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btw if u dont use all ur tokens at the farmers market they dont go back on ur card u just save them for next time thats what i do
Thats good to know!! I was worried it would be use it or lose it.
Just wanted to add that some counties also have special events where they boost the matching rate! I went to a "Double Up Day" event at the Santa Monica farmers market last month where they were doing 100% matching up to $40 instead of the usual $20. They announced it on their Facebook page a few days before. Also, if you're shopping at chain stores, Whole Foods and some Ralphs locations participate too - you can usually tell by looking for the "CalFresh Healthy Living" decals near the produce section. The program really has expanded a lot since I first heard about it in 2023!
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wait wait I just thought of something else! If u have ANY kind of home health aide or even if family helps you with daily activities, that can sometimes count as proof too. My mom was helping me with grocery shopping and driving to appointments and we included that in my paperwork. CalFresh accepted that as evidence I couldn't work cuz I needed help with basic stuff. worth mentioning if thats ur situation too
That's a really good point. My sister does help me with groceries and house cleaning because I can't manage on my own. I never thought to include that as evidence of my limitations, but it makes perfect sense. I'll definitely add that to my documentation. Thank you!
I went through something very similar with undiagnosed chronic pain issues. One thing that helped me was getting documentation from my physical therapist instead of just my doctor. PTs often see the functional limitations more clearly since they work with you on movement and activities. My PT was willing to write a letter describing exactly what I couldn't do physically, and CalFresh accepted that along with my doctor's more general medical statement. Also, if you're prescribed any assistive devices (even just a cane or compression socks), make sure to mention those in your paperwork - it shows medical professionals are acknowledging your limitations even without a specific diagnosis name. Don't give up - there are people in the system who understand that real medical issues don't always come with neat diagnostic labels!
This is such valuable advice! I never thought about asking my physical therapist for documentation - you're absolutely right that they see my functional limitations firsthand during our sessions. My PT has watched me struggle with basic exercises and mobility tasks, so they'd probably be more willing to document what I actually can't do. And I do use compression sleeves and have a walking stick for bad days, so I'll make sure to include those as evidence too. It's encouraging to hear from someone who made it through a similar situation. Thank you for giving me hope that there are people in the system who get it!
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I work at a county eligibility office and can confirm what others have said - the automated phone system often doesn't display pending deposits until 3-5 days before issuance. Your benefits should continue automatically between quarterly reviews as long as you haven't received a Notice of Action about discontinuation. The fact that you only received an appointment notice (not a discontinuation notice) is actually a good sign. Your April verification is routine and shouldn't affect your monthly deposits. Keep checking around the 4th-5th if your case number ends in 7!
This is so helpful to hear from someone who actually works in the system! I've been stressing about this for days but your explanation makes total sense. I really appreciate you taking the time to reassure folks like me who are new to navigating all this. It's reassuring to know that not seeing pending deposits is actually normal and that my April appointment is just routine. I'll definitely keep an eye out around the 4th-5th for any updates. Thank you!
I've been on CalFresh for about 2 years now and this exact same thing has happened to me multiple times, especially around quarterly reviews. The phone system is honestly pretty unreliable for showing future deposits - sometimes it shows them, sometimes it doesn't. What I've learned is that as long as you haven't gotten any official notices about your benefits being discontinued, they usually deposit on schedule regardless of what the automated system says. Since you mentioned your case number ends in 7, definitely check your account on the 7th. In my experience, the benefits almost always show up even when the system acts weird like this. Try not to stress too much about it!
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Hey! I work as a benefits counselor and just wanted to add a few things that might help. First, definitely apply even though your combined gross income is over the initial threshold - with Oakland rent prices, you'll almost certainly qualify after deductions are applied. One thing I don't see mentioned yet is that you should also ask about the Standard Utility Allowance (SUA) when you apply. Since you mentioned paying $180 for utilities, you can claim either your actual utility costs OR the SUA (whichever is higher). The SUA for 2025 is usually around $400+ for heating/cooling, so that alone could save you a significant amount in the income calculation. Also, if either of you has any medical expenses (prescriptions, copays, etc.), make sure to include those too - they're deductible for everyone, not just elderly/disabled applicants. Even small medical costs can add up and help lower your countable income. The reduced hours situation Justin mentioned is super important - make sure to emphasize that this is a recent change when you apply. Sometimes they can even backdate benefits if your income dropped significantly in recent months.
This is such helpful information from someone who actually works in benefits! I had no idea about the Standard Utility Allowance being potentially higher than our actual costs - that could really make a difference. We do both have some medical expenses (I have a prescription that costs about $40/month and my sister sees a therapist), so I'll make sure to include those too. Really appreciate you taking the time to explain all these details that the county workers don't always mention!
