Also, make sure to report ALL your utility expenses when you update your housing information. If you pay for heat, electricity, water, garbage, or phone service separately from your rent, make sure to tell your worker about ALL of these costs. In many cases, you can get the Standard Utility Allowance (SUA) added to your CalFresh calculation if you pay for heating or cooling, which can significantly increase your benefit amount.

Congrats on getting housed! That's amazing after 8 months on the streets. Just want to add that when you call to report the change, ask your worker about the Homeless Shelter Deduction if you qualify. Since you were recently homeless, you might be eligible for certain transitional benefits or expedited processing. Also, if you have any moving expenses or security deposit costs, keep those receipts - sometimes they can help with your case. The fact that you're working part-time actually helps show you're making efforts toward self-sufficiency, which workers generally view positively. Don't stress too much - the system is designed to help people transition from homelessness to stable housing, not penalize them for it!

Another thing that might help - if your sister's son has any after school activities or sports, check if the school district has a "supper program" or evening meal service. Some California districts expanded their meal programs to include dinner for kids who stay late for activities or tutoring. It's usually free just like breakfast and lunch now. Also, during school breaks (winter, spring break), some districts continue offering grab-and-go meals even when regular classes aren't in session. Worth calling the school's main office or nutrition services to ask what's available - these programs aren't always well advertised but can really help bridge those gaps when kids are home more and eating more meals at home.

I'm new to this community but wanted to share something that helped us when we were in a similar situation. Besides all the great advice already given, I'd suggest your sister also check if her local library has any food assistance programs. Our library partners with local food banks to distribute boxes of groceries once a month - no questions asked, just show up. They also sometimes have cooking classes that include take-home ingredients. Libraries are becoming real community hubs for all kinds of support services, not just books! Also, if she's on social media, many neighborhoods have "Buy Nothing" groups where people share extra groceries, especially bulk items from Costco that families can't use up. It's a great way to get fresh produce and pantry staples without any paperwork or waiting in lines.

dont forget u can also use the YourBenefitsNow! website for LA county! its older but sometimes works when BenefitsCal is down. just google it

UPDATE: I got into BenefitsCal finally! Had to create a completely new account even though I already had one. Not sure why, but at least it worked. My documents are uploaded now. Thanks everyone for your help!

Just wanted to add that I've been dealing with this same issue! Started having problems about a week ago when trying to check my remaining balance before grocery shopping. The website would load but then crash when I tried to log in. I found that clearing my browser cache and cookies helped sometimes - not a permanent fix but got me in once or twice. Also discovered you can text your EBT card number to 511-411 to get your balance sent back as a text message, which has been super helpful when the website is down. Really appreciate everyone sharing these workarounds and resources - this community is so much more helpful than trying to navigate the county office phone system!

I'm so glad I found this thread! I've been having the exact same issues with BenefitsCal for the past week and was starting to panic thinking my account got suspended or something. I'm pretty new to CalFresh (just got approved last month) and wasn't sure if this was normal or a real problem. Reading through everyone's responses has been incredibly helpful - especially learning about the maintenance period and all the alternative ways to check balance like the text option and phone number. I had no idea there was a mobile app either! It's frustrating that they don't communicate these outages better to users, but I'm relieved to know it's temporary and that there are workarounds. Thank you all for sharing your experiences and solutions - this community seems way more responsive than any official support channels I've tried!

This is absolutely unacceptable! I've been locked out for 6 days now and it's causing so much stress for my family. We depend on CalFresh to help with our grocery budget and not being able to check my balance or access my account is terrifying. I tried the mobile app suggestion from @CosmicCaptain and it finally worked! Thank you so much for sharing that tip - you literally saved my sanity. It's infuriating that they would roll out a broken system that prevents people from accessing their basic food assistance. The automated phone line (1-877-328-9677) has been helpful for balance checks when nothing else worked. This whole situation just shows how little they care about the people who actually depend on these services. We shouldn't have to become tech experts just to check our own benefit balance! Thank you to everyone in this community for sharing workarounds - you've all been more helpful than any official support.

This is such a frustrating situation that so many families are dealing with! I've been following this thread and it's clear the BenefitsCal system rollout has been a complete disaster. What really stands out to me is how this community has stepped up to help each other when the official support has failed. @CosmicCaptain, your suggestions about the mobile app and phone number have literally helped dozens of families access their benefits - you've done more to solve this crisis than the entire state IT department! It's heartbreaking that people are losing sleep and worrying about feeding their children because of poor system planning. The fact that we have software testers and IT professionals in this thread confirming this was completely preventable just makes it more infuriating. For anyone still struggling: try the mobile app first, then the automated phone line at 1-877-328-9677. And remember - the 15-day extension for recertifications means you won't lose benefits if you're still locked out. We shouldn't have to be each other's tech support, but I'm grateful we're all here looking out for one another!