Will CalFresh count my security deposit assistance as income? Need help ASAP

ur good dont worry. security deposit help isnt counted for calfresh. only money that comes direct to u as cash or in ur bank account counts as income. if it goes to landlord its not ur income

Security deposit assistance programs generally don't count as income for CalFresh purposes when the payment goes directly to the landlord. This is considered a 'vendor payment' - money that's paid on your behalf for a specific purpose. You should still report it on your SAR7 in the section for changes or additional information, but clearly note that it was paid directly to your landlord as a security deposit through the [name of program]. Being transparent about it protects you from potential overpayment claims later. Also, make sure to keep documentation from the security deposit assistance program showing the payment went directly to the landlord. This will be helpful if there are any questions from your caseworker.

I had something similar happen last year, but it was a program that helped with first month's rent, not security deposit. I didn't report it and then had ALL my benefits cut and got a HUGE overpayment notice!!! My worker said ANYTHING you get from ANY assistance program needs to be reported even if it doesn't go directly to you!!! Don't listen to people saying you don't need to report!!

i had housing assistance for my deposit when i moved last year and it didnt affect my calfresh at all. they never even asked about it

You really need to call your county worker and ask this specific question rather than relying on forum advice. Different housing programs are structured differently, and the rules can be confusing. I had a similar situation and was on hold forever trying to reach someone at the county office. I eventually used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get a callback and actually talked to a real person who explained exactly what I needed to do for my situation. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 that shows how it works. Saved me from guessing about what to report and potentially getting in trouble later.

I'm in this weird situation where I got approved for CalFresh but they've been taking FOREVER to actually issue my EBT card. It's been 3 weeks already! Did anyone else have trouble getting their card? Sorry this isn't about security deposits but I'm just so frustrated with the whole system right now.

Direct vendor payments for housing assistance typically don't count as income for CalFresh purposes. According to the regulations, when a third party (like an assistance program) pays your landlord directly for housing costs, it's not considered income to you. This includes security deposits. However, there are some important distinctions: 1. If the money comes to you first, then it might count as income even if you use it for a security deposit 2. Some programs offer both direct vendor payments and cash assistance, so understanding exactly how your specific program works is important 3. When in doubt, report it on your SAR7 with a clear explanation If you don't report it and the county later discovers the assistance through program data matching, they might count it as income retroactively if they determine it should have been reported. That could lead to an overpayment claim. I recommend reporting it on your SAR7 with documentation showing it was paid directly to the landlord for a security deposit. This protects you while providing the county the information they need to make the correct determination.

Wait I'm confused about something else - when you report things on the SAR7, does that mean your benefits change right away? Or do they wait until the next 6-month period? I'm in a similar situation and trying to figure out when any changes would take effect.

UPDATE: I finally got through to my county worker! She confirmed that security deposit assistance paid directly to the landlord does NOT count as income for CalFresh purposes. She said to still note it on my SAR7 in the 'changes' section but to clearly explain it was a vendor payment for security deposit only, not rent assistance. Thanks everyone for your help!!