Have you checked to see if you might qualify for Emergency Allotment (EA) benefits? While the regular pandemic-related EA ended in April 2023, there are still emergency supplements available in some situations - like if your regular benefits are less than 95% of the maximum for your household size. For a family of 4, the maximum monthly allotment in 2025 is around $1045, so you might qualify for additional help. Also, remember that CalFresh benefits are meant to be supplemental - covering about 75% of the USDA Thrifty Food Plan. That's why your amount seems so low compared to actual grocery costs. The program assumes you'll use some of your own income for food too, which I know is really tough with today's prices. For immediate help stretching your benefits, look into CalFresh-Ed programs that offer free cooking and budget classes (plus free groceries sometimes) - Fresno EOC might offer these.

I'm new to CalFresh too and just got approved for a similar amount for my family of 3. The learning curve is definitely steep! One thing that's helped me is downloading the Ibotta app - you can get cashback on groceries that you buy with EBT, which gives you a little extra money to spend on food. Also, I've started buying generic/store brands for everything - the savings really add up. For Central Valley specifically, I've heard good things about Cardenas Markets if you have one nearby - they often have good prices on fresh produce and meat. And don't sleep on the ethnic grocery stores! Sometimes they have way better prices on rice, beans, and spices than the big chains. One last tip - if you have a Costco membership or can borrow someone's, they accept EBT now. The bulk sizes can be worth it for things like frozen vegetables, rice, and pasta if you have the upfront EBT balance to spend.

my sister gets calfresh to and hers went up to almost 700!! she has 4 kids tho. i think the more people you feed the more you get. they do adjust it every year in the fall. my moms on calworks not calfresh and hers didnt change at all so its just a food stamps thing i think

I'm glad you were able to figure out what caused the increase! Just wanted to add that you can also check your EBT card balance and transaction history online or through the ebtEDGE mobile app if you haven't already. It's really helpful for tracking your benefits and understanding when they're deposited each month. Also, if you ever have questions about your benefit calculation in the future, you can always call your county's CalFresh office - they're required to explain how they calculated your amount.

Update: Just wanted to let everyone know that my benefits showed up this morning! They did give me prorated benefits from my application date (Nov 5th) through the end of the month. The worker also told me that starting in December, my regular issuance date will be the 6th of each month. Thanks everyone for your help!

Congratulations on getting approved! That's such a relief after waiting 3 weeks. Just wanted to add that you should also keep an eye out for your CalFresh card in the mail if you haven't received it yet - sometimes people get so focused on when the benefits will load that they forget they need the physical card to actually use them. The card usually arrives within 7-10 business days of approval. You can also set up account alerts through your county's EBT website to get text notifications when your benefits are loaded each month. Really helps with planning your grocery trips!

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!

You can find your local food banks by texting your zip code to 898-211 or by visiting www.feedingamerica.org/find-your-local-foodbank. Many don't have income requirements - they're open to anyone who needs food assistance. Also, after the emergency allotments end, you might see your benefit amount adjust slightly with the annual cost of living increase scheduled for October 2025. It won't make up for the emergency allotment loss, but every little bit helps.

I'm in the same boat as you @ElectricDreamer - single parent struggling with this news. One thing that helped me was requesting a copy of my benefit calculation from my worker so I could see exactly how they arrived at my regular amount. Turns out I was missing some deductions that could boost my base benefit by about $80/month. Also, if you're working, make sure they're using the correct earned income deduction (20% of gross earnings). Sometimes errors happen and it's worth double-checking. The WIC program might also help if your kids are under 5 - it provides specific foods like milk, eggs, and cereal that can free up some of your CalFresh budget for other items.