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This has been such an incredible thread to follow! I'm a college student who just qualified for CalFresh and had no idea these fitness discount programs existed. Reading about everyone's success stories, especially Asher getting 60% off at the YMCA, has completely changed my perspective on what's possible. I've been gaining weight from stress eating and dining hall food, but thought I couldn't afford to do anything about it. The community college fitness class idea is perfect for me since I'm already on campus - I can't believe I never thought to check if other students could access those facilities too! I'm also really intrigued by the library programs Dylan mentioned. My campus library is always looking for ways to support student wellness, so maybe they have partnerships I don't know about. Thank you all for showing that staying healthy on a tight budget isn't just a pipe dream. This community is amazing at turning problems into solutions!
Welcome to the community, Marilyn! It's so great to see a college student being proactive about their health and finances. You're in such a unique position because you have access to multiple resources - both through your college and through CalFresh eligibility. Definitely check out your campus recreation center first since you're already paying fees that might include access. Many colleges also have partnerships with local gyms that offer student discounts on top of any CalFresh-related programs. The stress eating and dining hall weight gain is so relatable - I went through the same thing! Starting with even small fitness activities can really help with stress management too. Your campus health center might also have free fitness classes or wellness programs specifically for students dealing with financial stress. Good luck exploring all these options, and don't hesitate to ask questions here as you navigate everything!
This thread has been absolutely incredible to read through! As someone who's been on CalFresh for about 8 months, I had completely given up on the idea of joining a gym due to costs. Seeing Asher's amazing success with the 60% YMCA discount is so inspiring - I honestly got emotional reading about it because it shows these programs really work! I love how everyone has contributed different solutions too - from community college classes to library partnerships to free public health programs. It makes me realize how many resources are actually out there if you just know where to look. I'm dealing with some back issues and my doctor keeps recommending swimming, but pool memberships seemed impossible on my budget. Now I'm excited to call my local YMCA tomorrow to ask about their aquatic programs and see if they're included in the financial assistance discount. Thank you all for creating such a supportive space where we can share real solutions instead of just feeling defeated by costs. This community truly helps people improve their lives!
That's so wonderful that you're feeling hopeful again about accessing fitness resources! Swimming is such excellent exercise for back issues, and I'm really glad this thread has opened up possibilities for you. The YMCA aquatic programs are usually fantastic - most locations include pool access, water aerobics classes, and sometimes even physical therapy pools in their standard memberships. When you call tomorrow, definitely mention that swimming was specifically recommended by your doctor for your back issues. Many YMCAs have staff who understand the therapeutic benefits of water exercise and might be able to connect you with specialized programs or classes designed for people with similar conditions. The financial assistance discount typically applies to all facilities and programs, so you'd get access to everything they offer, not just basic gym equipment. I hope you find exactly what you need - please update us on how it goes!
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I'm brand new to this community and just started receiving CalFresh benefits a few months ago. This thread has been absolutely incredible - I had the exact same experience with that mysterious $20 showing up in February! As a complete newcomer to the system, I was so confused and thought maybe I had accidentally qualified for some ongoing cash assistance program I didn't know about. The notice was so poorly written that I actually googled "CalFresh cash benefits" for hours trying to figure out what I was supposed to be getting regularly. When it didn't show up in March, I was convinced I had somehow messed up my case or missed a required form. It's honestly shocking that they can send out these official government notices without clearly stating it's a ONE-TIME payment from the Transitional Nutrition Benefit program. Thank you so much to everyone who solved this mystery! This community has been more helpful than any official resource I've found. It's pretty sad that newcomers like me have to crowdsource information just to understand our own benefits, but I'm grateful to have found such a knowledgeable group of people willing to share their experiences.
Welcome to the community! Your experience is so relatable - I'm also pretty new to CalFresh and that mysterious $20 in February had me doing the exact same Google searches trying to figure out what ongoing benefits I was supposedly missing! It's honestly ridiculous that as newcomers, we have to become detectives just to understand basic information about payments we receive. What really gets me is how that notice managed to sound so official and important while somehow completely failing to explain the most basic facts - like that it was a one-time thing! I spent weeks thinking I had stumbled into some additional cash assistance program and was worried I'd somehow lose it if I didn't understand the requirements. The relief of finding this thread and realizing we all went through the same confusion has been huge. This community definitely fills a gap that the official system leaves wide open for people trying to navigate these programs!
I'm completely new to this community and CalFresh - just got approved last month! This thread has been such a relief to find because I was starting to think I was going crazy. I also got that mysterious $20 cash benefit in February and have been checking my EBT balance religiously every month since then wondering where it went. As a total newcomer to the system, that notice was absolutely incomprehensible. It was full of government speak but somehow managed to leave out the most important detail - that it was a ONE-TIME payment! I actually thought I had qualified for some kind of ongoing cash assistance program and was worried I'd lose it if I didn't understand the requirements properly. Thank you everyone for figuring out this was the Transitional Nutrition Benefit (TNB) program. It's honestly pretty eye-opening as a new CalFresh recipient to see how poor the communication is around these special programs. The fact that we all had to come together as a community to decode what our own government benefits mean is both helpful and deeply concerning. At least now I can stop obsessively checking my balance waiting for that $20 to magically reappear!
Welcome to the community! Your experience perfectly captures what so many of us newcomers went through with that TNB payment - it's honestly both comforting and frustrating to see how universal this confusion was. I'm also fairly new to CalFresh and that February $20 had me doing the exact same obsessive balance checking, convinced I was missing out on some ongoing benefit I didn't understand. What really strikes me about reading through this entire thread is how we've all become amateur investigators of our own benefits! It's absurd that the official notice could be so formal and official-looking while completely failing to communicate basic information like "this is a one-time payment." As newcomers, we're already trying to learn all the regular program rules, and then they throw these mystery payments at us with zero context. Thank you for sharing your experience - it really helps knowing that even the newest recipients dealt with this same bureaucratic communication nightmare!
