Hey everyone! I'm new to this community but this thread is so helpful - I literally just got my daughter's P-EBT card yesterday and was about to try setting up the PIN. After reading all your experiences, I'm mentally prepared for that weird error message now! It's frustrating that California's P-EBT system has such consistent technical issues, but at least it sounds like the PIN actually gets set up despite the confusing error. I'll definitely try using the card at a store first before panicking if I get that "Can't access your account" message. Thanks Isabella for starting this thread and everyone for sharing your experiences - this saved me a lot of stress!

Hi Isabella and everyone! I'm new to this community but just wanted to share that I experienced this exact same issue with my twin daughters' P-EBT cards about two weeks ago. Got the same "Can't access your account" error after setting up both PINs, and I was so worried I'd have to start over. But both cards worked perfectly at Safeway the next day with the PINs I had originally set up! It's clearly a widespread system glitch with their confirmation process. For anyone dealing with this in the future - the PIN setup actually goes through despite that scary error message. Just wait about 24 hours and try using the card at any store that accepts EBT. The P-EBT system definitely needs some serious technical improvements, but at least the benefits are still accessible once you get past this initial hurdle.

I've been working with homeless individuals for years as a case manager, and I want to emphasize how important it is that you're applying! CalFresh is specifically designed to help people in your situation, and being homeless actually gives you several advantages in the application process: 1. Expedited processing (benefits within 3 days instead of 30) 2. The homeless shelter deduction that others mentioned ($166.81 automatically applied) 3. Waived certain documentation requirements 4. Priority scheduling for interviews Don't let anyone make you feel like you're not "deserving" of these benefits - they exist specifically for situations like yours. Your California ID is perfect for identity verification, and using a friend's address for mail is completely standard and acceptable. The county workers deal with homeless applications daily and are trained to help you through the process. One thing I'd add is that if you do any occasional work (gig economy, day labor, etc.), make sure to report it honestly - they're not trying to disqualify you, they just need accurate info to calculate your benefits. And remember, even if your situation changes later (like finding housing), you can always update your case. Good luck with your application!

Just want to echo what everyone else has said - you absolutely can get CalFresh while homeless! I work at a local food bank and we help people apply all the time. The process is actually streamlined for homeless individuals because the state recognizes this is a vulnerable population that needs support. A few practical tips from what I've seen work well: - If your friend's address doesn't work out for some reason, you can also use "General Delivery" at your local post office as a mailing address - Some homeless service organizations (shelters, soup kitchens, etc.) will also let you use their address for mail - Keep your CA ID safe - it's really all you need for identity verification - If you have any medical conditions or disabilities, mention those too as they might qualify you for additional deductions The county workers are used to this situation and won't judge you for it. They're there to help you access the benefits you're entitled to. Don't let the paperwork intimidate you - there are people whose job it is to walk you through this process. You've got this!

This thread is so helpful! I just started receiving CalFresh benefits last month and had no idea there were so many backup ways to check your balance. I was getting really worried when the website wouldn't accept my login yesterday, but after reading everyone's suggestions I tried the ConnectEBT app and it worked right away. It's honestly pretty frustrating that such an important system has these issues so regularly - people depend on knowing their benefit balance to plan grocery trips and meals. I'm definitely saving all these alternative methods (phone number, ATM checks, text option) for future reference. Thank you to everyone who shared solutions instead of just complaining - this is exactly the kind of community support that makes dealing with government systems a little easier!

As someone who's been on CalFresh for about 6 months now, I can totally relate to that panic when the system doesn't work! This exact same thing happened to me around Christmas and I was convinced my benefits got cut off. Turns out it was just another one of their frequent technical glitches. What I've learned is to always have multiple backup methods ready: - Keep the EBT customer service number (877-328-9677) saved in your phone - Download the ConnectEBT app as a backup to the website - Remember you can check balances at most grocery store customer service counters - The text option (text your card number to 69906) is super convenient for quick checks It's honestly ridiculous that such a critical system for food security has these issues so regularly, but at least we can help each other navigate around the problems. The good news is that these are almost always temporary technical issues, not actual problems with your benefits. Glad to see the website is working again for most people!

Hi Paolo! I'm new to this community but wanted to reach out because I'm in a very similar situation. My baby boy has his father's last name but his dad isn't on the birth certificate either - he was working out of state when I gave birth and couldn't make it to the hospital in time to sign the paperwork. Reading through all these responses has been such a relief! I was also really worried about applying for CalFresh because of the different last names situation. Like you, I thought it would trigger all kinds of questions and complications that I wasn't prepared to handle. But it's so reassuring to see how many people have been through this exact same thing and that the CalFresh workers really don't seem to care about the name differences. Everyone's advice about keeping it simple and just focusing on who actually lives in your household makes perfect sense. I love the tip that several people mentioned about writing down the basic facts beforehand: "Household of 2 - me and my child, father not on birth certificate and doesn't live with us." Having that clear statement ready would definitely help if I get nervous during the interview. Thank you for asking this question! Sometimes it takes seeing that other people are dealing with the same struggles to realize you're not alone and that these situations are more common than you think. This community seems incredibly supportive and knowledgeable. I'm definitely going to apply for CalFresh now that I know the different last names aren't the big deal I thought they would be. Good luck with your application - you're doing great advocating for your daughter! 💕

Hi Paolo! I'm new to this community but your situation really hits close to home for me. My 4-month-old son also has his father's last name but dad isn't listed on the birth certificate - he was out of the country for work when I gave birth and couldn't be there to sign the paperwork. I was in the same boat as you, really stressed about how to handle the CalFresh application with this complication. But after reading through all these incredibly helpful responses, I feel so much more confident! It's amazing to see how many of us have dealt with similar situations and how supportive this community is. The consistent advice from everyone - including former CalFresh workers - is so reassuring: they really only care about who physically lives in your household and shares meals with you. The different last names just aren't the red flag we thought they'd be. I especially love the suggestion about preparing that simple statement: "Household of 2 - me and my child, father not on birth certificate and doesn't live with us." Having that clear explanation ready would definitely help if nerves kick in during the interview. Thank you for being brave enough to ask this question! It's helped so many of us realize we're not alone in these situations. I'm definitely going to apply for CalFresh now, and I'll also look into WIC since I'm breastfeeding. You're doing an amazing job advocating for your daughter - we've all got this! 💕

I'm so relieved to see all these responses confirming that CalFresh benefits aren't taxable! I just started receiving benefits a few months ago and have been dreading tax season because I wasn't sure what I needed to report. It's incredibly helpful to hear from so many people who've been through this already. The explanation about CalFresh being "nutritional assistance" rather than income really helps me understand why it's treated differently from other government benefits. I feel so much more confident about doing my taxes now - thank you everyone for sharing your knowledge and experiences!

I'm so grateful for this thread! I've been receiving CalFresh for about 8 months now and was getting really anxious about tax season. My mom kept telling me that "all government money is taxable" which had me worried I was going to owe a huge tax bill. Reading everyone's responses has been such a relief - especially hearing from the tax professional who cited IRS Publication 525. It's really reassuring to know that CalFresh is specifically designed to help with basic needs and the government doesn't want to tax that assistance. I also appreciate all the tips about keeping organized records and the reminder that tax refunds don't affect CalFresh eligibility either. This community has been so helpful in clearing up the confusion. Thank you to everyone who took the time to share their experiences and knowledge!