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This might sound stupid but are you sure you're checking on the right day? My sister thought her benefits were cut but she was just checking too early. CalFresh benefits get deposited on different days based on the last digit of your case number. Mine's a 7 so I get mine on the 7th of each month. When do yours normally come in?
I work with CalFresh recipients and wanted to explain why your benefits may have been reduced. The most common reasons are: 1. Increased income (even small increases can impact benefits) 2. Change in household composition 3. Unreported income discovered during verification 4. Missing or incomplete SAR7 information 5. Expenses like rent or utilities not fully reported To maximize your benefits, make sure you're reporting all allowable expenses on your SAR7 or recertification application. This includes: - Full rent/mortgage amount - Utilities (if not using the standard utility allowance) - Child care expenses - Medical expenses over $35/month for elderly or disabled household members - Court-ordered child support payments Regarding the timing of benefits, they're issued from the 1st-10th of each month based on the last digit of your case number. There are no supplemental payments tied to specific events like the Super Bowl. If you believe your benefits were incorrectly calculated, you can request a state hearing within 90 days of receiving your Notice of Action.
Thank you for all this information! I'm thinking #1 and #5 might be my issues. I got a small raise last summer (about $1.25/hour) but I'm actually working fewer hours now. And I definitely haven't been reporting my full rent because sometimes I pay less in cash. I'll make sure to update everything on my next report.
The exact transition dates for each county should be posted on the California Department of Social Services website under "EBT System Modernization" by the end of February. San Bernardino is currently scheduled for Phase 3, which would be around August-September 2025. If you're moving between counties, make sure to update your address immediately when you move so your new card goes to the right place. Also, if you're moving to a county in a different phase of the rollout, you might experience a slight delay or get your card earlier than expected.
my sister said we gotta activate the new cards when they come or we cant get our benefits. does anybody know if that's true?
Yes, that's correct. When you receive your new EBT 3.0 card, you'll need to activate it by following the instructions included with the card. There will be a transition period where both your old and new cards will work, but after the cutoff date (which varies by county), only the new card will access your benefits. Make sure to activate your new card as soon as you receive it to avoid any interruption in accessing your benefits.
Just to clarify about the P-EBT amount that several people have mentioned - the $230 per child is specifically for the fall semester period. It's calculated based on a daily rate multiplied by the number of eligible school days. If you're struggling with food costs beyond what P-EBT and CalFresh provide, here are some additional resources in LA County: 1. WIC (if you have children under 5) 2. Food banks - LA Regional Food Bank has distribution sites throughout the county 3. School-based pantries - many LAUSD and other district schools now have food pantries for families 4. Summer meal programs will be starting soon where kids can get free meals during summer break Also, if your income has decreased recently or your expenses have increased significantly, you can report these changes to potentially increase your regular CalFresh benefits, even if it's not your regular reporting month.
StarSailor
You're caught in a classic benefits catch-22. Here's what you need to know: 1. Yes, you can cancel an unemployment claim. You'll need to contact EDD to withdraw your claim. 2. For proof: Request an official "Claim Statement" from EDD showing $0 paid to you. This is the document both CalFresh and housing will accept. 3. Going in person is smart since the phone system is overwhelmed. Bring ID and your claim information. 4. Very important: Once you have documentation that you're not receiving unemployment, immediately contact your CalFresh eligibility worker to request a recalculation of your benefits based on your actual income, not potential unemployment. This is a common issue. CalFresh regulations require them to count "available income" but you can appeal if the income isn't actually available to you.
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Sofia Morales
•Thank you SO much for the clear steps! I'll definitely ask for that "Claim Statement" showing $0 paid. Do you think I should also get something showing I've withdrawn my claim entirely? I'm worried housing won't accept just the $0 payment proof and will think future payments might come. This whole system is so confusing...just trying to keep a roof over my head.
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