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Did your quarterly review (SAR7) get processed properly? Same thing happened when I forgot to include my pay stubs with SAR7 and benefits were held. Make sure you didn't get any notices in the mail requesting additional verification.
The OP mentioned their benefits arrived this morning - looks like it was just the holiday weekend delay after all. But your point about SAR7 processing is a good one for future reference. Missing verifications on the Semi-Annual Report is one of the most common reasons for unexpected benefit delays.
Glad to hear your benefits came through! This is such a common issue that really stresses people out. For future reference, here's what I've learned about CalFresh deposit timing: Federal holidays always push deposits back to the next business day, and sometimes it takes an extra day for the banking system to catch up. Memorial Day, Labor Day, and Presidents Day weekends are the worst for this. I keep a small emergency stash of non-perishables now specifically for these situations - learned that the hard way after being caught short during a Thanksgiving weekend delay a couple years ago.
That's really smart advice about keeping an emergency stash! I wish I had thought of that before this happened. Do you have any recommendations for good non-perishable items that work well for families with kids? I'm thinking rice, pasta, canned goods - but wondering if there are other shelf-stable options that are nutritious and kid-friendly for future holiday delays.
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the limits r actually diffrent depending on if ur household is regular or if it has elderly/disabled ppl!! my mom is on SSI and we only had 2 meet the net income test not gross when we applied
You're absolutely right! Households with elderly (60+) or disabled members only need to meet the net income test, not the gross income test. This is an important distinction that can make a big difference in eligibility. Additionally, households with elderly/disabled members may qualify for medical expense deductions if they spend more than $35 monthly on out-of-pocket medical costs.
Thanks everyone for all the helpful info! I'm going to apply through BenefitsCal this weekend and include all our income details and expenses. Based on what you've all shared, I think we might qualify with our deductions even though our gross is sometimes right at the limit. I'll make sure to include our full rent ($1,350/month) and utilities to get the shelter deduction. Wish me luck!
apply in person if u can!!! online system kept freezing for me but the lady at the office helped me finish in 1 visit
@Sebastian Scott Hope the application goes smoothly! With your rent being $1,350 that should definitely help with the shelter deduction calculation. Just remember they calculate it as anything over 50% of your income after the standard deduction and 20% earned income deduction. So if your monthly income varies, try to apply during a lower income month if possible - you can always report changes later if your income goes up significantly.
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Am i the only one who still uses the paper benefit reports they mail out? lol I know I'm old school but I never trusted these apps with my benefit info
Wait they still send paper statements?? I haven't gotten one in like 2 years. Did you have to request that specially or something?
You have to specifically request paper statements by calling your county office. I did it when I first got CalFresh in 2023 because my phone was too old for the app.
I'm glad to see the app is working again for everyone! For future reference, I've found it helpful to have multiple backup methods ready when the app goes down. Besides the phone number (1-877-328-9677) and the website, you can also check your balance at most ATMs using your EBT card - just select "balance inquiry" instead of making a withdrawal. Some people don't realize this option exists but it's really convenient when you're already out shopping and need a quick balance check.
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The Restaurant Meals Program (RMP) rules haven't changed in 2025. It's always been limited to elderly, disabled, and homeless CalFresh recipients, and only in certain counties. The confusion comes because some people use their EBT *cash* benefits (from CalWORKs, not CalFresh) at restaurants, which is different. CalFresh food benefits can only be used at restaurants if you qualify for RMP and the restaurant participates. If you don't qualify for RMP, your CalFresh benefits can only be used for unprepared food items at grocery stores, farmers markets, and some online retailers like Amazon and Walmart. One helpful resource is the CalFresh Restaurant Meals Locator in the CalFresh app or BenefitsCal website, which was added in late 2024. It shows all participating restaurants with their addresses and hours.
OHHHHH that explains it!!! my cousin must be using CalWORKs cash not CalFresh!! I always get them mixed up
Thanks everyone for the helpful information! I checked and I don't qualify for the Restaurant Meals Program since I'm not elderly, disabled, or homeless. I'm going to try the suggestion about buying sandwich ingredients at the grocery store with my EBT and making my own lunches. Seems like it'll save me money anyway! I never knew about the difference between CalFresh and CalWORKs cash benefits before, so I learned something new.
That's exactly what I do too! Another money-saving tip - check out the manager's special/clearance section at grocery stores for discounted lunch meats and cheese that are still good but close to expiration. I've gotten some really good deals that way. Also if your grocery store has a deli counter, sometimes they'll slice meat thinner if you ask, so it goes further. Good luck with the meal prep!
Samuel Robinson
Just want to add - when you apply, make sure to have all your documents ready! You'll need proof of identity, income (pay stubs for last 30 days), rent receipts or mortgage statements, utility bills, and any medical expense receipts. Having everything organized will speed up the process. Also, if you get approved, your benefits will be backdated to when you submitted your application, so don't delay! Good luck with your application - sounds like you'll definitely qualify with those housing costs and your son being a student.
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KylieRose
•This is such helpful advice! I'm new to this whole process and wasn't sure what documents I'd need. Quick question - for the income proof, do they accept direct deposit statements from my bank or does it have to be actual pay stubs? My employer switched to electronic pay stubs recently and I'm not sure if screenshots would work.
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Madison Tipne
•@KylieRose Electronic pay stubs should be fine! You can print out screenshots or PDFs from your employer's payroll system. Bank statements showing direct deposits also work as backup proof of income. The key is that the documents clearly show your employer name, gross pay amount, and pay period dates. If you're worried about it, you could bring both - the electronic pay stubs AND bank statements showing the deposits. CalFresh workers are pretty flexible about document formats these days since so many employers went digital.
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LunarEclipse
Just wanted to share my recent experience since I see a lot of good info here! I applied for CalFresh for my family of 4 last month and got approved. We make about $3,400 gross monthly and pay $1,800 in rent plus utilities. The whole process took about 6 weeks from application to getting our EBT card. One thing I learned - definitely apply online through BenefitsCal.com first, then you can upload all your documents there too. Way easier than trying to fax everything. Also, they scheduled my phone interview pretty quickly, and the worker was actually really helpful in making sure I got all the deductions I was entitled to. For anyone nervous about applying - it's really worth it! We're getting $740/month in benefits which has been a huge help with groceries. The hardest part was just gathering all the paperwork, but once you have everything together it's pretty straightforward.
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Isabella Santos
•This is so encouraging to hear! I'm in a very similar situation - family of 4 making around $3,600 with high housing costs. It's reassuring to know the online application process worked well for you and that the worker was helpful. $740/month would make such a huge difference for us right now. Did you have to provide a lot of documentation during your phone interview, or was most of it handled through uploading to the BenefitsCal website? I'm planning to apply this week and want to make sure I'm prepared!
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