For anyone still showing pending status: I just received confirmation from the state CalFresh office that all remaining pending cases should be resolved by tomorrow morning. The technical issue affected approximately 30% of cases statewide, primarily those with case numbers ending in specific digits. If your benefits aren't available by tomorrow afternoon, you should contact your county office directly as your case might have a different issue requiring individual attention.

This thread has been so helpful! I'm a newcomer here but dealing with the same issue - my benefits have been pending since Monday. It's really reassuring to see that it's a widespread system problem and not something wrong with my case. I was starting to panic thinking I'd somehow messed up my recertification or something. Really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences and especially @Gianna Scott for the official updates from the state office. It's frustrating that we have to rely on community forums to get real information instead of getting clear communication from the county offices directly. Fingers crossed mine updates tomorrow morning like they're saying!

As someone who just went through a similar situation last year, I want to emphasize something that saved me: don't wait for the perfect solution to come through before exploring backup options. While you're applying for Rapid Rehousing and other programs, also look into extended stay motels that offer weekly rates - some accept vouchers from emergency assistance programs. It's not ideal, but it kept my family together and gave us a stable address while waiting for housing programs to process. Also, if you're in a larger county, check if they have a family navigation center - these are different from regular shelters and specifically designed to keep families together while connecting them to permanent housing. The waiting can be agonizing, but having multiple irons in the fire really helps your chances of avoiding homelessness altogether.

I'm new to this community but wanted to share something that might help - if you're working part-time, check if your employer participates in any emergency assistance programs. Some larger employers (even retail/service jobs) have employee assistance funds specifically for housing crises that people don't know about. Also, when you contact Catholic Charities and other faith-based organizations, ask about their "utility assistance" programs too - sometimes they can help with security deposits by paying your utilities for the first few months instead of direct rent assistance, which might make you more attractive to landlords. I know it feels overwhelming dealing with so many different programs, but the fact that you're starting this process with 60 days notice instead of waiting until the last minute puts you in a much better position than most people facing housing loss.

I hope everything went well at the county office today! Just wanted to add that if you run into any issues or delays, don't give up. Sometimes the first worker you talk to might not be fully familiar with the homeless assistance program, so don't hesitate to ask for a supervisor if needed. Also, if you get approved for the 16-day temporary assistance, use that time wisely to look for permanent housing AND apply for the permanent homeless assistance to help with move-in costs. Many people don't realize they can get both programs. Keep us updated on how it goes - rooting for you and your daughter! 🙏

Just wanted to share my recent experience since I see a lot of good info here but also some confusion. I just went through the CalWORKs homeless assistance process in January 2025 with my two kids after we got evicted. A few things I learned that might help others: 1. The income limits mentioned are correct - for my family of 3, we qualified even though I work part-time (around $2,800/month income limit for 3 people) 2. They do help with both temporary (16 days motel) AND permanent assistance (deposit + first month rent) but you have to ask for both - they don't always offer the permanent part automatically 3. Bring EVERYTHING - ID, kids' birth certificates, pay stubs, eviction notice, bank statements. The more documentation you have, the faster it goes 4. Some counties have emergency after-hours numbers for homeless assistance - ask about this when you call 5. If you're denied, always ask for it in writing and the appeals process. I know someone who got approved on appeal after initial denial The whole process took about 3 days for me from application to getting the motel voucher. Now we're in a permanent place thanks to the deposit assistance. Don't lose hope if you're going through this - the program really does work when you have all your ducks in a row!

This thread has been so educational! I'm also pretty new to CalFresh (just got approved last month) and had no idea about all these potential issues with replacement cards. The address sync problem between CalFresh and the EBT system seems to be a really common issue that nobody warns you about upfront. I'm definitely going to call and verify my address is correct in both systems before I ever need a replacement. It's also really helpful to know about the emergency pickup option at county offices - I had no idea that was even possible! Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences, especially @Andre Dupont for the update letting us know it all worked out. This community is such a great resource for navigating all the complexities of the system.

As someone who's been on CalFresh for about 6 months now, I really appreciate this detailed discussion! I haven't had to deal with a replacement card yet, but reading through everyone's experiences has given me a great roadmap for what to do if it happens. The most valuable takeaway for me is definitely the importance of verifying your address is correct in BOTH the CalFresh system AND the EBT card system - I had no idea these were separate! I'm going to call tomorrow just to double-check mine are synced up correctly. Also bookmarking that Claimyr service @Liam Fitzgerald mentioned in case I ever need to get through to a human quickly. Thanks to everyone for sharing such practical advice - this is exactly the kind of community support that makes navigating government programs so much easier!

So happy to hear your update! This is exactly why I always tell people not to panic about missing documents - the system is designed to work with you, not against you. The fact that they accepted Medi-Cal cards as proof of identity is a perfect example of how having other benefits can actually help streamline the process. Hope your benefits load smoothly and you get the food assistance your family needs!

I'm so glad to see your positive update, Amina! As someone new to this community, it's really heartwarming to see how supportive everyone has been in helping you navigate this process. Your experience is a great reminder that while the CalFresh application process can seem overwhelming at first, there are usually solutions and alternatives available. The fact that Medi-Cal cards worked as proof of identity is really helpful information for other parents who might be in similar situations. Wishing you and your family all the best as you get your benefits set up!