CalFresh EBT denial for college student with VA Chapter 35 benefits - confused about income rules

the student rules for calfresh are really complicated and most workers dont understand them. i had a simlar thing with my GI bill benifits. you need to ask to speak to a supervisor or eligbility specialist who knows the student rules. chapter 35 is NOT suppose to count as income for calfresh eligibilty!!! its educational assistance!

I work with a student resource center, and this is unfortunately a common issue. CalFresh regulations specifically exclude educational assistance used for education expenses from counting as income. Chapter 35 DEA benefits are explicitly for educational purposes - tuition, books, living expenses while in school. They should be treated the same way as a Pell Grant or scholarships. As for the summer months, they absolutely cannot count income she's not receiving. That's a clear misapplication of the rules. When a student doesn't receive educational benefits during breaks, those benefits cannot be counted during those periods. I recommend she: 1. Ask for a supervisor who specializes in student eligibility 2. Request a written determination of why they're counting Chapter 35 as income 3. If denied, immediately file for a fair hearing (she'll have 90 days) Also, has she applied for the Student Eligibility for CalFresh expansion? California has additional exemptions for students that might help her case.

It sounds like the eligibility worker might not understand the policies correctly. My son was in a similar situation with different education benefits, and we had to call three different times before getting someone who knew the rules properly. I recommend calling the CalFresh office again and specifically asking for a supervisor or someone who specializes in student eligibility. The regular workers often don't have proper training on educational benefits, especially VA benefits. Also, has your daughter applied through BenefitsCal.com? Sometimes applying online results in a different worker reviewing the case who might be more knowledgeable.

This is a common misunderstanding by eligibility workers. According to CDSS regulations (MPP Section 63-507), financial aid for educational expenses is exempt as income for CalFresh. Chapter 35 benefits are specifically designated for educational purposes. Regarding the summer months, they're incorrectly prorating her income. They can only count income actually received in a given month. When she doesn't receive payments during summer, those months should show $0 income from that source. If calling the county office isn't working, try using Claimyr.com to get through faster - it helped me tremendously when I was dealing with a similar issue. They have a system that navigates the phone trees and gets you connected to a worker much quicker than waiting on hold. You can see how it works in their video demo: https://youtu.be/jzISHxCPLwE If that doesn't resolve it, request a fair hearing immediately. The Administrative Law Judges who handle these cases are usually very familiar with the actual regulations.

omg the ebt office ppl are the WORST!!! they denied my sister 3 times for stupid reasons and we had to fight them each time. theyr just tryng to deny everyone they can tbh. keep calling and eventually youll get someone who actually knows the rules and will fix it. dont give up!!!

When i applied for calfresh last year they did the same thing with my financial aid, counting it all as income even though most of it went to tuition. what worked for me was bringing a breakdown of my education expenses (tuition, books, required fees) to show that the money was being used for educational purposes. once i did that they excluded it from the income calculation and i got approved. worth a try for your daughter!

I had exactly this problem with my son's Chapter 35 benefits! The eligibility worker was counting it as regular income because it's called a "monthly benefit" on the VA paperwork. We had to speak to a supervisor and show documentation that: 1. The money is specifically for educational purposes (similar to a grant) 2. He only receives it during active enrollment months We printed out the VA's own description of Chapter 35 where it specifically states it's for educational expenses. Also brought his school schedule showing when he was and wasn't in classes. After appealing and getting a supervisor involved, they fixed it and even gave him retroactive benefits for the months they had wrongly denied him. Don't give up - the rules are definitely on your side here!

Just to follow up on my earlier comment - here's the specific policy reference that might help your daughter: MPP Section 63-507(a)(6)(B) states that educational income is excluded when it is: "Used or intended to be used for education expenses such as tuition, mandatory fees, books, supplies, transportation, miscellaneous personal expenses and living expenses of a student." Chapter 35 DEA benefits are specifically designated for these purposes. Print this section and bring it with her. For the summer months issue, reference MPP Section 63-503.232 which states that income must be reasonably anticipated, and they cannot count income that will not be received. If she continues to have trouble, contact your local legal aid organization. They often have advocates who specialize in public benefits and can help with the appeal process at no cost.

