I'm in a similar boat and just wanted to share what worked for me! I was on CalWORKs for about 4 months when my housing situation fell through. What really helped was being super organized with my paperwork from day one. I made copies of EVERYTHING - my award letters, benefit verification forms, bank statements showing the deposits, and even screenshots of my EBT balance to show consistent benefit receipt. Some places wanted 3 months of records, others wanted 6 months, so having it all ready saved me tons of time. Also, when I called housing places, I learned to lead with "I receive CalWORKs cash aid" instead of saying "I don't have a job." It frames it as having stable income rather than being unemployed. The wording really matters! One more tip - if you have a caseworker for your CalWORKs, ask them if they know of any housing resources specifically for their clients. Mine had a list of landlords who were familiar with tenants on benefits and were more willing to work with us. Good luck with everything! The process is stressful but you definitely have options. 💪

I went through this exact situation about 8 months ago! I was on CalWORKs with a toddler when my rent went up $300 overnight. The stress was unreal, but I want you to know there IS help available and you absolutely can qualify for housing assistance. What saved me was learning about the Emergency Housing Assistance Program (EHAP) through my county. It's different from HSP and can provide immediate help while you're applying for long-term housing. They helped me with a security deposit for a new place when my old landlord wouldn't budge on the rent increase. Pro tip: When you call tomorrow, ask specifically about "rapid rehousing" programs too. These are designed exactly for situations like yours - when you're stably housed but suddenly can't afford your current place. They often have faster turnaround times than traditional housing assistance. Also, don't sleep on calling community organizations and churches in your area. Many have emergency rental assistance funds that aren't widely advertised but can bridge the gap while you're waiting for county programs to kick in. You've got this! The system is frustrating but there are people who want to help. 🏡✊

Wow, just discovered this community and this thread is exactly what I needed! 🙌 I'm brand new to CalFresh and was actually dreading dealing with the EBT system based on horror stories I'd heard, but seeing how everyone came together to help @Oliver Zimmermann figure out the PIN issue gives me so much hope! That "option 2" secret is absolutely wild - like why would they bury such an essential function in a confusing menu?? @Natasha Volkova you're a lifesaver for sharing that solution, and @Emma Davis thanks for listing all the different methods! I'm definitely saving this entire thread because I know I'll need these exact steps soon. It's honestly ridiculous that we have to crowdsource basic instructions that should come with the card, but I'm so grateful this community exists to help each other navigate these bureaucratic mazes. The fact that @Oliver Zimmermann had hungry kids and nearly $700 in benefits he couldn't access because of poor phone menu design is exactly the kind of systemic problem that makes my blood boil. But seeing how quickly everyone rallied with solutions and support really restores my faith in people looking out for each other! Welcome to all the other newcomers in this thread - looks like we found the right place to get real help when we need it most! 💙

Just joined this community and wow, what an incredible thread! 🤗 As someone who's completely new to CalFresh (still waiting for my application to be approved), reading through everyone's experiences here has been both eye-opening and reassuring. @Oliver Zimmermann I can't even imagine the stress of having hungry kids and $678 in benefits you can't access because of a confusing phone menu - that must have been absolutely awful! 😰 @Natasha Volkova you are seriously a hero for cracking that "option 2" code! The fact that PIN services are hidden under such a vague menu option is just baffling. Like, why not just have a clear "PIN Management" choice?? And @Emma Davis thank you for listing all the different methods - having multiple options is so helpful for people who might struggle with one approach. I'm definitely bookmarking this entire conversation because I know I'll need these exact instructions when my card arrives. It's honestly wild that we have to become phone system detectives just to perform basic account functions, but I'm so grateful communities like this exist where people actually look out for each other! The way everyone jumped in with solutions, personal experiences, and encouragement really shows what makes this place special. Looking forward to learning more and hopefully being able to help others once I've got some experience under my belt! 💙

This thread has been incredibly helpful - thank you so much @Marilyn Dixon for sharing your experience and keeping everyone updated! I'm fairly new to CalFresh (about 4 months) and had no idea these PIN change system failures were so common. Reading everyone's stories and tips has me feeling much more prepared for when I inevitably encounter similar issues. The 3+ hour wait time you endured is absolutely unacceptable, especially when you have kids to feed and it was their system error, not yours. I'm definitely saving that Claimyr service info that @Payton Black shared - that sounds like a game-changer for dealing with these ridiculous hold times. I'm also taking notes on all the practical tips shared here: writing down confirmation numbers and times, using the "remind me later" option for PIN changes until they fix these bugs, having backup emergency resources like food banks, and being strategic about when to make system changes. It's frustrating that we need all these workarounds just to access our basic benefits reliably, but this community knowledge is invaluable when the official system fails us. Really glad you got everything resolved in the end! This whole discussion is going to help so many people who run into the same problem.

