Can I get CalFresh/EBT while receiving EDD unemployment benefits? Confused about income rules

EDD unemployment benefits DO count as income for CalFresh (what most people call food stamps or EBT), but that doesn't automatically disqualify you! CalFresh eligibility depends on your household size, expenses, and total income. With kids, you might still qualify even with your unemployment. CalFresh is the program, and EBT is just the card they give you to access the benefits. The EBT card can also be used for CalWORKs Cash Aid if you qualify for that too. You should definitely apply! A family of 3 can make up to about $3,000/month gross and still qualify for some CalFresh benefits. Your rent and childcare expenses are deductions that can help you qualify for more. The application is the same one you'd use for CalWORKs (cash aid).

my cousin got EDD and calfresh at same time last yr. she got less food stamps cuz of the uneployment $ but still got like $400 for her n her 2 kids. better than nothing right

You should definitely apply for CalFresh AND CalWORKs (cash aid). With children and limited income from unemployment, you likely qualify for both programs. Here's what you need to know: 1. Yes, EDD counts as income for both programs, but with children, you still have good chances of qualifying. 2. CalFresh is the program name in California for what people call food stamps. EBT is just the card payment system. 3. Apply through BenefitsCal.com - it's one application for both programs. 4. For a faster response, call your county office directly after applying. They're required to process CalFresh applications within 30 days, but can expedite in emergencies. Based on what you've shared, you might qualify for: - CalFresh (food benefits) - CalWORKs (cash aid) - Medi-Cal (if you don't already have it) Make sure to request expedited service on your application if your income is very low right now!

when i got laid off i applied for eveything at once on benefitscal. took like 30 min. got calfresh in like 10 days but calworks took longer cuz they need more verification stuff. but OMG the phone system to reach a worker was HORRIBLE!! kept getting disconnected after waiting forrever

To answer your follow-up question - yes, CalWORKs does have work requirements called Welfare to Work (WTW). But it's different from EDD: 1. When you first apply, you'll be exempt from WTW requirements for the first 30 days while they process your application. 2. After approval, you'll need to participate in WTW activities (job search, training, education, etc.) for a certain number of hours per week based on your family situation. 3. Looking for work for your EDD requirements CAN count toward your WTW hours too - you just need to document it properly. 4. If your children are under 6, you have reduced hour requirements (20 hours vs 30 for those with older children). Make sure to attend your CalWORKs orientation (usually scheduled after approval) where they'll explain everything in detail!

Just be careful about reporting your EDD income correctly on your SAR7 forms once you're approved for benefits!! My sister got hit with an overpayment because she didn't report her unemployment correctly and had to pay back like $800 in CalFresh benefits. The reporting requirements are SUPER confusing and the workers all tell you different things. MAKE SURE to keep all your EDD payment stubs and report the income in the month you RECEIVE it, not when you certify for it on EDD.

Yes, exactly! For CalFresh and CalWORKs, you report income in the month you RECEIVE it, regardless of when you earned it or certified for it. Here's a simple system to stay organized: 1. Create a folder (physical or digital) just for your benefits paperwork 2. Screenshot or save every EDD payment confirmation 3. Write down the exact dates you receive payments 4. When you get your SAR7 form (Semi-Annual Report), report ALL income received in the report month 5. If your income changes by more than the Income Reporting Threshold (IRT) listed on your approval notice, report it within 10 days Most CalWORKs/CalFresh overpayments happen because of income reporting errors. The system isn't very forgiving even when it's an honest mistake.

Good luck with your application! Just wanted to add one more tip - if you're in a real bind for food right now while waiting for your CalFresh approval, many counties have emergency food assistance programs that can help immediately. Also check if there are any local food banks or churches in your area that do weekly food distributions. Some don't even require paperwork, just show up. It can really help bridge the gap while you're waiting for your benefits to get processed. Stay strong, you're doing the right thing by applying for help when you need it!

Hey Oliver! I just went through this exact same situation a few months ago when I got laid off from my retail job. I was getting $340/week from EDD and was worried it would disqualify me from everything, but it actually worked out okay. Like others said, you can definitely get CalFresh with unemployment income - they just reduce the amount based on what you're already getting. I ended up getting about $300/month in CalFresh for me and my daughter, which honestly made a huge difference. One thing I wish someone had told me earlier - make sure you have ALL your documents ready before you apply online. They'll want your EDD award letter, rent receipts, utility bills, etc. Having everything scanned and ready to upload saved me from having to go into the office multiple times. Also, don't get discouraged if your first CalWORKs application gets denied - mine did because I messed up some of the income reporting, but I reapplied with help from a worker and got approved the second time. The cash aid really helps cover the gap between what EDD gives you and what you actually need to survive. You've got this! It's overwhelming at first but once you get through the application process, it really does help take some of the stress off while you're job hunting.

