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my cousin got a personal injury settlement last year and that didnt count toward her calfresh because it was one-time money not regular income
Just wanted to add one more thing that might be helpful - if you're getting financial aid for school, make sure to keep documentation of what's specifically for tuition/books vs. what might be considered "living expenses" in your financial aid package. I learned this the hard way when my community college's financial aid office included some living allowance money that DID count as income, even though the rest of my Pell Grant didn't. The CalFresh worker was really helpful in breaking down my award letter to figure out what was excludable and what wasn't. Good luck with your application!
That's such a great point about financial aid! I didn't even think about the difference between tuition/books money vs living expenses. My financial aid package does have some money labeled as "living allowance" - do you remember roughly what percentage of your aid counted as income? I'm trying to get an idea of how much this might affect my eligibility calculation.
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dont forget u can also use the YourBenefitsNow! website for LA county! its older but sometimes works when BenefitsCal is down. just google it
YourBenefitsNow is actually being phased out. They're moving everyone to BenefitsCal, so that might not work for much longer.
UPDATE: I got into BenefitsCal finally! Had to create a completely new account even though I already had one. Not sure why, but at least it worked. My documents are uploaded now. Thanks everyone for your help!
So glad you got it working! I'm pretty new to this whole CalFresh thing but this thread has been incredibly helpful. The fact that you had to make a completely new account is really strange - sounds like their system has some serious bugs. I'm definitely saving all the backup options people shared here, especially that email address for LA County and the mobile app. It's crazy that we need so many workarounds just to submit required documents, but I'm grateful this community exists to help navigate these frustrating systems!
That's awesome that you got it sorted! @Ella rollingthunder87 I m'new to this community but have been struggling with similar BenefitsCal issues. It s'so weird that creating a new account fixed it - their system must have some major glitches. This whole discussion has been super helpful though! I m'bookmarking all the backup methods everyone shared, especially the LA County email and that Claimyr service for getting through to workers faster. It s'really frustrating that we need so many workarounds just to submit basic paperwork on time, but I m'grateful for communities like this where people actually look out for each other!
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Emily, I just wanted to chime in as another SSDI recipient who successfully got CalFresh benefits! Your thread has been such a comprehensive resource - honestly, it should be pinned somewhere for future reference. I'm on SSDI ($2,100/month) and was initially told my income was "borderline" for CalFresh, but after properly applying all the deductions I was entitled to, I ended up qualifying for $134/month in benefits. The key for me was really pushing to make sure they counted EVERYTHING - medical expenses, transportation to appointments, and the full shelter deduction. One thing I didn't see mentioned yet: if you have any medical equipment costs (mobility aids, special dietary requirements, etc.), those can also count toward your medical deduction. I had to purchase a shower chair and grab bars after a fall, and those costs were accepted as medical expenses. Also, don't be surprised if your first benefit amount seems low initially. Sometimes they need a few months of expense documentation to get the full picture, and you can always request a recalculation if you have additional qualifying expenses. You're going into this so well-prepared thanks to this amazing community. Based on your rent and medical costs, you should absolutely qualify for substantial benefits. Good luck with your call tomorrow - we're all rooting for you!
Cedric, thank you so much for sharing your success story! It's incredibly encouraging to hear from someone with a similar SSDI amount who was able to qualify for meaningful benefits. $134/month would make such a difference in my food budget! Your point about medical equipment costs is really valuable - I actually did have to buy a shower chair and some bathroom safety equipment after my condition worsened last year, and I still have those receipts. I never would have thought those could count as medical expenses for CalFresh purposes. The tip about benefit amounts potentially starting low and then being adjusted as they get more documentation is helpful to know too. I was worried that whatever they calculated initially would be set in stone, but it makes sense that they might need time to properly account for all expenses. It's so reassuring to hear that even when you were told your income was "borderline," the proper deductions made all the difference. That's exactly what I'm hoping will happen with my case - my SSDI amount looked too high at first glance, but with all these deductions everyone has helped me identify, the math should work out much better. I'm calling first thing in the morning with all my documentation organized and feeling so much more confident thanks to advice from you and everyone else in this thread. This community has truly been amazing! I'll definitely update everyone on how it goes.
