Confused about CalFresh partial benefits - will remaining amount deposit on the 16th?

The $939 is the maximum benefit possible, but not everyone qualifies for the maximum. Your actual benefit amount is calculated based on your household income, expenses, and deductions. The $509 is likely your full monthly benefit amount - you won't receive additional benefits on the 16th. The amount was determined by your income and expenses from your application.

The same thing happened to me!!! They told me one amount and I got way less. Its so frustrating when ur trying to feed ur family right?? Did u make sure to tell them ALL ur expenses? Sometimes they dont ask about everything that could help ur case.

That's definitely NOT how it works lol. The maximum benefit is for people with basically zero income. They take your income, subtract some deductions, and then calculate your benefit based on what's left. It's not like they give you part now and part later. Whatever amount you got approved for is what you'll get each month on your regular issuance date.

The other commenters are correct - the $509 is your complete monthly benefit based on your household's specific financial situation. The maximum ($939) is only for households with no countable income after deductions. If you want to potentially increase your benefit amount, you should make sure the county has accurate information about ALL your expenses, especially: - Full rent/mortgage amount - Utilities (if you pay separate from rent) - Child care costs - Medical expenses for elderly/disabled household members (if applicable) - Child support payments (if you pay them) You can call your county worker to provide updated expense information that might increase your benefit amount. Make sure to have documentation ready.

gd luck getting thru on the phone tho, i spent 3 hrs trying last week and kept getting disconnected or put on hold forever 🙄 CalFresh system is broken

Another thing to keep in mind - if your income has decreased or your expenses have increased since you applied, you should report these changes right away. You don't have to wait for your SAR7 (Semi-Annual Report) if the changes would increase your benefits. For example, if your rent increased by $250 as you mentioned, that's definitely worth reporting immediately as it could increase your benefit amount significantly.

just wanna say i went thru this too and found out they didnt count my FULL rent because i have a roomate!!! make sure u tell them exactly what YOU pay not whats on the lease!!!

Based on what you've shared in the comments, it sounds like there are several factors that might not have been fully accounted for in your benefit calculation: 1. Your daughter's after-school program costs ($350/month) 2. Complete utility expenses 3. Your housing situation with your brother-in-law 4. Your children's medical expenses I strongly recommend contacting your county office with this updated information. Dependent care expenses like after-school programs are a significant deduction that could substantially increase your benefit amount. Be prepared to provide verification documents for these expenses. Lastly, remember that benefits are calculated based on this formula: Maximum benefit amount - (Net income × 0.3) = Your CalFresh benefit. The more allowable deductions you can document, the lower your net income will be, resulting in higher benefits.

Did you get an Eligibility Notice of Action showing how they calculated your benefits? It should list all your income and deductions. Sometimes they make mistakes or don't have all the right info. Check that paper closely!

Just FYI - once they recalculate your benefits with the correct expenses, they should give you retroactive benefits back to when you applied if you're owed more. So make sure to ask about that when you call!

Hey there! I went through something similar when I first applied. The whole process is really overwhelming, especially when you're counting on those benefits to feed your family. From reading through all the comments here, it sounds like you have several expenses that might not have been properly counted - the after-school program alone could make a big difference in your benefit amount since childcare costs are a major deduction. When you call (and definitely try that Claimyr service someone mentioned if you keep getting disconnected), make sure you have all your documentation ready. I learned the hard way that they need proof of everything. Also, don't be afraid to ask them to walk you through exactly how they calculated your benefits - they're supposed to explain it if you ask. You've got this, and it sounds like you could potentially get a higher benefit amount once they have all the correct information!