Moving from LA County to Inland Empire - Transfer or reapply for CalFresh?

You definitely want to TRANSFER your case rather than closing and reapplying! California has an ICT (Inter-County Transfer) process specifically for this situation. Call your LA County worker and tell them you're moving to San Bernardino County. They should initiate the transfer for you. Do this at least 10 days before you move if possible. You'll keep your same benefit amount and certification period - your case just moves counties.

i moved from riverside to la last year and did the transfer thing. took FOREVER to get everything switched over. like 3 months and almost lost my benifits twice. make sure u keep calling to check on it

The ICT (Inter-County Transfer) process is definitely the way to go, but be aware there are specific steps to follow: 1. Notify LA County ASAP about your move (at least 10 days prior is best) 2. Provide your new address in San Bernardino County 3. LA County should send your case file to San Bernardino electronically 4. San Bernardino will assign you a new caseworker Your benefits SHOULD continue uninterrupted, but in practice, there can sometimes be delays in the transition. The benefit amount stays the same until your next recertification or SAR7 reporting period. Make sure you know when your next reporting deadline is so you don't miss it during this transition. Also important: your EBT card will still work, so keep using the same card even after moving.

Best of luck with your move! Housing is definitely cheaper out here in the IE compared to LA. Make sure you update your address with USPS too so you don't miss any important CalFresh notices.

I went through this exact same thing moving from LA to Riverside County last year. Let me tell you - start calling WAY before you actually move!!!! I started calling 2 weeks before my move and it STILL took forever to reach someone. When I finally got through, the process was actually pretty easy, but GETTING THROUGH to a real person was impossibleeee. Spent hours on hold and got disconnected so many times I almost gave up.

don't forget to update ur medi-cal too if u have it!! they dont always talk to eachother and u could lose medicad even if calfresh transfers

to answer your question from earlier - i kept getting benefits during those 3 months but it was super stressful cuz I never knew if they would suddenly stop. the workers kept saying diferent things and i was getting mail from both counties

One more thing to keep in mind: San Bernardino County might have different verification requirements or procedures than LA County. Sometimes they ask for additional documentation when they receive a transfer. Just be prepared to provide proof of address, income, expenses, etc. if they request it. Also, in my experience, you might need to be a bit persistent with follow-up calls to make sure the transfer is moving along.

The county offices are HORRIBLE about communicating with each other! I swear my case got stuck in limbo for weeks because LA County claimed they sent it but San Bernardino said they never received it. I had to keep calling BOTH counties every few days to check on status. SO frustrating! Just be super proactive and don't assume anything is happening automatically.

This might also be a good time to check if your income reporting threshold (IRT) will be changing. The IRT can vary slightly by county sometimes. When San Bernardino County takes over your case, they should send you a Notice of Action that includes your IRT amount. Make sure you know this number because if your income ever goes above it, you need to report the change within 10 days (even outside your regular SAR7 reporting period).

Just wanted to add - make sure you keep copies of EVERYTHING during this transfer process! Screenshots of your current benefit amount, copies of any paperwork you submit, confirmation numbers from phone calls, etc. I learned this the hard way when my case got mixed up between counties and I had to prove what my original benefit amount was. Also, if you have kids in school that get free lunch through CalFresh, make sure to notify their school district about the move too so there's no interruption in their meal benefits. The school districts don't always automatically know about address changes. Good luck with your move to the IE - you're making a smart financial decision with the lower housing costs!

Wow, that's an amazing savings on housing! $600 less per month plus getting a whole extra bedroom - that's going to be life-changing for your family. As someone who's helped families through county transfers before, I'd recommend creating a simple timeline for yourself with all the key dates and deadlines. Write down: 1) When you plan to call LA County to start the transfer, 2) Your actual move date, 3) Your next SAR7 due date (August), and 4) Any other important CalFresh deadlines. Having it all in one place will help you stay organized during what can be a stressful process. Also, once you get settled in San Bernardino, look into any local food pantries or community resources in your new area - many families find it helpful to have backup support while navigating county systems. The IE has some great community organizations that can assist if you run into any bumps along the way.