Why does my CalFresh EBT amount keep decreasing every few months?

same thing happened to me but worse!!! got $800 at first then down to $500 then $350 now only $275 and NOBODY TELLS U WHY they just do it! county never answers phones either so good luck finding out

This is actually pretty normal with CalFresh. The first month or two often includes retroactive benefits or a higher initial allocation. Then it settles into your regular benefit amount based on your specific household situation. But the continued decreases could be due to a few things: 1. Did your household composition change at all? 2. Has your rent/housing costs changed? 3. Did you report any new income on previous SAR7 forms? 4. There was also a cost-of-living adjustment in October that might have affected calculations. If none of these apply, I'd recommend calling your county worker to ask for a breakdown of your benefit calculation. They should be able to explain exactly why your amount changed.

I noticed a similar pattern with my benefits too. Started at $570, now down to $390. I think they do a lot of different adjustments throughout the year based on all kinds of factors. One thing that affected mine was when my kid started getting free school lunch - they counted that as food assistance so reduced my CalFresh. Maybe check if anything like that changed for you?

When did you do your last recertification? If I remember right, they sometimes give you the maximum amount during the initial application or right after recertification, then adjust it down after they verify all your information. I've had mine go up and down for seemingly no reason too. The whole system is DELIBERATELY confusing if you ask me!!

I work with CalFresh recipients regularly, and I can tell you that benefit amounts changing without you reporting any changes is definitely something you should inquire about. There are a few legitimate reasons this might happen: 1. Annual cost-of-living adjustments to the maximum benefit amounts (usually happens in October) 2. Changes in the standard utility allowance (SUA) that might affect your deductions 3. Correction of a previous calculation error 4. Data matching with other systems (like employment databases) that found income you didn't report I'd recommend calling your county office to get a detailed explanation. If you're having trouble getting through on the phone, try using Claimyr (claimyr.com). They have a service that helps you get through to your worker without waiting on hold for hours. Here's a demo of how it works: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 You deserve to understand exactly why your benefits changed!

wait does anyone know if they can just check ur bank account without telling u?? my friend said they can just look at ur deposits now without permission

u actually should complain if u think something is wrong!! i just blindly accepted lower benefits for a year before finally talking to a benefits advocate who helped me and turns out they were calculating wrong!! got $1200 in back benefits

Just a final note - you have 90 days from any benefit change to request a fair hearing if you believe the calculation is incorrect. Don't wait too long to investigate this! You can request a hearing by calling the state hearing division or filling out the form on the back of your Notice of Action.

This is such a common issue and it's really frustrating that the system doesn't automatically send clear explanations when benefits change! One thing I learned the hard way is to always save your Notice of Action letters - they're supposed to explain any changes but sometimes the language is so confusing it doesn't help much. Another tip: if you're having trouble getting through to your worker, try calling right when they open (usually 8 AM) or during lunch hours when there might be less call volume. Some counties also have walk-in hours where you can speak to someone in person, which might be more effective than phone calls. Also, don't be afraid to ask questions! You're entitled to understand how your benefits are calculated. The worst they can do is explain it to you - they can't cut you off just for asking legitimate questions about your case.

I'm going through the exact same thing! Started at $580 in March, dropped to $420 in June, and now I'm at $395. Like you, I haven't reported any changes and my situation is identical. It's really stressful not knowing why this keeps happening or if it's going to keep going down. Reading through these comments is really eye-opening though - I had no idea about the data matching thing or that they factor in things like school lunch programs. I'm definitely going to call and ask for a detailed breakdown of my benefits calculation. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and advice here. It's reassuring to know I'm not the only one dealing with this!

I'm dealing with something similar and it's really frustrating! My benefits went from $485 to $365 over the past few months with no changes on my end either. After reading through all these comments, I'm realizing there might be automatic adjustments happening that we're not being clearly informed about. The advice about calling first thing in the morning is great - I tried that last week and actually got through to someone within 20 minutes instead of waiting hours. They were able to pull up my case and explain that there was a utility allowance adjustment that affected my deductions, which I had no idea about. One thing that helped me was asking them to mail me a detailed benefit calculation notice. It shows exactly how they arrive at your benefit amount with all the deductions and allowances spelled out. It's still confusing but at least you can see where the numbers come from. You can request this even if you don't want to file a formal complaint - it's your right as a recipient to understand how your benefits are calculated. Don't give up on getting answers! The system is complicated but you deserve to know why your benefits are changing.

