This is heartbreaking - I'm so sorry your sister is going through this. I had my CalFresh benefits stolen in Sacramento last month ($520 taken through fraudulent ATM withdrawals) and it took 19 days to get them back. Here's what I learned from the experience: definitely file the police report (which she did), but also make sure she has the report number written down for every call to the county. I found that mentioning I had already filed a police report seemed to move things along faster. Also, if she hasn't already, have her call the Kern County Human Services office directly at (661) 631-6000 and ask specifically for the "EBT fraud claims unit" - don't just use the general EBT customer service line. The county workers have more power to expedite things than the EBT customer service reps. Hang in there, and please keep us updated on how long it takes for her claim to be processed!

I'm so sorry to hear about your sister's situation - EBT theft is unfortunately becoming way too common. I'm in San Diego but went through something similar last year when $425 was stolen from my card. A few things that might help speed up the process: 1) Make sure she gets a case tracking number for her theft claim (different from the police report number) so she can reference it in every call, 2) Ask the county office if they can put an "urgent need" flag on her case since she has children with no food, and 3) Document every phone call she makes - date, time, who she spoke with, and what they said. This helped me when I had to escalate my case. It took me 16 days to get my benefits back, but I know others who got theirs in under a week when they were persistent about calling daily. Also, many churches in Bakersfield have emergency food pantries that don't require any paperwork - just show up. Hope this helps and that she gets her benefits restored soon!

As someone who just started receiving CalFresh benefits last month, this thread has been absolutely incredible! I had the exact same experience at a different Subway location - so embarrassing when my card got declined and I had no idea why. Reading through everyone's explanations about the Restaurant Meals Program vs. regular SNAP benefits finally makes it all click. I'm not eligible for RMP either, but now I know to look for those "SNAP Authorized Retailer" signs and ask about packaged items only. I'm definitely going to download that SNAP Retailer Locator app and check out some of the grocery store deli options people mentioned. The Dollar Tree tip for $1.25 sandwiches is genius - there's one right by my bus stop! Thank you to everyone who shared their knowledge and resources. This is exactly the kind of practical, real-world advice that you just can't find in the official pamphlets. I feel so much more confident about navigating my benefits now instead of just guessing and hoping for the best.

This whole conversation has been such an education! I'm a college student who just started getting CalFresh benefits this semester and I had no clue about any of these rules. I made the same mistake at a different fast food place last week - so mortifying! What really struck me is how much the rules vary by location and how poorly trained some employees are about their own policies. I think I'm going to start with the simpler options like grocery store delis and those convenience stores people mentioned before trying to navigate the restaurant situation again. The community resource suggestions are gold too - I had no idea my local library might have guides about this stuff. As a broke college student, every dollar counts, so knowing about Dollar Tree's $1.25 sandwiches and food bank grab bags could be a real game-changer for stretching my food budget. Thanks everyone for sharing your real-world experiences. This is the kind of practical advice they should include in the CalFresh orientation instead of just the basic rules!

Raúl, this is such wonderful news! I've been following your posts and was so worried about you sleeping in your car. Finally getting that hotel voucher must be such a relief. I wanted to add something I haven't seen mentioned yet - when you go back on the 17th, ask about the "Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention Program" (HHAP) funding. It's different from the other programs people mentioned and sometimes has shorter waitlists. They can help with rental assistance, security deposits, and even temporary financial assistance for work-related expenses like gas money for job interviews or apartment viewings. Also, since you mentioned having a part-time job, make sure to bring recent pay stubs with you. Sometimes they can fast-track your application if they can verify steady income right away, even if it's not full-time. One practical tip from my own experience - start calling apartments during your lunch breaks or after work to ask about their application process and timeline. That way when you do find "the one," you'll know exactly what paperwork they need and how quickly they can move. Some places take weeks just to process applications, while others can approve you in 24-48 hours if everything checks out. You're doing all the right things by planning ahead. Having stable housing is going to change everything for you! 🏡

