Approved for $10 CalFresh in October - do I qualify for emergency allotment supplements?

If you were approved for CalFresh benefits for October (even if it's just $10), you should qualify for the emergency allotment supplements. The emergency allotments are designed to bring everyone up to the maximum benefit amount for their household size, regardless of how small your regular benefit is. Since your benefits started October 1st, you should get the supplement for October. Sometimes they're distributed on different days throughout the month though. When did others receive theirs?

i got mine 2 days ago and my sister got hers today so they def stagger the deposits. did u check ur balance online or just at the store? sometimes the store balance check is wrong

Emergency allotments are issued in phases during the month. Since you were just approved recently, your supplement might be in the later distribution group. I'd wait about 5-7 more days before getting concerned. For reference, the maximum benefit for a single person in 2025 is $369, so if you qualify for the supplement, you should get $359 extra (to bring your $10 up to the maximum). For a household of 2, the max is now $680. Also keep in mind that sometimes the system doesn't immediately recognize newly approved cases for the supplements. If you don't receive it by the 15th, definitely contact your county office to ask specifically about the emergency allotment.

The system is TOTALLY BROKEN with these emergency supplements!!! I was in the exact same boat last month - approved for $17 and didn't get my supplement until almost 3 weeks later! And when I called they kept saying "we don't have information about supplements" like they had NO CLUE what I was talking about!! I had to call EIGHTEEN TIMES before someone finally found the issue. Apparently my case hadn't been "flagged" for the supplement program even though I was eligible. RIDICULOUS!!!

I've been on CalFresh for three years now, and one thing I've learned is that supplements and regular benefits are completely separate systems that don't always talk to each other properly. Being denied and then approved on the same day probably caused your case to get flagged in a weird way. Have you tried using Claimyr to get through to a real person at the county office? It's been a lifesaver for me when I need to actually speak to someone instead of getting stuck in the automated system. Their website is claimyr.com and they have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 - basically they wait on hold for you and call you back when they reach a real person. Way better than calling 18 times like someone else mentioned!

I think there's some confusion here about emergency allotments... I'm pretty sure they actually ended them in like 2023 after the pandemic emergency ended? Are you sure people are getting emergency supplements and not just their regular October benefits? My caseworker told me that was all discontinued a while back.

Quick update/clarification about the California Nutrition Supplements - unlike the old COVID emergency allotments which were automatic, the new state program sometimes requires you to specifically request enrollment. This could explain why you didn't get it automatically. Check your BenefitsCal account under "Optional Programs" to see if you need to opt-in. Some counties automatically enroll everyone, but others require you to take action. Worth checking if you haven't received anything by the 15th.

this happened to my cousin last month!! she got approved for only $23 but didnt get the extra money. she had to fill out some additional form about her housing costs then they added the supplement like 3 weeks later AND gave her backpay for the missed month so dont worry!! youll probably get it all at once

Based on the new information about the "Pending Enrollment" status in your BenefitsCal account, that's almost certainly the reason for the delay. The system is waiting for final approval of your enrollment in the California Nutrition Supplement program. The good news is that these supplements are typically retroactive to your CalFresh approval date, so once your enrollment is processed, you should receive the supplement for October even if it comes late. Make sure to mention the "Pending Enrollment" status when you call. Please let us know what you find out after you contact them - it could help others in similar situations!