Got my CalFresh benefits slashed after reporting overtime pay - need urgent help!

This happens all the time with overtime reporting. You need to submit verification that your income has decreased again. Get a letter from your employer stating you're back to regular hours (32/week) and your current pay rate. Submit this through the BenefitsCal portal under 'Report Changes' or take it to your county office. They should adjust your benefits for next month, but probably can't fix this current month unless you can prove the calculation was incorrect.

omg the SAME EXACT THING happened to me in april!! i worked doubles for 2 weeks and they cut me from $380 to like $42. its INSANE how they punish ppl for trying to get ahead. i hate this system so much

Try using Claimyr to reach a CalFresh worker. I was in a similar situation last month and spent days trying to get through on the phone. Someone on this forum recommended claimyr.com and it worked - they called the county line for me and got me connected to a real worker in about 20 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8. I explained my situation about temporary overtime and the worker helped me submit the right verification documents to fix my benefits.

Your income likely exceeded the Income Reporting Threshold (IRT) for your household size, which automatically triggered a benefit recalculation. For a family of 4 in 2025, the IRT is approximately $4,625 monthly gross income. Submit these documents ASAP: 1. Letter from employer confirming return to regular hours 2. Your two most recent paystubs showing normal hours 3. CF 377.5 form - "Request for Restoration of Benefits" Also request an administrative hearing within 90 days by submitting the DPA 19 form. While waiting, contact local food banks - the CalFresh office can provide a referral list. Catholic Charities and Salvation Army often have emergency food assistance programs as well.

This is EXACTLY why I never report my extra income!!!! They PUNISH you for working harder!! My cousin works at the county and she told me they don't actually check your income unless you get audited which is super rare. Just saying... 🤷‍♀️

have u checked if ur eligible for calfresh emergency allotment? i think if u have less than $150 income and less than $100 resources u can get expedited benefits within 3 days. not sure if this counts for people already on calfresh tho

Everyone is giving good advice but I want to add: make sure you request a benefit restoration in writing (email or through BenefitsCal's message center) and keep documentation of EVERYTHING. Take screenshots of your BenefitsCal messages, note the date/time of any calls, keep copies of all documents you submit, etc. I went through something similar last year and having complete documentation was what ultimately helped me win my appeal. Also, if you go in person to the county office, get the name and worker number of anyone you speak with.

While ur waiting for this to get fixed try 211 for emergency food resources. They can connect u with food pantries in ur area. Also check if ur school district is still doing grab-n-go meals - some still have this from the pandemic. My kids school does free dinner pickup for any family that needs it no questions asked

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this stress - I've been there and it's awful. One thing that helped me was also contacting your local community action agency or United Way chapter. They often have emergency food vouchers or direct assistance programs separate from CalFresh. Also, WIC might be able to help with your younger kids if you're not already enrolled - they serve families with children under 5 and the income limits are higher than CalFresh. Some churches also do "blessing boxes" or community fridges where you can grab groceries without paperwork. Hang in there - this is fixable but I know waiting is the hardest part when you have little ones to feed.