This thread has been incredibly helpful! As someone who just started freelancing and got approved for CalFresh last month, I was completely overwhelmed by all the reporting requirements. Reading through everyone's experiences has been like getting a masterclass in how to actually navigate this system as a gig worker. The biggest revelation for me was understanding that the 40% business expense deduction happens BEFORE you compare to your IRT threshold. I've been calculating it backwards this whole time and stressing myself out unnecessarily! I'm definitely going to implement the organizational strategies everyone has shared - especially the monthly reminder to calculate income and the spreadsheet tracking system. Having everything documented seems crucial for avoiding headaches down the road. One question for the experienced folks here: when you do your monthly IRT calculation, do you include pending payments that haven't cleared yet, or only count income that's actually hit your account by month-end? I do a lot of work where payment timing can be unpredictable. Thanks to everyone for sharing such practical, real-world advice. This community is an amazing resource for those of us trying to figure out the intersection of freelance work and benefits!

This entire thread has been absolutely incredible! As someone who just started receiving CalFresh benefits while doing freelance photography work, I was completely lost about the reporting requirements with my wildly inconsistent income. Reading through everyone's experiences has been like getting a crash course in "CalFresh for Freelancers 101." The biggest game-changer for me was finally understanding that you calculate gross income MINUS 40% FIRST, and THEN compare that number to your IRT. I've been doing it backwards and giving myself unnecessary anxiety attacks every time a client paid me! I'm definitely implementing the organizational systems everyone has shared - the monthly tracking spreadsheet, phone reminders, and keeping photos of my approval documents. The tip about taking banking screenshots at month-end for documentation is brilliant too. For other newcomers reading this: don't let the complexity intimidate you. Yes, there's a learning curve, but the system is actually designed to help people with variable income like us. The 40% business expense deduction exists specifically because they recognize freelancers have costs that regular employees don't. Thank you to everyone who shared their real-world experiences and practical tips. This community is such an invaluable resource for navigating these confusing systems. I feel so much more confident about managing my CalFresh benefits now that I understand how it actually works!

Im in san fernando valley and im having problems take out my ebt cash at wells fargo i went to 3 different bank atms and nothing my money says its there but i cant seem to take it out ! I went to the office and they gave me a new card but still can't cash out my money! Is anyone else having this problem ?

@jazmin gomez I'm in the Valley too and had similar issues a few months back! Since you already got a new card from the office and it's still not working, this sounds like it might be a system issue with your specific account rather than the card itself. A few things to try: 1) Call the EBT customer service line and ask them to check if there's a hold or freeze on your cash benefits specifically, 2) Try using your card at a grocery store to get cash back with a small purchase (sometimes this works when ATMs don't), 3) Go back to the county office and specifically ask them to verify that your cash benefits are active and there are no blocks on withdrawals. Since your balance shows the money is there but you can't access it, there might be an administrative hold that the new card didn't fix. Don't give up - keep pushing the county office to investigate further since a new card didn't resolve it!

Just wanted to add another option that's been working great for my disabled mom here in Fresno - the Raising Cane's on Fig Garden actually accepts EBT for RMP participants! The manager there (I think her name is Jessica) is super knowledgeable about the program and always makes sure the transaction goes smoothly. They have good quality chicken strips and the portions are decent for the price. Also discovered that some of the smaller mom-and-pop places participate but you really have to ask specifically. There's a little Filipino restaurant called Kamayan on Blackstone that takes RMP - they have amazing hot prepared meals and the owner is really patient with seniors using EBT. Worth checking out if your mom likes trying different cuisines! One more tip - I started keeping a Google doc on my phone with all the confirmed locations, their addresses, and notes about which staff members are most helpful. Makes it easy to share the list with my mom and update it when we find new places. This thread has been so helpful - definitely adding several of these suggestions to our list!

Hey Ryan! I'm new to Fresno but just went through getting my elderly father set up with RMP last month. One thing that really helped was calling the Fresno County eligibility office and asking them to mail a list of current participating restaurants directly to your mom - they have a more updated version than what's online. Also wanted to mention that I found success at the Pizza Ranch on Herndon (if it's still there) and the Church's Chicken on Blackstone. Something I wish I'd known earlier - some restaurants will say they "don't take EBT" but what they mean is they don't take it for regular groceries. If you specifically mention "Restaurant Meals Program" or "prepared hot food for disabled/elderly" they often realize they DO participate. The cashiers sometimes just aren't trained on the difference. One last tip - I made my dad a little cheat sheet with the customer service number and his member ID written clearly in large print that he keeps with his EBT card. Has saved him from fumbling around trying to remember details when there's a line behind him. Hope this helps your mom get some good meal options!

As someone who's been on CalFresh for about two years now, I completely understand your confusion! When I first got approved, I was so worried about buying anything that seemed "unnecessary" that I basically lived on rice and beans for the first month. But here's what I've learned: CalFresh is designed to help you buy FOOD, and that includes treats, snacks, and yes - even those energy drinks your neighbor saw someone buying! The restrictions are actually pretty simple: no alcohol, no tobacco, no hot prepared foods (like from the deli counter), no vitamins/supplements, and no non-food items. Everything else that's meant for human consumption is fair game. I've successfully bought birthday cakes, Halloween candy, soda for parties, fancy cheese, ice cream - you name it. The key thing that helped me get over the anxiety was realizing that your CalFresh benefits are YOUR benefits to use for feeding your family however works best for you. Don't let anyone make you feel guilty about occasionally buying treats for your kids - they deserve to feel normal and enjoy the same snacks as their friends!

I just wanted to add my perspective as someone who's been using CalFresh for about 8 months now. When I first got approved, I had the exact same worries as you! I was so confused by all the conflicting information I'd heard from friends and family. What really helped me was going to the grocery store with a friend who had been using EBT for years - she showed me firsthand that you really can buy pretty much any food item, including all the snacks and treats. I've since bought everything from cookies for my daughter's school bake sale to fancy coffee creamer for myself. The only time I've ever had an issue was when I accidentally tried to buy some vitamins, and the cashier was super nice about it - just said "oh, these don't go through on EBT" and set them aside. No big deal at all! Your kids deserve those summer treats you mentioned, and you shouldn't feel guilty about providing them. CalFresh is there to help families like ours maintain some normalcy around food, and that absolutely includes the occasional indulgence. Don't let anyone make you feel otherwise!

As someone who's been on CalFresh for a few years now, I wanted to share a few additional tips that might help others in this situation. First, if you're waiting for a replacement card and have kids, definitely contact your local school district - many have weekend food backpack programs or can connect you with emergency food resources. Second, don't forget that WIC offices (if you qualify) often have emergency food vouchers available even if you're primarily on CalFresh. Lastly, I've found that calling the EBT customer service line early in the morning (like right when they open at 6 AM) gets you through much faster than calling during peak hours. The wait times are brutal in the afternoon! Hope everyone gets their cards quickly - it's such a stressful situation when you can't access your benefits.

This entire thread has been incredibly eye-opening! I've been on CalFresh for about 8 months and honestly had no clue about most of these resources. The emergency card pickup at county offices, Restaurant Meals Program, even the timing tip about calling customer service early morning - none of this was ever mentioned during my application process or in any of the materials I received. It's pretty frustrating that people have to stumble upon this crucial information through community forums rather than getting it upfront from the system itself. I'm definitely screenshotting this whole conversation for reference. It's both amazing and sad how much collective knowledge exists here that should really be standard information provided to all CalFresh recipients. Thanks to everyone who took the time to share their experiences - you're literally helping people avoid going hungry while navigating bureaucratic delays!