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Wow, this thread is so helpful! I'm actually in a similar situation - planning to move from Fresno to Los Angeles in a few months and was dreading having to reapply. Reading about everyone's experiences gives me hope that the ICT process might actually work. @Elin Robinson - definitely keep us updated on how your transfer goes! And @Morita Montoya thanks for the insider tips about staying on top of the process. I'm going to save this whole thread as a reference guide for when it's time for my move. It's crazy how much this process varies between counties - seems like some are way better at handling transfers than others. Really appreciate everyone sharing their real experiences instead of just the official policy stuff!
@Nina Fitzgerald glad this thread is helping you too! LA County can be hit or miss from what I ve'heard - some people have smooth transfers and others get stuck in the system. Since you have a few months to prepare, definitely start the ICT process early like everyone s'been saying. Also might want to research which LA County office will handle your case based on your new address, so you know exactly who to follow up with after the transfer. The more prepared you are, the better chance you have of avoiding the horror stories we ve'been reading about!
Just want to add my experience moving from San Joaquin to Kern County last fall - the ICT process worked perfectly! No gaps in benefits at all. The key thing that helped me was keeping my case worker's direct phone number from San Joaquin and texting them updates throughout the move. They were super responsive and even called Kern County directly to make sure my file transferred properly. Also pro tip: take screenshots of your current benefit amount and certification period before you move, just in case there are any discrepancies after transfer. San Diego County is usually pretty good with ICTs from what I've heard, so you should be fine. Good luck with your move and new job!
That's such a relief to hear about a successful transfer! @Olivia Evans - I love the tip about keeping your case worker s'direct contact info and taking screenshots of everything beforehand. That s'really smart thinking. Did you have to update your rent/housing costs with Kern County right away, or did they give you time to get settled first? I m'wondering if different counties have different timelines for when they need new expense verification after an ICT. Also curious if your benefit amount changed at all between San Joaquin and Kern County due to different cost of living calculations?
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UPDATE: I just wanted to let everyone know what worked. I tried BenefitsCal first but kept getting an error about file size when uploading my phone pics. Ended up using Claimyr to get through to a worker (took about 12 mins vs the 2+ hours I was on hold before). The worker actually gave me her direct email and I sent the documents right to her! She confirmed receipt while I was on the phone and said my benefits would continue without interruption. SUCH a relief! Thanks everyone for your help!
That's great news! Just a tip for future reference - if you're taking photos of documents with your phone, there's usually a setting to reduce image quality/size before uploading to BenefitsCal. Most verification documents don't need to be high-resolution photos. But glad you got it resolved directly with your worker!
So glad you got it sorted out! For anyone else reading this thread, another tip is to always compress your photos before uploading to BenefitsCal. I use the built-in compression feature on my phone's camera app or free apps like Photo Compress to reduce file sizes. The system seems to have issues with files over 5MB. Also, make sure your documents are well-lit and text is clearly readable - blurry uploads get rejected and you'll have to start over. Keep that worker's direct email handy for future submissions too!
This is such helpful advice! I'm new to CalFresh and honestly had no idea about file compression - I was just taking regular photos with my phone. Do you know if there's a specific file format that works best with BenefitsCal? I want to make sure I get everything right the first time since I've been reading horror stories about documents getting lost in the system. Also wondering if PDF scans work better than photo uploads?
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Update: I tried using the fruit & veggie benefit today at Walmart! It worked perfectly - bought some apples, frozen broccoli, and canned tomatoes. The cashier didn't need to do anything special, and when I checked my EDGE app after, it showed the purchases came from my $60 incentive balance, not my regular CalFresh amount. Thanks everyone for the helpful info!
Thanks for updating us! I'm going to try mine at the farmers market this weekend since someone mentioned they might double it there with Market Match.
This is so helpful! I just checked my EDGE app after reading this and I have $60 too! I had no idea what it was for. Quick question - does anyone know if baby food fruits and vegetables count? I have a 10-month-old and spend a lot on jarred baby food. Would be amazing if those qualified since they're basically just pureed fruits and veggies. Also wondering about things like applesauce or fruit cups - are those considered processed and wouldn't qualify?
@Carmen Diaz is spot on about the baby food! I ve'been using mine for my 8-month-old and it works great. Those little Gerber containers of plain sweet potato, peas, and fruit purees all qualified. Just avoid anything that says with "DHA added or" mixed "cereal since" those have extra ingredients. Also pro tip - buying the individual veggie/fruit pouches is usually cheaper than jars and they definitely qualify too. My little one loves the organic carrot and apple ones!
This is such great info about the baby food! I'm a new parent too and had no idea about this benefit. Does anyone know if those squeeze pouches of mixed fruits and veggies count? Like the ones that have apple, spinach, and kale all mixed together? My 11-month-old loves those but I wasn't sure if the combination would still qualify. Also wondering about frozen baby food - I've seen some brands that sell frozen puree cubes, has anyone tried those?
