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.