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Thanks for posting this update! I was actually wondering about the same thing when I saw an extra deposit on my card yesterday. It's really helpful to know it's the Food Cost Adjustment Supplement and that it's legitimate. I was hesitant to spend it without knowing for sure what it was for. Really appreciate you taking the time to call and confirm, and then sharing the info with everyone here. Now I can use that extra money for groceries without worrying about having to pay it back later!
You're so welcome! I was really nervous about spending it too until I got confirmation. It's such a relief to know it's official and we don't have to worry about overpayment issues. The worker I spoke with was actually really helpful once I finally got through - she explained that they're trying to help families deal with the higher grocery costs this year. Hope everyone who's missing theirs gets it sorted out soon!
This is so helpful! I got an extra $142 on my card yesterday and was totally confused about where it came from. I'm a single mom with two kids and every dollar matters, so I was really worried about spending it if it was a mistake. Reading through all these comments and your update gives me so much peace of mind. It's amazing that California is actually trying to help families deal with these crazy grocery prices - everything costs so much more than it did even last year. Thanks for doing the legwork and calling to confirm what this was all about!
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I'm experiencing the exact same thing! Just got my first blank eNotice this morning and immediately panicked thinking I'd missed something crucial. It's such a relief to read all these comments confirming it's just a system glitch. As someone who's been on CalFresh for about 6 months now, I've learned that the BenefitsCal system has so many random technical issues that it's honestly surprising when everything works perfectly. I'll probably still call my worker tomorrow just to double-check my case status, but knowing this is happening to everyone makes me feel way less anxious about it. Thanks for posting this question - you definitely weren't alone in wondering about this weird issue!
I'm so glad I'm not the only one dealing with this! I just joined CalFresh a few weeks ago and got my first blank eNotice yesterday. Like you, I immediately went into panic mode thinking I had already messed something up or missed a deadline. It's such a relief to see this whole thread of people confirming it's just a system bug. The BenefitsCal platform really does seem to have a lot of quirks - I've already had issues with document uploads and now this. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences, especially those who confirmed with their caseworkers that these blank notices can be safely ignored!
I just experienced this exact same issue yesterday! Got 3 blank eNotices in a row and was absolutely convinced I had somehow missed critical paperwork or that my benefits were about to be cut off. As a relatively new CalFresh recipient (been on it for about 2 months), every notification sends me into a bit of a panic because I'm still learning what's normal vs. what requires immediate attention. Reading through all these responses is incredibly reassuring - it sounds like this blank eNotice glitch is pretty widespread and nothing to worry about. I really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences and confirming with their caseworkers that these can be safely ignored. The BenefitsCal system definitely has its quirks, but at least knowing this is a known technical issue rather than something I did wrong takes a huge weight off my shoulders!
I'm so relieved to find this thread! I literally just got my first blank eNotice this morning and had the exact same panic reaction - immediately thought I'd messed up my application somehow or missed something important. Being new to CalFresh (just started last month), every notification makes me nervous because I'm still figuring out what's normal. It's such a comfort to read that this is happening to so many people and that it's just a system glitch. Thank you to everyone who took the time to call their caseworkers and share the confirmation that these blank notices can be ignored - that really helps ease the anxiety for those of us who are still learning the ropes with this whole system!
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I'm dealing with something similar right now! My ex gets mail at my place for our daughter's school stuff and now they're saying he's part of my household even though he lives 20 minutes away with his girlfriend. The frustrating part is I reported him as the father on my application but clearly stated he doesn't live with us. It feels like they're just looking for reasons to claw back benefits. I'm definitely going to file an appeal after reading all this advice. Has anyone had success showing that co-parenting arrangements don't equal living together? I have our custody agreement that shows we have separate addresses.
