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That's awesome that it worked out so well for you! $47 reduction is totally manageable for the extra income you'll be getting. Just wanted to add - when you report the job ending in January, make sure to include your final pay stub showing the last date worked. Sometimes they need that proof to process the change quickly. Also keep copies of everything for your records in case there are any questions later. Good luck with the seasonal job!
This is such helpful advice! I'm new to CalFresh and had no idea about keeping the final pay stub as proof. Question - if my seasonal job happens to extend a bit longer than expected (like maybe into February), should I report that change too? Or just wait until it actually ends? I want to make sure I stay on top of all the reporting requirements after seeing what happened to @AstroAdventurer with the overpayment situation.
@Sophie Hernandez Yes, definitely report if your seasonal job gets extended! Any change in expected duration should be reported within 10 days. It s'much better to over-communicate with CalFresh than to risk an overpayment later. Since you re'already in their system with the seasonal job, updating the end date should be pretty straightforward through BenefitsCal. The key is being proactive - if you know in December that they want to keep you through February, report it then rather than waiting until the original January end date passes.
Great thread! As someone who's been navigating CalFresh for a while, I just wanted to emphasize something that might not be obvious to newcomers - even though reporting income changes can feel scary (like your benefits might get cut), it's actually protecting you in the long run. The overpayment situations people mentioned are real and they can be financially devastating when they catch up with you later. One thing I learned the hard way is to always take screenshots or print confirmations when you submit reports through BenefitsCal. Sometimes their system glitches and you want proof you submitted on time. Also, if you're ever unsure about whether something needs to be reported, err on the side of caution and report it. I've never heard of anyone getting in trouble for reporting too much information, but I've definitely seen people get burned for not reporting enough. @Aisha Khan - sounds like you handled this perfectly! The fact that you asked the question here first shows you're being responsible about it.
This is such valuable advice, especially about taking screenshots! I'm totally new to all this and honestly feeling pretty overwhelmed by all the reporting requirements. It's reassuring to hear from someone with experience that it's better to over-report than under-report - that takes away some of the anxiety about making mistakes. Quick newbie question though - when you say "print confirmations," are you talking about the confirmation page that shows up after submitting through BenefitsCal? And do you keep physical copies or just save them digitally? I want to make sure I'm documenting everything properly from the start so I don't run into issues later like some people mentioned here. Thanks for sharing your experience - it really helps those of us just starting to navigate this system!
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This entire discussion has been incredibly valuable! As someone who's been on CalFresh for over a year, I'm embarrassed to say I had no idea about these out-of-state restrictions either. It really highlights how poorly communicated these important details are when you first receive benefits. I travel frequently for work and have been lucky so far that I haven't needed to access cash benefits while away, but reading this thread made me realize I've been playing with fire. I'm absolutely going to contact my county office this week to: 1. Set up direct deposit for cash benefits 2. Get pre-authorized for out-of-state use since I travel regularly 3. Ask what other restrictions or security features I should know about The Claimyr service sounds like a lifesaver too - I'm bookmarking that for future reference. It's ridiculous that we have to use third-party services to actually reach our own case workers, but if it works, it works! @Ava Thompson - thank you so much for sharing your experience and following up with the resolution. This thread is going to help countless people avoid the same stressful situation. I hope your mom's recovery continues to go well!
This whole thread has been such a learning experience! I'm relatively new to receiving benefits and honestly feeling a bit overwhelmed by how much important information seems to be missing from the official onboarding process. Reading everyone's experiences makes it clear that we're all figuring this stuff out together, which is both reassuring and concerning at the same time. I'm definitely going to follow your checklist approach - calling my county office to set up direct deposit, ask about travel authorizations, and find out what other "surprises" might be lurking in the system. It's frustrating that we have to be so proactive about discovering basic operational details, but this community makes it so much easier to navigate. The fact that so many experienced benefit recipients are just learning about these restrictions really shows how much the system needs to improve their communication. At least we have threads like this to help each other out! Thanks to everyone for sharing their knowledge and experiences.
