This whole thread has been such an incredible resource! I'm relatively new to CalFresh (about 5 months in) and reading through @Marilyn Dixon's detailed experience has me feeling way more prepared for potential system issues. That 3+ hour wait to fix their system glitch while you have kids to feed is absolutely infuriating - the stress of standing there with a full cart unable to pay must have been overwhelming! I'm definitely saving all the amazing resources shared here, especially that Claimyr service @Payton Black mentioned and the genius tip about hitting "remind me later" when you get those automated PIN change prompts. It's completely unacceptable that they rolled out these "security enhancements" without proper testing, essentially making us unwilling guinea pigs for a system we depend on for basic necessities. The collective wisdom in this thread is pure gold - from writing down confirmation numbers to avoiding weekend system changes to knowing about emergency food bank options. It's ridiculous that we need all these workarounds just to reliably access our benefits, but this community support is invaluable when the official system fails us. Thank you everyone for turning a frustrating situation into such a helpful guide for navigating these broken systems!

This thread has been absolutely invaluable - thank you @Marilyn Dixon for sharing such a detailed account of your experience! I'm about 7 months into CalFresh and luckily haven't encountered the PIN change disaster yet, but this has me way better prepared now. That 3+ hour hold time while you're trying to feed your family is completely unacceptable - their system failures shouldn't become our emergencies! I'm definitely bookmarking that Claimyr service @Payton Black shared and all the other brilliant workarounds mentioned here. The "remind me later" tip for PIN changes is especially valuable - I had no idea that was even an option! It's infuriating that they're basically using us as beta testers for their "security improvements" without considering the real-world impact on families who depend on these benefits. One additional tip I'd share from my own experience: if you're ever dealing with EBT issues and need groceries urgently, some WIC-authorized stores are really understanding about benefit card problems since they deal with government assistance programs regularly. The staff at my local store has been super helpful when I've had minor glitches, even offering to call customer service on my behalf while I shopped. It's sad that we need to strategize around system failures just to access basic necessities, but this community knowledge sharing is absolutely essential when the official system lets us down!

As someone who just started working nights at a call center (11PM-7AM), this thread has been incredibly helpful! I had no idea about so many of these workarounds. The grocery pickup scheduling idea is genius - I'm definitely going to try placing orders during my break and scheduling pickup for right after my shift. I've been trying to tough it out by staying awake until stores open at 6AM but I'm usually so exhausted by then that I make poor shopping decisions or forget half the things I need. The emergency stockpile suggestion makes so much sense too. It's really frustrating that the EBT system doesn't have any flexibility for those of us who work non-traditional hours, but at least there are ways to work around it. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and tips - this community is awesome for supporting each other through these challenges!

I work 12AM-8AM at a hospital and I've been dealing with this same frustration for months! One thing that's really helped me is using grocery delivery services on my days off - I'll place the order around 11PM when I'm naturally awake, and schedule delivery for late morning when I wake up. It costs a few dollars in delivery fees but honestly it's worth it to avoid the whole "wait until 6AM then shop while exhausted" cycle. I've also started keeping a list in my phone of quick meal ideas that use shelf-stable ingredients, so when I do have to do that zombie shopping at 6AM I'm not wandering around trying to remember what I actually need to buy. It's so frustrating that the system doesn't account for people who work overnight - like we don't need food too! But at least we can share strategies to work around it.

I'm a security guard working 11pm-7am shifts and just ran into this same issue last month! My deposit day is the 3rd and I've always done my grocery runs at around 2am after work. When my card got declined at the self-checkout, I thought there was a system error or something was wrong with my account. The overnight manager didn't know about the 6am restriction either. It's really tough because by the time 6am rolls around, I'm exhausted and just want to get home to sleep. Plus most of the good sales and fresh produce are picked over by then. I wish they would at least make it 3am or 4am instead of waiting until 6am - that would help us night workers a lot more. Has anyone tried contacting CalFresh directly to give feedback about this policy? Maybe if enough night shift workers speak up they might consider adjusting the time.

I'm also a night shift worker (hospital custodial staff, 12am-8am) and this thread has been so helpful! I had no idea this was a statewide change - I thought it was just my local store having issues when my card got declined at 3am last month. My deposit day is the 22nd and I've been shopping after work for two years without problems until recently. It's really frustrating that they implemented this without better outreach to people who work non-traditional hours. We're already dealing with limited store hours, fewer staff at night, and now this. The emergency fund strategy sounds smart - I'm definitely going to start setting aside $20-30 from each month's benefits as a buffer. Has anyone had success reaching out to their local representatives about this? It seems like if enough of us night workers contact our county supervisors or state assembly members, maybe they could push for at least moving the time earlier or finding another solution that works better for everyone.

I just went through this exact process a few months ago when I got custody of my 10-year-old daughter! The whole experience was actually much smoother than I expected. You definitely have the right approach - the custody agreement is your most important document since it's legal proof of responsibility and residence. I uploaded that along with her birth certificate and school enrollment paperwork through BenefitsCal. My benefits increased from $201 to $367 per month within about 9 days, which was such a huge relief for our grocery budget! Your existing benefits won't be interrupted at all - they just recalculate based on your new household size. Since your son was previously on his mom's case in another county, make sure to mention that detail in your change report. The workers handle that cross-county coordination automatically. One tip that really helped me was calling my caseworker first to give them a heads up about the household change coming. It seemed to flag it in their system and maybe helped with processing time. Also take screenshots of everything you upload - just in case you need confirmation numbers later. The peace of mind of having adequate food benefits for both of you will be so worth getting this sorted out quickly! You've got this!

I went through this same process when I got custody of my grandson about 8 months ago. The custody agreement is absolutely your most critical document - it's legal proof of both responsibility and residence. I submitted that along with his birth certificate and a letter from his pediatrician through BenefitsCal. My benefits jumped from $178 to $342 per month, which was a game-changer for our food situation. The processing took about 11 days and my existing benefits continued without any interruption - they simply recalculate for your new household size. Since your son was on his mom's case in another county, definitely include that information in your change report. The caseworkers are used to these cross-county situations and handle the coordination automatically once you provide those details. My biggest tip: call your caseworker before submitting everything to give them advance notice of the household change. It really seemed to help streamline the process. Also, upload all documents at once rather than separately - complete submissions seem to move through faster. Keep screenshots of everything for your records too. The relief you'll feel having adequate benefits for both of you is absolutely worth the effort to get this done right!

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.

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!