I'm going through this exact same process right now! Moving from Sacramento to Tucson next month and this thread has been incredibly helpful. One thing I wanted to add that my caseworker mentioned - if you're moving to Arizona and have any medical conditions that require special dietary needs, make sure to mention that during your Arizona application. They have additional benefits for people with specific health conditions that California might not have told you about. Also, I called the Arizona DES helpline last week just to ask general questions before my move, and they were actually pretty helpful. The wait time was only about 20 minutes (way better than California!) and the person I spoke with walked me through what documents I'd need to have ready. They even emailed me a checklist. For anyone else reading this thread who might be in a similar situation - I've been bookmarking all these responses because there's so much good practical advice here. This community is amazing! Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences. Moving is stressful enough without worrying about food security on top of it. @Amina Bah - you've got this! Sounds like you're being super proactive about planning everything out. That's going to make such a difference in how smoothly your transition goes.

This thread has been such a goldmine of information! I just wanted to add something that helped me when I moved from California to Oregon last year - consider reaching out to local community organizations in your destination city before you move. Many cities have immigrant and refugee resettlement agencies that help with benefit navigation even if you're not an immigrant yourself. They often know the local SNAP system really well and can provide guidance. Also, I noticed someone mentioned Claimyr earlier for getting through to California's phone system. I used a similar service called "DoNotPay" which also helped me skip the endless hold times when I needed to close my CalFresh case. Totally worth the small fee when you're trying to coordinate everything around a move. One last tip - if you're moving with pets, remember that pet food isn't covered by SNAP benefits in any state, so factor that into your food budget planning during the transition period. I learned this the hard way! Best of luck with your move, Amina! Sounds like you're going to be well-prepared thanks to all the amazing advice from everyone here. Moving states is tough but this community really shows how people can support each other through these bureaucratic challenges! 💪

I'm so sorry this happened to you! EBT skimming has become such a nightmare for families. I went through this exact situation 3 months ago - $623 stolen from my card overnight. Here's what I learned that might help you: 1. Document EVERYTHING - take screenshots of your BenefitsCal account showing the fraudulent transactions, write down exact dates/times/amounts 2. When you call, ask to speak with a "case manager" or "supervisor" - regular customer service can't always process emergency benefits 3. If they give you a claim number, write it down and reference it in every call 4. Check your account daily going forward - I caught my second attempted fraud within hours because I was monitoring it My emergency benefits took 6 days (this was before the new March policy) and full restoration took 19 days. The stress is awful but most people do get their money back. Stay persistent and don't let them brush you off. Your family deserves to eat while they investigate!

This exact thing happened to my sister last month! She had $542 stolen and was panicking because she has 3 kids under 10. Here's what worked for her: She went to the county office first thing in the morning (they open at 8am) instead of trying to call - apparently the phone lines are completely jammed but in-person they have to help you. She brought her ID, the EBT card, and had written down all the fraudulent transactions from the app. The worker there told her about something called "expedited replacement benefits" - she got $300 loaded onto a new card within 2 days while they investigated. The full amount took about 3 weeks to get restored, but at least her family could eat during the investigation. Also, she said the worker mentioned that skimmers are really common at certain chain stores right now - apparently there's been a huge spike in cases from specific locations. They asked her to list everywhere she'd used the card in the past month. Don't give up calling though! She had to be really firm and kept saying "my children need food assistance immediately" until they transferred her to someone who could actually help with emergency benefits. The squeaky wheel gets the grease with these situations unfortunately.

Update! I finally got through to my caseworker after using that Claimyr service (which really did work surprisingly well). My benefits are going up to $372 next month! They counted my rent increase, added the utility allowance, and included my childcare expenses. They're also not counting my teenager's part-time job since she's still in high school. Thank you everyone for all your help!! This makes such a huge difference for us.

Congratulations on getting your benefits increased! Your story gives me hope - I'm in a similar situation with a family of 4 and only getting $298/month which barely covers two weeks of groceries. My rent just went up $300 and I had no idea I could report that mid-period. Going to try that Claimyr service tomorrow since calling directly has been impossible. Did you have to provide documentation right away for the rent increase or did they accept it over the phone initially?

