Can CalFresh help with PG&E bills? Need urgent utility assistance!

CalFresh is specifically for food assistance, so it won't help directly with your PG&E bill. However, you should look into LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program) which is designed exactly for situations like yours. Also check out the CARE program through PG&E which can reduce your bill by 20-35%. For immediate assistance, call 211 - they can connect you with local emergency utility assistance programs. Many counties have special funds set aside for winter utility emergencies, especially for households with children.

if ur already on calfresh u might qualify for CARE automatically. thats what happend to me. call pge and tell them ur on calfresh and ask about care discount. they can backdate it too

I've been through this exact situation! First, call PG&E's customer service and ask for a payment extension - they'll usually give you at least 2 more weeks. Then ask for their CARE program application (it's also online). While you're working on that, definitely contact your local Community Action Agency about LIHEAP funds - they can sometimes pay a one-time emergency amount directly to PG&E for you. Also, some counties have additional utility assistance through their General Assistance program or through local non-profits. When you call 211, ask specifically about "energy assistance programs" in your county. One trick I learned: if you're having trouble reaching PG&E customer service by phone, try using Claimyr.com - it's a service that helps you skip the long hold times. They have a video showing how it works here: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8. Saved me hours of waiting when I was dealing with my utility crisis last year.

calfresh doesnt help with bills but did you know they increased the benefit amounts for 2025? you might be getting more food $ now which could help free up money for bills. check your ebt balance

While CalFresh only covers food, there's also something called the California Alternative Rates for Energy (CARE) and Family Electric Rate Assistance (FERA) programs. Both offer discounts on energy bills. If you're on CalFresh, you automatically qualify for CARE. Also check out the PG&E Relief for Energy Assistance through Community Help (REACH) program for one-time assistance. LIHEAP is great but sometimes has a processing backlog. For your 8-day deadline, immediately call PG&E at 1-800-743-5000 and request a payment extension and payment plan. Mention you have children in the home and are applying for assistance programs. They have policies preventing shut-offs for households with vulnerable members, especially during winter months. Lastly, some churches and community organizations have emergency utility funds - ask 211 specifically about these resources in your area.

The system is SO BROKEN!!!!! I was in your exact situation last winter and PG&E did NOTHING until my power was already shut off for 2 days with my baby at home!!! They don't care about real people struggling. The CARE program helps a little but my bills are STILL unaffordable. And LIHEAP took 2 MONTHS to process my application last time - what are we supposed to do in the meantime???? The whole thing is designed to make us fail.

Quick update on timelines from my experience: CARE/FERA approval usually takes 1-2 weeks and is applied to your next bill. LIHEAP can take 4-6 weeks but they can expedite in emergency situations, especially with disconnection notices. Also, since you mentioned having children, check if you qualify for CalWORKs - unlike CalFresh, they do offer limited assistance with utility emergencies through their emergency assistance programs. Worth looking into if you meet the income requirements.

Another resource to check out is your local Salvation Army and Catholic Charities - they often have emergency utility assistance funds that can be processed much faster than government programs. I've seen them help people within 24-48 hours in crisis situations. Also, if you're a veteran or have a veteran in your household, there are specific utility assistance programs through organizations like Veterans Community Living Centers that work really quickly. And don't forget to ask PG&E about their budget billing program once you get through this crisis - it spreads your annual costs over 12 equal payments so you don't get these shocking high winter bills. Hang in there, you've got this!