To directly answer your original question with the most current information: as of January 2025, the highest GR/GA grant amounts in California counties are: 1. San Francisco: $619/month 2. Los Angeles: $347/month 3. Alameda: $336/month 4. Santa Clara: $326/month 5. San Mateo: $312/month Sacramento is around $245/month currently. But as everyone has pointed out, higher benefits often correlate with higher costs of living. The most important question is what's available in YOUR county that you might not be accessing yet.

Smart decision to stay in Sacramento! I've been through a similar situation and moving for benefits rarely works out financially. Since you're staying put, here are some Sacramento-specific resources you might not know about: 1. Sacramento County has a Rapid Rehousing program that can help with rent - call 211 and ask specifically about "coordinated entry" 2. The Food Bank of Sacramento County has mobile food pantries that come to different neighborhoods - you can get this ON TOP of your CalFresh 3. Sacramento has expanded the Restaurant Meals Program for CalFresh - you can use your EBT card at participating restaurants if you're homeless, elderly, or disabled 4. Look into the Sacramento Works program - they sometimes have emergency financial assistance for people between jobs Also, when you apply for GR in Sacramento, ask about the "unemployable" determination if your health issues are documented. If they classify you as unemployable, the GR becomes a grant instead of a loan, meaning you don't have to pay it back later. Good luck with everything!

This is a common issue with new CalFresh recipients. I'm glad you were able to find your approval letter! Here's some additional info that might help you going forward: 1. Your EBT card will automatically load on the 8th of every month 2. Benefits roll over month-to-month if you don't use them all (they expire after 9 months) 3. You'll need to complete a SAR7 form after 6 months and a recertification at 12 months 4. If your income changes by more than $100, you should report it within 10 days Since you've got a few days until your benefits load, you might want to look into emergency food assistance through local food banks. 211 can connect you with resources in your area if needed.

Great that you got it sorted out! Just wanted to add that you can also download the ebtEDGE mobile app to easily check your balance and transaction history without having to call the number every time. It's really convenient for keeping track of your benefits. Also, if you ever need to replace your card (lost/stolen), you can request a new one through the app or by calling the customer service line. Welcome to CalFresh!

BTW if ur approved dont forget they load benefits at different times each month depending on the last digit of ur case number. My sister didnt know this and kept checking her card everyday lol

I went through this same anxiety-inducing wait just a few months ago! In my case (also LA County), I got my approval notice exactly 6 days after submitting my verification documents. The EBT card took another 4 days to arrive after that. One thing that helped me while waiting was visiting the LA Regional Food Bank locations - they have several distribution sites throughout the county and don't require any paperwork, just proof of residence. You can find locations at lafoodbank.org. Also, many grocery stores like Ralphs and Vons have food rescue programs where they give away items close to expiration. It's not ideal, but it helped me stretch those last few dollars until my benefits kicked in. Hang in there - you're almost through the process!

Just to give you a complete answer: While waiting for your refund, document everything. Keep screenshots of your cancellation confirmation, the original order amount, and check your EBT balance daily through the EBT app or by calling the number on your card. This documentation is crucial if you end up needing to file a claim. For Safeway specifically in 2025, they're using a relatively new processing system that should be faster than their old one, so there's a good chance you'll see your funds back within 2-3 business days rather than the full 5 they quote. If you don't see the funds by day 4, that's when I'd recommend escalating by contacting both Safeway corporate customer service and your county CalFresh office.

I work at a grocery store that processes EBT orders and can give you some insight from the merchant side. When you cancel an online order, we have to send a reversal request through the EBT processor, which then goes through several verification steps before hitting your card. Unlike regular debit/credit cards where we can often process instant refunds, EBT has additional security layers that slow things down. For Safeway specifically, they usually batch their EBT reversals once daily (usually overnight), so if you cancelled today, the reversal request probably won't even get submitted until tonight. Then it's 1-3 business days after that. I'd expect to see your funds back by Thursday or Friday at the latest.

Update: I just checked the latest CalFresh regulations, and as of March 2025, California actually increased the resource limits slightly. They're now $4,925 for most households and $7,250 for elderly/disabled households. So you have even more buffer than I initially mentioned.

Just went through this same process last month! The "bank value" terminology threw me off too - my worker explained it's basically all your liquid assets (checking, savings, etc.). One tip that helped me: when you submit your bank statements, make sure they're dated within the last 30 days or they might ask for newer ones. Also, if you use multiple banks, don't forget to include statements from ALL of them. The county workers are pretty thorough about cross-checking everything. Good luck with your application!