I'm heartbroken reading your story, but please know you're not alone and there IS help available. I went through something similar 3 years ago with my twin boys when our apartment building was condemned suddenly. Here's what I learned that might help you RIGHT NOW: **Immediate CalFresh Actions:** - Call your caseworker TODAY and report that you're facing imminent homelessness. This can trigger expedited processing for other benefits - Ask specifically about the "homeless deduction" for CalFresh - you might qualify for additional benefits even without paying rent - Request they flag your case as "emergency" status **CalWORKs Emergency Aid:** - Apply for CalWORKs Homeless Assistance ASAP - don't wait until you're actually on the street. The 30-day notice qualifies as "imminent homelessness" - Bring: eviction notice, kids' birth certificates, your ID, proof of income, and any documentation showing you can't find affordable housing - Ask specifically for "Temporary Homeless Assistance" (up to 16 days hotel/motel vouchers) AND "Permanent Housing Assistance" (deposit/first month help) **Schools:** - Contact your 7-year-old's school counselor immediately about McKinney-Vento Act protections. They can provide meals, supplies, and ensure school stability even if you move districts temporarily. You have almost a month - that's actually more time than many people get. Use every single day to apply for programs and make calls. Document everything and don't take "no" for an answer without asking to speak to a supervisor. Sending you strength mama. Your kids are lucky to have someone fighting this hard for them. 💙

I'm so sorry you're going through this terrifying situation. As a parent myself, I can only imagine how scary this must be for you and your kids. I want to add something that hasn't been mentioned yet - **contact your local food banks and pantries immediately**. Many of them have emergency assistance programs beyond just food. The one in my area helped me with: - Emergency cash assistance for utilities/rent - Gift cards for gas and essentials - Connections to local landlords who accept housing vouchers - Free childcare during housing appointments Also, if you're working part-time, ask your employer about any employee assistance programs. Some companies have emergency hardship funds or can connect you with resources. One more thing - when you do find temporary housing (hotel, friend's place, etc.), make sure to keep your kids in their regular routines as much as possible. The stability of school and familiar activities can help them cope with the housing uncertainty. You're already doing everything right by reaching out and planning ahead. That proactive approach is going to make all the difference. Hang in there - your family is going to get through this. 🙏

Hi Paloma! Welcome to San Bernardino County! I just wanted to add something that might be helpful since you mentioned your husband just got a new job - make sure you keep documentation of any gap in employment he might have had between Arizona and California. Sometimes caseworkers ask about employment history, especially if there was any period of unemployment during your move. Also, I noticed several people mentioned the BenefitsCal website - one tip I learned the hard way is to clear your browser cache before starting your application. The site can be glitchy with saved data from previous sessions, and starting fresh helps avoid technical issues that could delay your application. Since you're coming from Arizona, you might also want to know that California allows households to have slightly higher vehicle values without it affecting CalFresh eligibility compared to some other states. One reliable vehicle per adult household member doesn't count toward resource limits regardless of value. With your income at $3,100 gross for a family of 4, you should definitely qualify. The shelter deduction with your $1,800 rent will help a lot. Just make sure to report your Arizona SNAP case closure date on your California application - this can sometimes help with processing timing. Good luck with your application! San Bernardino County can be slow, but being well-prepared with documents seems to make a big difference in processing time.

Hi Paloma! Welcome to San Bernardino County! I'm also relatively new to the area and went through the CalFresh application process about 8 months ago. Everyone has given you great advice already, but I wanted to add a few things that really helped me: **Document organization tip**: Create a single PDF with all your documents in the order they're requested on the application. I labeled each section clearly (like "Income Verification - Pages 1-3" or "Rent Verification - Page 4"). This made it super easy for the caseworker to review everything during my phone interview and seemed to speed things up. **Phone interview scheduling**: When they call to schedule your interview, try to pick a time early in the day (like 9-11am) if possible. I've heard from other people that afternoon appointments sometimes get pushed back due to caseworker schedules running behind. **Local grocery tip**: Once you get approved, Stater Bros (which is everywhere in San Bernardino County) has really good deals for EBT users and participates in the fresh produce incentive programs. Walmart and FoodMaxx are also EBT-friendly with good selections. Your income situation looks perfect for qualifying - with that rent amount for a family of 4, you'll probably get a decent monthly benefit. The fact that you're being so proactive and organized suggests your application will go smoothly. Don't let the negative processing time stories discourage you too much - plenty of applications go through just fine within the 30-day window! Good luck with everything!