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Thanks for sharing this update about the RMP program in Kern County! This is really helpful information. Could you provide more details about which specific restaurants have been added or updated? It would be great to know the locations and any changes to participating establishments so community members can take advantage of these hot meal options.
I'm also interested in this information! As someone new to the CalFresh program, I'd really appreciate knowing which restaurants in Kern County participate in the RMP program. Are there any fast food chains or local restaurants that accept EBT for hot meals? And do you know if there are any specific eligibility requirements beyond just having CalFresh benefits to use this program?
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This whole thread has been incredibly eye-opening! I'm actually waiting for my CalFresh application to be processed right now, and reading through everyone's experiences has me feeling so much more prepared for when my card arrives. It's honestly shocking that card activation isn't explained more clearly upfront - seems like such a basic thing that could prevent so much frustration. I've been taking notes on all the tips shared here: call during off-peak hours, have all info ready, use registered phone number, check cell service, and definitely download that ebtEDGE app. The community knowledge here is amazing and way more helpful than any official documentation I've seen. One question for the group - for someone brand new to this, is there anything else I should know before my card arrives? Any other common pitfalls to watch out for beyond the activation issues? Really appreciate how supportive and informative this community is!
Hey Sean! Great question - here are a few additional things I wish I'd known as a newcomer: First, familiarize yourself with what you CAN and CAN'T buy with EBT before you go shopping (no hot prepared foods, alcohol, vitamins, etc.). Nothing more embarrassing than having items rejected at checkout! Second, some stores have minimum purchase requirements for card transactions, so if you're just buying a few small items, ask about their policy. Third, your benefits usually get loaded on the same day each month based on your case number - figure out what day that is so you can plan your shopping accordingly. And finally, if your card ever gets damaged or stops working, don't wait - report it immediately because it can take 7-10 days to get a replacement. The sooner you report issues, the sooner you can get back to accessing your benefits. This community really is amazing for real-world advice that you won't find anywhere else!
This thread is such a perfect example of why community support matters so much when dealing with government benefit systems! As a newcomer who just joined this community, I'm amazed by how much practical knowledge everyone has shared here. The EBT card activation process really does seem needlessly complicated - it's crazy that something so basic isn't explained clearly upfront. I'm bookmarking this entire discussion because the tips here are incredibly valuable: calling during off-peak hours, having all your information ready, making sure you're calling from your registered phone number, checking your cell service, and downloading the ebtEDGE app. These are the kinds of real-world solutions you just don't get from official sources. What really strikes me is how common this activation issue seems to be - almost everyone who commented had some version of this same problem. That suggests this is a systemic issue that could easily be fixed with better communication from the agencies involved. Until that happens though, communities like this one are absolutely essential for helping people navigate these confusing systems. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences and solutions - this kind of peer support makes such a difference for people trying to access the benefits they're entitled to!
I completely agree about this being a systemic issue that needs better communication! As someone brand new to both CalFresh and this community, I'm honestly blown away by how much more helpful this discussion has been than any of the official materials I received. It's really telling that so many people had the exact same activation problem - clearly the instructions need to be way more prominent and clear. I'm definitely saving this thread for future reference and will probably share it with friends who might go through the CalFresh application process. It's incredible how much stress and confusion could be prevented if agencies just included a simple "ACTIVATE YOUR CARD FIRST" notice right on the envelope or card itself. Thank you to everyone who took the time to share their experiences - this community support is invaluable for navigating what can be a really overwhelming system!
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Just wanted to add that if you're working part-time and your hours fluctuate, make sure to report your AVERAGE monthly income when you apply. Don't just use one paycheck - look at your last few months to get a realistic picture. Also, if you get tips or any cash income, you need to report that too even if it's small amounts. The county workers are pretty understanding about irregular income from part-time work, but being honest upfront will save you headaches later. Good luck with your application!
That's really helpful advice about averaging income! I'm new to this whole process and my hours do vary quite a bit week to week. Some weeks I get 25 hours, other weeks only 15. Should I calculate the average over the last 3 months or just the most recent month? And when you say "cash income" - does that include like the $20 my neighbor pays me to walk her dog occasionally? I don't want to mess anything up on my application.
For averaging income, I'd recommend looking at the last 3 months if your hours vary that much - it gives a more accurate picture than just one month. And yes, you should report that $20 from dog walking! Any regular income counts, even small amounts. The good news is that occasional income like that usually doesn't make a huge difference in your benefit calculation, but it's better to be upfront about it. CalFresh workers have seen it all and they'd rather you report everything than have to deal with discrepancies later. You're being smart to ask these questions before applying!
