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This whole thread has been incredibly eye-opening! I'm also on CalFresh and had no clue about these transportation assistance programs. Like others mentioned, it's so frustrating that they don't automatically tell you about all the programs you might qualify for when you first apply. I'm definitely going to ask about the reduced transit passes - paying $85/month for a bus pass is killing my budget. And I had no idea about the medical transportation through Medi-Cal either. One thing I'm curious about - for those who've used these programs, do they check your income annually or do they just verify that you're still receiving CalFresh? I'm worried about the paperwork burden since I already have to recertify my CalFresh benefits every year. Thanks to everyone for sharing such practical advice. This is exactly the kind of insider knowledge that makes navigating these systems so much easier!
Great question about the paperwork! From my experience, most of these transportation programs just require proof that you're still receiving CalFresh rather than doing a separate income verification. So when you recertify for CalFresh annually, you can usually just bring a copy of your new award letter to the transit office to renew your reduced fare pass. It's way less paperwork than having to prove income separately for each program. Some counties even have systems where they automatically update your eligibility for connected programs when you recertify CalFresh, but that varies by location. Definitely worth asking when you apply so you know what to expect!
This thread is so helpful for understanding how CalFresh connects to other assistance programs! I'm currently on CalFresh and struggling with transportation costs too - spending about $200/month on rideshares and buses to get to work and appointments. Reading everyone's experiences, it's clear that while CalFresh benefits themselves can only be used for food, being eligible for CalFresh opens doors to other transportation assistance programs. I had no idea about the reduced transit passes or the medical transportation through Medi-Cal! I'm definitely going to try that Claimyr service since I've been having the same problem getting through to my county office - spent over 3 hours on hold last week just to get disconnected. It's so frustrating that we have to hunt down information about these programs ourselves instead of being told about them when we first apply for benefits. Thanks to everyone for sharing their real experiences and practical tips. This is exactly the kind of community support that makes navigating these confusing systems so much easier!
I totally feel your frustration with the transportation costs! It's crazy how much we end up spending on getting around when our cars break down. I'm new to CalFresh myself but reading through everyone's experiences here has been such an eye-opener. The Claimyr service sounds like it could be a game-changer for actually getting through to someone at the county office. I've been putting off calling because I know it's going to be hours on hold, but if I can get a callback instead that would save so much time and stress. One thing I'm wondering - has anyone found any emergency assistance for when your transportation situation gets really desperate? Like if you have a job interview or urgent appointment and literally no way to get there? I'm hoping there might be some one-time emergency vouchers or something through local nonprofits. Thanks for sharing your situation - it helps to know we're not alone in dealing with these challenges!
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Thank you everyone for all this great advice! I'm going to try going inside a bank first, and then use the grocery store cash back option as backup. I had no idea about the 4 free withdrawals either so I'll definitely start keeping track of those. Really appreciate all the help!
Another option that's worked well for me is using the EBT card at certain pharmacies like CVS or Walgreens - they often allow cash back up to $100-200 with just a small purchase, and there's usually no fee since it's processed as a debit transaction rather than an ATM withdrawal. Also, if you have a local credit union, they sometimes have partnerships with EBT programs that offer higher withdrawal limits and fewer fees than the big banks. It's worth calling around to ask about their EBT policies. The whole fee structure is definitely frustrating when you're just trying to access your own benefits!
This is really helpful! I never thought about pharmacies as an option. There's a CVS right down the street from me so I'll definitely try that next time. The credit union idea is interesting too - do you know if they require you to be a member to use their EBT services, or can anyone with an EBT card use them? Thanks for sharing these alternatives!
For credit unions, you typically need to be a member to use their ATMs without fees, but some have partnerships where they'll waive fees for EBT users even if you're not a member. It's worth calling ahead to ask! Also, I've found that some smaller independent pharmacies are even more flexible than the big chains - the one near me lets me get up to $300 cash back with just a $2 purchase. Might be worth checking if you have any local pharmacies in your area.
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One thing I learned from my case worker that might help others - if you're consistently running out of benefits before your issuance date, you can request an earlier benefit date when you do your recertification. They assign dates based on your case number, but if you can show that an earlier date would help you budget better (like if you get paid mid-month), they can sometimes adjust it. Not all counties do this, but it's worth asking about. Also, if you're working and your income fluctuates, make sure to report any changes - sometimes a small decrease in hours can actually increase your benefit amount significantly.
This is really good advice about requesting an earlier benefit date! I had no idea that was even possible. My benefits come on the 7th but I get paid on the 15th, so there's always this awkward gap where I'm stretching everything. I'm definitely going to ask about this at my next recertification appointment. Thanks for sharing this tip - it could be a game changer for my monthly budgeting!
As someone new to CalFresh, this whole thread has been incredibly helpful! I just got approved last week and my first benefit date is coming up on the 15th. I was stressing about the timing since I wasn't sure when exactly the benefits would be available. It sounds like checking the BenefitsCal app after midnight is the way to go, and knowing it could take up to 2-6am gives me realistic expectations. Also really appreciate all the tips about food pantries, requesting different benefit dates, and making sure I'm getting all the deductions I'm eligible for. This community is amazing - thank you all for sharing your experiences and helping newcomers like me navigate the system!