Update us on what happens! My daughter is about to start college and will be in a similar situation, so I'd love to know how this turns out and what ultimately works for your family.

Update: We finally got this resolved! Took 3 different calls and using that Claimyr service someone recommended to actually reach a supervisor who knew the rules. The supervisor confirmed that Chapter 35 benefits are educational assistance and should NOT count as income for CalFresh purposes. She's also going to be eligible for expedited service during summer months when she's not receiving any benefits. What worked: 1) Bringing the specific MPP sections people mentioned here, 2) Documentation from the VA website showing Chapter 35 is for educational expenses, 3) Her school schedule showing exactly when classes are in session. They're processing her application now and said she should receive benefits within 10 days. Thank you everyone for your help!!!

Congratulations on getting this resolved! As someone who works with veterans' families navigating benefits, this is such a common issue and your experience will definitely help others. The fact that you had to fight through multiple calls just to get someone who understood the basic rules about educational assistance is unfortunately typical, but I'm so glad you persisted. For anyone else dealing with similar issues - documenting everything like Zainab did is crucial. Keep records of who you spoke with, when, and what they told you. And don't be afraid to ask for supervisors or specialists who actually know the student eligibility rules. The frontline workers often aren't properly trained on these more complex cases involving veterans' educational benefits. Thanks for sharing your victory and the specific steps that worked!

This is such a great outcome and really highlights how important it is to be persistent and come prepared with documentation! As a newcomer to this community, I'm amazed at how helpful everyone was in providing specific policy references and practical advice. It's really concerning that multiple workers didn't understand the basic rules about educational assistance - this seems like a training issue that the county offices need to address. But I'm so glad you got it sorted out and that your daughter will finally get the food assistance she needs. This thread is going to be incredibly valuable for other families dealing with VA educational benefits and CalFresh. Thank you for taking the time to update us with what specifically worked - that kind of follow-up is so helpful for the community!

As a veteran myself, I'm so glad you got this resolved! This is exactly the kind of bureaucratic nightmare that shouldn't happen but unfortunately does all too often. Your persistence really paid off, and I'm sure your daughter is relieved to finally get the food assistance she needs. What frustrates me most about situations like this is that eligibility workers should be properly trained on veterans' educational benefits - these aren't obscure or unusual programs. Chapter 35 benefits are specifically designed to help children of disabled veterans succeed in school, and treating them as regular income completely defeats the purpose. Your strategy of bringing documentation and specific policy references is spot on. I always tell other veterans and their families to never take "no" for an answer on the first call when you know the rules are on your side. Keep escalating until you find someone who actually knows the regulations. Thanks for sharing your success story - it's going to help so many other families who might be facing the same uphill battle. And thank you for your service and sacrifice that earned your daughter these benefits in the first place.

