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wait i thought if someone in the house gets ssi nobody can get snap?? when did that change?
That changed in June 2019! Before then, SSI recipients in California couldn't get CalFresh, and households with SSI members had the SSI income excluded from CalFresh calculations as a trade-off. But now SSI recipients CAN get CalFresh, and their income IS counted for household CalFresh calculations. It was a major policy change called 'SSI Cash-Out Reversal.' Most households ended up better off with the change, especially single SSI recipients who previously got no food assistance.
Just want to add - when you apply, make sure you bring documentation of your boyfriend's SSI award letter. Even though he's excluded from your CalWORKs case, they'll still need to verify his SSI status to process your application correctly. Also, if you're having trouble getting through to your county office by phone, try going in person early in the morning or checking if they have online appointment scheduling. Some counties let you upload documents online too which can speed things up. The whole process took about 3 weeks for me from application to first payment, so hang in there!
Thanks for the tip about bringing the SSI award letter! I'm new to all this and wasn't sure what documents I'd need. Quick question - do you know if they need the current award letter or will an older one work? My boyfriend's is from like 6 months ago but the amount hasn't changed. Also wondering if anyone knows if the 3-week timeline is pretty standard or if some counties are faster/slower? I'm in LA County if that makes a difference.
this happend to me back in january, total nightmare!!! make sure u check ur mail EVERY day after u report it cuz they sent me a form I had to send back in 10 days but i didnt see it till too late and had to start the whole process over again!!!!
I'm so sorry this happened to you! This is absolutely terrifying and I can't imagine how stressed you must be. I went through something similar about 6 months ago - not as much money stolen but still devastating. A few things that helped me: 1. When you go to your appointment tomorrow, bring a written statement explaining your immediate needs (rent due date, kids' food needs, etc.) - sometimes having it in writing helps them process it faster 2. If you have any text messages or emails from your landlord about rent, bring those too 3. Ask about getting a rushed replacement card - mine took 3 days instead of the usual 7-10 when I emphasized it was theft-related Also, I know this sounds crazy but start keeping a small notebook to write down every person you talk to, their name, the date/time, and what they told you. It helped me so much when I had to follow up because I could reference exactly who said what. You're doing all the right things and I really hope they help you tomorrow. Keep us updated - we're all rooting for you! 💙
Just wanted to update everyone - I finally got through to someone at the county office (took forever) and requested immediate need like you all suggested. They're processing it and said I should get emergency funds by Friday! They also helped me complete the homeless assistance application since I'm behind on rent. Thank you all SO MUCH for the advice. I'm still nervous about getting my regular benefits restored but at least this buys me some time with my landlord.
So glad you were able to get through and get help! This whole thread is super helpful - I'm saving it in case I ever miss my SAR7 deadline (which hopefully never happens but you never know). It's crazy how they don't tell you about these emergency options unless you specifically ask for them. Thanks for updating us on what happened, and I hope your regular benefits get restored soon without any issues!
This is such a valuable thread! I'm new to CalWORKs and had no idea about immediate need payments or homeless assistance programs. It's really unfortunate that caseworkers don't automatically inform people about these emergency options. Sofia, I'm so relieved you were able to get help - missing those SAR7 deadlines is scary when you have kids depending on you. The tip about setting multiple phone and calendar reminders is so smart. I'm going to do that right now for my next reporting deadline. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and knowledge!
Just following up - were you able to get this sorted out? Did you reupload the documents or get through to your worker?
Yes! I managed to get through using that Claimyr service someone mentioned. My worker said it wasn't a big deal since the paystubs had my husband's name on them. She made a note in our case file and said everything looks good for our upcoming recertification. Such a relief! Thanks everyone for your help!
That's such great news! I'm so glad you got it resolved and can breathe easy now. It's always nerve-wracking when you think you might have messed something up with your benefits. Thanks for updating us - it's really helpful to know how these situations actually turn out. Stories like yours give the rest of us hope that the workers are more understanding than we sometimes expect them to be.
This is really encouraging to hear! I'm new to CalWORKs and still learning how everything works. It's reassuring to know that when you make an honest mistake and try to fix it, the workers can be reasonable about it. I was worried that any little error would automatically result in losing benefits, but it sounds like they understand that people are human and sometimes mix things up on forms. Thanks for sharing the update - it definitely gives me more confidence in dealing with my own case!
Alexander Zeus
Just wanted to mention that many counties are REALLY behind in processing applications right now. We applied in January and didn't get approved until March. Make sure you follow up constantly and keep copies of EVERYTHING you submit. They lost my husband's VA documentation twice and we had to resubmit it. So frustrating.
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Alicia Stern
•This is unfortunately common. When you apply, request an "immediate need" payment if you're facing eviction or utility shutoff. They're required to process that within 3 business days even if your regular application takes longer. Also, when submitting documents, always get a receipt or confirmation number, and take pictures of everything before you submit it.
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Nathaniel Mikhaylov
As a newcomer to this community, I wanted to share that I'm in a very similar situation! My partner is also a veteran receiving VA disability benefits and we have a toddler. Reading through all these responses has been so helpful - I had no idea that VA disability benefits were exempt income for CalWORKs purposes. One thing I'm wondering about that I haven't seen addressed yet - does anyone know if there are specific deadlines we need to be aware of when applying? Like, if we're facing eviction next month, how quickly can we realistically expect to see benefits if we apply this week? The immediate need payment option that @Alicia mentioned sounds promising, but I'm curious about real-world timelines from people who've actually been through the process recently. Also, for those who successfully got approved - did you apply online through BenefitsCal or go to the office in person? I'm trying to figure out which route might be faster given our time crunch. Thanks so much for sharing all your experiences - it's giving me hope that we might actually qualify for help!
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