Emma, I really hope you were able to get the emergency housing assistance you needed today at the county office! I've been following this thread and I'm just amazed at how this community has rallied around you and your children with such detailed, practical advice. Reading through all these responses has been eye-opening for me too - I had no idea there were so many different programs available beyond just CalFresh. The distinction between CalFresh (food) and CalWORKs (housing assistance) that people clarified early on was really important, and all the specific program names like Temporary Homeless Assistance, Rapid Re-Housing, and the Emergency Family Shelter programs give such clear direction on what to ask for. As a community member who hasn't experienced housing instability myself, I feel like I've learned so much from everyone's shared experiences about navigating these systems. The practical tips about timing (getting to the county office right when it opens), documentation (bringing multiple copies), and advocacy (asking for supervisors when needed) are things I'll remember in case I ever need to help a friend or family member in a similar situation. I'm really hoping you found a safe place for you and your kids tonight and that you were able to get connected with the resources you need. Please update us when you can - this whole community is genuinely invested in your family's wellbeing and wants to know that you're okay. You're clearly doing everything right by reaching out for help and fighting for your children's safety and stability.

Emma, I hope your county office visit went well today! I've been checking this thread hoping to hear an update about how things went for you and your kids. As someone who's new to understanding these programs, I'm amazed by all the resources this community has shared - from the emergency hotel vouchers through CalWORKs to the Family Emergency Shelter programs and Rapid Re-Housing assistance. It's clear there are more options available than most people realize. I wanted to add one thing I noticed while researching Sacramento resources - the county has a "Crisis Response Team" that does outreach to families with children facing immediate homelessness. They can sometimes provide same-day assistance or connect you to emergency shelter space even if the regular county office is backed up. Their number is (916) 874-9754. Also, if you're still looking for permanent housing options, check with local elementary schools in areas you're considering - many have family resource coordinators who know about landlords in their area who work with families receiving assistance. Really hoping you were able to get help today and that you and your children have a safe place tonight. This whole community is pulling for you, and with all the amazing guidance people have shared here, I'm confident you're going to get through this. Please update us when you can - we're all genuinely concerned and want to know you're okay!

This entire thread has been such a revelation! I've been on CalFresh for about a year and work at a nonprofit that serves people experiencing homelessness. I'm embarrassed to admit that even though I help people apply for benefits regularly, I didn't fully understand how RMP worked until reading all these explanations. I knew it existed but didn't grasp the specific eligibility categories or how automatic enrollment was supposed to work for homeless individuals. This is making me realize we need to do a much better job of following up with our clients to make sure they're actually getting enrolled in RMP when they qualify. I'm going to bring this up with our case management team tomorrow - we might be missing opportunities to connect people with benefits they're entitled to. It's so frustrating that something this important gets explained so poorly (or not at all) during the application process. Thank you to everyone who shared their knowledge and experiences here!

This thread has been incredibly eye-opening! I'm a new CalFresh recipient (just got approved last month) and I had the exact same confusion when I saw someone using their EBT card at a local deli. I actually thought maybe there was some kind of fraud happening because I was told EBT only worked for groceries. Now I understand about the Restaurant Meals Program and how it's specifically for people who are elderly, disabled, or experiencing homelessness. It makes total sense that those populations would need different accommodations since they might not be able to cook at home easily. I'm grateful that I have stable housing and kitchen access so I don't need RMP, but it's really reassuring to know these programs exist for people who genuinely need them. The amount I've learned from reading everyone's experiences here is honestly more than what I got during my entire application process. It's clear the system needs much better education about all these different programs and eligibility categories from the start!

This whole thread has been so helpful! I'm also pretty new to the CalFresh program and had no idea about any of these potential issues with PIN lockouts and system delays. Reading everyone's experiences really highlights how important it is to have backup plans - the food bank suggestion is something I never would have thought of but makes total sense for emergency situations. I'm definitely going to look into that RFID blocking wallet with a combination lock that everyone's been discussing. Between protecting from skimmers and keeping curious kids away from the card, it seems like a really smart investment. The ConnectEBT website tip is going straight to my to-do list too. Thanks to everyone for being so welcoming and sharing such practical advice - this community seems like an amazing resource for navigating all the ins and outs of these programs!