This thread is such an incredible resource! As someone completely new to navigating CalFresh and VA benefits, I'm amazed by the level of detailed help everyone provided. The specific MPP section references, the practical tips about asking for supervisors, and even the recommendation for Claimyr - this is exactly the kind of real-world knowledge that makes such a difference. What really stands out to me is how this situation highlights a training gap that probably affects tons of students. If multiple eligibility workers don't understand that educational assistance shouldn't count as regular income, how many other students are getting wrongly denied? @Zainab, congratulations on your persistence paying off! Your detailed updates about what specifically worked will definitely help other families avoid some of the runaround you experienced. It's frustrating that it took so much effort to get the rules applied correctly, but your advocacy for your daughter is inspiring. This community seems like such a valuable resource for people trying to navigate these complex systems. Thank you all for sharing your knowledge so generously!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm incredibly impressed by the level of support and expertise shown in this thread! Seeing how everyone rallied with specific policy references, practical strategies, and genuine encouragement really demonstrates the value of shared knowledge. @Zainab, congratulations on your successful resolution! Your persistence in the face of multiple incorrect denials is inspiring, and your detailed documentation of what actually worked will be invaluable for other families facing similar challenges. The fact that you had to fight through three different workers just to find one who understood basic rules about educational assistance really highlights systemic training issues that need to be addressed. What strikes me most is how this case illustrates a broader problem - how many students probably give up after the first wrongful denial, not knowing they have the right to appeal or escalate? Your story shows why it's so important to be prepared with documentation, ask for supervisors who specialize in student eligibility, and never accept "no" when you know the rules are on your side. The community's response here - from citing specific MPP sections to recommending practical tools like Claimyr - shows how powerful it is when people share their hard-won knowledge. Thank you for updating us with your victory and creating such a comprehensive resource for others!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm absolutely amazed by the incredible support and expertise demonstrated in this thread! @Zainab, huge congratulations on your successful resolution - your persistence in fighting through multiple incorrect denials is truly inspiring. What really stands out to me is how this case perfectly illustrates the importance of community knowledge and advocacy. The fact that you had to escalate three times just to find an eligibility worker who understood basic rules about VA educational benefits is deeply concerning and highlights serious training gaps in the system. Your detailed documentation of what actually worked - bringing specific MPP sections, VA documentation, school schedules, and using Claimyr to reach knowledgeable supervisors - creates an invaluable roadmap for other families. The community's response here, from citing specific regulations to sharing practical tools, shows how powerful shared knowledge can be in overcoming bureaucratic barriers. This thread will undoubtedly help countless other students and veterans' families who face similar challenges. It's a perfect example of why persistence matters and why having communities like this, where people share their hard-won expertise, is so crucial for navigating these complex benefit systems. Thank you for taking the time to update us with your victory!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm absolutely amazed by the incredible support and detailed expertise everyone provided throughout this thread! @Zainab, huge congratulations on your successful resolution - your persistence in fighting through multiple incorrect denials is truly inspiring and shows what determined advocacy can accomplish. What strikes me most as someone new to navigating these systems is how your experience highlights such serious training gaps among eligibility workers. The fact that you had to escalate three different times just to find someone who understood that Chapter 35 VA benefits are educational assistance rather than regular income is deeply concerning. How many other deserving students are probably giving up after the first wrongful denial? Your detailed documentation of what actually worked - bringing specific MPP sections, VA documentation showing educational purpose, school enrollment schedules, and using tools like Claimyr to reach knowledgeable supervisors - creates an invaluable step-by-step guide for others facing similar battles. Combined with the community's response here, from citing exact regulations to sharing practical strategies, this thread has become an incredible resource. This is exactly why communities like this are so crucial - sharing hard-won knowledge and experiences helps people overcome bureaucratic barriers that shouldn't exist in the first place. Your daughter deserved these benefits from day one, and your advocacy not only helped her but will undoubtedly help countless other veterans' families who find this thread. Thank you for showing us all that persistence and preparation can triumph over systemic failures!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm incredibly moved by this entire thread and the amazing outcome! @Zainab, congratulations on your hard-fought victory - your persistence through multiple incorrect denials is truly inspiring and shows what determined advocacy can accomplish for our students. What really strikes me as someone new to understanding these benefit systems is how your experience exposes such concerning training gaps. The fact that multiple eligibility workers didn't understand that VA Chapter 35 benefits are educational assistance rather than regular income is deeply troubling - these aren't obscure programs, and this misunderstanding probably affects countless other veterans' families. The community response here has been absolutely incredible. From the specific MPP section references to practical tools like Claimyr, everyone contributed real, actionable knowledge that made a tangible difference. This thread has evolved into such a comprehensive resource that will undoubtedly help other families navigate similar bureaucratic battles. Your detailed documentation of what actually worked - bringing specific regulations, VA documentation, school schedules, and escalating to knowledgeable supervisors - creates a perfect roadmap for others. It's exactly why communities like this are so valuable - shared experiences and hard-won expertise help people overcome barriers that shouldn't exist in the first place. Thank you for not giving up and for taking the time to update us with your success. Your daughter deserved these benefits from day one, and your advocacy will help ensure other students don't have to fight as hard for what's rightfully theirs!