateful this community exists to help each other navigate these problems! Has anyone tried using a different device entirely? Like maybe the issue is more common on certain phones/computers?