Raúl, I'm so happy you finally got some help! I went through a similar situation last year and wanted to share something that really helped me during the apartment search - create a "housing assistance packet" to bring with you when viewing apartments. Include copies of: - Your income verification/pay stubs - A letter from your case worker confirming you have housing assistance approved (ask for this on the 17th!) - Your ID and Social Security card copies - A brief personal statement explaining your situation professionally Having everything ready in a folder made landlords take me more seriously and showed I was organized and prepared. Some landlords who were initially hesitant about county assistance changed their minds when they saw I had all my paperwork together and could explain the process clearly. Also, don't forget to ask about the difference between "rapid rehousing" and "homeless prevention" programs - you might qualify for both depending on your situation, and combining them could give you more comprehensive assistance. The restaurant meals program someone mentioned is a lifesaver - I lived on Subway and Jack in the Box for weeks while apartment hunting. It's so much better than trying to survive on snacks from gas stations! You're going to get through this. Having that hotel voucher is the first step, and you're already asking all the right questions. Keep us updated! 🙌

As someone who just went through the CalSAWS transition in my county last fall, I wanted to share a few practical tips that helped me navigate the switch smoothly. First, don't worry - your benefit amount and eligibility won't change at all. CalSAWS is just the backend system that county workers use. Here's what I wish someone had told me: 1) If you currently use any online services, you'll need to re-register on BenefitsCal.com with the new system, 2) Keep extra copies of all your documents for a few months during the transition - I had one friend whose verification paperwork got temporarily "lost" in the system switch, and 3) Your SAR7 form might look slightly different but asks for the exact same information. The good news is that once everything settles (usually takes about 4-6 weeks), the new system is actually more user-friendly. I can now check my case status, upload documents, and even submit my SAR7 directly from my phone. Just be patient during the initial transition period and don't hesitate to call if you notice anything unusual with your benefits!

I went through this exact same thing about 6 months ago when my county switched to CalSAWS! I was so worried it would mess up my benefits too, but honestly it ended up being pretty seamless. The most important thing to know is that CalSAWS is just the computer system - your actual CalFresh benefits, amounts, and requirements stay exactly the same. For your June SAR7, you'll submit it the same way you always have. The form might look a tiny bit different but it asks for all the same income and household information. I'd suggest creating a BenefitsCal account online if you haven't already - it makes tracking your case so much easier and you can upload documents right from your phone. One thing that really helped me during the transition was keeping a simple folder (physical or digital) with copies of my recent pay stubs, rent receipts, and other verification docs. There were a couple times during the first month where my caseworker asked me to resubmit something, probably just due to the system changeover. Having everything organized made it super quick to send over. Don't stress too much - your $680 monthly benefit should continue without interruption as long as you keep submitting your reports on time!

Congratulations on getting your renewal submitted! Just wanted to add for anyone else who might be struggling with the CalWIN to BenefitsCal transition - if you're still having trouble finding your renewal after logging out/in, you can also try clearing your browser cache and cookies. Sometimes the old CalWIN cookies can interfere with BenefitsCal loading properly. Also, BenefitsCal works best on Chrome or Firefox - I've had issues with Safari and Edge in the past. Hope this helps other folks who might be dealing with similar technical issues during the transition period!

Great to see everyone helping each other through this transition! I went through my first BenefitsCal renewal about 6 months ago and wanted to share a few additional tips that might help others: 1. If you're uploading documents, make sure they're clear photos or scans - blurry images will get rejected and delay your renewal 2. The system has a file size limit (I think it's 10MB per document), so you might need to compress large files 3. Keep checking your account even after approval - sometimes they'll request additional verification weeks later 4. If you have multiple cases (like CalFresh + Medi-Cal), make sure you're renewing the right program - the system can be confusing about which renewal you're working on The learning curve is definitely steep coming from CalWIN, but once you get the hang of it, BenefitsCal actually has some nice features like being able to upload documents from your phone. Hang in there everyone - we'll all figure this out together!