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Yuki Tanaka

Can I change my CalFresh address online or do I need to call my county?

Just moved to a new apartment across town and need to update my address for CalFresh benefits. Does anyone know if I can do this online through BenefitsCal, or am I going to have to call the county office? Last time I called I was on hold for over an hour before getting disconnected 😠 Really don't want to deal with that again but my EBT card is almost empty and I'm worried my next benefit deposit might get delayed if my address isn't current. Has anyone changed their address recently and know the fastest way?

Carmen Diaz

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You can definitely update your address online through BenefitsCal! I did it last month after moving. Just log in to your account, go to 'My Profile' and there should be an option to update your contact information including address. The system will ask you to verify your identity first, then let you make the change. Make sure you have your case number handy just in case. The change should process within 48 hours, but your benefits will still load onto your EBT card regardless of your address being updated.

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Yuki Tanaka

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Thank you so much! I've been stressing about this. Will try logging in tonight when I get home from work.

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Andre Laurent

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yes u can do it online but sometime the county office dont see it right away so ur benefits might be late anyways happened to me

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Yuki Tanaka

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Wait really? How long was your delay? I need my benefits on time this month.

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AstroAce

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BE CAREFUL! I updated mine online and they still sent my recertification paperwork to my old address! Ended up getting discontinued and had to reapply from scratch. MAKE SURE you call them after doing the online update to confirm they actually processed it!!! The system is designed to FAIL US!!

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While it's always good to follow up, what happened to you isn't typical. The online system is actually pretty reliable for address changes now. If you changed your address within 10 days of a scheduled mailing, sometimes it doesn't update in time. Most counties also send important notices through BenefitsCal messaging system now, not just mail.

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CalFresh eligibility worker here. Yes, you can change your address online through BenefitsCal, but I always recommend doing two things after: 1. Take a screenshot of your confirmation page as proof you submitted the change 2. Check your message center in BenefitsCal a few days later to confirm the address was updated in our system Your EBT card and benefits will work regardless of your address being current (the card isn't tied to a specific address), but you need your address updated to receive any notices about your case. One important note: If you moved to a different county in California, you cannot just update your address - you need to contact your new county office as your case will need to be transferred.

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Yuki Tanaka

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Thank you for the detailed explanation! I'm staying in the same county, just moved to a different neighborhood. I'll definitely take screenshots like you suggested. Good to know my benefits won't be delayed - that was my biggest worry.

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Jamal Brown

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If ur worried about getting thrugh to a real person at the county, try using Claimyr. It saved me SO MUCH TIME when I needed to update my information. They call the county for you and then call you when they get a real person. I watched their video demo (https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8) and it worked exactly like they showed. Just go to claimyr.com and enter the CalFresh county number. Way better than waiting on hold for hours or getting disconnected!

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Mei Zhang

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does that actually work?? never heard of it

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Jamal Brown

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Yeah it totally worked for me! I was skeptical too but I was desperate after trying to get through for days. My friend used it for her Medi-Cal issue too.

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i had to update my address last month and did it online but then they sent me a verification form asking for proof of my new address like a lease or utility bill so you might need those documents ready too just fyi

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Yuki Tanaka

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Thanks for the heads up! I have my lease agreement so I should be good if they ask for verification.

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Andre Laurent

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why did u move? rent is crazy rn! im about to get priced out too 😭

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Mei Zhang

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omg same! my landlord just raised my rent by $250 but thats not even related to the question lol

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Yuki Tanaka

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Found a slightly cheaper place with utilities included. My old building got sold and new management was terrible. But yeah rents are insane everywhere now.

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Mei Zhang

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make sure you update your address with USPS too not just calfresh!

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Carmen Diaz

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Quick update in case this helps anyone: There's a specific section for address changes in BenefitsCal under "Report a Change" and not just in your profile. The "Report a Change" option is more official and triggers a case update in the county system, while profile updates are sometimes just for the website. Also, if you have other benefits like Medi-Cal, this will update the address for all your connected benefits at once.

