This is so frustrating and I completely understand your anger about the system! I've been a CalFresh recipient for about a year now and while I haven't had benefits completely disappear like yours, I've definitely experienced the nightmare of trying to reach someone at the county office. One thing that worked for me when I had a different EBT issue was calling the state's CalFresh hotline (1-877-847-3663) instead of just the EBT customer service line. They have access to different systems and can sometimes see things that the regular EBT folks can't. Also, they tend to have shorter wait times than calling your county directly. I know everyone's suggesting different ways to reach your county worker, but if none of those pan out, you can also file a complaint with the California Department of Social Services online. When there's an official complaint filed, counties are required to respond within specific timeframes. Hang in there - this shouldn't be happening to families and you have every right to be upset. Your kids deserve better than this broken system putting their food security at risk!

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this nightmare - having benefits just vanish when you have kids to feed is one of the most stressful situations imaginable. I went through something similar about 6 months ago and it turned out my account had been flagged for a "routine eligibility review" that somehow got stuck in the system, causing my benefits to be temporarily suspended without any notification to me. What finally worked for me was getting a three-way call set up between myself, my county eligibility worker, and the EBT technical support team. The county worker was able to see that benefits had been properly authorized on their end, while the EBT tech could see that there was a system sync error preventing the benefits from showing up on my card. Once they were all on the same call, they fixed it within about 20 minutes and my benefits were restored the same day. I know reaching your county worker is the biggest challenge right now, but based on what others have shared about this being a known system issue, you might have better luck if you specifically mention "EBT sync error" when you finally get through - it seems to be a recognized problem they know how to fix once they understand what's happening. Also, don't forget you can request emergency food assistance from your county while this is being resolved. They have provisions for situations exactly like this where technical problems are preventing access to authorized benefits.

As a newcomer to this community, I'm so grateful to have stumbled upon this thread! I had absolutely no idea that CalFresh benefits could automatically drop when someone turns 18, even if they're still completely dependent on their family and living at home. This seems like such a harsh policy that hits families at exactly the wrong time - right when they're dealing with college transition costs and stress. Reading through everyone's experiences and solutions has been incredibly educational. The information about EOPS, work-study exemptions, and resources like Claimyr is so valuable and could literally be life-changing for families in this situation. I'm amazed at how quickly Lukas was able to get his benefits restored once he knew what to ask for! It really shows the power of having the right information and community support. I'm definitely bookmarking this entire thread to share with other parents who might face this same situation. Thank you to everyone who took the time to share your knowledge and experiences - this is exactly the kind of community that helps people successfully navigate these complex benefit systems!

As someone brand new to this community, I'm absolutely amazed by this thread! I had zero knowledge that CalFresh benefits automatically change when someone turns 18 - that policy seems so counterintuitive when most 18-year-olds are still completely dependent on their families, especially those starting college. Reading through everyone's detailed responses about EOPS, work-study exemptions, and other student programs has been incredibly enlightening. It's wonderful to see how quickly the community came together to help Lukas find solutions, and how he was able to get his benefits restored with back pay! The practical advice about uploading documents through BenefitsCal and resources like Claimyr for actually reaching caseworkers is invaluable. I'm definitely saving this entire thread to share with other families - the proactive approach of getting students enrolled in qualifying programs before they turn 18 could prevent so much unnecessary stress and food insecurity. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences and knowledge. This is exactly the kind of supportive community that makes navigating these complex benefit systems feel less overwhelming!

UPDATE: Finally got through to my county worker! Turns out they received my verification docs but needed one more recent pay stub because my hours increased. They never sent me a notice about it (or it got lost in the mail). The worker was able to process everything while I was on the phone and said my benefits should load within 2-3 business days. So relieved! Thanks everyone for your help and suggestions.

