I just want to echo what everyone else has said - you absolutely can apply for CalFresh without cash aid! I did this exact thing about a year ago and it was much simpler than I expected. The application clearly separates the two programs, so you just check CalFresh and leave CalWORKs unchecked. Your living situation sounds very similar to what mine was. Since your children's father doesn't live with you or purchase/prepare food with your household, he's not considered part of your CalFresh household - period. The relationship status doesn't matter for CalFresh purposes, only who actually lives together and shares meals. They will ask about any financial support he provides, but be honest about it. If he gives you regular monthly support, that counts as income. If it's just occasional help with groceries or taking you out to eat, that typically doesn't count as regular income you need to report. During my interview, I was nervous about explaining our complicated situation, but the eligibility worker was very professional and just focused on the facts they needed to determine benefits. They've seen every type of family arrangement imaginable, so don't stress about it seeming unusual. Just be straightforward about who lives in your home and any regular income you receive. Good luck with your application!

I just wanted to add my perspective as someone who recently went through this process! You can definitely apply for CalFresh only - I did this about 4 months ago and it was straightforward once I understood the system. Your situation with your children's father is actually quite common. Since he doesn't live in your home or share meals with you, he's not part of your CalFresh household regardless of your relationship status. The program really focuses on who physically lives together and purchases/prepares food together. During my interview, they did ask about any financial support from the children's other parent, but it was a standard question they ask everyone. I explained that he helps out occasionally but doesn't provide regular monthly support, and the worker just made a note of it. They weren't judgmental at all - just gathering the information they needed. One thing that really helped me was calling ahead to ask about the interview process. The worker explained that they're required to ask about absent parents partly because the state wants to refer people to child support services when appropriate, but that doesn't affect your CalFresh eligibility itself. Don't let the application intimidate you - the food assistance can make such a difference for your family's budget. Just be honest about your living situation and you'll be fine!

I'm so glad I found this thread! I've been locked out of my EBTEDGE account for two days now and was starting to panic about how I'm going to manage my grocery budget this week. The security questions are the worst - I set mine up almost 6 months ago and honestly have no clue what I answered back then. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been such a relief though! I had no idea about the automated phone balance check at 1-877-328-9677 or that you can do balance inquiries at grocery stores without buying anything. That's going to save me so much stress while I work on getting my account reset. Based on all the success stories in this thread, I'm definitely going to try Claimyr tomorrow morning - it sounds like exactly what I need to avoid those horrible hold times with the county office. It's honestly ridiculous that we need third-party services and community forums just to access our own benefits, but I'm so grateful for everyone sharing what actually works instead of the useless official resources. This thread has been more helpful than hours of trying to navigate government websites! Thanks everyone for creating such a supportive space where people share real solutions that work.

This thread is absolutely incredible - I'm bookmarking it immediately! I'm currently dealing with the exact same EBTEDGE lockout nightmare and have been so frustrated trying to get help through official channels. The security question system is such a joke - who remembers what they answered 8+ months ago?? Reading through all these real solutions has given me so much hope though. I had NO idea about the automated phone balance check at 1-877-328-9677 or that you can check your balance at grocery store self-checkouts without buying anything - those are going to be lifesavers while I sort this out! Definitely trying Claimyr tomorrow based on everyone's success stories here. It's honestly infuriating that we need third-party services and community knowledge just to access our own benefits, but I'm so grateful for spaces like this where people actually help each other with solutions that work. This has been 1000x more useful than any official government resource I've tried. Thanks to everyone who took the time to share what actually works - this community support makes dealing with these broken systems so much more manageable!

Hey everyone! I'm brand new to this community and CalFresh - just got approved last week. This thread has been incredibly eye-opening! I had no idea there were so many different types of EBT programs. I actually saw an EBT sign at a Jack in the Box near my apartment and was planning to try using my card there this weekend, but now I understand it's only for RMP participants. It's a bit disappointing since I'm a single parent working two jobs and those quick meal options would be really helpful, but I totally get why the program is reserved for people with more specific needs like elderly or disabled folks who might not be able to cook at home. Thanks to everyone for being so patient in explaining all these rules - I feel like I learned more from this one thread than from all the paperwork they gave me when I applied! This community seems amazing for helping people navigate this complex system.

