I work at a local community center and we see situations like yours all the time - you're definitely not alone in this! The good news is that with your rent being $1762 plus utilities, you should absolutely qualify for CalFresh once they properly calculate your shelter deduction. A few practical tips for your appeal: Make sure to bring a copy of your lease that clearly shows your portion of the rent (not just the total), recent utility bills in your name, and your pay stubs. Sometimes it helps to write out the math yourself showing how much you have left after housing costs - it can be really eye-opening for the caseworker. While you're waiting for the appeal, I'd also suggest calling 211 (just dial 2-1-1). They can connect you with local food resources, emergency assistance programs, and other support services in your area. Many of these programs can help bridge the gap while you're getting your CalFresh sorted out. You're doing the right thing by advocating for yourself - don't give up! The system can be confusing but you clearly have a strong case here.

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this frustrating situation! It sounds like there were definitely calculation errors in your case. With your rent being $1762 plus $180 in utilities, that's $1942 in shelter costs - way more than half your income, which should trigger a significant shelter deduction. One thing that might help is to specifically request they apply the "Expanded Categorical Eligibility" rules when you appeal. California allows gross income up to 200% of the Federal Poverty Level (about $2868 for one person), so you're well within that limit. Then with your high shelter costs, your net income after deductions should definitely qualify you. I'd also suggest keeping a food diary for a few days showing what you're able to afford to eat with only $801 left after housing costs. Sometimes having concrete examples helps caseworkers understand the real impact. You shouldn't have to choose between paying rent and buying adequate food! Hang in there - with all the great advice people have shared here, you have a really strong case for your appeal. 💪

This whole thread has been such a lifesaver! I'm pretty new to the CalFresh program and honestly had no clue that the state would send out replacement cards for security reasons. When I first signed up a few months ago, I was so worried about all the scam stories I'd heard that I probably would have panicked if I got an unexpected card in the mail. Alice, thank you so much for sharing your experience and walking through the whole process - from the initial concern to the successful resolution. It really helps to see that there are legitimate reasons for these cards and safe ways to handle them. I'm definitely bookmarking that official customer service number (1-877-328-9677) and Samantha's activation steps. It's incredible how much peace of mind comes from understanding these processes. This community is amazing for helping newcomers like me feel more confident about navigating the system!

I'm really grateful I stumbled across this thread! I just started receiving CalFresh benefits about 3 weeks ago and honestly had no idea the state would proactively send replacement cards for security upgrades. Coming from someone who's still learning the ropes, Alice's experience and how everyone rallied to help with accurate information is exactly what makes this community so valuable. I was already pretty anxious about potential scams since I'm new to all this, so seeing the step-by-step guidance on how to safely verify and activate a replacement card gives me so much confidence. Definitely saving that official number (1-877-328-9677) and the activation process. It's amazing how much clearer everything becomes when you have real people sharing their actual experiences rather than trying to figure it out alone. Thank you Alice for following up with the resolution too - that really helps complete the picture for those of us who might face this situation in the future!

I'm having the exact same problem! Been trying to get into MyBenefitsCalWIN for the past three days to update my employment status and it's just giving me that 403 error every single time. My SAR7 is due next Wednesday and I was literally about to drive to the county office tomorrow and take time off work. Reading through all these comments about BenefitsCal is such a huge relief - I had no clue there was another option! Going to try creating an account there tonight. It's really frustrating that they don't send out proper notifications about these system changes. How are we supposed to know when they just switch everything without telling anyone? Thank you everyone for sharing the BenefitsCal solution - you might have just saved me from losing my benefits over a technical issue that's not even my fault!

I'm dealing with this exact same issue! I've been trying to access MyBenefitsCalWIN since yesterday to submit my monthly report and keep getting the 403 error. I was starting to panic because my deadline is coming up fast. Reading through all these comments about BenefitsCal has been such a lifesaver - I had absolutely no idea there was an alternative system! I'm going to create an account there right now. It's really unbelievable that they can just phase out a system that people depend on for their benefits without sending any kind of notification. I never got a letter or email about this transition either. Thank you to everyone who shared the BenefitsCal workaround - you're literally helping people keep their food assistance when the official systems are failing us!

The most important thing is timing! When I moved states last year, I timed it so my previous state benefits closed at the end of the month when we moved, then I applied in the new state on the 1st day of the next month. This minimized the gap. You'll definitely want to apply as soon as you have an NC address though - even if you're still in temporary housing there. Just make sure you've officially closed your CA case first. Good luck with your move!

As someone who helps families navigate benefit transitions, I wanted to add a few practical tips for your move: 1. Contact food banks in both Sacramento and your destination city in NC - they can help bridge the gap during your transition period and don't have the same residency requirements as government benefits. 2. Consider applying for WIC in NC if you have children under 5 or are pregnant/breastfeeding - it's a separate program that can provide additional food assistance and often has faster processing times. 3. Keep detailed records of everything - dates you contacted CA about closing your case, copies of documents you submit to NC, etc. This paper trail can be crucial if any issues arise. 4. Look into local churches and community organizations in your new NC area - many have emergency food assistance programs that can help immediately while you wait for your SNAP application to process. The transition is definitely stressful, but with proper planning and backup resources, you can minimize the gap in food assistance for your family. Wishing you a smooth move!

Great to hear you got it working @Freya Thomsen! I've been having the same issues with the EBT Edge app for weeks now. Going to try the early morning registration trick tomorrow. Quick question - after you got registered, did you notice any lag time when locking/unlocking your card? I'm worried about being stuck at checkout if there's a delay. Also, does the app send you notifications when the card gets locked/unlocked successfully?

I work at a county office and wanted to add some clarification about the EBT Edge app issues. We've been getting tons of calls about registration problems, and here's what our IT team has found: The app works best on phones with Android 10+ or iOS 14+. If your phone is older, that might be part of the problem. Also, make sure you're entering your SSN exactly as it appears in our system - sometimes there are formatting differences that cause the identity verification to fail. One thing people don't realize is that you can also lock your card through the BenefitsCal website on a computer if the mobile app won't work. It's not as convenient as having it on your phone, but it's better than nothing while you're troubleshooting the app. If anyone is still having issues after trying all these suggestions, you can also ask your county worker to put a "manual lock" on your account temporarily. This means we freeze it on our end until you call to unlock it. It's not ideal for frequent use, but it's good protection if you're going to be away from home or worried about fraud.