This thread has been such a lifesaver to read through! I'm about 6 months into CalFresh and thankfully haven't encountered the PIN change nightmare yet, but wow - the fact that @Marilyn Dixon had to wait over 3 hours to fix THEIR system glitch is absolutely maddening. When you've got kids to feed and a cart full of groceries, every minute counts. I'm definitely saving all the incredible resources shared here, especially that Claimyr service from @Payton Black and the genius tip about hitting "remind me later" when you get those automated PIN change prompts. It's honestly shocking they rolled out this "security enhancement" without proper testing - we shouldn't be unwilling beta testers for a system we depend on for basic necessities! The practical advice everyone's shared here is pure gold: writing down confirmation numbers, avoiding system changes on weekends, keeping emergency cash if possible, and knowing about food bank options as backup. It's ridiculous that we need all these workarounds, but this community knowledge is literally invaluable when the official system fails us. Thank you everyone for turning a frustrating experience into such a helpful resource for all of us navigating this broken system!

Congratulations on getting your Section 8 voucher after such a long wait! I'm in a similar situation in Fresno County and was worried about the same thing. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful - it sounds like you're handling everything exactly right by reporting it so quickly through BenefitsCal. I wanted to add one thing that helped me when I was navigating benefit changes - I started keeping a simple log with dates of when I reported changes, what method I used, and any confirmation numbers or screenshots. It's saved me a couple times when there were questions about timing. Since you already reported online and took screenshots, you're ahead of the game! The consensus here seems to be that yes, your CalFresh might go down a bit, but the housing savings will more than make up for it. Three years on that waitlist shows how much you needed this housing assistance, so try not to stress too much about a potential small reduction in food benefits. You and your kids are going to have housing stability, which is huge! Wishing you a smooth transition to your new place.

Congratulations Melody! What an incredible milestone after 3+ years of waiting. I'm a newcomer here but have been reading through all the amazing advice everyone has shared. It's so heartwarming to see this community rally around you with such detailed, helpful information. From everything I've read in this thread, it sounds like you've handled this perfectly - reporting immediately through BenefitsCal, taking screenshots for documentation, and being proactive about asking for guidance. The consensus seems clear that while your CalFresh might decrease slightly, the housing stability and rent savings will far outweigh any reduction in food benefits. I especially appreciated the tips about keeping documentation organized, watching for the benefit calculation letter, and asking about the Excess Shelter Deduction. As someone new to navigating these systems, this whole conversation has been incredibly educational. Wishing you and your kids all the best as you transition to your new home! After such a long wait, you truly deserve this housing security. Thank you for sharing your experience - it's going to help so many other people in similar situations.

This thread has been such a lifesaver! I'm actually in the exact same situation as Maya - got my IRT letter about a week ago and was completely panicked about what it meant. I work in retail and my hours can vary a lot depending on the season, so I was terrified that any extra shifts would somehow get me in trouble with CalFresh. Reading everyone's experiences here has been so reassuring, especially learning that going over your IRT is really just about benefit adjustments rather than losing everything. The tip about using BenefitsCal online instead of waiting on hold for hours is amazing - I had no idea that was an option! I'm definitely going to set up those phone reminders for the 10-day reporting window too, since I'm terrible at remembering important deadlines. One thing I'm still a bit confused about - if I go over my IRT one month but then go back under the next month, do I need to report both changes? Or just the initial increase? My work schedule is pretty unpredictable so this could definitely happen to me. Thanks to everyone who's shared their stories - you've turned what felt like a nightmare into something totally manageable!

I'm also new to CalFresh and just received my IRT letter yesterday! This entire thread has been incredibly helpful - I was literally googling "IRT CalFresh meaning" when I found this discussion. Maya, thank you for asking exactly what I was wondering about! Reading everyone's real experiences has completely changed my perspective on this. The letter made it sound so intimidating, but it's clear from all your stories that it's really just about keeping the county informed so they can adjust benefits appropriately. I love all the practical advice here, especially about using BenefitsCal online and keeping pay stubs ready as PDFs. I work as a substitute teacher so my income varies quite a bit depending on how many days I get called in each month. Based on what I'm reading here, it sounds like I should report if I have an unusually busy month that puts me over my IRT threshold ($2,100), but I don't need to panic about normal week-to-week fluctuations. Is that understanding correct? Thanks again to everyone who shared their experiences - you've made something that seemed really scary feel totally manageable!