Welcome to CalFresh, Ethan! You're absolutely right that this community is so helpful for navigating all the little details they don't always explain clearly when you first get approved. The BenefitsCal app tip is definitely a lifesaver - way better than sitting on hold forever with the phone system. Since you're new, I'd also suggest taking screenshots of your benefit balance each month so you can track your spending patterns and figure out what budgeting approach works best for you. And don't hesitate to ask questions here - we've all been where you are and everyone's really supportive about sharing what they've learned!
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I work at a local community center and we see situations like yours all the time - you're definitely not alone in this! The good news is that with your rent being $1762 plus utilities, you should absolutely qualify for CalFresh once they properly calculate your shelter deduction. A few practical tips for your appeal: Make sure to bring a copy of your lease that clearly shows your portion of the rent (not just the total), recent utility bills in your name, and your pay stubs. Sometimes it helps to write out the math yourself showing how much you have left after housing costs - it can be really eye-opening for the caseworker. While you're waiting for the appeal, I'd also suggest calling 211 (just dial 2-1-1). They can connect you with local food resources, emergency assistance programs, and other support services in your area. Many of these programs can help bridge the gap while you're getting your CalFresh sorted out. You're doing the right thing by advocating for yourself - don't give up! The system can be confusing but you clearly have a strong case here.
Thank you so much for all this helpful information! I really appreciate you taking the time to explain everything. I'm definitely going to call 211 today - I didn't even know that service existed. And you're right about writing out the math myself, that's a great idea. After rent ($1762) and utilities (~$180), I only have about $801 left from my $2743 income for everything else - food, transportation, phone, etc. When you put it that way, it's pretty clear why I need help with groceries! I'm feeling much more confident about appealing now that I understand what went wrong with their calculations.
I'm so sorry you're dealing with this frustrating situation! It sounds like there were definitely calculation errors in your case. With your rent being $1762 plus $180 in utilities, that's $1942 in shelter costs - way more than half your income, which should trigger a significant shelter deduction. One thing that might help is to specifically request they apply the "Expanded Categorical Eligibility" rules when you appeal. California allows gross income up to 200% of the Federal Poverty Level (about $2868 for one person), so you're well within that limit. Then with your high shelter costs, your net income after deductions should definitely qualify you. I'd also suggest keeping a food diary for a few days showing what you're able to afford to eat with only $801 left after housing costs. Sometimes having concrete examples helps caseworkers understand the real impact. You shouldn't have to choose between paying rent and buying adequate food! Hang in there - with all the great advice people have shared here, you have a really strong case for your appeal. 💪
That's a really good point about keeping a food diary - I never thought about documenting what I can actually afford to buy with what's left after housing costs. It's honestly pretty depressing when you write it down like that, but you're right that it might help the caseworker see the real situation. I'm going to start doing that today while I prepare for the appeal. Thank you for the suggestion about specifically mentioning "Expanded Categorical Eligibility" too - it seems like there are so many rules and terms that they don't tell you about upfront. I'm learning more from this community thread than I did from all the official paperwork! Really appreciate everyone's help here.
Lori Haynes
I turned in my sar7 and it's still being reviewed!?!? I was supposed to get my food stamps today ..I called the 800 number to my county and it's saying EBT is active but won't get my food stamps til November...is anyone else dealing with such chaos ? Yop it off I never got a notice of action
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Keisha Johnson
•Oh wow, that sounds incredibly frustrating! Having to wait until November when you were supposed to get benefits today is such a long gap. The SAR7 review process can sometimes take longer than expected, especially if there are system backlogs like what others have mentioned in this thread. A few thoughts - you might want to try calling and specifically asking about expedited processing since you're in a hardship situation with no food assistance. Also, the lack of a Notice of Action is concerning because they're required to send those. You could request they resend it or ask them to explain the delay over the phone. Have you tried using that Claimyr service others mentioned to get through to someone who can actually look at your case? It might be worth trying to get a real person who can explain why there's such a long delay and see if anything can be done to speed up the review process.
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Malik Johnson
I'm new to this community and this situation is exactly what brought me here - my CalFresh benefits that normally deposit on the 12th still haven't shown up and I was getting really worried. Reading through everyone's experiences has been such a huge relief because I thought maybe my case got closed or something went wrong on my end. It's incredibly frustrating that there's a system-wide issue but no official communication about it to recipients. We shouldn't have to rely on community forums to figure out what's happening with our food assistance! Thank you to everyone who shared resources like Claimyr and information about emergency issuance - I had no idea those options existed. I'm definitely going to try calling tomorrow using some of these suggestions. It's really unfortunate that this is how I'm getting introduced to the community, but I'm grateful for how supportive and helpful everyone has been in sharing practical solutions when the official channels have failed us.
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Beth Ford
•Welcome to the community! I'm also relatively new here but have been dealing with similar CalFresh issues. It's really reassuring to see how supportive everyone is when these system failures happen. I totally agree that we shouldn't have to crowdsource information about delays in our food assistance - there should be better communication from the state when there are known issues. I hope you're able to get through tomorrow using some of the resources people shared. The Claimyr service seems to be working well for people based on what others have said. It's frustrating that this is happening to so many of us at once, but at least we can help each other navigate it. Definitely keep us posted on how it goes - your experience might help the next person dealing with this!
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