Why am I not getting maximum CalFresh allotment? Who to contact?

they probably calculated ur income wrong. happens ALL THE TIME. u need to talk to ur eligibility worker but good luck getting thru lol

Maximum allotments are based on your household size and income. For a family of 4 in 2025, the max is indeed around $973, but that's only if your income is low enough after deductions. They calculate your "net income" after subtracting things like: - 20% of your earned income - Standard deduction ($204 for household of 1-4) - Excess shelter costs (rent/utilities over 50% of your adjusted income) - Dependent care deductions if applicable If your worker didn't apply all your deductions correctly, especially your shelter costs, that could explain the lower amount. You need to contact your assigned eligibility worker - their name and number should be on your approval notice.

I went through this EXACT situation last month!!! The county calculated my income wrong and didn't include my childcare expenses which are $980/month for my twins. I tried calling for TWO WEEKS straight and couldn't get through to anyone. The automated system kept saying "high call volume" and disconnecting me. So frustrating!!! I ended up using this service called Claimyr that got me through to a real person in about 20 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 Once I finally talked to someone, they fixed it and I got the difference added to my next month's benefits. The website is claimyr.com if you want to try it. Saved me so much time and stress!

In addition to contacting your eligibility worker, you can also submit a formal 'Request for State Hearing' if you believe your benefits were incorrectly calculated. You have 90 days from the date of your Notice of Action to request this hearing. It's your right as a CalFresh recipient. In the meantime, you can also submit verification of your childcare expenses through BenefitsCal.com or by dropping documents at your county office. Just make sure to get a receipt if you drop off documents in person. Keep copies of everything. For immediate assistance, you can also try contacting your local legal aid organization - they often help with CalFresh benefit disputes and can sometimes get through to workers faster than recipients can.

they always mess up the calculations somhow lol... when i reapplied last month they didnt count my utility allowance right and i was getting way less. try calling right when they open at 8am thats when i got through

Quick question - did u get a Notice of Action that showed the calculation? Sometimes they don't apply the utility allowance correctly or they might have put wrong household size

You can request a detailed benefit calculation from your county office. They should be able to provide you with a breakdown showing exactly how they arrived at the $380 figure. This is really important because it will help you identify where the error might be. Based on what you've shared, here's what might have happened: 1. Your $1,900 monthly income minus the earned income deduction (20% = $380) = $1,520 2. Minus standard deduction ($204) = $1,316 3. If they didn't know about your $850 childcare expenses, that wouldn't be deducted 4. Your shelter costs ($2,100 rent + utility allowance) should create a substantial shelter deduction With your income, family size, and those expenses, you likely should be receiving more than $380. The childcare deduction alone could make a significant difference.

When you do talk to someone, make sure to ask if your benefits can be backdated to fix the mistake! They should give you the difference for any months you received the incorrect amount. Don't let them tell you they can't fix past months - they absolutely can if it was their calculation error!

I work for a nonprofit that helps families navigate CalFresh issues, and this sounds like a classic case of missing deductions. With your income and family size, you should definitely be getting more than $380. The childcare expense you mentioned ($850/month) is huge - that alone could increase your benefits significantly since it reduces your countable income. A few tips for when you call: 1. Have all your documents ready (pay stubs, rent receipts, childcare provider info) 2. Ask specifically for your "eligibility determination worksheet" - this shows exactly how they calculated your benefits 3. If the first worker can't help, ask to speak with a supervisor 4. Take notes on who you talk to and when Also, double-check that they have your household size correct (you + 3 kids = 4 people) and that they're applying the correct utility allowance for your area. These are common mistakes that can really impact your benefit amount.