Emily, I just wanted to add my support as you head into your call tomorrow! This thread has been absolutely incredible to read through - the level of detailed advice and community support here is amazing. As someone who also navigated CalFresh while receiving disability benefits, I can tell you that your preparation is going to make all the difference. You've transformed from feeling confused and overwhelmed to having a comprehensive understanding of your rights and the deductions you're entitled to. One thing I'd suggest for tomorrow: have a pen and paper ready to take notes during the call, and don't hesitate to repeat back what the worker tells you to make sure you understand correctly. Something like "So just to confirm, you're applying the medical expense deduction of $265 and the shelter deduction of..." - this helps ensure nothing gets missed. Your situation with $1,950 SSDI, $1,400 rent, and $300+ medical expenses really should result in meaningful CalFresh benefits once all the proper deductions are applied. The community here has armed you with exactly the knowledge you need to advocate for yourself effectively. Best of luck tomorrow morning! This whole thread has become such a valuable resource for anyone dealing with CalFresh applications while on disability. Can't wait to hear your success story - you've got this! 💪
Mason, thank you so much for the encouragement and that great tip about taking notes and repeating back what the worker tells me! That's such a smart way to make sure nothing gets missed or misunderstood during the call. I'm definitely going to have a notepad ready and use that confirmation technique. It's amazing how much this thread has evolved from my initial confused question to becoming this comprehensive resource about CalFresh and disability benefits. Everyone's advice has been so specific and actionable - I feel like I've gotten better guidance here than I could have hoped for from multiple phone calls to official offices. I'm honestly feeling excited about tomorrow's call now, which is such a different emotion than the dread and confusion I started with. Having a clear understanding of all the deductions I should be getting and knowing that my case should work out mathematically has given me so much confidence. I'll definitely take detailed notes tomorrow and share exactly how the conversation goes with everyone here. Whether it's a smooth success story or if I hit any unexpected roadblocks, I want to document the real experience for anyone else who might be in a similar situation down the road. Thank you for being part of this incredibly supportive community! I'll update everyone as soon as I have news to share. 🙏
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Just wanted to jump in as someone who recently went through the Sacramento County housing assistance process! One additional tip that really helped me was to create a simple timeline document showing your current housing situation, move-out deadline, new job start date, and when you need assistance by. Having this visual timeline ready when you call any of the programs makes it super easy for case workers to understand your urgency and helps them determine which expedited tracks you might qualify for. Also, when you do secure assistance, make sure to get confirmation in writing (email is fine) that you can forward to your landlord showing the payment is approved and processing - this can buy you extra time if there are any delays. The fact that you're being so proactive about this and have employment starting soon really works in your favor. Sacramento County genuinely wants to help people who are taking steps toward stability rather than just needing ongoing support. You've got a solid plan with all the resources everyone shared - I'm rooting for you to get that room!
That timeline document idea is genius! I wouldn't have thought of creating a visual representation but that makes total sense - it would help case workers quickly see the whole situation and understand why timing is critical. I'm going to put together a simple one-page timeline tonight showing my current temporary housing situation, the room availability, my job start date, and the deadline I'm working with. Having written confirmation to show the landlord is such a smart tip too - even if there are small delays, being able to prove that payment is approved and in process could make all the difference in keeping them willing to wait. I'm really feeling optimistic about this whole process now thanks to everyone's advice. It's amazing how much more manageable this seems when you have a clear strategy and know exactly which programs to contact. Thank you so much for the encouragement and for sharing what worked in your experience - it really helps to hear from someone who recently navigated this successfully!
I just want to say how incredible this thread has been to follow! As someone who works with housing assistance programs in other California counties, I'm impressed by how comprehensive and accurate all the advice has been. Freya, you're so lucky to have found this community - the combination of specific program names, phone numbers, timelines, and strategic tips everyone shared is basically a masterclass in navigating Sacramento County's assistance system. The advice about applying to multiple programs simultaneously, having all documentation ready upfront, using specific language like "at imminent risk of homelessness," and creating a timeline document is spot-on. You've gone from a single question about CalFresh to having a detailed action plan with multiple backup options. That's exactly the kind of proactive approach that gets results with these programs. Wishing you the best of luck with all your applications tomorrow - with this level of preparation and the resources everyone identified, I'm confident you'll find a solution that works!
Thank you so much Tobias! You're absolutely right - this community has been incredible and I feel so grateful for everyone who took the time to share their knowledge and experiences. When I first posted, I honestly thought CalFresh directly provided housing assistance and had no idea about all these different programs and resources. Now I have a whole list of specific programs to contact, phone numbers to call, documentation to prepare, and strategic approaches to take. It's like having a personal guide through what seemed like an impossible system just yesterday! I'm going to start making calls first thing tomorrow morning armed with all this information. Even if this particular room doesn't work out, I now understand how to navigate Sacramento County's assistance programs effectively for future opportunities. This thread is going to help so many other people who find themselves in similar situations - thank you everyone for creating such a valuable resource! I'll definitely update once I hear back from some of these programs.
Reina Salazar
That's a great tip about the Kirkland brand! And I didn't know the benefits roll over - that's a relief. I was worried I'd have to spend everything by the end of each month or lose it.
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QuantumQuest
Welcome to CalFresh! I've been using these benefits for about 2 years now and wanted to share a few practical tips that helped me when I was starting out: 1. Download your store's app before shopping - many grocery stores (Safeway, Vons, etc.) let you add digital coupons that stack with EBT, helping you stretch your benefits further. 2. Check your balance regularly by calling the number on your card or using the eConnectCA app. I got caught short at checkout once because I thought I had more than I did. 3. If you're planning to shop at multiple stores in one trip, ask the cashier to split your payment if needed. You can use EBT for eligible items and pay cash/card for everything else. 4. Keep your receipts! They show your remaining balance and help you track what's EBT-eligible vs what isn't. The learning curve is real but you'll get the hang of it quickly. Don't be embarrassed to ask cashiers questions - most are very helpful and understanding. Good luck with your first shopping trip!
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Samantha Hall
•Thank you so much for these practical tips! I especially appreciate the advice about downloading store apps for digital coupons - I never would have thought of that. The tip about asking cashiers to split payments is also really helpful since I'm definitely planning to buy some non-food items on my Costco trips. I'm curious about the eConnectCA app you mentioned - is that different from the regular EBT app someone else recommended earlier? And do you find it works better than just calling the number on the card? Also, you're right about not being embarrassed! Everyone here has been so helpful and understanding. It's making me feel much more confident about actually using the benefits instead of being anxious about it.
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