Back to California CalFresh

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?

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.

0 coins

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

0 coins

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

0 coins

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

0 coins

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!!

0 coins

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.

0 coins

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.

0 coins

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.

0 coins

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!

0 coins

does that actually work?? never heard of it

0 coins

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.

0 coins

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

0 coins

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

0 coins

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

0 coins

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

0 coins

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.

0 coins

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

0 coins

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.

0 coins

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.

0 coins

@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.

0 coins

California CalFresh AI

Expert Assistant
Secure