This is incredibly helpful information! I had no idea about the Bringing Families Home program or the MFG exemption. I'll write these down to discuss during my interview. Thank you so much for taking the time to share all this.

Hey Javier, I'm in a similar situation with rent increases and waiting for benefits. One thing that helped me was contacting my local Community Action Agency - they often have emergency rental assistance funds that move faster than county programs. Also, if you're in a city with rent stabilization laws, document everything about your rent increase (date of notice, amount, etc.) because some cities require 30-60 days notice for increases over certain percentages. The Tenant Protection Act might apply to your situation too. Don't forget to ask your CalFresh worker about the Homeless Assistance Program if you end up facing actual eviction - it can sometimes provide immediate help with first month's rent if you have to move. Good luck with your interview next week!

One thing I'd recommend is applying online if possible - the MyBenefitsCalWIN portal lets you submit applications for both CalFresh and GR at the same time, and you can upload documents electronically instead of having to mail or fax everything. It also lets you track the status of your applications and communicate with your caseworker through secure messaging. The system can be a bit clunky but it's usually faster than paper applications and you don't have to worry about documents getting lost in the mail. Plus you'll have a digital record of everything you submitted. Just make sure to keep copies of everything you upload, and follow up if you don't hear back within the expected timeframes!

This thread has been incredibly helpful! As someone who's been navigating the benefits system for a while, I wanted to add that it's also worth checking if your local community college or adult education center offers free classes on benefits navigation. Many of them have counselors who specialize in helping people apply for multiple programs at once and can walk you through the paperwork step by step. They often know about local resources and programs that even some caseworkers might not mention. Plus, if you're interested in job training or education while on GR, some programs don't count as "income" and can actually help with your long-term employability. The combination of GR, CalFresh, and educational support can really help create a pathway out of poverty rather than just temporary assistance.

I'm actually going through this exact same situation right now! I'm moving from LA County to Colorado next month and just went through the reporting process last week. A few things I learned that might help: 1. When you report your move through BenefitsCal, make sure to note the exact date you're leaving California - they'll use that to determine your last day of eligibility 2. Colorado (and probably most states) requires proof of residency before you can apply, so you'll need something like a lease agreement, utility bill, or even a letter from someone you're staying with 3. I found out that some states have different application methods - Colorado lets you apply online, by phone, or in person, which gives you more flexibility than California's system The timing is definitely tricky since there will likely be a gap, but everyone here has given such great advice about budgeting for that transition period. Good luck with your move - it sounds like you're planning well ahead which should make the whole process smoother!

As someone who recently moved from Sacramento County to Oregon, I can share my experience! The process was actually more straightforward than I expected once I understood the steps. I reported my move through BenefitsCal about 10 days before leaving (as others mentioned, this is required), and my CA benefits ended at the end of that month. Oregon's application process was surprisingly efficient - I applied online the day after I arrived and got approved within 2 weeks. One thing that really helped was calling Oregon's SNAP office before I moved to ask about their specific documentation requirements. They emailed me a checklist of what I'd need, which made the application much smoother. Also, Oregon has different deductions and income calculations than California, so even with the same income, my benefit amount changed slightly. I'd recommend checking your new state's SNAP website for their benefit calculator and eligibility requirements before you move - it really helped me set realistic expectations and budget for the transition period. The 2-week gap between benefits was manageable since I planned ahead. Good luck with your move!

Three months is absolutely outrageous! I'm a newcomer here but had to jump in because this hits close to home - my sister went through something similar last year in a different county. The system is seriously broken when people can't get basic food assistance processed in a reasonable timeframe. One thing that hasn't been mentioned yet - if you're still getting the runaround after trying all these great suggestions, you might want to contact your local legal aid office. Many of them have attorneys who specialize in public benefits cases and can send a demand letter to the county. Sometimes that's what it takes to get them moving. Also, I noticed you mentioned you have kids - make sure to emphasize that when you call. Cases involving families with children are supposed to get priority processing, especially for hardship situations like yours. Hang in there and keep fighting! The fact that you uploaded through BenefitsCal with confirmation should work in your favor - they can't claim they never received it. You deserve better treatment than this, and I hope you get your benefits restored ASAP with full retroactive payments.

I'm new to this community but had to respond because your situation is absolutely unacceptable! Three months without benefits while they claim to be "processing" a form they received in February is beyond ridiculous. I've been reading through all the excellent advice here and wanted to add one more resource - if your county has an ombudsman office or client advocate program, that might be another avenue to escalate this. Some counties have these offices specifically to handle cases where regular channels aren't working. Also, when you do get through to someone, make sure to ask them to notate your file with "PROCESSING DELAY - CLIENT HARDSHIP" so there's a permanent record of this situation. That documentation could be important if you need to take further action. The fact that you have a BenefitsCal confirmation number should make this an open-and-shut case. There's no excuse for a 3-month delay when they have electronic proof of receipt. I really hope all these strategies help you get this resolved immediately - you and your family shouldn't have to suffer because of their administrative failures!

I just want to add that you should also check if your county has extended hours for phone interviews! I was in the same situation working multiple jobs and couldn't take calls during normal business hours. When I submitted my recertification online, I noticed there was a dropdown menu where you could select "evening hours preferred" or something like that. My county (Los Angeles) actually had workers available until 7pm for recertification interviews, which was a lifesaver. Also, make sure you have your case number handy when you log into BenefitsCal - it'll speed up the whole process. The online system will pre-fill a lot of your information from your previous application, so you mainly just need to update what's changed. Don't let the horror stories scare you - I think the people who have smooth experiences just don't post about it as much! You can definitely get this done without taking time off work.

Hey Charlotte! I totally understand your situation - I was in the exact same boat last year working multiple jobs and stressing about losing my benefits. I successfully completed my recertification online through BenefitsCal.com and it was honestly much easier than I expected. Here's what worked for me: I set aside about an hour on a Saturday morning when I wasn't rushed, made sure I had all my documents saved on my phone (pay stubs from both jobs, rent receipt, utility bill), and logged in early so I wouldn't hit any system timeouts. The online form walks you through everything step by step and even pre-fills information from your previous application. The interview part isn't as scary as it sounds - mine was literally 6 minutes and they just confirmed my income and asked if my living situation had changed. Pro tip: when you submit, there's a section where you can note your preferred interview times, so definitely mention you're only available during lunch or after work hours. Most counties are pretty accommodating about this now. You've got plenty of time before your deadline, just don't wait until the last few days in case they need additional documents. You've got this!