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!

Just wanted to add my perspective as someone who's been on CalFresh in San Bernardino County for about 3 years now. I've had to make several vehicle-related reports during that time (had one car break down, got another one, then traded it in), and honestly the process has been pretty consistent each time. The most important thing I've learned is to always report changes even when you're not 100% sure if it's required - it's way better to over-communicate than to accidentally leave something out and have issues later. When I got my current car (financed, not leased), I reported it on my SAR7 and included my loan paperwork. The worker barely asked any questions about it during my next interview. One tip that might help: when you fill out your SAR7, write a brief note in the comments section explaining that the vehicle is necessary for your Instacart work. That way there's a clear paper trail showing it's work-related transportation, not just a luxury purchase. Sounds like you've already got good advice from others here, but I wanted to reassure you that San Bernardino County really isn't the nightmare some people make it out to be - they just want accurate information and proper documentation. You're doing the right thing by asking questions before making the decision!

update: i had the same thing happen and my benefits came back after 4 days without me doing anything. might be different for different counties tho

I just went through this exact same nightmare last month! The midnight withdrawal thing is definitely a system glitch - happened to me and about 8 other people I know who all recertified around the same time. Here's what worked for me: I couldn't get through on the phone either, so I went to my local office first thing in the morning (like 7:45 AM before they opened) and was literally first in line. Brought printed screenshots of the transaction history showing the deposit and immediate withdrawal. The worker knew exactly what I was talking about and said it's been happening a lot lately. She filed the administrative error report right there and issued emergency benefits the same day. Took about 6 hours to show up on my card. Don't wait for it to fix itself - some people's benefits came back automatically but others never did. The key is getting there early before the office gets swamped. Also bring your ID, the damaged card, and any paperwork from your recertification. Good luck!

I went through this exact situation last year when we had rolling blackouts in my area. Your son definitely qualifies for replacement benefits! A few tips from my experience: 1) Call the county office early in the morning (they're less busy), 2) Have his case number ready when he calls, 3) Ask them to email him the CF 303 form so he can fill it out ahead of time, and 4) The utility company can usually provide a power outage verification letter online or over the phone pretty quickly. In my case, they replaced the full amount I lost ($180) within about a week. Don't let him stress too much - this is exactly what the replacement program is designed for!

I work for a county social services office and can confirm that CalFresh replacement benefits are absolutely available for power outages! Your son should call his county CalFresh office as soon as possible (definitely within the 10-day window). He'll need to request Form CF 303 and provide documentation of the power outage from his utility company. One thing I'd add that others haven't mentioned - he should also check if his renters/homeowners insurance covers food loss due to power outages. Some policies will reimburse for spoiled food, and if he gets insurance money, he'll need to report that to CalFresh. But don't let that delay filing the CalFresh replacement request! The county can adjust things later if needed. Good luck to your son - this is a very common situation and the system is set up to help in exactly these circumstances.

one time i tried using ebt for hot chocolate at the starbucks in target and it didnt work but the bottles in the grocery part worked fine with ebt so yeah prepared = no, groceries = yes

Just wanted to add that if you're looking for coffee alternatives you can buy with EBT, instant coffee, coffee beans, ground coffee, and even coffee creamers are all eligible! I get my coffee fix by buying a bag of ground coffee and some flavored creamers - way cheaper than Starbucks anyway. You can also buy tea bags, hot chocolate mix, and other drink mixes to make at home. The key is anything you have to prepare yourself at home is usually good to go with CalFresh benefits.

Thank you all so much for the helpful information! I just submitted our application online through BenefitsCal. I included all the info about my sister moving in and our current income situation. Hopefully it all goes smoothly! I'll update when I hear back about our eligibility.

Best of luck with your application! Just wanted to add that if you need any documents translated or have language barriers during the process, Kern County is required to provide interpretation services for free. Also, don't be discouraged if they ask for additional verification - it's pretty standard. They might want proof that your sister actually lives with you now (like a utility bill with her name, or a statement from you both confirming she's moved in). The whole process can take up to 30 days, but often it's faster. Keep us posted on how it goes!