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Hey Dylan! Welcome to the CalFresh community! I'm also pretty new to the program (got approved about 3 months ago) and had the exact same questions when I first got my card. Everyone here has already given you amazing advice - you definitely can't withdraw cash or transfer the funds, it's strictly for eligible food purchases only. One thing I wish someone had told me when I started is to take a photo of the list of eligible items (you can find it on the USDA website) and keep it on your phone for reference while shopping. I made the mistake of trying to buy paper towels on my first trip thinking they were food-related and felt pretty embarrassed at checkout! Also, if you're trying to meal plan and budget with your benefits, I found it really helpful to start with simple, versatile ingredients like rice, beans, eggs, and seasonal produce. You can make so many different meals and stretch your benefits further that way. This community has been such a lifesaver for navigating everything - everyone is super understanding and helpful. Don't worry about asking questions, we've all been there! Looking forward to hearing how your first shopping trip goes!
Thanks Gael! That's such a smart idea about taking a photo of the eligible items list - I definitely don't want to have any embarrassing moments at checkout like you did with the paper towels! And your advice about starting with versatile basics like rice and beans is really practical. I'm actually pretty excited to do some meal planning now that I understand how everything works. It's amazing how much more confident I feel after reading everyone's experiences and tips. This community really has turned what felt like a confusing and intimidating process into something I'm actually looking forward to trying out!
Hey Dylan! Welcome to the CalFresh community and congrats on getting approved! I totally understand the confusion - I had the exact same questions when I first got my card about 6 months ago. Everyone here has already given you spot-on advice that CalFresh is food-only (no cash withdrawals or transfers), but I wanted to add something that really helped me as a newcomer. I'd recommend doing a "practice run" at a smaller store first before tackling a big grocery store. I went to a local corner store that accepts EBT just to get comfortable with the card and the process without feeling rushed or overwhelmed. It made my first real grocery trip so much smoother! Also, one thing I discovered that might interest you - if you have Amazon Prime (or know someone who shares it), you can actually use your EBT benefits for Amazon Fresh and Whole Foods delivery in many areas. Super convenient when you're still learning what's eligible and what's not, since everything in their EBT section is pre-approved. This community has been absolutely invaluable for learning all the tips and tricks. Everyone here really understands the learning curve and is so supportive. Don't hesitate to come back with more questions - we're all here to help each other out!
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IMPORTANT: Make sure when you move you do an inter-county transfer form for your CalFresh rather than applying new! If you just update your address they'll process it as a new application and you could lose benefits for a month or more. The form is called ICT (Inter-County Transfer).
UPDATE: I got through to the new county's housing specialist yesterday (had to call about 12 times). They said they CAN help with my deposit through their homeless prevention program even though I'm not a resident yet! I need to bring: 1) letter from current shelter, 2) pending lease agreement, 3) my current county CalFresh documentation, and 4) proof of income. They can issue a check directly to the landlord within 5 business days. Relief!!!
This is such great news and really helpful for others in similar situations! I'm curious - did they mention if this homeless prevention program has income limits or other eligibility requirements? Asking because I might be in a similar situation soon and want to know what to expect when I call.
@Sean Murphy They did mention income limits - you have to be under 80% of Area Median Income for the county you re'moving to. They also said you need to show you can afford ongoing rent after the deposit assistance so (proof of income or other benefits .)The program is specifically for people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. Definitely call and ask for their homeless "prevention specialist -" that s'the magic phrase that gets you to the right person!
Sadie Benitez
Just wanted to add that I've been monitoring the BenefitsCal system status page (benefits.ca.gov/status) and they finally posted an official notice about the ongoing technical difficulties. They're saying full system restoration is expected by Monday evening, but essential services should be available throughout the weekend with possible intermittent slowdowns. For anyone still having trouble, they've also set up a dedicated phone line specifically for technical support issues - it's different from the regular CalFresh line so hopefully shorter wait times. The number is on their status page. Also confirming what others said about the mobile app - it's been more reliable for me than the website, though you still need to be patient with loading times. Hang in there everyone, we'll get through this bureaucratic nightmare together!
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NeonNinja
•@Sadie Benitez Thank you so much for finding that official status page! I had no idea that existed and it s'such a relief to see they actually acknowledged the issues publicly. I was starting to wonder if they were just going to pretend nothing was wrong. The dedicated technical support line is a great tip too - I m'definitely going to try that if I run into problems again. It s'honestly kind of sad that we have to become expert troubleshooters just to access our basic benefits, but I m'grateful for this community helping each other navigate all these workarounds. Hopefully Monday brings some stability to the system so we can all stop holding our breath every time we need to log in!
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Yuki Nakamura
I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who shared their experiences and solutions in this thread! As someone new to navigating CalFresh, I was completely panicking when I couldn't log into BenefitsCal yesterday for my initial application follow-up. Reading through all your comments made me realize this was a system-wide issue and not me doing something wrong. I tried the incognito browser tip and the mobile app suggestion, and while it's still slow, I was finally able to check my application status this morning. It's honestly overwhelming how complicated these systems can be when you're already stressed about food security, but seeing how this community supports each other with practical tips and reassurance gives me hope. I'll definitely bookmark that status page @Sadie Benitez mentioned and keep all the alternative submission methods in mind for future deadlines. Thank you all for making this process a little less scary for newcomers like me!
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