@Malik Robinson So glad you got it resolved! This is exactly why I always tell people to check BenefitsCal regularly - the system has gotten way more digital but they don't really advertise that change. I've been on CalFresh for 2 years and learned the hard way that you can't rely on mail notices anymore. Pro tip: set a calendar reminder to check your account weekly, especially around recertification time. The income reporting requirement that @Freya Andersen mentioned is super important too - I got my case temporarily suspended once for not reporting a small raise quickly enough. Hope your benefits load soon and you can get groceries for your kids!

I'm so glad I found this thread! I've been on CalFresh for about 3 months now and my caseworker never mentioned the E&T program either. After reading everyone's experiences, I'm definitely going to look into this. I'm particularly interested in hearing about the computer skills training that someone asked about earlier - I'm in a similar situation where I need to improve my tech skills to get better job opportunities. Right now I'm working part-time at a grocery store but I know I could do more with the right training. Does anyone know if the program helps with things like Microsoft Office certification or basic IT skills? I see people mentioning coding bootcamps and medical admin training, but I'm looking for something more entry-level to start with. Also curious if there are any online options since I don't have reliable transportation to get to in-person classes. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - it's really encouraging to hear success stories and know that there are actually good resources out there to help us improve our situations!

This is such an informative thread! I'm a single mom who just started receiving CalFresh last month and I had no idea about the E&T program. Reading about all these success stories - from coding bootcamps to healthcare certificates to union apprenticeships - is really giving me hope that I can get the skills I need to provide better for my kids. I'm especially interested in the childcare assistance that was mentioned. That's been my biggest barrier to getting any kind of training or education. Working two part-time jobs and trying to care for my 4-year-old doesn't leave much room for self-improvement, but if they actually help with childcare costs during training, that could be a game-changer. I'm definitely going to call my county office this week to ask about what E&T options they have available. Based on what everyone's shared, I'll make sure to ask specifically about childcare support, transportation assistance, and any programs that might work with my current work schedule. Thanks to everyone who took the time to share their experiences - it's so helpful to hear real stories from people who have actually been through these programs. It makes it feel much more accessible and less intimidating than just reading about it on government websites.

Hi Melissa! Welcome to CalFresh! I just wanted to add my experience as someone who's been using benefits for about 8 months now. Yes, absolutely all baby formula is covered including the specialized hypoallergenic types! I purchase Enfamil Gentlease regularly with my EBT card and have never had any issues. One tip that really helped me when I was first starting out: if you're shopping at stores like Walmart or Target that have grocery pickup, you can place your order online and they'll automatically separate EBT-eligible items from non-eligible ones during checkout. This was super helpful when I was still learning what was covered and feeling nervous about in-store purchases. You just drive up, they load your groceries, and you pay with your EBT card through their terminal - no awkward checkout interactions at all! Also, don't forget that you can use your EBT card at farmers markets too if you want fresh produce. Many of them have programs that match your EBT spending which stretches your benefits even further. You're doing great by asking these questions and making sure your baby gets the nutrition he needs. That's exactly what these programs are designed for! Best of luck with everything! 🌟

Hi Melissa! I just wanted to add my experience as a CalFresh recipient who also has a baby with special dietary needs. Yes, absolutely ALL baby formula is covered by CalFresh EBT, including the super expensive hypoallergenic and amino acid-based formulas! I've purchased Neocate Jr, which costs around $55 per can, multiple times with no issues at all. One thing I learned that might help you feel more confident: you can actually call the customer service number on the back of your EBT card (or check your state's CalFresh website) to get a complete list of eligible items. They also have apps now where you can scan barcodes to check eligibility before you shop. For your first trip, I'd suggest going to a store you're familiar with during a less busy time. Bring a backup payment method just in case, but honestly, I've never had formula be declined. The registers are programmed to know what's eligible, so it's pretty foolproof. Also, definitely look into WIC like others mentioned! Even if you have CalFresh, WIC can provide additional formula vouchers specifically for babies, plus other nutritious foods. Many families use both programs together successfully. You're being an amazing parent by making sure your baby gets the specialized nutrition he needs. Don't let anyone make you feel otherwise! 💙