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Yuki Tanaka

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This is super helpful! I was looking in the wrong place. Just found the "Report a Change" section and submitted my address change. It gave me a confirmation number too.

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Diego Flores

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@Carmen Diaz Thanks for clarifying the difference between Report "a Change and" just updating your profile! I didn t'know there was a distinction. That explains why some people might have issues with their changes not going through properly if they re'only updating their profile section.

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Just wanted to add that if you're having trouble finding the "Report a Change" section that @Carmen Diaz mentioned, it's usually on the main dashboard after you log in - look for a button or link that says "Report Changes" or "Report a Change to My Case." Don't worry about your EBT benefits being delayed just because of an address change - the card itself isn't tied to your address, so your monthly deposit should still come through on schedule. The main thing is making sure you get important notices about your case, which is why updating through the proper channel is important.

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@Angel Campbell This is really helpful! I was getting confused about where exactly to find the Report "a Change option." Your explanation about the EBT card not being tied to the address is reassuring too - I was really worried about missing my benefits this month. Thanks for taking the time to clarify this for newcomers like me!

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Myles Regis

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I went through this same situation a few months ago! The online system through BenefitsCal worked perfectly for me. Like others mentioned, make sure you use the "Report a Change" section rather than just updating your profile - I made that mistake initially and had to redo it. The whole process took maybe 5 minutes and I got a confirmation number right away. Your EBT benefits should continue loading normally regardless of the address update status, so don't stress too much about timing. Just keep your lease agreement or a utility bill handy in case they ask for address verification later. Good luck with your move!

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Logan Stewart

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@Myles Regis Thanks for sharing your experience! It s'really reassuring to hear from someone who went through the exact same thing recently. I was definitely overthinking this whole process and worrying about my benefits getting messed up. Your confirmation that the EBT keeps working normally during the address change is exactly what I needed to hear. I ll'make sure to have my lease ready just in case they need verification. Really appreciate everyone s'help on this thread!

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StarSailor

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I just went through this exact same thing last week! The BenefitsCal online system is definitely the way to go. Make sure you use the "Report a Change" section like others mentioned - it's usually right on your main dashboard when you log in. I was able to update my address in about 10 minutes and got a confirmation number immediately. The system also sent me a message through my BenefitsCal inbox confirming the change was processed within 24 hours. One tip: if you have any other benefits like WIC or Medi-Cal, double check that those addresses got updated too since sometimes they're managed separately. Your EBT card will keep working fine during the transition - mine never had any issues with the monthly deposit. Hope your move goes smoothly!

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Zane Gray

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@StarSailor This is so helpful! I'm new to navigating BenefitsCal and was feeling pretty overwhelmed about the whole process. Your step-by-step breakdown makes it sound much more manageable. I didn't even think about checking my other benefits - I do have Medi-Cal so I'll definitely make sure that address gets updated too. It's really reassuring to hear that your EBT kept working normally throughout the change. Thanks for taking the time to share your recent experience!

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Connor Byrne

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I'm dealing with the same situation right now! Just moved last week and was dreading having to call the county office after hearing horror stories about wait times. This thread has been incredibly helpful - I had no idea there was a difference between updating your profile and using the "Report a Change" section. Definitely going to try the online route first through BenefitsCal. Quick question though - for those who did it online, did you get any follow-up requests for documentation, or was the lease agreement/utility bill thing only if they specifically asked for verification? I want to have everything ready just in case but don't want to upload unnecessary documents if they're not required upfront.

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@Connor Byrne Welcome to the community! From what I ve'seen in this thread, it looks like the documentation requests vary by case. Some people like @Liam McConnell got asked for verification after updating online, while others didn t mention'needing to provide anything extra upfront. I d suggest'just doing the online update first through the Report a "Change section and" then waiting to see if they request documentation - no need to upload stuff they haven t asked'for yet. But definitely keep your lease agreement handy just in case! The process seems pretty straightforward based on everyone s experiences'here.

