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i just wanted to add that my cousin works for the food bank and she said lots more people coming in since those emergency food stamps ended. if ur family needs extra food u should check out the food banks. they dont ask many questions and u can go even if u get calfresh. they have produce and meat sometimes too not just canned stuff. just google LA food bank locations and they will tell u where to go based on ur zip code
Thanks for the tip! I'll look into food banks in my area. Anything helps at this point.
One more thing to note - while the regular emergency allotments have ended, LA County does occasionally issue one-time supplements during specific circumstances. For example, during the extended power outages last summer, some CalFresh recipients received replacement benefits for food lost due to refrigeration issues. Also, if you experience a major household change that significantly decreases your income (job loss, reduction in hours, someone leaving the household), report it immediately rather than waiting for your next SAR7. LA County is required to process these changes within 10 days and adjust your benefits accordingly. This isn't "extra" benefits, but it does ensure you're receiving the maximum amount you're eligible for based on your current situation.
That 10 day processing is a JOKE!! I reported my job loss last year and it took them 37 DAYS to adjust my benefits!!! And they REFUSED to backdate it even though it was THEIR delay!! The whole system is designed to pay as little as possible for as long as possible!
I had this exact same problem last month! I tried with Chase and Wells Fargo and both refused. Ended up going to my local credit union (Golden 1) and they were super helpful. Not only did they sign the direct deposit form, but the customer service rep actually called my county worker WITH ME to verify all the information was correct. My direct deposit for CalWORKs started on the very next payment cycle. I also learned you can check the status of your direct deposit change by logging into BenefitsCal and looking under "Payment Information" once you're logged in. It will show if your account is pending verification or active.
This is so helpful! There's a Golden 1 near me too. Did you need to open a new account with them first or did you already have one? And how long did the whole process take you from filling out the form to getting it approved?
I already had an account with them, but they told me the process is really easy to open one (just need ID and like $25 to start). From submitting the form to getting approval was about 8 days, and then the deposit came on schedule the following week. So about 2 weeks total from start to finish.
Update: I went to Bank of America today and they signed my form no problem! The banker even helped me fill out some parts I wasn't sure about. I'm submitting it to the county office tomorrow. Thanks everyone for your help! And special thanks for clarifying that this is for my CalWORKs, not CalFresh. Still learning all the terminology lol.
Excellent! Make sure to follow up with your county worker in about 7-10 days if you don't see the change reflected in your BenefitsCal account. Sometimes these forms get backlogged during busy months. If you have trouble reaching someone, that's when Claimyr can be particularly helpful for avoiding the long hold times.
For my rental search documentation, I created a simple spreadsheet with columns for: Date, Property Address, Rent Amount, Contact Name, Contact Method (phone/email/in-person), Response, and Notes. I attached all supporting evidence (emails, screenshots, etc.) after organizing them by date. My worker actually complimented me on how organized it was, and it made the approval process go much faster. It took some time to put together but was worth it to get approved without delays.
This is brilliant! I'm definitely going to create a spreadsheet like this. Did you submit both digital and physical copies? I'm not sure if I should print everything out or if I can email the documentation.
my social worker told me i had to prove contact with at least 10 different properties before they would approve my next step in THAP+14. but then another worker told someone else they needed 15!!! the requirements seem to change depending who u talk to!!!!
The specific number of properties you need to contact can indeed vary by county and sometimes by individual case circumstances. Rather than focusing on a specific number, I recommend focusing on consistency and thoroughness in your search. Document everything, search regularly (2-3 times per week minimum), and vary your search methods. A comprehensive search over time is generally more important than hitting a specific number of properties.
wait wut?? u guys getting EXTRA calfresh cause of wildfires?? im in sacramento county and didnt hear anything about this. how do u qualify? and does any1 know if its coming to other counties? my benefits barely cover half the month with these crazy food prices nowadays 😩
The wildfire emergency allotments are only for residents of the 7 counties with FEMA disaster declarations (Shasta, Lassen, Plumas, Butte, Tehama, Trinity, and Siskiyou counties). Sacramento County isn't included in this particular disaster relief program. However, if you're struggling with your current benefit amount, I'd recommend submitting a SAR7 or mid-period report if you've had any changes that might increase your benefits - like higher rent/utilities costs, decreased income, or additional household members.
Just wanted to update - my emergency allotment just posted to my account about 10 minutes ago (Monday 11:45pm). Looks like they're processing them late tonight. Maybe check your accounts again?
Luca Ferrari
did you get WIC too? sometimes people think kids dont get calfresh if they already get WIC but thats wrong you can get both
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Zara Shah
•No, we don't have WIC. I did apply a while back but my older kids were too old at that point. But my daughter should definitely be on CalFresh regardless since she lives with us and we all eat together. Seems like it was just an error on their part.
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Aisha Hussain
One more thing - when you call, make sure you're ready with your daughter's full name, date of birth, and Social Security number. Having all this information ready will help them process the change faster. And definitely ask them to review your case for any other errors while they're at it. Sometimes one mistake means there might be others too!
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Zara Shah
•That's great advice, thank you! I'll have all her information ready when I call. Fingers crossed it gets resolved quickly.
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