This thread has been such an incredible resource! I'm fairly new to CalFresh (started receiving benefits about 4 months ago) and I'm honestly shocked that I had to learn about these travel restrictions through a community forum instead of official channels. It's really concerning how many critical details aren't communicated upfront. I actually have a trip planned to visit my sister in Arizona next month, so this discussion literally saved me from what could have been a nightmare scenario. I'm going to call my county office tomorrow to: 1. Set up direct deposit for my cash benefits 2. Request pre-authorization for out-of-state use 3. Ask what other important restrictions or features I might not know about The Claimyr service recommendation is gold - I'm definitely saving that link for future reference since getting through to county offices seems to be universally terrible. @Ava Thompson - I'm so glad you were able to get everything resolved and that your mom is getting the care she needs! Thank you for taking the time to update everyone with the solution. This whole thread is going to help so many people avoid similar stress and confusion. This community really demonstrates how we have to rely on each other to navigate these systems properly. It shouldn't be this way, but I'm grateful we have places like this to share knowledge and experiences!
This is such an amazing thread! I just joined this community and I'm blown away by how helpful everyone is. I've been on CalFresh for about 2 months now and honestly had no clue about ANY of these travel restrictions. Reading through all these experiences is like getting a crash course in how the system actually works versus what they tell you when you first sign up. I don't have any immediate travel plans, but after reading this I'm definitely going to be proactive and call my county office to ask about direct deposit and what other important details I might be missing. It's pretty alarming that so many people - even those who've been on benefits for months or years - are just finding out about these basic operational rules. The fact that @Ava Thompson had to deal with this stress while caring for her mom really highlights how these communication gaps can create real hardship for people who are already dealing with difficult situations. Thank you so much for sharing your experience and the solution - this thread is going to help so many people! Also bookmarking that Claimyr service because it sounds like getting through to county offices is a universal nightmare. This community is honestly more informative than any official documentation I ve'received!
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To answer your follow-up question: Yes, there is a list of authorized online retailers for CalFresh EBT. Currently in California, you can use your EBT card online at Amazon, Walmart, Albertsons, Safeway, Vons, Instacart (for certain stores), and ALDI. The USDA periodically adds new retailers to the program. You can check the official list on the GetCalFresh.org website or the California Department of Social Services site. Remember though, delivery fees cannot be paid with EBT - you'll need another payment method for those charges.
Thank you so much! This is super helpful. I'll check out those online grocery options instead. Appreciate everyone's responses!
Just wanted to add that if you're looking for quick meal options that work with CalFresh, you might want to check out the prepared food sections at grocery stores like Walmart, Target, or Safeway. They often have rotisserie chickens, pre-made salads, and other ready-to-eat items that ARE eligible for EBT purchase since they're sold in the grocery section, not a restaurant. It's not the same as online fast food ordering, but it could be a good middle ground for those busy nights when you need something quick but don't have time to cook from scratch!
That's a great suggestion! I never thought about the prepared foods at grocery stores. Do you know if things like the hot food bars at Whole Foods or those rotisserie chickens at Costco would work with EBT? I have a Costco membership and that could be perfect for grabbing something quick after work.
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I'm in San Bernardino County and still waiting for mine too! My benefits load on the 12th so I was getting really worried, but after reading all these comments I feel so much better knowing my old card will keep working. It sounds like they're really moving south through the counties systematically. Has anyone from San Bernardino or Imperial counties gotten theirs yet? Also thanks to everyone who shared that EBT customer service number - I'm definitely going to try calling them instead of my local office which never picks up!
I'm in San Bernardino County too and haven't gotten mine yet either! My benefits load on the 8th so I was really panicking until I read all these responses. It's such a relief to know our old cards will keep working. I called that EBT customer service number yesterday (1-877-328-9677) and they confirmed that San Bernardino County is scheduled for mid to late April, so we should be getting them soon. The representative was actually really helpful and much easier to reach than the local office. Hang in there - sounds like we're next in line!