I'm brand new to both CalFresh and this community, and wow - this thread has been incredibly informative! I had no idea there were so many nuances to EBT card security and system quirks. The fact that there can be delays between PIN resets and when the card actually unlocks is something I wish they explained upfront when you first receive your card. I'm definitely going to set up that ConnectEBT account right away and look into getting one of those RFID blocking wallets with combination locks that everyone's been discussing. The backup options like food banks are also really good to know about. Thanks to everyone for creating such a supportive environment where newcomers can learn from your experiences - it's clear this community is going to be an invaluable resource as I navigate this system!

I just want to echo what everyone else is saying - your PIN definitely stays with your account! I got my replacement card about 6 months ago and was in the exact same panic mode. The PIN worked perfectly on the first try. Since you have $345 loaded and ready to go, you should be completely set for shopping tomorrow. One thing that helped calm my nerves was doing a quick balance inquiry at an ATM first (like others mentioned) - it confirms everything is working without the pressure of being at a grocery checkout. Also, don't feel bad about losing your card - it happens to the best of us! The replacement system is actually pretty user-friendly once you know how it works. Good luck with your shopping trip tomorrow!

I just wanted to add that if you're still feeling nervous about your PIN tomorrow, you can also test it by making a small purchase first (like buying a pack of gum or something under $2) before doing your main grocery shopping. That way if there's any issue, you're not stuck with a cart full of groceries! I did this when I got my replacement card and it gave me so much peace of mind. Also, most store cashiers are really understanding about EBT issues - they deal with it all the time, so don't stress about asking for help if you need it. Your $345 in benefits should work perfectly with your existing PIN on the new card!

Hi! I'm new to this community but your situation really hits home for me. I missed my SAR 7 deadline about 8 months ago due to a family crisis and went through the exact same panic about my remaining EBT balance (I had around $165 left). Just like everyone else has confirmed here, that money is absolutely yours to use! I was able to stretch those funds for about 5 weeks while waiting for my reapplication to process. The key thing that helped me was understanding that the discontinuation only stops NEW benefits from being deposited - it doesn't touch what's already on your card. One practical tip I learned: if you're trying to make your remaining balance last, consider buying versatile staples like rice, beans, eggs, and pasta that can be stretched into multiple meals. Also, many stores have weekly sales on basics like bread and milk that can help your dollars go further. You're being really smart about reapplying quickly - I waited almost a week because I was embarrassed about missing the deadline, but I wish I'd known sooner that it's totally common and the workers don't judge you for it. This community has been such an amazing resource for real-world CalFresh advice that you just can't get from the official notices. Good luck with your reapplication - the whole process is much more manageable when you know what to expect!

Hi there! I'm new to this community but your post really caught my attention because I'm dealing with a very similar situation right now. I missed my SAR 7 deadline in late October due to some unexpected childcare issues, and my benefits were discontinued on November 15th. I've got about $98 left on my EBT card and have been terrified to touch it because I wasn't sure if I'd lose access or face some kind of penalty. Reading through all these incredibly detailed responses has been such a huge relief! I had no idea that the remaining balance was completely safe to use or that the 365-day inactivity rule even existed. The tip about being able to submit your application first and then provide documents within 10 days is amazing - I've been stressing about gathering everything before I could even start the process. I'm definitely going to submit my reapplication this week now that I understand how it all actually works. Thank you for starting this discussion and thanks to everyone who's shared their experiences - this community seems incredible for getting the real-world, practical advice that you just can't find in any of the official materials! It's so comforting to know that missing the SAR 7 is more common than I thought and that there are so many people who've successfully navigated this exact situation.