Forgot to report new income for a few months. What now? Got a new job end of Nov last year and stopped using my EBT card. Months passed and the balance kept growing. Finally, didn't bother with the SAR 7 and eventually my CalFRESH was discontinued.  Should i be worried about having to pay anything back? Can i touch that unused balance on my card? Thanks for any info 🙏

This is really helpful advice! I'm in a similar situation where I delayed reporting a change. @Madeline Blaze, do you happen to know if there's a statute of limitations on how far back they can go for overpayments? And does it matter if the benefits were never actually used (like in OP's case where the balance just kept growing)? I'm trying to figure out if unused benefits are treated differently than ones that were actually spent.

Great question @Lydia Bailey! From what I understand, California typically has a 3-year statute of limitations for pursuing overpayments, but there can be exceptions for cases involving fraud or intentional program violations. As for unused benefits - unfortunately, they're generally treated the same as used benefits when it comes to overpayments. The state's perspective is that you received benefits you weren't entitled to, regardless of whether you actually spent them. The unused balance sitting on your card is still considered an overpayment if you weren't eligible during those months. However, being upfront about the situation and the fact that benefits weren't used might work in your favor when negotiating a resolution. Some caseworkers may view it more favorably since there was no actual "loss" to the program in terms of food purchases. @Rusty Shackleford, this applies to your situation too - the unused balance is still considered benefits received, so definitely reach out to your local office sooner rather than later to get ahead of this!

Thank you all for sharing this information - it's really eye-opening! I had no idea that unused benefits could still count as overpayments. @Sofia Peña, your point about the 3-year statute of limitations is particularly helpful. @Rusty Shackleford, I'm curious - when you say your CalFresh was "discontinued," did you receive any official notice about the reason? Sometimes those notices will mention if they've identified a potential overpayment issue. Also, do you remember roughly what your new income was compared to the CalFresh income limits? That might give you a better sense of how many months you may have been ineligible. I'm dealing with a somewhat similar situation (though much shorter timeframe), so I really appreciate everyone being so open about sharing advice and experiences here. It's making me realize I need to bite the bullet and contact my local office soon too!

This thread has been so informative - thank you everyone for sharing! I'm actually going through something similar right now and this is giving me the courage to finally contact my local office. @StarStrider, your question about the discontinuation notice is spot on - I remember when mine was discontinued, the notice mentioned something about "failure to report changes" which I think was their way of flagging potential overpayment issues. @Rusty Shackleford, definitely check any paperwork you received! One thing I wanted to add based on my research: I've heard that some counties have different approaches to handling these situations, especially when someone proactively comes forward. Some may be more willing to waive collection efforts or set up very manageable payment plans when you self-report rather than waiting for them to discover it during a review. @Madeline Blaze, do you know if it makes a difference which county someone is in when it comes to how they handle overpayment cases? I'm in LA County and wondering if I should expect any particular approach from them. Thanks again everyone - this community is such a valuable resource! 🙏

@Amara Nnamani, you're absolutely right about county differences! I've seen LA County be pretty reasonable with payment plans, especially for people who come forward voluntarily. They often offer options like $25-50/month payments or even deducting small amounts from future benefits if you reapply later. @Rusty Shackleford, one more thing to consider - if you do end up with an overpayment determination, you have the right to request a hearing if you disagree with their calculation or want to dispute it. Sometimes caseworkers make errors in their math or don't properly account for when eligibility actually ended versus when income started. Also, since you stopped using your card pretty much right when you got the job, that actually shows good faith on your part even if you didn't formally report it right away. Make sure to emphasize that timeline when you contact them - it could work in your favor! The fact that this community exists and people are sharing these experiences openly is so valuable. It's scary dealing with these situations alone, but knowing others have navigated similar challenges successfully really helps. Thanks everyone for creating such a supportive space! 💙

This whole thread has been incredibly helpful - thank you all for sharing such detailed information! As someone who's new to navigating CalFresh issues, I had no idea about so many of these nuances. @Nathan Dell, your point about emphasizing the timeline when @Rusty Shackleford contacts the office is really smart. The fact that he stopped using the card right when he got the job does show he wasn t'trying to game the system, just didn t'know the proper reporting procedures. I m'wondering - for those who have gone through overpayment situations, how long did the process typically take from initial contact to resolution? And @Madeline Blaze, do you know if there are any resources or advocates that can help people navigate these conversations with their local offices? Sometimes having someone who knows the system can make a big difference in getting a fair outcome. It s'really reassuring to see how supportive this community is. Dealing with benefit issues can feel overwhelming and isolating, but threads like this show there are people willing to help and share their knowledge. Thank you everyone! 🙏

@Geoff Richards, great questions! From my experience, the timeline can vary quite a bit - I've seen cases resolved in 4-6 weeks when people are proactive, but it can take longer if there are complications or appeals involved. As for advocacy resources, many counties have Legal Aid organizations that offer free help with CalFresh issues, including overpayments. In some areas, there are also community organizations that specialize in benefits advocacy. I'd recommend calling 211 to find local resources - they can usually connect you with someone who knows the system. @Rusty Shackleford, one practical tip I forgot to mention earlier: when you do call your local office, try to get the name and direct number of the specific caseworker handling your case. Having one point of contact can make the whole process much smoother and less stressful. It's really heartwarming to see how this community comes together to help each other navigate these complex situations. We're all just trying to make ends meet and understanding these programs shouldn't be so complicated! Keep us posted on how things go - your experience could help the next person facing a similar situation. 💙