Denied CalFresh in San Bernardino - income calculation question & missing pay stubs

CalFresh uses gross monthly income for the initial eligibility test, then applies deductions to calculate your net income. This is federal so it's the same across all California counties, including San Bernardino. For a household of 2, the gross monthly income limit in 2025 is around $3,250, so if your SO makes $800/week, that's roughly $3,466 monthly which is just over the limit. BUT, they do take into account certain deductions: - 20% deduction from earned income - Standard deduction (about $218 for 1-2 person households) - Excess shelter costs (rent/mortgage + utilities that exceed 50% of net income) - Dependent care expenses Definitely reapply with the pay stubs you have now. Your high rent might help you qualify under the net income test even if your gross is slightly over.

they look at gross monthly not yearly. reapply asap with the stubs. my sis got denied first time too but got approved when she reapplied with all the docs

The CalFresh system is RIDICULOUS! I make decent money but with California's insane cost of living I still struggle to buy food. They denied me THREE TIMES before finally approving me, and each time it was for some stupid paperwork reason. They ONLY care about the gross income before taxes - they don't care if your take-home is half that amount!! And the income limits are WAY TOO LOW for California. In San Bernardino they're especially awful about documentation - if you're missing ANYTHING they'll deny you immediately instead of giving you more time. Definitely reapply but make sure EVERY SINGLE PIECE of paperwork is included!!!

I work with benefits applications, and your situation is actually pretty common. To directly answer your questions: 1. CalFresh always uses MONTHLY gross income for initial eligibility, then applies deductions for net income test. It's consistent across all counties. 2. For expenses, they allow: - Shelter costs (rent/mortgage + utilities) that exceed 50% of net income - 20% earned income deduction - Standard deduction - Dependent care costs - Some medical expenses for elderly/disabled Union dues aren't specifically counted as a deduction, unfortunately. Your best bet is to reapply immediately with complete documentation. If your household is 2 people, the gross monthly limit is $3,250, so $800/week ($3,466/month) is slightly over, but with your high rent deduction, you might still qualify under net income rules. Also, when you reapply, if you're having trouble getting through to the county office by phone (very common problem), check out Claimyr.com - they can help you skip the phone queue and get to a live agent faster. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8

when i applied they told me they look at whats on ur actual paystubs not what u bring home after gas and stuff. only deductions they care about r on the paystubs

I'm in San Bernardino County too and just went through recertification last month. They definitely go by monthly income, and they average it out if your income varies. So if your partner makes $800/week, they calculate it as $800 × 4.33 weeks = $3,464 monthly gross. I was nervous about my recertification because my income increased, but I found out they consider your housing costs pretty significantly. I pay $1950 for rent and I still qualified despite making more money now. For your reapplication, make sure you submit: - Both of your IDs - Both of your social security cards (or numbers) - ALL paystubs from the last 30 days - Rental agreement showing your rent amount - Utility bills (especially if you pay separate from rent) Don't wait - just reapply immediately with the complete documentation. There's no waiting period required between applications.

my freind got denied for calfresh but got calworks instead maybe try that too?

Thanks for all the advice everyone! I'm going to reapply immediately with all the documents ready this time. I'll make sure to include our lease agreement showing the $1875 rent and our utility bills too. I tried calling the county office again this morning and sat on hold for 45 minutes before giving up. I'll try that Claimyr service someone mentioned to actually get through to a person. Quick question: when reapplying, should I mention that I was previously denied? Or just submit a brand new application as if it's my first time?

I'm new to this community but wanted to share my recent experience with CalFresh in San Bernardino County. I was also initially denied due to missing documentation, but I successfully got approved on my second application last month. A few tips that helped me: - When you reapply, submit EVERYTHING at once rather than sending documents separately. I scanned all my papers and uploaded them together online. - The county office has walk-in hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays 8-11am if you can't get through by phone. Sometimes it's faster than calling. - They do count your high rent as a major factor - with $1875/month rent, that should definitely help your case under the net income calculation. Also, if you qualify for expedited processing (which it sounds like you might based on your income vs. expenses), they're required to process your application within 3 days instead of the usual 30. Make sure to check that box on the application! Good luck with your reapplication - it sounds like you have a strong case with the complete documentation this time.

I went through something similar in San Bernardino County earlier this year! The key thing that helped me was understanding that they use a "prospective budgeting" approach - so they look at what your income will be going forward, not what you've already earned. Since your partner makes $800/week consistently, they'll calculate that as $3,464 monthly gross income. But here's what saved me: with your $1875 rent, you're paying way more than 50% of your net income on housing, which triggers the "excess shelter deduction." Here's roughly how your calculation might work: - Gross monthly: $3,464 - 20% earned income deduction: -$693 - Standard deduction: -$218 - Net income before shelter: $2,553 - 50% of net for shelter allowance: $1,277 - Your actual rent exceeds this by $598, so that becomes another deduction - Final net income: around $1,955 The net income limit for 2 people is about $2,500, so you should qualify! Make sure when you reapply that you emphasize the high housing costs and submit your lease agreement. San Bernardino County processed my corrected application pretty quickly once I had all the docs together.