CalFresh keeps counting my adult children as my household even with separate food/medical diet - how to prove?

You CAN separate your household for CalFresh, even living together. I worked through this exact issue last year. You need to provide a Medical Statement form (CW 61) from your doctor specifically stating your required diet restrictions and that you cannot eat the same foods as others. Also gather receipts showing separate food purchases if possible. During your interview, specifically request a "separate household determination based on medical necessity." They should have a checkbox for this in their system. If they keep denying you, ask to speak with a supervisor and mention California's MPP Section 63-402.131 which covers separate household status for medical reasons.

My mom went thru this. They always try 2 lump everyone together 2 give less benefits. U need 2 be SUPER clear that u buy + prepare food SEPARATELY. Thats the magic words. They told us if u share even 1 meal a week ur considered same household. Its dum but thats the rule. Get a note from ur dr about ur diet + take pics of ur separate food in fridge/cabinets. Good luck!!!

im on calfresh too and they are ALWAYS looking for reasons to cut benefits its like their job or something lol. they did same thing with my roommate tried to count us as one household but we dont even talk let alone share food!

I help clients with CalFresh cases regularly. The regulation you need to reference is specifically about medical necessity creating separate household status. For your situation, you need: 1. Medical documentation (CW 61 form completed by your physician) 2. Written statement explaining your separate food purchase and preparation 3. Receipts showing separate food purchases if possible 4. Photos of separate food storage areas If you're struggling to reach someone at the county office who will listen, I recommend using Claimyr (claimyr.com). They can get you connected to a real CalFresh eligibility worker usually within 15-30 minutes instead of waiting on hold for hours. I've seen clients have success with their service - here's a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 Once you get through to someone, request a supervisor if needed and specifically reference the medical necessity exemption.

The county workers are just doing their job by questioning this - it's actually a common situation where people claim separate households to increase benefits. BUT in your case it sounds 100% legitimate medical necessity! Make sure to be super specific about EXACTLY how you manage food separately. Do you have separate cabinets? Separate refrigerator shelves? Who shops for whom? Do you ever share cooking utensils? They're looking for ANY indication that there's food sharing. Also, since one child gets SSI, remember that person is automatically not counted in your CalFresh household anyway per federal rules (SSI recipients in California now qualify for separate CalFresh).

This is RIDICULOUS and happens ALL THE TIME!!! The county workers are trained to deny benefits whenever possible! They don't care about your medical condition! I had to FIGHT for 3 months to get proper benefits when my disabled mother lived with me. WE HAD TO APPEAL and only then did they finally approve the separate household status. The system is DESIGNED to wear you down until you give up!!! DON'T GIVE UP!!!

Just to follow up on my earlier comment - your child receiving SSI can apply for their own CalFresh benefits separately (this changed in 2019 when SSI recipients became eligible for CalFresh). For your other unemployed adult child, the separate household determination depends on proving they purchase and prepare food separately from you. Be prepared to explain the financial arrangement - do they contribute to rent? Use their own money for food? Have their own income source (even if currently unemployed, do they have savings or other support)? These details will strengthen your case.

have u tried getting a letter from ur doctor? thats what I had to do when I needed special food for my diabetes. make sure the doctor writes it SUPER CLEAR that you CANNOT eat the same food as your kids for MEDICAL REASONS. my caseworker was actually pretty nice about it once I had the doctors note!

just wondering if u ever got this sorted out? im in a kinda similar situation with my brother who has celiac and we buy totally separate food but calfresh is giving us a hard time

One more important tip based on your situation - when you submit the medical documentation, make sure it clearly states that your condition is ongoing/permanent. If they think it's temporary, they might only approve the separate household status for a limited time. Also, be consistent in all your statements. If they interview your adult children, make sure everyone gives the same information about how food purchasing and preparation is handled. Even small inconsistencies can lead to a denial.

I went through something very similar with my mom who has kidney disease and needs a special low-sodium, low-phosphorus diet. The key thing that finally worked for us was getting a detailed letter from her nephrologist that specifically stated she "requires a medically necessary separate diet that cannot be shared with household members." We also kept grocery receipts for 2 months showing completely separate purchases - her specialized kidney-friendly foods vs regular groceries. The caseworker initially pushed back too, but once we had that medical documentation AND the receipt proof, they approved the separate household status. Don't let them discourage you - your medical needs are legitimate and the law supports separate households for medical necessity!

I'm actually going through this exact same situation right now with my diabetic father who lives with me and requires a very specific renal diet. What really helped us was creating a "food separation plan" document that we gave to the caseworker. It detailed exactly how we handle everything - separate grocery shopping trips, separate storage areas, separate cooking times, even separate dishes/utensils that we keep clean for his medical needs. We also got his dietitian to write a letter explaining that ANY cross-contamination or sharing could be dangerous for his kidney function. The caseworker seemed much more convinced when we presented it as a comprehensive plan rather than just saying "we eat separately." It took about 6 weeks total but they finally approved our separate household status. Keep fighting for this - your medical restrictions are completely valid and they have to accommodate legitimate medical necessity!