CalFresh EBT card issues after reporting Aquarium of the Pacific discount as resource?

You absolutely did NOT need to report a discount to the Aquarium as either income or a resource for CalFresh! Discounts aren't countable income or resources - they're just paying less for something, not receiving money. Your pending status is probably completely unrelated to this. Check your BenefitsCal account for any Notice of Action letters explaining what verification they actually need. It's most likely they're asking for: - Proof of rent/mortgage - Utility verification - Income verification from your job - School enrollment verification if you have students Those are the typical verification requests that cause pending status. Call your county office ASAP to find out exactly what they need.

the same thing happpened to my sister last month her benefits got stuck in pending for like 2 weeks!!! it wasn't about no aquarium tickets tho, they wanted to verify her rent payments. did u get any letters in the mail? sometimes they don't upload the notices to benefitscal right away but send paper ones

You can try using Claimyr if you need to reach your CalFresh worker quickly. I was in a similar situation last month with verification issues and couldn't get through on the phone. Claimyr got me connected to a real person at the county office in about 15 minutes when I'd been trying for days on my own. They have a video showing how it works here: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 and their website is claimyr.com. It was worth it to get my benefits issue resolved without taking time off work to go to the office.

I've worked with CalFresh recipients for years, and I can assure you that discounts and memberships like yours DON'T count as income or resources. The timing is just coincidental. Here's what's happening: June is a common month for verification requests because many households are on a June/December SAR7 cycle. The childcare verification request is standard when you claim childcare deductions. You have three options: 1. Keep calling (though this is frustrating) 2. Visit in person (time-consuming but effective) 3. Upload the verification directly to BenefitsCal (fastest method) For childcare verification, you need receipts or a signed statement from your provider with their contact information. Upload it ASAP as you only have 10 days from the notice date before they reduce or cancel your benefits.

lol why would u even mention aquarium tickets on ur calfresh form? 😂 i never report anything except my paychecks

Wait - discounts might actually count in some situations though? When I got SNAP benefits in Arizona (moved to California last year), they counted my employee discount at a grocery store as income because it was more than 20% off. My caseworker said any substantial discount from an employer could be seen as a form of compensation. Has California different rules about this? Now I'm worried because I get 30% off at the restaurant I work at and didn't report it on my CalFresh application...

UPDATE: I finally got through to a CalFresh worker! You all were right - the verification request had NOTHING to do with the aquarium discount. They just needed my childcare receipts. I uploaded them to BenefitsCal and the worker processed them right away. My benefits should be loaded tomorrow. Thanks everyone for your help and suggestions! And special thanks to whoever recommended Claimyr - that's how I finally got through after days of trying. Lesson learned about not overthinking what to report on my SAR7!

So glad everything worked out for you! This is such a common confusion - the SAR7 form can make it seem like you need to report every little thing when really they only want major changes. I made a similar mistake my first year on CalFresh by reporting a $25 gift card my mom gave me for my birthday 🤦‍♀️ Your experience is actually really helpful for other people who might be overthinking their reporting requirements. And thanks for sharing how Claimyr worked for you - I've been seeing more people mention it lately as a way to actually reach county workers when the phone lines are impossible.

This is such a perfect example of how confusing the CalFresh system can be for people trying to do the right thing! I'm a newcomer here but I've been on CalFresh for about 6 months and I made similar mistakes early on - I reported my library card renewal and even a free bus pass I got through a community program because I thought "changes in resources" meant literally ANY change. What I've learned is that they really only care about things that affect your financial situation in a meaningful way. Discounts, memberships, and small perks are not what they're looking for. It's great that you got it sorted out and your benefits are back on track! Also really helpful to know about Claimyr - I've been struggling to reach my worker too and didn't know this service existed. Definitely bookmarking that for future reference. Thanks for sharing your experience and the resolution!