I work at a county eligibility office and can confirm most of what's been shared here is accurate. A few additional points that might help: 1. The travel reimbursement form is officially called "MC 382" in most counties, though some use local variations. If you call and ask for "MC 382" or "travel expense claim form" they should know what you mean. 2. The distance threshold varies by county but is typically 3-5 miles ONE WAY from your residence to the office. They calculate this using official mapping software, not just what you estimate. 3. For initial applications like yours, you do need to attend in person, but if there are genuine hardship issues (no transportation, disability, etc.) supervisors can sometimes approve phone interviews on a case-by-case basis. 4. Pro tip: If you're denied reimbursement, you can request a supervisor review. Sometimes front desk staff aren't fully trained on the policy nuances. The system definitely could be more transparent about these benefits. Good luck with your interview!

This thread has been so helpful! I'm in a similar situation - have my CalFresh interview next week and the office is about 8 miles away. I've been stressing about the transportation cost since I'm between jobs right now. One question I haven't seen addressed - if you're carpooling with someone else who also has an interview (like a family member), can you both claim mileage reimbursement for the same trip? Or do they only reimburse one person per vehicle? My sister and I both need to go in for our interviews on the same day and we were planning to drive together to save gas money. Also, does anyone know if there's a maximum amount they'll reimburse per trip? At 67¢/mile for 16 miles round trip, that would be about $10.72, which would really help right now. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this community is a lifesaver when the official system is so hard to navigate!

My experience with CalFresh as a senior has been AWFUL. I submitted medical expenses 3 times and they kept "losing" them. When I finally got through to a supervisor, my benefits went from $23 to $157 overnight. The system is designed to frustrate us into giving up!! One trick I learned - if you have any special diet needs recommended by your doctor (low sodium, diabetic, etc), get a doctor's note. Those special dietary needs can sometimes help your case because they recognize those foods cost more.

As someone who's been helping seniors navigate CalFresh for years, I want to emphasize something crucial that might not be obvious: ALWAYS submit medical expenses with your initial application, not just during appeals. The county workers often don't proactively ask about medical deductions, but they can make a huge difference. For seniors specifically, here's what counts as medical expenses: - Medicare Part B and Part D premiums - Supplemental insurance premiums - Prescription copays and deductibles - Over-the-counter medications prescribed by your doctor - Medical equipment (glasses, hearing aids, etc.) - Transportation costs to medical appointments - Dental and vision expenses not covered by insurance The key is documenting EVERYTHING over $35/month. Keep receipts, get statements from your insurance companies, and don't assume "small" expenses don't matter - they add up quickly and can significantly increase your benefits. Also, make sure to ask about the "elderly simplified reporting" option that @Mateo Sanchez mentioned. This protects seniors from benefit reductions due to small income changes like COLA adjustments.

As someone who's new to this community and currently navigating my first CalFresh application, reading through this entire thread has been both eye-opening and incredibly helpful. Alice, I'm so glad you finally got your recertification approved! Your experience really highlights how broken the communication system can be when cases get stuck with trainees. What strikes me most is how many different strategies people shared - from using Claimyr to get through phone systems, to requesting Administrative Reviews, to mentioning "Aid Pending" regulations. It's concerning that applicants need to know so many workarounds just to get basic services processed on time, but I'm grateful this community exists to share these insights. The advice about documenting everything, checking BenefitsCal regularly for electronic notices, and being persistent really resonates with me. I've already started taking screenshots of my submissions and plan to be much more proactive about following up if my case seems to be taking too long. Thank you to everyone who contributed solutions and encouragement here - it's clear this community really looks out for each other, and as a newcomer, that's incredibly reassuring when dealing with such a complex and sometimes frustrating system.

As a newcomer to this community, I'm really grateful to have found this thread. I'm currently waiting on my first CalFresh application and after reading Alice's experience and everyone's responses, I realize I need to be much more proactive about monitoring my case. The number of helpful strategies shared here is amazing - from Claimyr for getting through phone systems, to requesting Administrative Reviews, to understanding "Aid Pending" regulations. It's honestly pretty overwhelming to learn that you need to know so many workarounds just to get basic food assistance, but I'm taking notes on everything! I've already started documenting my submission dates and plan to check BenefitsCal regularly for any electronic notices. Alice, congratulations on finally getting your recertification approved - your persistence really paid off! And thank you to everyone else who shared their experiences and solutions. This community seems like such a valuable resource for navigating what can clearly be a frustrating and confusing system. For anyone else new like me - it sounds like the key takeaways are: document everything, be persistent, don't assume no news is good news, and don't be afraid to ask for supervisors or specific types of reviews if things are taking too long. Really appreciate all the wisdom shared here!

This is such an important success story! As someone new to this community, I'm amazed at how helpful everyone has been in walking you through the process. It's really eye-opening to see how a $23 benefit turned into $237 just by knowing which deductions to ask for. What strikes me most is that your mom shouldn't have had to fight for benefits she was already entitled to. The fact that caseworkers aren't automatically checking for medical expense and shelter deductions for SSI recipients seems like a serious systemic issue. How many other elderly folks are getting shortchanged simply because they don't know the magic words to say during recertification? I'm definitely saving this thread for future reference - the detailed breakdown of what counts as medical expenses (including transportation costs!) is incredibly valuable. Thank you for taking the time to share both the problem and the solution. Your persistence not only helped your mom but will likely help many other families who find this thread when facing similar issues. Really glad your mom will now be able to afford the food she needs with her dietary restrictions!

As someone new to this community, I'm both amazed by how helpful everyone has been and honestly appalled by how broken the system seems to be. The fact that your mom's benefits went from $23 to $237 just by mentioning deductions she was already entitled to is incredible, but it really highlights a major problem. It seems like there should be mandatory training for caseworkers to automatically check for ALL possible deductions when working with SSI recipients, especially elderly clients who might not know what to ask for. The difference between $23 and $237 could literally be the difference between eating and not eating for someone on a fixed income. I'm bookmarking this entire thread because the information here is gold - from the specific medical expenses that qualify (including transportation costs!) to the timing tips for calling the county office. This community really knows how to support each other through these bureaucratic nightmares. Thank you for sharing both your struggle and your success. I'm sure this will help countless other families who find themselves in similar situations. Your persistence not only helped your mom but created a roadmap for others to follow!

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 has been incredibly helpful! I'm in a similar situation and had been putting off applying because I was worried about the address requirement. Reading everyone's experiences has given me the confidence to move forward. One question I have - if I'm approved and later find temporary housing (like staying with someone for a few months), do I need to update my case right away? I don't want to mess up my benefits by not reporting changes, but I also don't want to lose them if my housing situation is still unstable. Also, does anyone know if there's a way to check application status online once you submit it? I tend to get anxious waiting for responses and it would help to be able to track where things stand. Thanks again to everyone who shared their knowledge - this community is amazing!