Congratulations on getting approved for CalFresh! That's such a huge step and you should feel proud of yourself for navigating the application process. I've been using CalFresh for about 4 months now and had the exact same Costco question when I started. After reading through all these amazing responses, I think everyone's given you some really solid advice about starting with regular grocery stores first to learn your patterns. One thing I wanted to add that I haven't seen mentioned yet - if you do decide to try warehouse shopping down the road, BJ's Wholesale Club is another option that accepts EBT and sometimes has cheaper membership fees than Costco (I've seen promotions for like $25/year). But honestly, after my own experience, I think you're smart to take the slower approach first. I also wanted to mention that some grocery stores have "case lot sales" a few times a year where they sell items by the case at warehouse-style prices - it's like getting bulk pricing without the membership commitment. My local Kroger does this quarterly and I can stock up on canned goods, pasta, etc. at really competitive prices. You're asking all the right questions and it sounds like you're going to do great managing your benefits. Welcome to the community - everyone here has been so generous with sharing their experiences and it really makes a difference when you're starting out! 🌟

Hey Nia! Congrats on getting your CalFresh benefits - that's awesome! 🎉 I've been using CalFresh for about 8 months now and totally went through the same Costco dilemma when I first started. Yes, they do accept EBT and you can get some great bulk deals, but you definitely need that membership ($60/year for basic). After reading all the amazing advice everyone's shared here, I think the consensus is pretty clear - start with regular grocery stores first to get your bearings! What really helped me was creating a simple grocery budget spreadsheet for my first few months. I tracked what I bought, what I actually used up, and what went to waste. It was eye-opening! Since you mentioned wanting to stretch your benefits as far as possible, here are a few stores that have been game-changers for me: Aldi (seriously incredible prices), Food 4 Less, and my local 99 Cent Store actually has a decent selection of pantry staples. Many of these places regularly beat Costco's per-unit pricing on everyday items, and you don't need to buy in huge quantities. The Costco membership will still be there in a few months if you decide it makes sense after you've figured out your eating patterns. But starting smaller gives you so much more flexibility while you're learning how to make your benefits work best for your lifestyle. You've got this! 💪

I've been doing DoorDash and UberEats for about 3 months while on CalFresh and I was having the exact same panic about weekly reporting! Reading through all these responses has been SO helpful - I had no idea about the SAR system or the IRT threshold. I just want to add one thing that's helped me a ton: I started using the free Google Sheets app on my phone to track everything in real-time. I created a simple template with columns for Date, App (DD/UE), Earnings, Miles, and Gas Expenses. It takes literally 30 seconds to input after each shift and I can access it anywhere. Way easier than trying to remember to transfer from a notebook later. Also, for anyone else just starting out - don't forget to save your tax documents from the apps! Both DoorDash and UberEats will send you 1099s in January if you earn over $600, and you'll need those for your CalFresh paperwork. I learned this from my cousin who got caught without them during recertification. The email tip about getting your IRT in writing is GOLD - I'm doing that first thing Monday morning. Thanks everyone for sharing your systems, this thread is like a masterclass in gig work + CalFresh management!

I've been doing Uber Eats and DoorDash for about 5 months while on CalFresh and I went through this exact same confusion when I started! You definitely don't need to report weekly - that would be absolutely impossible to manage. Here's what's worked perfectly for me: I keep a small notebook in my delivery bag and jot down earnings + mileage after every shift (literally takes 30 seconds). Then every Sunday I plug everything into a simple spreadsheet on my phone. At the end of each month, I add up my total income from BOTH apps and only report if it goes over my IRT. The game-changing advice: EMAIL your caseworker asking for your exact Income Reporting Threshold amount in writing. I've talked to 4 different workers who gave me 4 different answers, but having that email documentation saved me from so much confusion later. For tracking expenses, I use the Everlance app for automatic mileage (the 58.5 cents per mile deduction is HUGE!) and I track everything - gas, phone bill portion, car washes, even the hand sanitizer I keep for deliveries since it's a business expense. When SAR7 time comes, I create a clean monthly summary: "Month 1: $X DoorDash + $Y Uber = $Z total, minus $A expenses = $B net income" for each month. The caseworkers really appreciate organized documentation. Don't stress about this - once you get a routine down it becomes automatic! The system wasn't designed for gig workers but thousands of us are making it work with good record keeping.