Hi everyone! I'm completely new to this community and just started receiving CalFresh benefits about two weeks ago. This thread has been absolutely amazing - I had the exact same confusion about EBT signs at fast food places! I actually saw one at a Burger King near my work and was so excited thinking I could finally grab lunch there between shifts. Now I understand it's specifically for the Restaurant Meals Program and has those eligibility requirements for elderly, disabled, or homeless individuals. Even though I don't qualify myself, it's really reassuring to know these programs exist for people who genuinely need access to prepared foods. The explanations about the difference between regular CalFresh SNAP benefits and cash benefits have been super helpful too - I had no idea there were multiple types on the same card for some people. Thanks to everyone for being so welcoming and educational! This community is already proving to be such a valuable resource for understanding all these benefit programs.

I love the idea of creating a community guide! Count me in for helping with that. I've been on CalFresh for about a year now and wish I'd had this kind of clear explanation from the beginning. One thing that might be helpful to include in any guide we create is a simple flowchart - like "Are you 60+, disabled, homeless, or spouse of eligible person? YES → You may qualify for RMP, contact your county office. NO → EBT works for groceries only, not restaurants." Also, maybe we could include a list of participating counties and some examples of restaurants that accept RMP? I know @NebulaKnight mentioned the county list earlier, and @Oliver Alexander brought up gas stations too. Having all that info in one place would be super valuable. The embarrassment factor is so real - I think a lot of people just assume their card is broken or they did something wrong rather than understanding it's a program limitation. If we can save even a few people from that awkward moment at the register, it would be totally worth the effort to put this together!

This entire thread has been incredibly eye-opening! I just got approved for CalFresh last month and had no idea there were different types of EBT programs. I almost made the same mistake at a Jack in the Box last week but chickened out at the last minute because I wasn't sure if it would work. Reading everyone's experiences makes me realize how common this confusion is, and honestly it's kind of ridiculous that we have to figure this stuff out through trial and error. The idea of creating a community guide sounds amazing - I'd love to help contribute! One thing I'm curious about: for those who do qualify for RMP, is there any visual difference on your EBT card that shows you have restaurant access? Or does it look exactly the same as a regular CalFresh card? It might be helpful to include that info in any guide we create so people know what to expect. Also, has anyone ever tried asking the restaurant workers which specific EBT programs they accept? I'm wondering if the staff usually know the difference or if they're just as confused as we are when cards get declined.

As a newcomer to this community, I just wanted to add my voice to this incredibly supportive discussion! I'm in a very similar situation - my CalFresh benefits ended about 4 months ago due to a job change that bumped me slightly over the income limit, but I've kept my EBT card. Reading through everyone's experiences has been so encouraging, especially all the positive stories about the California Science Center specifically! It's clear that the Museums for All program is working exactly as intended - removing financial barriers to educational experiences rather than creating more hoops to jump through. What I find most reassuring is how consistently positive people's experiences have been at larger, established museums. The staff training seems to focus on accessibility and welcoming families, which is exactly what these programs should be about. I'm definitely planning to take my kids to the Science Center next month based on all these success stories. The space shuttle exhibit sounds incredible! And thank you to everyone who shared additional resources like library museum passes and the Bank of America program - I had no idea these options existed. To the original poster - you should feel completely confident about your weekend plans. Your kids are going to have an amazing time, and you're using a program designed specifically for families like ours! Hope you have a wonderful visit! 🚀

As a newcomer to this community, I'm so glad I found this thread! I'm in almost exactly the same situation - my CalFresh benefits ended about 6 weeks ago when I missed my recertification appointment due to work conflicts, but I still have my physical EBT card. Reading through all these success stories has been incredibly reassuring! What really stands out to me is how many people have had specifically positive experiences at the California Science Center. It's clear that their staff are well-trained on the Museums for All program and understand that it's about accessibility, not verification. I've been hesitant to try using my card because I wasn't sure what to expect, but seeing so many detailed accounts of smooth, friendly interactions has given me the confidence to plan some museum visits with my kids. The fact that multiple people have mentioned the staff just glancing at the card and immediately processing the discount shows this is standard procedure there. The additional resources people have shared - library museum passes, Bank of America's Museums on Us, state park fee waivers - are absolute gems! I had no idea so many programs existed to help families access cultural experiences during financially tight times. To the original poster - based on everyone's experiences here, you should feel totally confident about your Science Center visit this weekend! Your kids are going to love the space shuttle exhibit and all the hands-on activities. Enjoy making those memories! 🎊