Laid off with severance - how does it affect my CalFresh benefits? Need urgent help

Report the job loss immediately to ur county worker! Don't wait for the SAR7. That way they can increase your benefits faster. Severance DOES count as income, but once it's gone, they'll adjust. My cousin got laid off in Dec and they increased his benefits to the max amount $299/mo once his final paychecks stopped.

Sorry about your job loss. Here's what you need to know about CalFresh and severance pay: 1. Yes, severance counts as income in the month you receive it, but it's considered non-recurring, so it only affects that month's benefits. 2. You should report this as a "change in income" right away since you lost your primary income source - this qualifies as an Income Reporting Threshold (IRT) change. 3. Submit verification of both your layoff (termination letter) and your severance amount. 4. For other benefits, apply for Unemployment Insurance immediately at edd.ca.gov - don't wait! Severance doesn't typically affect UI eligibility in California. 5. Consider applying for CalWORKs if you have limited resources and might need help with housing costs. Your benefits should increase significantly once you're no longer receiving regular income. Keep all documentation from your employer.

They might make u pay back benefits if u dont report asap!!! They count every penny when calculating ur benefits. My friend got laid off and didnt report it until the SAR7 and they considered it an overpayment even tho she was getting LESS money not more!!! The system is crazy

If you're having trouble getting through to a CalFresh worker (which is common, especially now with staffing issues), you might want to try using Claimyr. It's a service that holds your place in the county phone queue and calls you back when a worker is available. Saved me hours of frustration when I needed to report my income change. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 and their website is claimyr.com. I was skeptical at first but it actually worked really well when I needed to get through to my worker about verification documents.

Hi! I'm currently a CalFresh eligibility worker (not speaking officially), and I see this situation often. Here's what you should do: 1. Report your job loss immediately through BenefitsCal.com or call your county office. This is considered a "change in circumstances" that requires reporting within 10 days. 2. Severance pay is counted as income in the month received, but it doesn't disqualify you from increased benefits after it's gone. 3. For a single person household in 2025, the maximum benefit is $299/month if you have no income. 4. Yes, apply for UI benefits right away! They don't count against your CalFresh eligibility. 5. If you're worried about housing, also look into Emergency Rental Assistance programs in your county. Pro tip: If you call your county office, ask specifically for an "expedited benefits review due to loss of income." This can speed things up.

Yes, they'll need verification documents. Have these ready: 1. Termination letter or something from your employer showing your last day 2. Documentation of your severance package 3. Your last paystub 4. Bank statements showing the severance deposit (when you receive it) 5. Any unemployment award letters once you apply Upload these through BenefitsCal.com or bring them to your county office. The faster you provide verification, the faster they can increase your benefits.

I went thru this exact thing in January. Lost my job and got 8 weeks severance. I reported it right away and they actually gave me EMERGENCY ALLOTMENT benefits of $299 while processing my case update. Didn't expect that! They said since my circumstances changed so dramatically they could issue emergency benefits. The workers don't always offer this so ASK FOR IT!!

When I lost my job last year, I also applied for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) which helped with my utility bills. It's separate from CalFresh but uses similar income guidelines. Saved me about $180 on my power bill for a few months which was huge. Check with your county human services for the application.

Update: I finally got through to my county worker today! They're processing an emergency benefit increase that should take effect in 3 business days. They confirmed my severance counts as income but only for the period it's meant to cover. I'm also applying for unemployment today. Thank you all for the helpful advice - this community has been incredibly supportive during a really stressful time.

Great to hear you got through and they're processing your emergency increase! That's exactly what should happen. Just a heads up - make sure to keep documenting everything during your job search. Save all your job applications, rejection letters, interview confirmations, etc. If your benefits ever get reviewed, having that paper trail showing you're actively looking for work can be really helpful. Also, once you do find a new job, report your start date and expected income right away to avoid any overpayment issues. Good luck with the job hunt!

Also wanted to mention - if you're in a county that has CalFresh Restaurant Meals Program (RMP), you might be eligible for that too once your benefits increase. It lets you use your EBT card at participating restaurants like Subway, Papa Murphy's, and some local places. Really helpful when you're stressed about job hunting and don't have energy to cook. Not all counties have it, but worth checking if yours does. You qualify if you're homeless, elderly, or disabled, but some counties have expanded eligibility. Check with your worker when you talk to them next!