This is such a helpful thread - I'm dealing with the exact same issue! My benefits started at $540 in February and have dropped to $385 now in July. I haven't reported any changes either and was getting really worried that I did something wrong. Reading everyone's experiences makes me realize this is way more common than I thought. The tip about calling right at 8 AM is gold - I'm definitely trying that tomorrow. I had no idea about things like utility allowances or school lunch programs affecting benefits either. @Haley Stokes thank you for mentioning the 90-day rule for fair hearings - I didn't know there was a time limit on questioning changes. And @Alejandro Castro your story about getting back benefits gives me hope that it's worth advocating for yourself! I'm going to request that detailed calculation breakdown that @Levi Parker mentioned. Even if the numbers are confusing, at least I'll have something concrete to look at instead of just wondering why my benefits keep shrinking. Has anyone had luck with walk-in appointments at their county office? My local office says they have walk-in hours but I'm not sure if it's worth the trip or if calling is more effective.

This thread has been so helpful! I'm experiencing something really similar - my CalFresh went from $490 in January down to $340 now, with no changes reported on my SAR7 forms. Like many of you, I was too scared to call and ask questions because I didn't want them to find a reason to cut me off completely. But after reading all these responses, especially @Alejandro Castro getting $1200 in back benefits and @Levi Parker actually getting answers about utility allowance changes, I realize I need to advocate for myself. The tip about calling right at 8 AM is something I'm definitely going to try - I gave up after being on hold for hours before. I had no idea about all these hidden factors that can affect benefits like school meals, utility allowances, and data matching. It's really frustrating that they don't explain these changes clearly when they happen. I'm going to request that detailed benefit calculation breakdown and keep my Notice of Action letters like @Eli Butler suggested. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and advice. It's reassuring to know this is a common issue and that we have rights to understand our benefit calculations. Wish me luck getting through to someone tomorrow morning!

Wow, reading through all these responses has been really eye-opening! I had no idea so many people were dealing with the same issue. My benefits went from $450 in March to $320 now, and like everyone else, I haven't reported any changes. I was starting to think I was doing something wrong or that they were going to cut me off entirely. The advice about calling right at 8 AM is definitely something I'm going to try - I've been on hold for hours before and just gave up. And I had no clue about things like utility allowances or data matching affecting benefits. It's so frustrating that they don't send clear explanations when these changes happen. @Haley Stokes thank you for the info about the 90-day rule for fair hearings - I didn't know there was a time limit! And @Alejandro Castro your story about getting back benefits after questioning things gives me hope that it's worth speaking up instead of just accepting the decreases. I'm definitely going to request that detailed benefit calculation breakdown that several people mentioned. Even if it's confusing, at least I'll have something concrete to look at. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences - it's reassuring to know I'm not alone in this and that we have rights to understand how our benefits are calculated!

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm new to CalFresh (just got approved last month) and reading everyone's experiences is both reassuring and concerning. It sounds like I should expect my benefits might change over time even if my situation stays the same, which is something I had no idea about. The practical tips you all have shared are invaluable - calling right at 8 AM, requesting detailed benefit calculation breakdowns, keeping all Notice of Action letters, and knowing about the 90-day rule for fair hearings. I'm bookmarking this thread as a reference guide! What really stands out to me is how @Alejandro Castro and others got results by advocating for themselves instead of just accepting the changes. As someone who tends to avoid confrontation with government agencies, it's encouraging to know that asking questions is not only okay but actually our right as recipients. One question for the group - for those who successfully got through to their county workers, did you find it helpful to have your case number and specific dates ready when you called? I want to be as prepared as possible when I eventually need to contact them. Thanks to everyone for being so generous with sharing your knowledge and experiences. This is exactly the kind of real-world guidance that's impossible to find in official documentation!