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I'm also in Contra Costa and experienced the same delays! My benefits were 5 days late but finally loaded on Wednesday. What helped me was going directly to the Martinez office early in the morning (around 7:30 AM) - there was still a line but I was able to speak with someone within 2 hours. They explained that the CalSAWS transition has caused a backlog in their system processing, but they assured me that all January benefits would be issued with the correct amounts, just delayed. The worker also gave me a direct number for their CalSAWS transition hotline: (925) 957-5299. It's supposedly monitored more frequently than the main line during this transition period. Hang in there everyone - it seems like most people are getting their benefits now, just later than usual!
Thank you so much for sharing that direct hotline number! I'm definitely going to try calling (925) 957-5299 tomorrow. I'm new to this community and this whole situation has been really overwhelming - it's such a relief to see that other people have been going through the same thing and that benefits are actually loading, just late. I was starting to panic that something was wrong with my case. Going to the Martinez office early sounds like a good backup plan too. Really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences and solutions here!
I'm so glad I found this thread! I'm also in Contra Costa (Concord area) and have been dealing with the exact same issue - my January benefits were supposed to load on the 10th but didn't show up until yesterday (the 16th). I was starting to think it was just me! Like others mentioned, I couldn't get through on the phone at all. What finally worked for me was using the online chat feature on the BenefitsCal website - it took about 45 minutes of waiting but I was able to connect with someone who confirmed my benefits were just delayed due to the system transition, not lost. They also mentioned that February benefits should be back to normal timing since the worst of the transition issues are behind them now. For anyone still waiting, definitely try that chat option if calling isn't working - go to benefitscal.com and look for the "Live Chat" button. Sending good thoughts to everyone dealing with this stress!
Thanks for mentioning the BenefitsCal chat option! I'm new to navigating all these systems and didn't even know that existed. It's really reassuring to hear that February benefits should be back to normal timing. This whole situation has been so stressful, especially when you're new to the area and don't know what's normal vs what's a system problem. I've been in Contra Costa for only a few months and this delay had me worried I'd done something wrong with my application. Really grateful for this community sharing all these helpful resources and workarounds!
Mei Chen
I'm a case manager at a local nonprofit and see families in your exact situation daily. Here's what I tell everyone: apply for EVERYTHING at once, don't wait. You mentioned you're already on CalFresh - when you report your rent increase to them (which you absolutely should do ASAP), ask specifically about the Homeless Prevention Services program. Many people don't know this exists but it can provide up to $5,000 for rent/deposits when you're at imminent risk of homelessness. Also, Sacramento County has a Flexible Housing Pool that specifically helps working families avoid eviction - the income limits are higher than most programs since you're employed. And here's something most people miss: if your daycare is federally funded or receives state grants, you might qualify for their employee hardship funds. I've helped several childcare workers access these. Finally, document EVERYTHING - save all your rent notices, income stubs, and application confirmations. Having organized paperwork speeds up every single program. You're going to get through this!
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Oliver Cheng
•This is exactly the kind of detailed, professional advice I needed! I had no idea about the Homeless Prevention Services program or that it could provide up to $5,000 - that could literally save us from eviction. And the Flexible Housing Pool sounds perfect for my situation since I am working but just can't keep up with these rent increases. I'm going to call my CalFresh worker first thing Monday morning to report the rent increase and ask about both of these programs. You're absolutely right about applying for everything at once - I've been trying to be strategic about which programs to apply for first, but time is running out and I should just submit applications everywhere. I'll also check with my daycare director about any employee hardship funds - we are state-funded so there might be something available. Thank you for giving me such specific program names and actionable steps. Having a case manager's perspective on this really helps me understand what resources are actually out there!
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Amina Sy
I'm really sorry you're dealing with this housing crisis - it's happening to so many working families right now and it's absolutely heartbreaking. Reading through all these responses, it sounds like you've gotten some amazing advice about programs I didn't even know existed! One thing I wanted to add that I haven't seen mentioned yet - if you end up having to move, look into the Homekey Program. It's newer and provides permanent supportive housing for people transitioning out of homelessness or at risk of becoming homeless. The eligibility requirements might be different than traditional housing programs and could be worth checking out given your situation. Also, since you mentioned working at a daycare, you might want to reach out to the California Child Care Resource and Referral Network - they sometimes have emergency assistance specifically for childcare providers that isn't widely advertised. You're being incredibly proactive by exploring all these options, and I really hope some of these programs come through for you quickly. Your kids are lucky to have a mom who's fighting so hard to keep them housed and fed. Sending you all the positive energy - please keep us updated on how things go with these applications!
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Amara Okafor
•Thank you so much for mentioning the Homekey Program - I hadn't heard of that one either! It sounds like it could be really helpful if I do end up having to relocate. I'm definitely adding the California Child Care Resource and Referral Network to my growing list of organizations to contact. It's incredible how many resources are out there that I never knew existed until I posted here. Everyone has been so generous with sharing specific program names and contact information. I'm feeling much more hopeful now that I have all these concrete next steps to take, rather than just panicking about the rent increase. I'll definitely keep everyone updated on how the applications go - this community has been such a lifeline during one of the scariest times my family has faced. Thank you for the encouragement and positive energy, it really means more than you know!
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