CalFresh approval timeline confusion - approved for less than qualified amount?

First, congrats on getting approved! The timeline varies but typically looks like this: - Application submission to interview: 10-30 days - Interview to decision: 1-7 days if all verification is provided - Approval to EBT card arrival: 5-10 business days - Card arrival to funds loading: 1-3 business days Based on your timeline, you're actually moving pretty normally through the system. The discrepancy in benefit amount is likely because they approved YOU but are still verifying your children's eligibility. Once they verify shared custody arrangement, they should adjust your benefit amount upward. Until then, they're only counting you in the household size. Check your approval letter for the exact date benefits should load - usually it specifies when your monthly issuance date will be going forward. If that date has passed with no benefits, definitely call again.

they ALWAYS do this!! the county workers tell u one amount then give u something else. happened to me twice. they told me i would get $375 for me and my son last year and then only gave me $289. bureaucratic bs if u ask me.

The benefit calculator they use during interviews is just an estimate. Several factors affect the final calculation - deductions, exact income amounts, verification of household members, etc. Your worker probably gave you the maximum possible amount during the interview, but the actual approved amount is often different. As for the timeline question - in my experience, benefits usually load within 3 business days of approval. If they just approved you recently, it might just be processing. Check again tomorrow.

I had a similar situation with the shared custody verification. They need proof that the children live with you at least part time. Did they ask you for any documentation about your custody arrangement? Court papers, a letter from the other parent, school records showing your address for the kids, or anything like that? In my case, they approved me individually first at a lower amount, then once they verified my custody situation (took about 2 weeks), they increased my benefit amount AND gave me retroactive benefits for the difference. If you haven't sent in custody verification, I'd recommend calling and specifically asking what documentation they need for the children. Be prepared with school records, medical records with your address, or custody paperwork.

Something no one's mentioned - with shared custody, CalFresh has specific rules about which household can claim the children. If your ex is also receiving benefits, they might be sorting out who can claim the kids based on who has them more than 50% of the time. If it's exactly 50/50, they sometimes go by who claims them on taxes first. I'd call the county to specifically ask about the custody situation and what verification they need. You might need to provide your custody schedule to prove the kids are with you at least 50% of the time.

ugh dealing with the CalFresh phone system is the worst part. i spent 3 hours on hold last week trying to fix a similar issue. kept getting disconnected. finally got through and they fixed it in 5 minutes. so frustrating!!

For shared custody does the other parent get SNAP benefits to? Cuz they can only count the kids on one case at a time

Just to address the benefit amount discrepancy more specifically: For 2025, approximate CalFresh monthly maximums are: - Household of 1: $550 - Household of 4: $750 So it looks like they initially calculated you as a household of 4 (you + 3 kids) during the interview, which would be around $700-750 depending on deductions. But then they've temporarily approved you as a household of 1 while verifying the children, which matches the $550 amount they're now showing. This is actually standard procedure when they need additional verification for some household members. Once they confirm your custody arrangement, they should update your benefits to the full household amount AND provide any retroactive benefits you were entitled to. One tip: when you call, specifically ask for your case to be "expedited for household composition verification" which can sometimes speed things up.