Will San Bernardino County CalFresh reduce my benefits for leasing a car?

oMG dont worry about it! i got a new car last year while on calfresh in san bernardino and didnt report it. cars dont count as assets for calfresh AT ALL anymore, thats an old rule that changed years ago. ur fine!

The previous response isn't quite accurate. While it's true that vehicles are no longer counted as assets for CalFresh eligibility purposes in California (including San Bernardino County), you still need to report the lease on your SAR7 under changes in household expenses. The lease payment itself won't be counted as income, but it's a financial change that should be reported. San Bernardino isn't particularly stricter than other counties on this specific issue - they all follow the same state guidelines. What matters more is how the lease affects your overall financial situation. If you're paying $299/month for this lease, that could potentially affect your shelter deduction calculation (though not directly your eligibility). Make sure to report it on your next SAR7 and include documentation about how the vehicle is necessary for your employment. This helps establish that the expense is reasonable and necessary.

I just went through something similar with San Bernardino County CalFresh. Got a 2024 Kia on lease in January and reported it on my SAR7 in February. My benefits didn't change AT ALL because of it. Here's what I learned: 1. Vehicles aren't counted as resources for CalFresh regardless of value 2. Lease payments are considered expenses, not income 3. You should definitely report it on your SAR7 under the changes section 4. Keep documentation showing it's needed for your job The eligibility worker did ask me about it during my recertification interview, but just to verify the information. They were actually quite helpful explaining that transportation for work is considered a necessity. Hope this helps! And don't stress too much - based on my experience, San Bernardino County follows the same rules as everywhere else in California.

They asked for a copy of my lease agreement, but that was it. Just make sure you have that handy when you submit your SAR7. Since you drive for Instacart, maybe include some proof of that too - like payment statements or the app agreement - to show it's for work.

Just to add another data point, I'm also in San Bernardino County and purchased (not leased) a car last year while on CalFresh. I reported it on my SAR7 and nothing changed with my benefits. However, I did have a NIGHTMARE time trying to get anyone on the phone to answer my questions beforehand. Spent literal HOURS on hold, got disconnected three times, and finally gave up trying to get clear answers ahead of time. I eventually found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me through to an actual human at the San Bernardino County office in like 15 minutes instead of waiting for hours. They have a video explaining how it works: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 The worker I spoke with confirmed that vehicles aren't counted as resources for CalFresh anymore and that I just needed to report the change. Super helpful to get that peace of mind before making the purchase.

Yeah, it actually does work! It basically waits on hold for you and calls you when a real person picks up. Saved me hours of frustration. Worth it just to get a straight answer from an actual worker instead of guessing.

I work in social services (not San Bernardino specifically), and I want to clear up some confusion in this thread: 1. Vehicle assets: California eliminated the vehicle asset test for CalFresh. Your car's value doesn't affect eligibility regardless of county. 2. Lease payments: These are considered regular household expenses. They don't count against your income but also aren't deductions that help increase benefits. 3. Reporting requirements: Yes, you must report the lease on your SAR7 under changes in household information. 4. County variations: Counties follow the same state regulations, but administrative practices can vary. Some counties may request additional verification or have different processing times, which can make them seem "stricter." For the original poster: Leasing a car will not impact your CalFresh eligibility in San Bernardino County as long as your income remains within the limits. Since you mentioned you drive for Instacart, ensure you're accurately reporting that income as well, as that's more likely to affect your benefits than the car lease itself.

lol everyone giving such different advice here...typical for calfresh stuff! 🙄 i just wanna say - i had a similar question last year & when i finally got thru to my worker they told me "dont worry about reporting the car unless someone gifts it to you for free" which was weird advice but whatever worked for me

update: i actually went back & checked my paperwork. turns out i DID report my car on my SAR7 form but under the vehicle section not the income section. so ignore what i said before!

To summarize for anyone reading this thread in the future: 1. Vehicles (owned or leased) are not counted as assets for CalFresh in any California county, including San Bernardino 2. You should report acquiring a new vehicle on your SAR7 in the changes section 3. Lease payments are considered regular expenses and don't directly impact your benefit calculation 4. Keep documentation showing the vehicle is necessary for work purposes 5. San Bernardino County follows the same state regulations as other counties, though administrative practices may vary The most important thing is to report changes accurately and timely to avoid any potential overpayment issues down the road.

As someone who recently went through a similar situation in San Bernardino County, I wanted to share my experience to hopefully ease your worries! I leased a 2024 Toyota Corolla ($315/month) about 6 months ago while receiving CalFresh benefits, and everything went smoothly. Here's what I learned: - The lease itself won't affect your CalFresh eligibility at all - I reported it on my SAR7 under the "changes in household" section and included a copy of my lease agreement - My worker asked a few basic questions about why I needed the car (I'm also a gig worker - DoorDash), but it was just routine verification - My benefits stayed exactly the same The key is being proactive about reporting it and having documentation ready. Since you drive for Instacart, definitely keep some proof of that income/work arrangement to show the car is a necessity for your job. San Bernardino County gets a reputation for being difficult, but in my experience with this specific issue, they were actually pretty straightforward once I had the proper paperwork. Good luck with your new lease - sounds like you found a great deal that will help you keep working!