I'm so glad I found this thread! I've been struggling to make my CalFresh benefits stretch each month and never knew about the seeds and plants option. This could be a game changer for me. I have a small patio that gets decent morning sun, so I'm thinking of starting with some cherry tomatoes and maybe lettuce since those seem to be mentioned as beginner-friendly. Does anyone know if there are any community gardens in Sacramento that might offer classes or help for people just starting out? I'm worried about wasting money on plants that I might accidentally kill while I'm learning. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - it's really encouraging to see how much money people are saving!

This whole thread has been so eye-opening! I had no idea you could use CalFresh for seeds and plants. I'm also new to Sacramento (just moved here last month) and have been trying to figure out how to make my benefits stretch further. The fact that you can essentially invest your food benefits into something that keeps producing food sounds amazing. I'm definitely intimidated by gardening since I've never done it before, but reading about everyone's successes is really motivating. I think I'll start with the Walmart on Florin Road that someone mentioned and maybe grab some herb seeds to try on my apartment windowsill. Even if I mess it up the first time, it sounds like the learning experience is worth it for the potential savings. Thanks everyone for sharing such detailed information - this community is awesome for helping people navigate these benefits!

Just to add to what everyone is saying - now that you have CalWORKs, your time on aid is limited. Most adults can only receive CalWORKs for a total of 48 months (4 years) in their lifetime. The months don't have to be consecutive, but they add up over time. CalFresh doesn't have a time limit like this. Make sure you understand all the requirements so you don't lose benefits or get unexpected overpayments!

Welcome to the world of dual benefits! This is exactly how I found out I had CalWORKs too - just noticed extra money on my EBT card one day. Since you're working 20 hours at Target, that might actually satisfy most of your welfare-to-work requirements, but definitely confirm with your worker. Also heads up - CalWORKs has stricter asset limits than CalFresh (like $2,750 in bank accounts vs $2,750+ for CalFresh), so keep that in mind if you're saving money. The good news is CalWORKs can help with things like childcare costs while you're working, so it might actually make your life easier once you get used to all the extra paperwork!

Just wanted to add that if you're having trouble seeing the WINS benefit on your EBT card, you can also check by calling the customer service number on the back of your card. When you check your balance, they'll break down all the different benefit types that have been deposited. This helped me figure out I was actually getting WINS all along - it just wasn't obvious in the mobile app! The phone system will say something like "CalFresh benefits: $185, Work Incentive Supplement: $10" so you can confirm it's there.

That's a really helpful tip about calling the EBT customer service line! I never thought to check the detailed breakdown that way. For anyone else who might be confused like I was - I just called and you're absolutely right, they break down each benefit type separately when you check your balance. Turns out I've been getting the WINS supplement for the past 3 months but didn't realize it because it just looked like one lump sum in the app. Thanks for sharing that trick!

So glad to see the system is back up! This kind of outage is exactly why I always try to submit my documents at least a week before any deadline if possible. I learned this the hard way after missing a recertification deadline during a similar outage last year. For anyone reading this thread in the future - if you're ever in this situation again, definitely take screenshots of the error messages like others mentioned, and don't hesitate to call your county office right away. Most workers are understanding about technical issues as long as you're proactive about reporting the problem. It's frustrating that we have to deal with these system failures, but at least there are workarounds if you know what to do.

This is such a common problem and it's really frustrating! I've been dealing with CalFresh for about 2 years now and the BenefitsCal site goes down at least once a month it seems like. What's worse is it always happens right when people need it most - like end of month when everyone's trying to submit their monthly reports or verification docs. I'm glad you got your documents uploaded @Liam! For future reference, I've started keeping a file on my phone with screenshots every time I try to access the site during outages. Last time my benefits got delayed because of a system issue, having those screenshots with timestamps really helped when I had to explain to my caseworker what happened. It's sad that we have to document their technical failures just to protect our benefits, but that's the reality of dealing with this system.

I'm also navigating this situation with my 10-year-old who has multiple disabilities. We've been receiving both IHSS and CalFresh for about a year now, and I wanted to add a few practical tips that have helped me: 1. When you get your IHSS approval notice, take a photo or make copies immediately - you'll need this for your CalFresh reporting and it's easy to misplace. 2. Set up reminders on your phone for SAR7 due dates. Missing these can cause benefit interruptions that take weeks to resolve. 3. If possible, try to report your IHSS income changes to CalFresh the same month they occur. I learned this the hard way when I waited and ended up with a small overpayment to deal with. 4. Keep receipts for ANY expenses related to your child's care - gas for medical appointments, special foods if recommended by doctors, adaptive equipment, etc. These can all potentially be deductible. The learning curve is steep at first, but once you get into a routine with both programs, it becomes much more manageable. And honestly, having that IHSS income has given me so much more flexibility to focus on my son's needs without constantly worrying about finances. You're making the right choice by pursuing both programs!

I'm a parent provider for my 11-year-old daughter who has cerebral palsy, and we've been successfully receiving both IHSS and CalFresh for over three years now. I can definitely confirm that you can have both programs simultaneously! When I first started getting IHSS payments (about $800/month for 20 hours per week), our CalFresh did decrease from $520 to around $380, but we were still much better off financially overall. The key things that helped me navigate this successfully: 1. Report your IHSS income to CalFresh immediately when you're approved, even before your first payment arrives. This prevents overpayment issues later. 2. Make sure your CalFresh worker understands that IHSS income gets the 20% earned income deduction - some workers aren't familiar with this and might calculate incorrectly. 3. Track all your child's medical expenses, therapy costs, and care-related transportation - these can be deducted from your income for CalFresh calculations. 4. Consider applying for the maximum IHSS hours your daughter qualifies for based on her actual needs, not what you think might work best for CalFresh. The proper care for her is the priority. I also want to mention that having IHSS has opened doors to other resources like respite care and equipment assistance that we didn't know about before. Don't let fear of losing some CalFresh benefits prevent you from accessing support that could really help your family. The combination of both programs has been life-changing for us. Feel free to reach out if you have specific questions about the process!