Using CalFresh benefits while waiting for EDD SDI approval - allowed?

CalFresh + SDI are totally separate programs u can def use both! I was on SDI for 4 months last year and got calfresh too. they dont care

These are completely separate benefit programs with different eligibility requirements and funding sources. CalFresh is administered by county social services and SDI is through EDD. You absolutely can and should use your CalFresh benefits while waiting for your SDI determination. However, once your SDI payments begin, you'll need to report that income to your CalFresh caseworker as it may affect your CalFresh benefit amount. SDI counts as income for CalFresh purposes, but CalFresh doesn't count as income for SDI. You typically have 10 days to report income changes to CalFresh once you start receiving SDI.

I've been fighting with EDD for WEEKS trying to get my disability claim approved too!! They keep saying they need more medical documentation even though my doctor already sent everything twice!! Why is it taking them SO LONG to process these claims?? It's ridiculous!! And good luck trying to call them. I've called at least 20 times and either get disconnected or sit on hold for hours just to be told they need to "review my case" and someone will call me back (spoiler alert: they never do).

When I applied for benefits last year I had a similar situation. Just use the CalFresh now, they dont talk to each other. My SDI took 5 weeks to process btw so hang in there

just wondering did u try calling EDD? sometimes u can get them to expedite ur claim if u explain financial hardship. thats what i did and they pushed mine thru faster

Regarding your SDI claim taking a long time - this is unfortunately common right now. The standard processing time is 14 days, but many claims are taking 3-5 weeks due to high volume. A few things that might help speed things up: 1. Check your SDI Online account daily for any messages requesting additional information 2. Make sure your doctor fully completed the medical certification with no missing fields 3. If it's been more than 21 days, you can request an expedite due to financial hardship As others have mentioned, calling EDD can help, but it's notoriously difficult to get through. Persistent calling early in the morning (8:00-8:30am) tends to work best.

Random question but has anyone ever had to pay back CalFresh? I'm on SDI now but worried about overpayments since the systems don't talk to each other regularly.

Update: I tried using the Claimyr service mentioned above to reach EDD this morning and actually got through to someone! The agent told me my claim was stuck in review because they needed clarification on my last day worked (apparently there was a discrepancy between what I entered and what my employer reported). They're sending me a form to fill out, but the agent said once they receive it, they should be able to process my claim quickly. Thank you everyone for your help and advice. I'm definitely going to use my CalFresh benefits while I wait for this to be resolved, and I'll make sure to report my SDI income once it starts coming in.

Great to see you got some resolution! Just wanted to add for anyone else reading this - employment discrepancies are actually one of the most common reasons SDI claims get delayed. EDD cross-references your application with employer wage reports, and even small differences in dates can trigger a review. The key thing is to be as precise as possible with your last day worked when you initially apply. If you're unsure, it's better to contact your HR department to confirm the exact date they have on file rather than guessing. This can save weeks of processing delays later on. Hope your form gets processed quickly and you start receiving benefits soon!

This is such valuable information for anyone dealing with both programs! I went through a similar situation about 6 months ago and can confirm everything that's been shared here. The key things to remember are: 1) CalFresh and SDI are completely separate - use your CalFresh benefits without worry, 2) Once SDI starts, report it to CalFresh within 10 days to avoid overpayments, and 3) Be super precise with employment dates on your initial SDI application. One thing I'd add is to keep detailed records of when you report your SDI income to CalFresh - take screenshots or get confirmation numbers if possible. This protects you if there are any questions later about when you reported the income change. Good luck with getting your claim resolved!

I'm really glad to see this conversation and how helpful everyone has been! As someone who's been navigating disability benefits for a while now, I just wanted to emphasize a couple of points that might help others in similar situations. First, don't feel guilty about using CalFresh while waiting for SDI - that's exactly what these safety net programs are designed for. They're meant to help you during gaps like this. Second, regarding the processing delays with EDD - it's unfortunately become much more common since the pandemic. I've seen claims take anywhere from 3-8 weeks recently, even with complete documentation. The employment date discrepancy issue mentioned above is spot-on - I've seen that delay so many claims. One tip that hasn't been mentioned yet: if you have access to a local disability advocacy organization or legal aid clinic, they often have staff who are experienced with navigating EDD delays and can sometimes help expedite cases or identify missing documentation. Many offer free services for people with pending disability claims. Hang in there - the system is frustrating but most claims do eventually get approved if the medical documentation supports disability.