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Do CalFresh recipients need to file taxes with no income? Will it affect my benefits?
I've been on CalFresh for about 8 months now but I don't have a job (I'm a full-time student). My uncle told me I still need to file taxes or I could lose my benefits, but my friend said that's not true. I've never filed taxes before since I don't have income. Will CalFresh cut me off if I don't file? Tax season is coming up and I'm stressing about this. Do I need to go to a tax place and file something even with zero income just to keep my food benefits??
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Will San Bernardino County CalFresh reduce my benefits for leasing a car?
I'm in a tricky situation and need advice asap. My old car completely died last week, and I NEED reliable transportation for my job (I drive for instacart part-time). I found a decent lease deal on a 2025 Honda Civic ($299/month), but I'm worried about how San Bernardino County CalFresh will view this. I've heard they're super strict about assets and vehicle purchases compared to other counties? I'm a single mom with two kids and absolutely can't afford to lose our food benefits, but I also can't work without a car. Does anyone know if leasing (not buying) a vehicle affects CalFresh eligibility in San Bernardino specifically? Do I need to report this on my next SAR7? Will they count this as income or an asset?
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To summarize for anyone reading this thread in the future: 1. Vehicles (owned or leased) are not counted as assets for CalFresh in any California county, including San Bernardino 2. You should report acquiring a new vehicle on your SAR7 in the changes section 3. Lease payments are considered regular expenses and don't directly impact your benefit calculation 4. Keep documentation showing the vehicle is necessary for work purposes 5. San Bernardino County follows the same state regulations as other counties, though administrative practices may vary The most important thing is to report changes accurately and timely to avoid any potential overpayment issues down the road.
Thank you everyone for all your help! I feel much better about moving forward with the lease now. I'll definitely report it on my SAR7 and keep documentation about my work needs. Really appreciate all the advice!
As someone who recently went through a similar situation in San Bernardino County, I wanted to share my experience to hopefully ease your worries! I leased a 2024 Toyota Corolla ($315/month) about 6 months ago while receiving CalFresh benefits, and everything went smoothly. Here's what I learned: - The lease itself won't affect your CalFresh eligibility at all - I reported it on my SAR7 under the "changes in household" section and included a copy of my lease agreement - My worker asked a few basic questions about why I needed the car (I'm also a gig worker - DoorDash), but it was just routine verification - My benefits stayed exactly the same The key is being proactive about reporting it and having documentation ready. Since you drive for Instacart, definitely keep some proof of that income/work arrangement to show the car is a necessity for your job. San Bernardino County gets a reputation for being difficult, but in my experience with this specific issue, they were actually pretty straightforward once I had the proper paperwork. Good luck with your new lease - sounds like you found a great deal that will help you keep working!
When does CalFresh EBT balance update for April 2025? App showing nothing
Getting really worried here. It's March 28th and my CalFresh app still isn't showing the April deposit date. Usually by now I can see when next month's benefits will drop so I can plan my grocery shopping. My issuance date has always been the 3rd, but the app just shows my current balance with no pending deposit info. Has something changed with how they show upcoming deposits? Or could there be a problem with my case? Anyone else's BenefitsCal app not updating with April's deposit date yet?
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Update: mine just showed up in the app! Check yours now maybe
Just checked and mine is showing now too! Thanks everyone for the reassurance. Benefits will be deposited on the 3rd like usual.
Glad you got it sorted out! This happens way more often than it should. For future reference, if you ever need to check your benefit status quickly, you can also text your EBT card number to 511-411 and get your balance info that way - sometimes that updates faster than the apps do. It's saved me from panicking a few times when the systems are being slow to sync up.
Can I fax my CalFresh recertification paperwork or is online submission required now?
I've got my CalFresh recertification due next week and I'm stressing out about how to submit it. My internet at home is super unreliable right now (thanks to my lovely neighbors who keep "borrowing" my wifi). I'm wondering if I can still fax my recertification forms like I used to do before the pandemic? The packet I got in the mail mentions BenefitsCal online but doesn't clearly say if faxing is still allowed. I'd prefer to fax since I have access to a free fax machine at work. Has anyone successfully submitted their recertification by fax recently? Do they actually process faxed forms or will this delay my benefits?
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One more thing about faxing - make sure to KEEP YOUR FAX CONFIRMATION PAGE showing it went through successfully. I learned this the hard way. If they claim they never received it, you need that proof. I take a picture of the confirmation with my phone right away now so I don't lose it.
yessss this!!! they tried to tell me they didnt get my stuff once but i had the paper that showed it went thru and they magically "found" my paperwork lol
Update: I took everyone's advice and decided not to risk the fax route. I went to my sister's house to use her internet and submitted through BenefitsCal. It was actually easier than I expected! The website even gave me a confirmation number and email. Thanks everyone for your help - definitely saved me from potential benefit delays!
That's great news! Online submission is definitely the most reliable method these days. Make sure to check your BenefitsCal account in about a week to see if they need any additional verification documents from you. Glad it worked out!
So glad you got it submitted! I was stressing reading your original post because I know how nerve-wracking those deadlines can be. Online really is the way to go when possible - faster processing and you get that instant confirmation. Hope your recertification goes smoothly and your benefits continue without any hiccups!
CalFresh EBT card suddenly canceled - no warning, no food for kids!
MY EBT CARD STOPPED WORKING YESTERDAY AT THE GROCERY STORE!!! i was buying food for my 3 kids and the cashier said it was DECLINED. so embarrassing with everyone behind me!! had to leave all the food there. When i called the EBT number they said my card was CANCELED but didnt tell me why?? I just had my benefits renewed 2 months ago and got $1,120 loaded for February. Did anyone else have this happen? I still have a balance but cant use it!! County office doesnt answer and im panicking because we have NO FOOD in the house and i dont get paid until next friday!!
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UPDATE: Got my new EBT card today!! The food bank got us through the weekend and now i can access all my benefits again. Thanks everyone for the help!! Lesson learned - ALWAYS report cards stolen right away even if you have a backup!
So glad you got it resolved! This is really important info for everyone to know. I had no idea that stolen EBT cards get automatically flagged like that. Quick question - when you called the EBT customer service line, did you have to provide any specific information to prove your identity before they could tell you about the fraud flag? I'm always worried about someone else being able to access my account info if they had my card number.
CosmicCrusader
Thanks everyone for all the helpful responses! I feel so much better now. To summarize what I learned: 1. I don't need to file taxes to keep my CalFresh (they're separate systems) 2. What matters is reporting accurately on my SAR7 and recertification 3. Since my financial aid only goes to educational expenses, I'm correctly reporting $0 income 4. I still qualify as a student through the EOP exemption I appreciate all the help! This community is amazing.
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Chloe Robinson
Glad we could help clear things up! Just remember to keep all your verification documents organized for your upcoming recertification. Even with zero income, they'll likely want to see your student status documentation and possibly ask you to complete a zero income affidavit explaining how you cover your expenses. Good luck with school!
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Isabella Oliveira
Great summary! Just wanted to add one more tip for your recertification - if they do ask for a zero income affidavit, be specific about how you meet your basic needs (family support, food pantries, etc.). The more detailed you are, the smoother the process usually goes. Also, keep copies of everything you submit because sometimes documents get "lost" in the system and you'll need to resubmit. You've got this!
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