Just wanted to chime in as someone who went through a similar situation with my brother last year in SF. We were also over the gross income limit initially, but ended up qualifying after all the deductions. A few things that really helped us: - Make sure you bring documentation for EVERYTHING when you apply (pay stubs from both jobs, lease agreement, utility bills, any medical receipts) - Ask specifically about the "excess shelter costs" deduction - with your $2300 rent in Oakland, this will probably be your biggest deduction - If you get denied initially, don't give up! You can request a hearing and sometimes they missed deductions the first time around Also, even if you only end up qualifying for a small amount (like $50-100/month), it's still worth it because you'll also get access to other programs and discounts. We only get about $80/month but it helps, especially with prices being so crazy right now. The whole process is honestly confusing and the rules seem to change constantly, but stick with it. Having that financial cushion for groceries has been a huge relief for us, especially during months when work is slow.
This is so encouraging to hear! It's really reassuring to know that even if we're over the initial limit, there's still a good chance we could qualify with all the deductions. I'll definitely make sure to gather all our documentation before applying - lease agreement, recent pay stubs, utility bills, and those medical receipts. The "excess shelter costs" deduction sounds like it could be huge for us with that Oakland rent. Even if we only get a small amount like you mentioned, every bit helps right now with how expensive everything has gotten. Thanks for the encouragement to not give up if we get denied initially - I was worried that would just be the end of it!
Omar Fawzi
As someone who's been on CalFresh for about 6 months now, this thread is both incredibly helpful and absolutely terrifying! I had no idea the system could be this unreliable. Reading about all these random cancellations and notification failures makes me realize I need to be way more proactive than I thought. I'm going to implement pretty much every suggestion mentioned here - updating all my notification settings, setting monthly calendar reminders to check BenefitsCal for any pending tasks, taking screenshots of everything I submit, and keeping detailed records of all my interactions. It's really unfortunate that we have to be this vigilant just to maintain benefits we're entitled to, but clearly that's the reality. Keisha, I'm so glad you finally got your situation resolved! Your persistence really paid off, and sharing your experience (including the stressful parts) is going to help so many other people. The tip about asking workers to check for "alerts" or "flags" on accounts seems particularly valuable - I never would have known to ask about that. Thank you to everyone who shared their knowledge and tips in this thread. This is exactly why community support is so important when dealing with complex government systems!
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Ryder Everingham
•I'm completely new to CalFresh and just got approved last week, so reading this entire thread has been both incredibly informative and honestly pretty scary! I had no idea the system could have so many glitches that could randomly cancel your benefits. It really makes me appreciate how important it is to stay on top of everything from day one. I'm definitely going to be implementing all the preventive measures everyone has shared - I've already gone and updated my notification settings to include text, email AND mail, and I'm setting up calendar reminders for my quarterly reports right now. The tip about taking screenshots of confirmation numbers and asking about system flags seems especially important. It's really unfortunate that we have to be this proactive and vigilant just to receive benefits we qualify for, but I'm so grateful for communities like this where experienced members share their real-world knowledge. Keisha, thank you for sharing your stressful experience and keeping us updated - it's going to help so many people, including newcomers like me who are still learning how to navigate the system. Your persistence really shows that these issues can be resolved even when it seems hopeless!
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Owen Devar
Welcome to everyone who's new to CalFresh! As someone who's been navigating this system for over two years, I can definitely relate to how overwhelming it can feel when you realize how many potential issues there are. But honestly, this thread is a perfect example of why this community is so valuable - experienced members sharing real solutions that actually work. A few additional suggestions based on my experience: - If you're tech-savvy, consider setting up a simple spreadsheet to track all your important dates (quarterly reports, recertification, etc.) and confirmation numbers - Some counties have local CalFresh navigator programs that can help you one-on-one - search "[your county] CalFresh navigator" to see if there's free assistance available - When you do get connected to a worker, always ask for their direct extension if possible - it can save you hours of hold time for follow-up questions Keisha, I'm so glad you got everything resolved! Your willingness to share both the frustrating parts and the solution is going to help countless other members. The "system flag" issue you experienced is definitely more common than it should be, and now we all know to ask about it specifically. To all the newcomers - don't let this thread scare you too much! Yes, the system has issues, but being informed and proactive goes a long way. Plus you've got this amazing community to help when problems do arise. We've all been there!
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Noland Curtis
•Thank you Owen for those additional tips! The spreadsheet idea is brilliant - I'm definitely going to set that up to track all my dates and confirmation numbers. I hadn't thought about looking for local CalFresh navigator programs either, that sounds like it could be really helpful for getting personalized assistance. As a complete newcomer to this system, I have to say this entire thread has been both eye-opening and reassuring. Yes, it's scary to learn about all the potential issues, but it's so much better to be prepared than to get blindsided like Keisha did. The fact that this community exists and people are willing to share their hard-won knowledge makes me feel much more confident about navigating CalFresh successfully. I'm bookmarking this thread and definitely implementing all the preventive measures everyone has shared. Better to be over-prepared than caught off guard! Thanks to everyone who contributed their experiences and solutions here.
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