That's awesome that it worked out so well for you! $47 reduction is totally manageable for the extra income you'll be getting. Just wanted to add - when you report the job ending in January, make sure to include your final pay stub showing the last date worked. Sometimes they need that proof to process the change quickly. Also keep copies of everything for your records in case there are any questions later. Good luck with the seasonal job!

Great thread! As someone who's been navigating CalFresh for a while, I just wanted to emphasize something that might not be obvious to newcomers - even though reporting income changes can feel scary (like your benefits might get cut), it's actually protecting you in the long run. The overpayment situations people mentioned are real and they can be financially devastating when they catch up with you later. One thing I learned the hard way is to always take screenshots or print confirmations when you submit reports through BenefitsCal. Sometimes their system glitches and you want proof you submitted on time. Also, if you're ever unsure about whether something needs to be reported, err on the side of caution and report it. I've never heard of anyone getting in trouble for reporting too much information, but I've definitely seen people get burned for not reporting enough. @Aisha Khan - sounds like you handled this perfectly! The fact that you asked the question here first shows you're being responsible about it.

I just wanted to add that if you're still feeling anxious about the transition, you can also visit your local county office in person if phone calls aren't working out. I know it's not always convenient with kids and work schedules, but sometimes talking face-to-face with a caseworker can be really reassuring. When my county switched to CalSAWS, I went in person about a week before my SAR7 was due just to make sure everything was set up correctly in the new system. The worker was able to show me exactly how my case looked in CalSAWS and confirm that all my previous documents had transferred over properly. It gave me so much peace of mind! Also, if you do go in person, they can help you set up your BenefitsCal account right there if you're not comfortable doing it online by yourself.

I'm also going through the CalSAWS transition in my county and wanted to share what I've learned so far. Like everyone else has said, it's just a computer system change - your CalFresh benefits and amounts stay exactly the same. One thing that helped me feel more prepared was making a checklist of everything I need to do: 1) Set up my BenefitsCal account once my county fully transitions, 2) Make sure all my contact info is current in the new system, 3) Keep copies of all my important documents during the transition period, and 4) Submit my next SAR7 the same way I always have. I was also worried about my benefits getting interrupted, but my caseworker explained that they do these transitions in phases specifically to avoid disrupting people's benefits. The most you might notice is some temporary delays in processing or maybe getting duplicate notices, but your EBT card should work normally throughout the whole process. If you're still feeling anxious about it, I'd definitely recommend either calling early in the morning (like others suggested) or visiting your county office in person before your June SAR7 is due. Having that face-to-face reassurance can really help put your mind at ease!

What an incredible thread to read as someone new to this community! Zoe, I'm so relieved you got your benefits restored - that must have been incredibly stressful to face such a dramatic cut when nothing in your situation had actually changed. This conversation really highlights how broken and confusing the system can be, but also how powerful community knowledge is. Reading through everyone's experiences and advice has taught me more about navigating CalFresh than any official resource I've found. The fact that simple data entry errors (like coding your son as living elsewhere when he's with you full-time) can cause such massive benefit reductions is honestly shocking. I'm particularly grateful for all the practical tips shared here - from the best times to call, to what documents to gather for a hearing, to specific questions to ask caseworkers. As someone who might need to apply for benefits myself soon, having this roadmap from people who've actually been through these challenges is invaluable. Thank you to everyone who took the time to share their knowledge and support Zoe through this process. This is exactly the kind of community I was hoping to find - people who actually help each other navigate these complicated systems instead of just complaining about them. I'm bookmarking this entire conversation as a reference guide!

What an amazing example of community support in action! As someone new to both CalFresh and this forum, I'm blown away by how everyone came together to help Zoe resolve what turned out to be multiple data entry errors. The fact that they had coded her son as living elsewhere half-time AND removed her utility allowance shows just how easily these mistakes can compound into devastating benefit cuts. This thread has been incredibly educational for me - I had no idea there were so many variables that could affect benefits or that simple clerical errors could cause such dramatic changes. The practical advice shared here (from calling strategies to hearing preparation) is worth its weight in gold. Zoe, your persistence really paid off, and thank you for sharing the resolution! It gives hope to others facing similar unexplained benefit reductions. To everyone who contributed advice and support - this is exactly what makes a community valuable. You've created a resource that's more helpful than most official guidance I've seen. I'm definitely saving this entire conversation as a reference guide for navigating the system!