CalFresh benefits cut even though I'm under income limit - what gives?

This happened to me too! My benefits dropped by $130 even though my income stayed the same. When I finally got through to my worker (took 3 days of calling), she explained that it could be because of a few reasons: 1. They might have recalculated your shelter deduction if they think your expenses changed 2. The standard utility allowance might have been removed 3. Sometimes they update the income thresholds but the benefit calculation formula changes too 4. Did your teenager turn 16 recently? That changes how they count your household Definitely request a state hearing if you think it's wrong - you only have 90 days from the notice date to appeal.

mite be cuz ur reported income dont match wat EDD or ur employer reported. happnd 2 me last yr and i got a big overpaymt notice later. check if they got ur paystubs right

They did this EXACT SAME THING to me in February! Benefits got slashed even though nothing changed in my situation. When I called (after TEN attempts), they said it was because they "recalculated" my utility costs using some new standard from Sacramento. I had to send in my actual utility bills to prove my real costs were higher than their "standard" amount. After I sent those in, my benefits went back up. The system is DESIGNED to cut people off or reduce benefits using any technicality they can find. They HOPE you won't fight it because most people just give up after getting the runaround. DON'T give up!!

Several factors affect your CalFresh benefit amount even when your income stays the same: 1. Standard deduction amounts change annually (this is likely what your notice referenced) 2. Maximum benefit allotments change based on federal adjustments 3. Utility allowance calculations (HEAP/SUA) may have changed in your case 4. Medical expenses may need to be re-verified if you're claiming them Request your case information using the BenefitsCal portal or by submitting a written request. You're entitled to see exactly how they calculated your benefit amount. If there's an error, you can request a state hearing by calling 1-800-952-5253 or submitting the form on the back of your Notice of Action within 90 days. California's income limits and benefit calculations did change slightly for 2025, but a drop that large suggests either a calculation error or a significant change in how they're counting your deductions.

Have you tried using Claimyr to get through to an actual person? I was in a similar situation last month and kept getting disconnected after waiting forever. Found this service at claimyr.com where they basically wait on hold for you and call you back when they have a live person. Saved me hours of frustration and I got my benefits issue fixed. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 - definitely worth it when you're dealing with something important like a big benefit cut.

One other thing to check - did you submit your SAR7 (Semi-Annual Report) on time? If it was even one day late, they might have recalculated your benefits based on incomplete information. Also, sometimes the county uses gross income instead of net income if they're missing documentation, which can dramatically affect your benefit amount. If you request a state hearing, bring: 1. All pay stubs for the last 3 months 2. Rent/mortgage receipts 3. Utility bills 4. Your past 3 benefit notices for comparison 5. Any medical expense documentation if applicable You can also request an Expedited Hearing if this reduction causes severe hardship.

The same thing happened to me but it turned out they had accidentally put that I had assets over the limit - I don't even have a savings account! When they fixed that error my benefits went back to normal. Sometimes it's just a data entry mistake. Definitely worth calling and asking for a supervisor if the first person can't help.

UPDATE: After THREE HOURS on the phone today (kept getting transferred), I finally talked to someone helpful. Turns out they incorrectly removed my utility allowance AND coded my son as living elsewhere half-time (completely false - he lives with me full-time). The worker fixed both issues and said my benefits should go back to normal next month, plus they'll issue a supplement for the difference this month. Thanks everyone for your advice - I never would have known what to ask about without your suggestions!

So glad to hear you got this resolved! This is exactly why I always tell people in our community to persist when something doesn't make sense. The system has so many moving parts and unfortunately errors like this are more common than they should be. For anyone else reading this thread who might be dealing with similar issues - Zoe's experience shows how important it is to: 1. Keep detailed records of your household composition and expenses 2. Don't accept confusing benefit changes without questioning them 3. Ask specifically about utility allowances and household member coding 4. Get case numbers and worker names for everything The fact that they had your son coded as living elsewhere half-time when he lives with you full-time is a perfect example of how one small data entry error can cascade into a major benefit reduction. Thanks for sharing the update - it will definitely help other community members who face similar situations!