Just wanted to add something that might help - when you're dealing with both EDD and CalFresh/CalWORKs, keep in mind that your EDD payments might not always be consistent week to week (especially if you have any certification issues or waiting weeks). This can make the income reporting tricky for your benefits. I'd recommend keeping a simple spreadsheet or notebook where you track: - Date you received each EDD payment - Amount received - Any weeks where you didn't get paid (and why) This will make it SO much easier when you have to fill out your SAR7 reports or if they ever ask for income verification. The workers really appreciate it when you can show them exactly what you received and when. Also, if your EDD benefits end before you find a new job, make sure to report that income change right away - you might qualify for higher CalFresh/CalWORKs benefits once that income stops. A lot of people don't realize they need to report when income goes DOWN too, not just when it goes up. Hope this helps and good luck with everything! The first few months are the hardest but it gets easier once you get into the routine of managing all the different programs.

Hey Oliver! I work as a benefits specialist and see this situation all the time. You're definitely on the right track applying for both programs! A few quick practical tips: 1. When you apply on BenefitsCal, there's a checkbox for "expedited service" - check it! With unemployment as your only income and kids to feed, you should qualify for faster processing (within 3 days for CalFresh). 2. Your $385/week ($1,540/month) is actually well within the income limits for both programs with children. Don't let anyone tell you you make "too much" - that's not true. 3. If you get stuck on the online application, most counties have walk-in application assistance. Sometimes it's faster to get help in person than trying to figure it out alone. 4. One thing others haven't mentioned - if you qualify for CalWORKs cash aid, you'll automatically get the maximum CalFresh amount for your household size. The programs work together. You're doing everything right by seeking help while you're between jobs. That's exactly what these programs are designed for! Let us know how it goes.

Hey Oliver! I went through almost the exact same situation about 8 months ago when I lost my job at a restaurant. I was getting around $350/week from EDD and was so worried about applying for benefits because I thought the unemployment would disqualify me - but I was so wrong! I ended up qualifying for both CalFresh and CalWORKs even with the unemployment income. For CalFresh, I got about $250/month for me and my son, which honestly saved us. The CalWORKs took a bit longer to get approved but that extra cash really helped with utilities and other bills that the unemployment wasn't covering. The biggest thing I learned was to be super honest and detailed in your application. Don't try to hide the unemployment income thinking it will help - they'll find out anyway and it just delays everything. Also, when they ask about your expenses, list EVERYTHING - rent, utilities, childcare, transportation costs for job searching, etc. All of that stuff gets factored in. One more tip - if you have any friends or family who can help watch your kids during appointments or interviews, mention that you have reliable childcare. It can actually help with the CalWORKs work requirements later on. You're making the right choice applying for help. These programs exist for exactly this kind of situation. Good luck!

I just wanted to chime in as someone who's been receiving both CalFresh and CalWORKs for about a year now. Oliver, you're absolutely doing the right thing by applying! A couple things that really helped me during the application process: 1. Take photos of EVERYTHING with your phone - every document, every form, every piece of mail from EDD. I can't tell you how many times I needed to reference something quickly and having it all on my phone saved me trips to the office. 2. Sign up for text alerts when you apply. They'll text you about appointments, missing documents, and benefit updates. Way more reliable than waiting for mail. 3. Don't be afraid to ask questions during your eligibility interview. The workers deal with EDD + benefits cases all the time, and they can explain exactly how your unemployment will affect your benefit amounts. Your $385/week with kids should definitely qualify you for assistance. I was making similar from unemployment and got approved for both programs. The combination of CalFresh + CalWORKs + unemployment gave me just enough breathing room to focus on job searching without panicking about groceries every week. Hang in there - this rough patch is temporary and these programs really do help bridge the gap until you get back on your feet!

Hey Oliver! I'm also currently receiving EDD benefits and just got approved for CalFresh last month, so I can share what worked for me. Like everyone else said, the unemployment definitely counts as income but won't automatically disqualify you - especially with kids. One thing that really helped speed up my application was calling the county office the day after I submitted online to confirm they received everything. The worker was actually really helpful and walked me through exactly what documents they still needed from me instead of waiting for them to mail me a request. Also, don't stress too much about the work requirements for CalWORKs if you get approved - since you're already doing job search activities for EDD, a lot of that will count toward your WTW hours. The case worker will help you figure out how to document everything properly. Your income level sounds very similar to what mine was when I applied, and I ended up getting about $280/month in CalFresh benefits plus some CalWORKs cash aid. It's not huge amounts, but it definitely takes the pressure off when you're trying to stretch that unemployment check to cover everything. Good luck with your application! The process is intimidating at first but once you get through it, having that extra support really helps while you're job hunting.

