Drastic CalFresh benefit drop from $750 to $80 after recertification - emergency allotment not increasing?

wait the emergency allotments for calfresh ended back in 2023 i think??? they were a covid thing. nobody gets those anymore as far as i know. so whatever your getting now is just your regular benefit amount. the $80 is probably your actual benefit based on your income now.

The previous commenter is correct - the official pandemic-related emergency allotments for CalFresh ended in early 2023. If you're still seeing something labeled as "emergency allotment" on your EBT transactions, that's likely a different supplemental payment or possibly an error in how it's labeled in the system. Regarding your benefit drop: When your income increases, your CalFresh benefits decrease proportionally. A $300 monthly income increase would typically reduce benefits, but dropping from $750 to $80 seems extreme unless there were other changes (household size, rent, utilities, childcare expenses, etc.). I'd recommend calling your county office to request a detailed breakdown of how your benefit was calculated. They should be able to explain exactly what factors changed and why your benefit decreased so dramatically.

OMG I HAD THE EXACT SAME THING HAPPEN!!! My benefits went from $680 to $95 after recertification and I only got a tiny raise!!! The system is BROKEN. When I finally got through to my worker after like 15 calls, they said something about a "standard deduction" changing and my "net income threshold" being different. It made NO sense and they basically said nothing could be done. I'm so angry about this!!!

There's some confusion about terminology in this thread that I want to clear up: 1. The federal emergency allotments ended in February/March 2023. These were the extra payments that brought everyone up to the maximum benefit amount for their household size during COVID. 2. What you might be seeing labeled as "emergency allotment" could actually be a California state supplemental payment, which is different from the federal pandemic emergency allotments. 3. When your income increases, your benefits decrease, but several factors determine by how much: - Income (earned and unearned) - Household size - Housing costs - Utility costs - Childcare expenses - Medical expenses for elderly or disabled members A $300 income increase plus reduced rent and changes in school meal status could potentially cause a significant reduction. The best approach is to request a detailed benefit calculation from your county worker so you can see exactly how they arrived at the $80 figure. If you believe there's been a mistake, you have the right to appeal the decision within 90 days of receiving your Notice of Action.

The problem you're having getting accurate information is exactly why I started using Claimyr to reach my county worker. I was in a similar situation with unexplained benefit changes and spent DAYS trying to get through on the phone. Claimyr got me connected to a real person in about 10 minutes (they call and wait on hold for you). It saved me so much stress. Their website is claimyr.com and they have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 Worth every penny when you need answers about something as important as feeding your family. The worker explained my benefit calculation in detail once I actually reached someone.

Tbh this is why I always report the minimum required by law on my SAR7 and recertification. u only HAVE to report if ur income goes above the Income Reporting Threshold (IRT) on ur approval letter. They dont need to know about every little raise if it doesnt put u over the IRT. just sayin...

One thing that hasn't been mentioned yet - check if your semi-annual report (SAR7) and recertification paperwork calculated your income correctly. Sometimes workers make mistakes when entering income information, especially if you have variable income or multiple jobs. Also, make sure they applied all possible deductions you qualify for: - 20% earned income deduction - Standard deduction (varies by household size) - Excess shelter costs (rent/mortgage and utilities above half your adjusted income) - Dependent care expenses - Medical expenses over $35 for elderly or disabled household members If any of these were missed or calculated incorrectly, your benefit amount could be significantly affected. When you speak with your county worker, go through each of these potential deductions.

so many ppl in the same boat these days... my sister had her benefits cut from $620 to $95 last month and shes a single mom with 2 kids working part time. its impossible to feed a family on that. the whole system needs to be fixed honestly

After reading through this thread again, I'm concerned there might be confusion about what you're receiving. In 2025, there shouldn't be anything labeled "emergency allotment" on your EBT account statements since those ended years ago. What you might be seeing is either: 1. California's state supplemental CalFresh benefits (if those exist in 2025) 2. A system labeling error where regular benefits are split into two payments 3. A transitional benefit adjustment 4. A correction payment from a previous underpayment When you call your county office, ask them to explain exactly what each payment represents. Request a copy of your most recent Notice of Action letter that shows your benefit calculation in detail. This letter should break down all the factors that determined your new benefit amount. If you haven't received this letter (or lost it), the county can provide another copy. The NOA is crucial for understanding exactly why your benefits changed so dramatically.