Just wanted to jump in as someone who went through this exact same situation with my grandmother in LA County last month. The combination approach that Raul mentioned works really well - we did the detailed written statements plus bank deposit records and it was approved within a week. One thing I'd add is to make sure you document WHY employer verification isn't available in the written statement. We wrote something like "Employer operates small cash business and is unable to provide written documentation due to informal payroll system." The eligibility worker appreciated the transparency. Also, if you have any regular customers or clients who can vouch for the work being done (even informally), that can help strengthen the case. My grandmother cleans houses and we got a simple note from one of her regular clients confirming she works there weekly. Every little bit of documentation helps paint the complete picture! The stress of these deadlines is real but LA County workers are generally understanding when you're being proactive and thorough like you're doing.

As someone who just went through this process with my elderly uncle in LA County, I want to emphasize how important it is to submit everything at once if possible. We made the mistake of sending documents piecemeal and it delayed the whole process. One additional option that hasn't been mentioned - if your mother-in-law and father-in-law do any regular shopping at the same stores, sometimes those receipts can help show a pattern of living expenses that supports the income they're claiming. It's not primary verification but it can be supporting documentation. Also, make sure to write down the name of any worker you speak with and reference numbers from calls. LA County processes a huge volume of cases and having specific details helps when you need to follow up. The fact that they gave you a 10-day extension shows they're working with you, which is a good sign! One last tip - if you end up needing to visit the office in person, try to go early in the morning or right after lunch. Those tend to be the least busy times and workers have more bandwidth to help explain exactly what they need.

ANOTHER THING to know is that even if you miss your recertification paperwork deadline, you still have a 30-day grace period to submit it without losing benefits completely!! They might stop benefits briefly but when you submit within that 30 days they'll restore from the discontinuation date. A lot of workers don't tell clients this!!!

Hey Henry! I'm new here but went through something similar last year. Just wanted to add that if you're having trouble getting through to your worker by phone, you can also visit the Contra Costa County office in person at 40 Douglas Dr in Martinez. I know it's not always convenient, but sometimes showing up in person gets faster results than waiting on hold. They have walk-in hours on certain days. Also, when you do get through to your worker (whether by phone or in person), make sure to ask them to put a note in your case file about your mail access issue - this creates a paper trail that protects you if there are any problems with missed deadlines. Good luck!

The most important thing is timing! When I moved states last year, I timed it so my previous state benefits closed at the end of the month when we moved, then I applied in the new state on the 1st day of the next month. This minimized the gap. You'll definitely want to apply as soon as you have an NC address though - even if you're still in temporary housing there. Just make sure you've officially closed your CA case first. Good luck with your move!

As someone who helps families navigate benefit transitions, I wanted to add a few practical tips for your move: 1. Contact food banks in both Sacramento and your destination city in NC - they can help bridge the gap during your transition period and don't have the same residency requirements as government benefits. 2. Consider applying for WIC in NC if you have children under 5 or are pregnant/breastfeeding - it's a separate program that can provide additional food assistance and often has faster processing times. 3. Keep detailed records of everything - dates you contacted CA about closing your case, copies of documents you submit to NC, etc. This paper trail can be crucial if any issues arise. 4. Look into local churches and community organizations in your new NC area - many have emergency food assistance programs that can help immediately while you wait for your SNAP application to process. The transition is definitely stressful, but with proper planning and backup resources, you can minimize the gap in food assistance for your family. Wishing you a smooth move!

I'm dealing with the same situation! Got my $120 about 3 weeks ago and have been anxiously checking my card balance daily. It's really frustrating that there's no clear communication from the state about when to expect the next payments. Reading everyone's experiences here makes me feel so much better - sounds like the full $455 does come through eventually, just at unpredictable intervals. I think I'm going to stop obsessively checking and just look once a week since it seems like the payments are typically 3-4 weeks apart. Thanks to everyone sharing their timelines, it really helps us newer families navigate this confusing system!

I'm in the same boat as you Aisha! Just got my $120 P-EBT payment yesterday too and was panicking thinking that was all we were getting for the summer. Reading through everyone's responses here is such a relief - sounds like there are definitely more payments coming to reach that $455 total. I have twin 6-year-olds so I was really stressed about how I'd stretch $240 for both of them through the whole summer. Now I feel so much better knowing there should be 2-3 more payments coming over the next few weeks. I'm going to follow the advice about checking weekly instead of daily since it sounds like the timing is pretty unpredictable. Thanks for asking this question - you helped a lot of us worried parents!

I work with several families in Salinas who received their P-EBT 4.0 benefits this week (specifically Monday and Tuesday). It seems to be coming in waves. One thing to check - are you sure you have the correct P-EBT card? Some families still try to use the original P-EBT 1.0 card, but P-EBT 2.0, 3.0, and 4.0 all use the same newer card that was issued later. The original white P-EBT cards from the first pandemic round won't receive new benefits.

UPDATE: Just wanted to let everyone know that our benefits finally arrived this morning! Checked the cards and each of my kids got $402 for the summer benefits. So if you're in Salinas and still waiting, they're definitely rolling out now. Thanks everyone for the helpful info!