Just wanted to add my experience as someone who recently went through this! I lost my job in retail back in October and was getting about $370/week from EDD. I was so nervous about applying for benefits because I thought the unemployment would disqualify me, but I'm so glad I did it anyway. I ended up getting approved for both CalFresh and CalWORKs even with the EDD income. The CalFresh gives me about $320/month for groceries for me and my two kids, and the CalWORKs cash aid helps cover some of our other expenses. It's not enough to live comfortably, but it definitely makes things more manageable while I'm job hunting. The application process on BenefitsCal was actually pretty straightforward - took me about 45 minutes to complete everything. Just make sure you have all your documents ready to upload before you start. And definitely apply for expedited processing since you have kids and limited income! One thing I learned the hard way - keep really good records of your EDD payments from day one. When I had to do my first SAR7 report, I had to scramble to find all my payment information because I hadn't been tracking it properly. Now I keep a simple notebook where I write down every payment date and amount. You're making the right choice applying for help. These programs are designed for exactly this situation - when you're between jobs and need assistance to keep your family fed and housed. Good luck with your application!

Hey Oliver! I'm a single mom who went through this exact same situation about 6 months ago when I lost my job at a call center. I was getting $395/week from EDD and was terrified to apply for benefits because I thought it would disqualify me - but I was SO wrong! I ended up qualifying for both CalFresh and CalWORKs even with the unemployment income. The CalFresh benefits were around $285/month for me and my daughter, which honestly was a lifesaver for our grocery budget. The CalWORKs took a bit longer to process but that extra cash aid really helped with utilities and other bills that unemployment wasn't covering. One thing that really helped me was being super organized from the start. I created a folder on my phone where I saved screenshots of every EDD payment, every document they asked for, and every confirmation email. It made the whole process so much smoother when they needed additional verification. Also, don't be discouraged if it seems overwhelming at first - the workers are actually pretty helpful once you get connected with someone. And like others mentioned, definitely apply for expedited processing since you have kids and limited income! These programs exist for exactly this kind of situation. You're not taking anything away from anyone else - you're using the safety net that's there to help families get back on their feet. I found a new job about 4 months later and was able to gradually transition off the benefits. You've got this!

Hi Oliver! I'm a case worker who helps people navigate these programs every day, and I want to reassure you that you're absolutely on the right track. Your EDD income of $385/week will NOT disqualify you from CalFresh or CalWORKs - especially with children in your household. Here's what you need to know: - CalFresh IS the same as food stamps/EBT. CalFresh is California's name for the program, EBT is just the card system. - With your income level and kids, you'll very likely qualify for both CalFresh and CalWORKs cash aid - Apply through BenefitsCal.com - one application covers both programs - Check the "expedited service" box since you have children and limited income. This can get your CalFresh processed in 3 days instead of 30. For a household of 3 with your income, you could receive around $200-400/month in CalFresh benefits plus some CalWORKs cash aid. The exact amounts depend on your rent and other expenses. Don't feel bad about needing help - this is exactly what these programs are designed for. You're working with EDD to find employment while ensuring your kids are fed. That's responsible parenting! Apply as soon as possible and feel free to call your county office if you need help with the application.

Oliver, I just wanted to add one more encouraging note! I'm currently receiving both CalFresh and CalWORKs while also getting EDD benefits, and it's been a huge help during my job search. Your $385/week is very similar to what I was getting when I first applied. One thing that hasn't been mentioned yet - if you're having trouble affording groceries RIGHT NOW while waiting for your application to process, many counties have emergency food programs that can help immediately. Also check out local food banks - some don't require any paperwork at all, you just show up. Our local Salvation Army does a weekly food distribution that really helped bridge the gap while I was waiting for my CalFresh card to arrive. The combination of unemployment + CalFresh + CalWORKs isn't luxury living by any means, but it gives you enough breathing room to focus on finding a good job instead of panicking about basic necessities every day. And once you do find work, transitioning off the programs is pretty straightforward - you just report your new income and they adjust everything accordingly. You're doing the right thing by seeking help when you need it. That's what these programs are for, and there's absolutely no shame in using them to take care of your kids during a tough time. Best of luck with your application!