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Tyler Lefleur

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I'm in a similar boat - just moved apartments and need to update my CalFresh address! Reading through all these responses has been super helpful. I was definitely planning to just call the county office since that's what I did last time, but after seeing everyone's experiences with the online system, I'm going to try the BenefitsCal route first. The tip about using "Report a Change" instead of just updating the profile section is gold - I would have totally made that mistake. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences! It's really reassuring to know the EBT benefits keep working normally during address changes. Fingers crossed the online process goes smoothly for me too.

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Ava Harris

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@Tyler Lefleur Good luck with your address update! I just went through this process myself a couple weeks ago and it really is much easier online than dealing with the phone system. The Report "a Change section" is super user-friendly once you find it. One thing I d'add that I learned - after you submit the change, you can check your BenefitsCal message center in a day or two to see if they processed it successfully. That way you ll'know for sure it went through without having to wonder or call to confirm. Hope your move goes smoothly!

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PaulineW

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I'm in the exact same situation! Just moved last month and was putting off updating my address because I was dreading the phone wait times. This thread is amazing - I had no idea you could do it online through BenefitsCal! The distinction between "Report a Change" vs just updating your profile is super important info that I definitely would have missed. Going to log in tonight and try the online route. Really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences here, especially the eligibility worker who explained how it all works behind the scenes. It's so helpful to have a community where people actually help each other navigate this stuff instead of just complaining about the system!

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LongPeri

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@PaulineW Welcome! I'm new here too and was in the same exact situation just a few weeks ago. This community has been such a lifesaver for navigating all this stuff! I was also totally clueless about the difference between updating your profile vs using "Report a Change" - would have definitely made that mistake without everyone's help here. The online process through BenefitsCal really is so much better than trying to get through on the phone. Make sure to save that confirmation number when you submit it! Everyone here has been so helpful and it's refreshing to find a place where people actually share useful info instead of just venting. Good luck with your update tonight!

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Khalid Howes

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As someone who just went through this process myself a couple months ago, I can confirm the online route through BenefitsCal is definitely the way to go! Like others have mentioned, make sure you use the "Report a Change" section rather than just updating your profile - I learned this the hard way and had to redo it. The whole process took maybe 10 minutes and I got a confirmation number right away. Your EBT benefits will continue loading normally while the address change processes, so don't worry about any delays there. Just keep your lease agreement or utility bill handy in case they ask for verification later (though they didn't ask me for anything). The online system has gotten much more reliable over the past year or so. Good luck with your move and welcome to the neighborhood!

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Grace Durand

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@Khalid Howes Thanks for sharing your experience! As someone who s'completely new to this whole process, it s'really reassuring to hear from people who ve'actually done it recently. I was honestly terrified about messing something up with my benefits, but reading everyone s'experiences here has made me feel so much more confident about trying the online route. The tip about keeping the lease agreement ready is smart - I ll'make sure to have that on hand just in case. Really appreciate how helpful everyone has been in this thread!

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Just wanted to add my experience since I went through this exact same thing about 6 months ago! The BenefitsCal online system worked great for me - definitely use the "Report a Change" section like everyone mentioned, not just the profile update. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is that you should also make sure your phone number is current in the system while you're updating your address, especially if that changed too with your move. Sometimes the county will try to call you if there are any issues with your case, and having an outdated phone number can cause delays. Also, if you're moving within the same zip code, the process tends to go even faster since it doesn't trigger as many verification checks. Your EBT will definitely keep working normally - I was worried about the same thing but there were zero issues with my monthly deposit. Hope your move goes smoothly!

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@Fatima Al-Farsi Great point about updating the phone number too! I didn t'even think about that but it makes total sense - if they can t'reach you, it could definitely cause issues down the line. I m'planning to do my address update tonight and will make sure to double-check that my phone number is current while I m'in there. The tip about same zip code moves processing faster is really helpful too. Thanks for sharing all these practical details that aren t'obvious when you re'new to the process!