I'm dealing with something very similar and this thread has been a lifesaver! My benefits dropped from $520 in February to $365 now, with no changes reported on my end either. Like many of you, I was hesitant to call because I didn't want to "poke the bear" and risk having my benefits cut entirely. But after reading about @Alejandro Castro getting $1200 in back benefits and seeing all the practical tips here, I finally called this morning right at 8 AM like everyone suggested. I actually got through in about 15 minutes! The worker was able to explain that there had been a utility allowance adjustment that reduced my deductions, plus some kind of annual recalculation that I was never notified about. I requested the detailed benefit calculation breakdown that @Levi Parker mentioned, and they're mailing it to me within a week. The worker also told me that if I disagree with any part of the calculation, I can request a fair hearing within 90 days of the notice. For anyone still on the fence about calling - definitely do it! Having that case number, specific benefit amounts, and dates ready really helped speed things along. @Maya Diaz's tip about asking for a supervisor if the first person can't help is spot on too. Thanks everyone for the courage to finally get answers!

Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly helpful! I'm new to this community but dealing with a similar situation - my CalFresh benefits started at $480 in March and have dropped to $320 over the past few months with no changes on my end. What really strikes me is how common this issue seems to be, yet there's so little clear communication from the county offices about WHY these changes happen. The fact that @Nia Wilson was able to get answers in just 15 minutes by calling at 8 AM gives me hope - I've been putting off calling because I was worried about long wait times and potentially making my situation worse. The tips about having your case number ready, writing down specific benefit amounts and dates, and requesting that detailed benefit calculation breakdown sound invaluable. I had no idea about utility allowance adjustments or annual recalculations that can affect benefits without us reporting any changes. @Alejandro Castro - your story about getting $1200 in back benefits after questioning incorrect calculations is really encouraging! It's a good reminder that we have rights as recipients and shouldn't just accept changes without understanding them. I'm planning to call tomorrow morning right at 8 AM with all my documentation ready. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and practical advice - this thread should honestly be pinned as a resource for anyone dealing with unexplained benefit changes!

I'm going through this exact same thing and it's so frustrating! My benefits started at $495 in January and have dropped to $310 now with absolutely no changes in my situation. Reading through all these comments has been both eye-opening and reassuring - I had no idea this was such a common issue. The advice about calling right at 8 AM seems to be the golden tip everyone swears by. I've tried calling in the afternoons before and gave up after being on hold for over an hour. @Nia Wilson's success story getting through in 15 minutes and actually getting real answers gives me hope that it's worth trying again. I had absolutely no clue about things like utility allowance adjustments or data matching affecting benefits. It's really frustrating that these changes happen without clear explanation - like @Lia Quinn said, it feels deliberately confusing sometimes! The tip about requesting a detailed benefit calculation breakdown is something I'm definitely going to do. Even if it's complex, at least I'll have something concrete to look at instead of just wondering why my grocery budget keeps shrinking every few months. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and practical advice. This thread has given me the confidence to finally call and advocate for myself instead of just accepting these mysterious decreases. I'll try calling tomorrow morning with my case number and all my benefit history written down!

This thread has been incredibly informative! I'm new to CalFresh and currently going through my first recertification process. Reading everyone's experiences with unexplained benefit decreases is both concerning and reassuring - at least I know what to watch out for and that I'm not powerless if it happens to me. The consistency of advice here is remarkable - calling right at 8 AM, having documentation ready, requesting detailed benefit calculations, and not being afraid to ask questions. @Nia Wilson's success getting answers in 15 minutes and @Alejandro Castro's story about recovering $1200 in back benefits really shows the importance of self-advocacy. One thing I'm curious about - for those who successfully got explanations from their county workers, did they provide any tips on how to avoid future surprise changes? Like are there certain times of year when adjustments typically happen, or specific things we should keep an eye on? Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences. This thread should honestly be required reading for anyone new to CalFresh! It's given me so much more confidence about knowing my rights and speaking up if needed.