Just applied for CalFresh last month and wanted to share my experience! I was making about $1,200/month part-time and was approved for $215/month in benefits. The application process was way easier than I expected - I did everything online through BenefitsCal.com and got approved within 2 weeks. One thing that really helped was having all my documents ready before I started: recent pay stubs, rent receipt, utility bills, and bank statements. The online portal lets you upload everything as PDFs which saved me from having to mail or fax anything. Also, don't stress too much about getting the "maximum" benefit - even getting $200+ per month makes a HUGE difference when you're struggling with groceries. That covers most of my fresh produce and protein for the month, which frees up my cash for rent and other bills. Apply as soon as you can because benefits start from the date you submit your application!
This is such encouraging info! I was getting overwhelmed thinking I needed to qualify for the absolute maximum to make it worthwhile, but you're right - even $200+ would be life-changing for my grocery budget right now. Thanks for mentioning BenefitsCal.com too, I didn't know I could do everything online. Did you have to do a phone interview after submitting, or was it all handled through the website? I'm hoping to avoid the whole "calling and being on hold forever" situation that others mentioned.
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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.
Liam O'Sullivan
Hey Malik! Congratulations on getting approved - that's such a huge milestone and I totally get the relief you must be feeling right now! I just went through this whole process about 4 months ago and remember that exact same anxiety about not knowing when the card would actually arrive. My experience was pretty typical of what everyone's sharing - the card took about 9 days to arrive (I'm in Contra Costa County), and the benefits were already loaded when it got there. The PIN setup was super straightforward, just took a couple minutes on the phone. One thing I wanted to add that I haven't seen mentioned yet - if you have a smartphone, you can actually set up delivery notifications through the USPS app (separate from Informed Delivery) that will ping you when mail is out for delivery that day. It helped reduce my anxiety because instead of wondering all day, I knew exactly when to expect mail. Also, while you're waiting, it might be worth looking into whether your county has any emergency food assistance programs. Some offer emergency food boxes while you're waiting for your EBT card to arrive - might be worth a quick call to ask about. The $325/month is going to make such a difference for you both! That first grocery shopping trip where you don't have to stress about every single item you put in the cart is going to feel incredible. You're so close - hang in there! 🛒
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Chloe Martin
•Thanks so much Liam! The USPS app delivery notification tip is exactly what I needed - just downloaded it and set that up along with the Informed Delivery that someone else mentioned. Having those notifications will definitely help me stop obsessively wondering throughout the day whether today's the day! I hadn't thought about asking about emergency food assistance while waiting for the card - that's a really smart suggestion. Even if we don't end up needing it, it's good to know what options are available just in case. Going to add that to my list of things to ask when I call tomorrow to verify our address. It's so encouraging to hear from someone in Contra Costa County since we're also in Northern California (well, Orange County is more central but still!). The 9-day timeline gives me a realistic expectation to work with. Can't wait for that stress-free grocery shopping experience you described - after months of calculating every single item and putting things back at checkout, it's going to feel like such a luxury to just focus on getting healthy food for us both! Thanks for all the helpful tips and encouragement! 🙏
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Ravi Gupta
Hey Malik! First off, huge congratulations on getting approved - I know how stressful that whole application process can be! I'm a newcomer here but have been lurking and reading everyone's experiences, and it's so helpful to see this community supporting each other through these processes. I'm actually in a similar situation - applied for CalFresh a few weeks ago and still waiting to hear back, but seeing your success gives me hope! The timeline everyone's sharing (7-10 days) seems pretty consistent across different counties, which is reassuring. One thing I wanted to add that might help while you're waiting - I've been volunteering at a local food pantry and they mentioned that many pantries don't require you to wait for CalFresh approval to get help. If you're really tight on groceries this week, it might be worth checking out what's available in your area just as a backup plan. Also, all these tips about the EBT app, farmers markets with double value, and researching grocery stores ahead of time are gold! I'm definitely taking notes for when (hopefully!) I get to this stage too. Thanks for sharing your experience and starting this thread - it's been super educational for someone just starting this journey. Hope your card arrives super quickly! 🤞
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Aria Washington
•Hey Ravi! Thanks for the kind words and encouragement! It's so nice to meet someone else who's going through this process - even though you're a few steps behind me, it sounds like you're being really smart about preparing and learning from everyone's experiences here. Definitely keep us posted on how your application goes! The waiting is tough but seeing all the positive outcomes in this thread gives me a lot of hope that things work out for people who really need the help. And you're absolutely right about the food pantry tip - we actually looked into that as a backup option and it's good to know they don't require you to wait for approval first. I've been taking notes on all these tips too! This community has been so incredibly helpful and welcoming. There's something really comforting about connecting with people who understand exactly what you're going through with the financial stress and uncertainty. Wishing you the best of luck with your application - hopefully you'll be posting your own success story here soon! 🙏
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