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Natalie Adams

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I'm going through this exact same situation right now! Just moved to a new place last week and have been stressing about updating my CalFresh address. This thread has been incredibly helpful - I had no idea there was such an important difference between updating your profile vs using the "Report a Change" section. I was definitely going to make that mistake! It's so reassuring to hear from multiple people that the EBT benefits keep working normally during the address change process, since that was my biggest worry. Planning to log into BenefitsCal tonight and try the online route instead of dealing with those dreaded phone wait times. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this community is amazing for actually helping people navigate these systems instead of just complaining about them!

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Mateo Lopez

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@Natalie Adams Welcome to the community! I m'also pretty new here and was in almost the exact same situation a few weeks back. This thread has been such a lifesaver - I was totally clueless about the BenefitsCal system before finding this discussion. The Report "a Change vs" profile update distinction really is crucial and I definitely would have messed that up without everyone s'guidance here. When you log in tonight, the Report "a Change section" should be pretty easy to spot on your main dashboard. Make sure to write down that confirmation number when you get it! It s'amazing how much less stressful this whole process becomes when you have people who ve'actually been through it sharing real experiences. Good luck with your update!

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Yuki Tanaka

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I just went through this same process last month and wanted to share what worked for me! The BenefitsCal online system is definitely the way to go - so much better than waiting on hold for hours. Make sure you look for the "Report a Change" section on your main dashboard after logging in, not just the regular profile update area. The whole thing took me about 5 minutes and I got a confirmation number right away. They didn't ask me for any additional documentation, but I kept my lease agreement handy just in case. Your EBT benefits will keep loading normally while the address change processes - I was worried about the same thing but had zero issues with my monthly deposit. One tip: take a screenshot of your confirmation page like the eligibility worker suggested, it's good to have that record. The system has gotten much more reliable lately and it beats dealing with those phone wait times!

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Carmella Fromis

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@Yuki Tanaka Wait, you re'the original poster! Thanks for updating us on how it went - that s'really helpful for others who might be in the same situation. It s'great to hear you were able to get it sorted out through the online system without any issues. The screenshot tip from the eligibility worker really is smart advice. I m'new to this community but it s'awesome seeing how people follow up to help others who might be going through similar situations!

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Ava Martinez

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I'm so glad you were able to get it sorted out through the online system! As someone who's new to navigating CalFresh benefits, this entire thread has been incredibly educational. The distinction between "Report a Change" and just updating your profile is something I never would have known, and it sounds like that's a common mistake people make. It's really reassuring to hear that multiple people have had success with the BenefitsCal online system recently - gives me confidence that if I ever need to make changes to my case, I won't have to deal with those awful phone wait times. Thanks to everyone who contributed their experiences here, especially the eligibility worker who explained how things work behind the scenes!

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Edwards Hugo

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@Ava Martinez I m'new here too and this thread has been such a game changer! I was honestly intimidated by the whole CalFresh system before reading through everyone s'experiences. It s'amazing how much clearer everything becomes when you have real people sharing what actually works instead of just trying to figure it out from official websites that can be confusing. The fact that so many people have had success with the online route recently really does give confidence that the system is working better than it used to. This community seems like such a valuable resource for navigating these benefits - definitely bookmarking this for future reference!

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Zainab Ismail

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I'm new to CalFresh and just moved apartments too! This whole thread has been so incredibly helpful - I was completely lost on how to update my address and was dreading those long phone wait times everyone talks about. The explanation about using "Report a Change" instead of just updating your profile is exactly the kind of insider knowledge I needed. It's really reassuring to see so many people confirm that the online system through BenefitsCal actually works well now and that EBT benefits keep loading normally during the process. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences, especially @Zoe Kyriakidou for the professional insight! This community is amazing for helping newcomers like me navigate these systems.

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