I'm currently going through something similar after my apartment complex was condemned last month. One thing my worker emphasized that I haven't seen mentioned yet is to have your sister include her relationship to you in the letter (like "my sister and her two children"). They told me this helps establish that it's truly family assistance rather than some other arrangement. Also, if you have any text messages or emails between you and your sister from when the housing crisis first happened (like her offering to let you stay temporarily), save screenshots of those. My worker said they sometimes ask for additional proof that the arrangement started due to the housing emergency, not just as a lifestyle choice. The documentation showing your landlord sold the building should definitely help with that timeline. One more tip - if your kids are school-aged, their school can provide a letter confirming your homeless status under the McKinney-Vento Act, which can serve as additional supporting documentation for CalFresh.

I work as a benefits advocate and want to add something really important that can trip people up - timing matters a lot for the homeless assistance. Make sure your sister dates the letter recently (within a few days of when you submit it) and includes the current date you've been staying there, not just when you first arrived. The county needs to see that your housing situation is still ongoing and temporary. Also, if you're applying for expedited processing of your CalFresh case due to homelessness, mention that specifically when you submit everything. Many people don't realize they can get faster processing when homeless. The 3-day expedited timeline can be a lifesaver when you're already struggling. Keep pushing through the bureaucracy - homeless assistance through CalFresh is a real benefit that can make a huge difference, but the documentation requirements are unfortunately very specific.

I work at a nonprofit that helps people with benefits applications and I can confirm what others have said about the two types of verification letters. If you need the detailed one showing benefit amounts, try this: log into BenefitsCal, go to "Contact Us" or "Messages" section, and specifically request a "detailed verification letter with benefit amounts for housing purposes." Most counties will respond within 1-2 business days and email it to you. Way faster than calling or going in person. Also mention it's urgent for lease renewal - they sometimes prioritize housing-related requests.

Another quick tip - if you're in LA County specifically, they have a "Document Center" feature in their MyBenefitsCalWIN portal that's separate from the main BenefitsCal site. You can often get detailed verification letters there instantly. Other large counties like San Diego and Orange County have similar county-specific portals. Worth checking if your county has their own benefits portal in addition to the state BenefitsCal system. Sometimes the county sites have more document options available for immediate download.

my friend got backpay too and bought a bunch of meat to freeze right away cuz she was worried theyd take it back lol. but they dont take it back its urs

I went through something similar last year! The backpay confusion is totally understandable - I thought the same thing when I got approved after a 2-month delay. But like others have said, those back payments are completely separate from your ongoing monthly calculations. Each month is calculated fresh based on your current income and expenses at that time. With your rent at $980 plus utilities and part-time income around $1,190, you should still get a decent benefit amount for April. The high housing costs actually work in your favor for the calculation. Don't stress about the backpay affecting anything - just make sure to report any significant income changes if you go over your reporting threshold. Congrats on finally getting approved!

wait i just reread ur post, did ur first application have a case number before it disappeared? becuz the same thing happened to me one time and it turned out they just merged my applications together without telling me. u should ask if thats what happened when u call

I've been through this exact situation with Kern County! That yellow envelope is just their standard paperwork packet - definitely not an approval. You're right to be confused because they send EBT information to everyone regardless of status. Here's what you need to do immediately: 1. Complete and return ALL those signature forms ASAP - your application can't move forward without them 2. Call or visit the office to schedule your interview - they won't do it automatically For calling, try early morning (8-9am) or use the tip someone mentioned about calling the General Questions line instead of the direct CalFresh line. I've also heard good things about that Claimyr service for getting through. The fact that your first application disappeared is unfortunately common with the BenefitsCal system glitches. When you talk to a worker, definitely mention that this is your second application and ask if they merged them somehow. Don't wait for them to contact you - Kern County requires you to be proactive or your application will just sit there. You're getting close to that 30-day deadline, so time is critical. Good luck!

This has been such a helpful thread! I'm relatively new to CalFresh (got approved about 4 months ago) and was completely overwhelmed when I got my first SAR7 form in the mail last week. The form itself is pretty straightforward, but I had no idea what documentation I actually needed to provide. From reading everyone's responses, it's clear that I only need to submit income verification for the specific month they're asking about (which in my case is February). I work at a restaurant where my hours vary week to week depending on how busy we are, plus I sometimes pick up catering gigs on weekends. Sounds like I need to gather ALL my pay stubs from February - both from the restaurant and any catering work I did that month. The tip about including an explanatory note is really valuable too. February was actually a slower month for me because I was sick for a week, so my income was lower than usual. I'll definitely include a note explaining that it wasn't representative of my typical monthly earnings. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and making this whole process feel much less intimidating! It's so much easier to understand when real people explain it in plain language instead of trying to decipher all the official bureaucratic language in the notices.

This thread is incredibly thorough and has answered so many questions I didn't even know I had! I'm about 8 months into my first CalFresh certification period and have been dreading my upcoming recertification because I wasn't sure what to expect. From everyone's explanations, it sounds like the annual recertification is much more comprehensive than the SAR7 - they review everything (income, expenses, household composition, etc.) rather than just that one month of income. Is there anything specific I should start gathering now to make the recertification process smoother? I work two part-time jobs (one retail, one food service) and my hours fluctuate seasonally, so I'm worried about how to present my income in a way that accurately reflects my situation. Based on what everyone's shared about including explanatory notes, it seems like being proactive about explaining my circumstances is key. Also, does anyone know roughly how long the recertification process typically takes? I'm hoping to avoid any gaps in benefits if possible. Thanks again to everyone who's shared their experiences - this community is amazing!