Your custody agreement should be really strong evidence! That's exactly the kind of documentation that proves separate households. The fact that you already reported him as the father but specified he doesn't live with you shows you were being transparent from the start. Co-parenting definitely doesn't equal cohabitation - courts wouldn't issue custody agreements with separate addresses if parents lived together! Make sure to include any other evidence of his separate residence like his lease with his girlfriend, and maybe even get a statement from the school confirming they know he has a different address but uses yours for convenience. The county really shouldn't be penalizing people for responsible co-parenting arrangements.
Yes! I had a very similar situation and the custody agreement was key to winning my appeal. I also included documentation showing his separate utility bills and bank statements with his actual address. The hearing officer specifically asked about our parenting plan and when I showed the court-ordered custody schedule with different pickup/dropoff addresses, it was clear we maintained separate households. One tip - if you have any text messages or emails between you two that reference "your place" and "my place" or discuss meeting up (rather than him just being there), those can help show you're coordinating between two separate homes. The school mail thing is super common for divorced parents and shouldn't count against you at all.
I'm going through something really similar right now and this thread is so helpful! My situation is a bit different - my kids' dad doesn't even get mail here, but the county is saying he's part of my household because he has a key to pick up the kids when I'm at work (I'm a nurse and work weird hours). They're claiming that having a key means he "has access to food preparation areas" so he should be counted. It's ridiculous because he literally just comes in, grabs the kids' backpacks, and leaves. He has his own apartment across town with his own lease and everything. Now they want $2,100 back and I'm panicking. Reading about everyone's appeals is giving me hope though. Has anyone dealt with the "access to kitchen" argument before? I feel like by that logic, babysitters and relatives would all count as household members too. Definitely filing my appeal this week!
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As someone new to this community, I just want to say how incredibly helpful this entire thread has been! I'm going through the CalFresh application process right now and was already worried about how the benefit timing would work. Reading through everyone's experiences and advice has given me such peace of mind about what to expect. The tip about checking the EBT transaction history is something I never would have known to do. It's amazing how supportive this community is - thank you Paolo for asking the question so many of us newcomers probably have, and thanks to everyone who took the time to share their knowledge and experiences!
Welcome to the community! I'm new here too and this thread has been such a lifesaver. It's really comforting to know there are so many experienced people willing to share their knowledge and help newcomers navigate the system. Paolo's question was exactly what I needed to see - I'm still waiting for my approval but now I'll know what to expect with the benefit timing. This community seems like such a valuable resource for anyone dealing with CalFresh. Looking forward to learning more from everyone here!
As another newcomer to CalFresh, this whole thread has been incredibly eye-opening! I had no idea that the double deposit situation was so common with new approvals. I'm currently waiting for my application to be processed and was already stressing about how to budget once approved. Reading Paolo's experience and everyone's helpful responses has really prepared me for what to expect. The advice about checking the EBT transaction history and keeping all the paperwork is so practical. It's reassuring to see how quickly this community rallies to help each other out. Thank you to everyone who shared their knowledge - it's making the whole process feel much less overwhelming for those of us just starting out!
Ethan Moore
This just happened to me too! But mine was because I had reported my rent increase a few months ago and they finally processed it and gave me back benefits. Check your mail for a Notice of Action - it should explain exactly why you got the extra money. And no, it shouldn't affect your regular deposit schedule at all.
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Zara Shah
•Thanks! I found the notice and you're right, it was a back payment for expenses they just processed. Glad to hear your experience was similar!
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Riya Sharma
Glad you got it sorted out! For anyone else reading this thread - always check BenefitsCal AND your physical mail when you get unexpected deposits. The county is required to send written notices for any benefit changes, but sometimes the deposit hits your EBT card before the mail arrives. Also keep copies of any documents you submit (like those childcare receipts) so you can track what might be getting processed later. The system can be slow but they do eventually catch up on adjustments they owe you.
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Mei-Ling Chen
•This is such helpful advice! I wish I had known about checking BenefitsCal first - would have saved me a lot of worry. I'm definitely going to keep better track of what documents I submit from now on. Thanks everyone for helping me figure this out!
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