Just wanted to add that some counties also partner with community colleges for the E&T program! I'm in San Diego County and they connected me with Mesa College for a free certificate program in healthcare administration. The program covered tuition, books, AND gave me $25/month for transportation. It took 6 months but I got my certificate and landed a job at a medical clinic. Also wanted to mention - if you're already working part-time but want better skills for advancement, you can still participate in E&T. It's not just for unemployed people. They have evening and weekend options in some areas too.

This thread has been super helpful! I'm a CalFresh recipient and had no idea about the E&T program until reading this. I've been struggling to find affordable training to get out of retail work. The fact that it covers books, transportation, and even childcare in some counties is amazing. One thing I want to add - I called my county office yesterday after reading these comments and the worker told me they also have partnerships with local unions for apprenticeship programs! Things like electrical, plumbing, and construction trades. She said these are really popular because they lead to good-paying jobs and the apprenticeships actually pay you while you learn. For anyone hesitant to call because of the wait times - I used that Claimyr service someone mentioned and it really worked. Got connected to a real person in about 15 minutes instead of the usual hours-long nightmare. Definitely worth the small fee to save your sanity! Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences. It's so helpful to hear from people who actually went through the program instead of just getting the official government website info.

I'm a new community member and just wanted to say how helpful this thread has been! I'm not in the exact same situation, but I'm also a new mom trying to navigate the benefits system and feeling pretty overwhelmed by all the rules and requirements. Reading everyone's experiences and advice has really opened my eyes to how many options there actually are - I had no idea about things like benefits navigators at community centers, the Standard Utility Allowance, or programs like TEFAP. Anastasia, it sounds like you've gotten some really solid advice here about trying the application first before making any major living changes. The documentation approach that several people mentioned (keeping receipts for baby expenses, tracking food purchases separately) seems like a smart way to prepare for the eligibility interview. And with your high rent costs, you might be surprised at how much the shelter deduction helps even if you apply as a combined household. I'm definitely going to look into some of these resources for my own situation. It's so reassuring to see a community where people share real, practical advice based on their actual experiences. Thank you all for being so generous with your knowledge - it makes such a difference for those of us just starting to figure out how to get the support our babies need!

I'm a new member here but wanted to add something that might be helpful based on my experience working with CalFresh applications. One thing I've noticed is that many people don't realize you can actually request a phone interview instead of going into the county office, which can be much easier with a baby. Also, if you do get approved for CalFresh, make sure to ask about the Restaurant Meals Program (RMP) if it's available in your county - it allows certain CalFresh recipients to use benefits at participating restaurants, which can be a lifesaver when you're exhausted from caring for a newborn and don't have energy to cook. Another tip - if you're breastfeeding, make sure to mention any additional food needs during your interview. Breastfeeding mothers can sometimes qualify for higher benefit amounts. And definitely keep track of any formula costs even if WIC covers some of it - any out-of-pocket baby food expenses can potentially be factored into your case. From everything I've read in this thread, it sounds like you have a really strong case for getting some level of benefits given your high shelter costs and the fact that you're handling baby food expenses separately. Don't get discouraged if the first person you talk to doesn't seem helpful - sometimes it takes talking to a different caseworker to get someone who really understands your situation. You're being such a good advocate for your baby!

dont forget u can also use the YourBenefitsNow! website for LA county! its older but sometimes works when BenefitsCal is down. just google it

UPDATE: I got into BenefitsCal finally! Had to create a completely new account even though I already had one. Not sure why, but at least it worked. My documents are uploaded now. Thanks everyone for your help!

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this - 28 days is absolutely unacceptable, especially with two kids depending on you. The system is completely broken when families have to wait this long for basic food assistance. Reading through everyone's advice here, it's clear that being strategic and persistent is unfortunately necessary. Since you're hitting day 29 tomorrow, I'd definitely recommend calling first thing and using that specific language about the "30-day federal deadline" that others mentioned. The pattern seems consistent - once you demonstrate knowledge of their legal obligations, cases suddenly get "found" and processed. Also wanted to mention that if you're in LA County, the Department of Public Social Services has a specific escalation line for cases approaching the 30-day mark: (877) 481-1044. I had to use it last year for a delayed Medi-Cal application and they actually followed up within 24 hours. The backdated benefits will definitely help once you finally get approved, but I know that doesn't make the current struggle any easier. Have you looked into WIC as well? It's a separate program with different eligibility requirements, and sometimes you can get approved faster since it's federally funded directly rather than going through county processing. Keep documenting everything and don't let them wear you down. You're doing everything right - the system is failing you, not the other way around. Really hoping tomorrow brings you the approval you deserve!

This thread has been incredibly eye-opening and helpful! I'm currently dealing with a similar situation - my CalFresh application has been pending verification review for 22 days now in Riverside County. Reading everyone's experiences and the concrete strategies you've all shared gives me hope and a real action plan if I hit that 30-day mark. @Sienna Gomez - I'm really hoping you got your approval today! Your persistence and willingness to document your experience here has been so valuable for other families going through the same struggle. The stress of waiting this long for basic food assistance while caring for kids is just unimaginable. What strikes me most about this thread is how consistent the pattern is across different counties - people wait for weeks with no progress, then suddenly when they mention legal deadlines or administrative hearings, their cases get processed within days. It really shows that the system CAN move faster when there's proper accountability, which makes the normal delays even more frustrating. I'm bookmarking all the resources and strategies mentioned here: the ombudsperson contacts, county-specific escalation lines like the LA one Fatima shared, the administrative hearing option, and that specific language about the "30-day federal processing deadline." It's unfortunate that families have to become experts in bureaucratic pressure tactics just to get basic services, but I'm grateful this community exists to share what actually works. The backdated benefits policy is at least one thing that works in applicants' favor - knowing that you'll get the full amount from your application date when finally approved helps mentally, even though it doesn't solve the immediate need. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences and advice. This is exactly the kind of community support that makes a real difference when navigating these broken systems!

This is absolutely unacceptable! I've been locked out for 6 days now and it's causing so much stress for my family. We depend on CalFresh to help with our grocery budget and not being able to check my balance or access my account is terrifying. I tried the mobile app suggestion from @CosmicCaptain and it finally worked! Thank you so much for sharing that tip - you literally saved my sanity. It's infuriating that they would roll out a broken system that prevents people from accessing their basic food assistance. The automated phone line (1-877-328-9677) has been helpful for balance checks when nothing else worked. This whole situation just shows how little they care about the people who actually depend on these services. We shouldn't have to become tech experts just to check our own benefit balance! Thank you to everyone in this community for sharing workarounds - you've all been more helpful than any official support.

This is such a frustrating situation that so many families are dealing with! I've been following this thread and it's clear the BenefitsCal system rollout has been a complete disaster. What really stands out to me is how this community has stepped up to help each other when the official support has failed. @CosmicCaptain, your suggestions about the mobile app and phone number have literally helped dozens of families access their benefits - you've done more to solve this crisis than the entire state IT department! It's heartbreaking that people are losing sleep and worrying about feeding their children because of poor system planning. The fact that we have software testers and IT professionals in this thread confirming this was completely preventable just makes it more infuriating. For anyone still struggling: try the mobile app first, then the automated phone line at 1-877-328-9677. And remember - the 15-day extension for recertifications means you won't lose benefits if you're still locked out. We shouldn't have to be each other's tech support, but I'm grateful we're all here looking out for one another!