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm absolutely inspired by this entire thread and @Zainab's incredible victory! Your persistence in fighting through multiple incorrect denials shows exactly what determined advocacy can accomplish, and your detailed documentation of the process will be invaluable for other families. What really concerns me as someone new to understanding these systems is the training gap this case reveals. If multiple eligibility workers don't understand that VA Chapter 35 benefits are educational assistance rather than regular income, it makes you wonder how many other deserving students are being wrongfully denied and simply giving up without knowing they can appeal. The community response here has been absolutely phenomenal - from specific MPP section citations to practical tools like Claimyr, everyone contributed actionable knowledge that made a real difference. This thread has become a comprehensive guide showing not just what can go wrong, but exactly how to make it right. Your strategy of bringing specific regulations, VA documentation, school schedules, and escalating to supervisors who actually understand student eligibility rules creates a perfect roadmap for others. It's exactly why communities like this are so crucial - shared experiences help people overcome bureaucratic barriers that shouldn't exist in the first place. Thank you for not giving up on your daughter's case and for taking the time to update us with your success. This thread will undoubtedly help countless other veterans' families navigate similar challenges!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm absolutely blown away by this incredible thread and @Zainab's amazing success! Your persistence through multiple incorrect denials is truly inspiring and shows what determined advocacy can accomplish for students who desperately need these benefits. What strikes me most is how this case highlights such serious systemic issues. The fact that you had to call three different times to find an eligibility worker who understood that VA Chapter 35 benefits are educational assistance - not regular income - is deeply concerning. How many other deserving students are probably giving up after the first wrongful denial without knowing they can fight back? The level of expertise and support this community provided is remarkable. From the specific MPP section citations to practical tools like Claimyr, everyone contributed real, actionable knowledge that made a tangible difference. This thread has become an invaluable resource showing exactly how to navigate these bureaucratic challenges. Your detailed documentation of what actually worked - bringing specific regulations, VA documentation, school schedules, and escalating to knowledgeable supervisors - creates a perfect roadmap for other families facing similar battles. It's exactly why communities like this are so crucial for helping people overcome barriers that shouldn't exist in the first place. Thank you for not giving up and for taking the time to share your victory with us. Your daughter's success is a win for all students, and this thread will undoubtedly help countless other veterans' families get the benefits they're entitled to!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm absolutely inspired by this incredible success story and the amazing level of support everyone provided! @Zainab, huge congratulations on your well-deserved victory - your persistence through three different workers to finally get someone who understood the rules is exactly the kind of advocacy that makes a real difference. What really strikes me is how this case perfectly illustrates both the challenges and the power of community knowledge. The fact that multiple eligibility workers didn't understand that VA Chapter 35 benefits are educational assistance rather than regular income reveals serious training gaps that probably affect countless other veterans' families. It's heartbreaking to think how many eligible students might give up after the first wrongful denial. The expertise shared here is remarkable - from specific MPP section citations to practical tools like Claimyr, this thread has become an invaluable roadmap for navigating these bureaucratic challenges. Your detailed follow-up about what actually worked (bringing documentation, citing regulations, escalating to knowledgeable supervisors) will be incredibly helpful for other families facing similar battles. This is exactly why communities like this are so crucial - when people share their hard-won knowledge and experiences, it helps others overcome barriers that shouldn't exist in the first place. Thank you for not giving up on your daughter and for taking the time to document your journey. Your victory is really a victory for all students struggling with these systems!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm absolutely amazed by this incredible success story and the outstanding level of support everyone provided throughout this thread! @Zainab, huge congratulations on your hard-fought victory - your determination to persist through multiple incorrect denials is truly inspiring and shows what effective advocacy can accomplish. What really strikes me as someone new to understanding these benefit systems is how your experience exposes such concerning training gaps among eligibility workers. The fact that you had to escalate three times just to find someone who understood that VA Chapter 35 benefits are educational assistance rather than regular income is deeply troubling - and it makes you wonder how many other deserving students are being wrongfully denied without knowing they can fight back. This thread has become an absolutely invaluable resource! From the specific MPP section citations to practical tools like Claimyr, the community's response demonstrates the power of shared knowledge and experience. Your detailed documentation of what actually worked - bringing specific regulations, VA documentation, enrollment schedules, and escalating to knowledgeable supervisors - creates a perfect roadmap for other families facing similar bureaucratic battles. This is exactly why communities like this are so essential. When people share their hard-won expertise and real-world strategies, it helps others overcome systemic barriers that shouldn't exist in the first place. Thank you for refusing to give up on your daughter's case and for taking the time to update us with your victory. This thread will undoubtedly help countless other veterans' families secure the benefits they're rightfully entitled to!