Moved from Texas to California - when should I apply for CalFresh after canceling SNAP benefits?

You can apply for CalFresh immediately! There's no need to wait for your Texas benefits to completely end. When you apply, just be honest about your situation - mention that you've canceled Texas benefits but are expecting one final payment next month. California and Texas systems don't automatically communicate with each other, but you should still disclose everything accurately to avoid any potential overpayment issues later. The sooner you apply, the sooner you'll get benefits, and there's often a processing time of 30 days anyway.

apply now!! i moved from arizona last year and waited 2 months b4 applying... BIG mistake cuz they dont backdate benefits and i was struggling to buy food that whole time. just tell them about the texas situation when u apply

DONT LISTEN TO THESE PEOPLE telling you to just apply now!!! You will get in SERIOUS TROUBLE for double-dipping!!! My cousin got benefits from two states by accident and they made him pay back THOUSANDS plus he almost got charged with FRAUD. The system WILL catch you eventually and you'll regret it!!!

when i moved to cali i just applied right away and told them i was getting one last payment from my old state. they just counted that as income for the first month calculation but still gave me benefits. its actually pretty common and they deal with this all the time tbh

I definitely recommend applying right away, but be prepared for the typical CalFresh phone frustrations. When I moved here last year, I had to call the county office several times to explain my out-of-state situation, and it was nearly impossible to get through! I finally used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to an actual caseworker without the endless hold times. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8. Totally worth it for avoiding the automated phone system nightmare, especially when you have a unique situation like yours that needs actual human assistance.

this happened to me when i moved here too! just wondering did you already find a job in california? because they'll ask about income and stuff during the interview so just be ready for that part

Just to add some important information: when you apply for CalFresh, you'll need to provide verification documents like ID, proof of California residency (lease, utility bill, etc.), and your income information. Since you just moved, make sure you have documentation of your current living situation in California. Also, California uses a system called BenefitsCal for applications - it's much more user-friendly than most other states' systems. You can apply online, upload documents directly, and check your application status there. Good luck with your move!

oh btw if ur in a hurry u can ask for expedited benefits when u apply! if u qualify they gotta give u benefits in 3 days instead of 30

Thanks everyone for all the helpful advice! I'm going to apply online today through BenefitsCal and make sure to disclose that final Texas payment. Hopefully the process goes smoothly, but at least I know what to expect now. Really appreciate all the tips!

Welcome to California! Just wanted to add that when you do your CalFresh interview (which can be done over the phone), the caseworker will likely ask specifically about any benefits you received in other states in the past 12 months. Having that Texas cancellation confirmation email ready will definitely help speed things along. Also, since you mentioned you just moved 2 weeks ago, you might want to apply in the county where you're currently living - each county has slightly different processing times. Los Angeles and San Francisco counties tend to be busier, so if you're in a smaller county, you might get processed faster. The online application is really straightforward, and you can always call if you get stuck on any questions!

Orange County actually has pretty reasonable processing times compared to LA! I went through the same process there about 6 months ago when I moved from Nevada. One thing that really helped me was organizing all my documents beforehand - besides the Texas cancellation email, make sure you have your California address verification ready (lease agreement, utility bill, or even a bank statement with your new address works). The OC eligibility workers are generally pretty knowledgeable about interstate transfers, so you shouldn't have too much trouble explaining your situation. Also, if you haven't already, try to get a California ID or driver's license soon since that makes everything easier for future benefit renewals. Good luck with your application!