Quick update for anyone else who might face this situation - I just went through this exact process last week in Fresno! Got to the Shields office at 7:45am and was about 6th in line. Whole process took about 1 hour 15 minutes from when I got there to walking out with my new card. Staff was really helpful and the new card worked immediately at the grocery store. Just make sure to bring your ID and any paperwork you have with your case info. The PIN setup only takes like 2 minutes at the kiosk they have there. Don't stress too much @Andre Lefebvre - you'll get it sorted tomorrow!

If you're really desperate and can't make it to the office tomorrow for some reason, there's actually one more emergency option - some of the larger grocery stores in Fresno (like the WinCo on Shaw or Food 4 Less on Blackstone) have customer service desks that can help you get emergency food assistance while you wait for your replacement card. You'd need to call 211 first to get set up, but they can sometimes provide a temporary voucher for essential groceries. It's not ideal and has limitations, but it's better than going hungry if the office visit doesn't work out. But honestly, based on what everyone's saying, going to the welfare office in person sounds like your best bet for getting sorted quickly!

I'm so sorry you're facing this situation with your children. As someone who works with families in crisis, I want to emphasize a few urgent steps that haven't been fully covered: 1. **Call 211 immediately** - They have real-time information about emergency shelter availability and can often get you on waiting lists faster than going through individual agencies. 2. **Contact your local Coordinated Entry System** - Every county has one for homeless services. They prioritize families with children and can connect you to rapid rehousing programs that might get you housed faster than traditional waitlists. 3. **Ask about Emergency Housing Vouchers** - These are different from regular Section 8 and specifically for people experiencing homelessness. They often have shorter wait times. 4. **Document everything** - Take photos of your eviction notice, keep records of all calls/applications. This helps expedite services and appeals if needed. 5. **Know your rights** - In California, you cannot be evicted in 30 days if you've been there over a year (it's typically 60 days). Double-check your notice with a tenant's rights organization. You're being proactive by reaching out now. That gives you a much better chance of avoiding sleeping in your car. Stay strong - there are people and programs designed to help families exactly like yours.

I'm heartbroken reading your story, but please know you're not alone and there IS help available. I went through something similar 3 years ago with my twin boys when our apartment building was condemned suddenly. Here's what I learned that might help you RIGHT NOW: **Immediate CalFresh Actions:** - Call your caseworker TODAY and report that you're facing imminent homelessness. This can trigger expedited processing for other benefits - Ask specifically about the "homeless deduction" for CalFresh - you might qualify for additional benefits even without paying rent - Request they flag your case as "emergency" status **CalWORKs Emergency Aid:** - Apply for CalWORKs Homeless Assistance ASAP - don't wait until you're actually on the street. The 30-day notice qualifies as "imminent homelessness" - Bring: eviction notice, kids' birth certificates, your ID, proof of income, and any documentation showing you can't find affordable housing - Ask specifically for "Temporary Homeless Assistance" (up to 16 days hotel/motel vouchers) AND "Permanent Housing Assistance" (deposit/first month help) **Schools:** - Contact your 7-year-old's school counselor immediately about McKinney-Vento Act protections. They can provide meals, supplies, and ensure school stability even if you move districts temporarily. You have almost a month - that's actually more time than many people get. Use every single day to apply for programs and make calls. Document everything and don't take "no" for an answer without asking to speak to a supervisor. Sending you strength mama. Your kids are lucky to have someone fighting this hard for them. 💙

Based on everything you've shared, here's what I recommend: 1. Request a copy of the overpayment notice and calculation sheet showing exactly when the overpayment occurred 2. Ask for a copy of your case record to confirm you're listed as a separate household 3. File for a state hearing immediately (you can do this online through BenefitsCal) 4. Gather evidence showing when you moved out (lease, utility bills, etc.) 5. Request a conference with a supervisor before your hearing date CalFresh regulations at MPP Section 63-801.3 specify who can be held liable for overpayments, and they generally cannot collect from people who were not part of the household during the period of overpayment. Many counties misapply these rules or rely on outdated information in their systems.

This is definitely worth fighting! I work as a benefits advocate and see this type of error frequently. The county systems sometimes automatically link family members even when they shouldn't be connected. One thing to check - did you use the same Social Security number or any shared information when you applied? Sometimes the system creates inappropriate links based on shared data like phone numbers or addresses (even previous addresses). Also, make sure to document every interaction you have with the county from now on. Get names, dates, and case numbers. If they can't provide a clear explanation of why you're liable for her debt, that's a red flag that this is likely an administrative error that needs to be corrected through the appeals process. You absolutely have the right to receive your full benefit amount if you're not actually responsible for that overpayment!

As someone new to this community, I'm amazed by how thorough and helpful everyone's responses have been! I'm not currently dealing with CalFresh issues myself, but this thread is such a valuable resource. The systematic approach everyone has outlined - starting with checking your BenefitsCal account online, then calling about restoration with good cause, and having a new application as backup - creates such a clear roadmap for what can be a really overwhelming situation. It's especially helpful to see responses from people who work in the system like Isabella, as well as personal success stories from folks like Lola who got their case restored after missing a deadline. Oliver, I hope you're able to get this sorted out quickly using all this great advice! This community really shows how sharing experiences and knowledge can make navigating these complex government systems so much more manageable.

I'm new to this community but wanted to share my experience since I went through something very similar last year. My CalFresh benefits stopped unexpectedly and I was terrified I'd lost them permanently. After reading through all the amazing advice here, I realize I got lucky - I happened to call within the first month and they were able to restore my case because I had missed my SAR7 due to being hospitalized. The caseworker explained that they have to send notices by mail, but if you don't receive them or can't respond due to circumstances beyond your control, they can often work with you. Oliver, definitely try the BenefitsCal login first like Mary suggested - that's such a smart way to figure out exactly what happened before you call. And don't be discouraged if the first person you talk to says no - sometimes it helps to ask to speak with a supervisor or call back and try a different worker. The whole process taught me to set calendar reminders for those SAR7 deadlines every 6 months. Wishing you the best of luck getting this resolved quickly!

This thread is absolutely incredible! As someone who's been navigating CalFresh for a while now, I wish I had found information this clear and detailed when I first started. The fact that you have both community members sharing real experiences AND an actual county case worker confirming everything is just amazing. I'm definitely saving this for future reference and sharing it with friends who are on CalFresh. The breakdown of EBT customer service vs county office systems, the expedited shipping option, the Claimyr service recommendation, emergency food assistance info - this is like a complete survival guide! Thank you everyone for taking the time to share your knowledge and help each other out. This is exactly what community support should look like!

This thread has been such a lifesaver! I'm actually in training to become a community navigator to help people with benefits applications and this conversation is exactly the kind of real-world knowledge they don't teach in the training materials. The distinction between EBT customer service for card issues vs county office for case updates is so important but not always clear to people. I'm definitely going to reference this thread when helping clients in the future. Also really appreciate Teresa sharing the insider perspective - it's so helpful to know about emergency food assistance options that workers can provide while people wait for replacement cards. This is community support at its best!