I'm in Kern County and just wanted to add my experience for anyone else still waiting! Got my new card 3 days ago and the activation was super smooth. Like others mentioned, it came in a plain white envelope that looked like junk mail. The new blue card definitely looks more official than the old yellow one. One thing I wanted to mention that I haven't seen others talk about - when I activated the new card, I got a text message confirmation which was nice. Also, I tested both cards at the store the same day (before the old one got deactivated) and the new chip reader is noticeably faster than swiping the old magnetic strip. For anyone in the Central Valley counties still waiting, it looks like they're definitely working their way south. The EBT customer service line (1-877-328-9677) was able to give me the exact week my county was scheduled which helped ease my anxiety a lot. Don't stress if yours is running a few days behind what your worker estimated - seems like the rollout has some natural delays but your benefits are totally safe with the old card until you're ready to switch!
Thanks for sharing your experience! The text confirmation sounds really helpful - I didn't know they were doing that now. It's good to hear that the chip technology is actually making a difference in transaction speed too. I'm in Tulare County and still waiting for mine, but hearing from someone in Kern County gives me hope that we're getting close since we're neighbors! Did you have to wait on hold long when you called that EBT customer service number? I'm planning to call them tomorrow to check on my county's timeline.
Diego Mendoza
I'm new to this community and CalFresh in general (just started receiving benefits 3 months ago), and this thread has been incredibly helpful! I was so confused when I saw an extra $83 on my card this morning - went from $412 to $495 for my household of 2. I actually spent 20 minutes on the phone with EBT customer service thinking there was a mistake before I found this discussion. It's really reassuring to know this is a normal annual thing that happens every October. I had no idea about COLA adjustments or that they were based on food cost inflation. Really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences and explaining how this all works. The extra money couldn't come at a better time with how expensive groceries have gotten lately. Going to bookmark this community for sure - seems like there's always good info being shared here!
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Diego Chavez
•Welcome to the community! I'm also pretty new to CalFresh (started about 6 months ago) and this thread has been a lifesaver for understanding what's happening with our benefits. I had the exact same reaction when I saw the extra money - immediate panic that it was some kind of error they'd want back! It's crazy how they don't explain these things better to new recipients. I wish someone had told me about these annual October increases when I first applied. Your increase sounds great for a 2-person household! I'm definitely going to remember this for next year so I don't freak out again. This community has been so helpful for navigating all the confusing parts of the system that they don't really explain clearly anywhere else.
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ShadowHunter
This whole thread has been super educational! I've been on CalFresh for about a year and completely forgot about the COLA increase from last October. When I saw an extra $62 on my card yesterday (went from $523 to $585 for my 3-person household), I honestly thought maybe they finally processed some change I'd reported months ago. It's really helpful seeing everyone's amounts and understanding that the increase varies based on your specific income situation. I feel kind of silly for not remembering this from last year, but at least now I know to expect it every October! The timing is perfect too since I was just stressing about how much more expensive everything is at the grocery store compared to last year. Thanks to everyone who explained the Thrifty Food Plan connection - I had no idea that's how they calculated these adjustments. Definitely going to set a calendar reminder for next September so I'm not confused again in 2026!
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Zane Gray
•Don't feel silly at all! I think a lot of us forget about these annual increases from year to year, especially when there's so much other stuff to keep track of with benefits. I've been on CalFresh for about 3 years and I still get surprised every October even though I should know it's coming by now. Your increase sounds really good for a 3-person household! I love the idea about setting a calendar reminder for September - I'm definitely going to do that too. It's wild how much grocery prices have gone up this year, so this COLA timing really is perfect. Thanks for sharing your experience, it helps to know other people have the same "wait, what is this extra money?" reaction every year!
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