As someone who's been through the CalFresh renewal process a few times now, I'd definitely recommend the BenefitsCal website/app route first - it really is the most reliable and you get that instant confirmation which gives you peace of mind. But if you do decide to go in person, I've found that bringing a folder with copies of everything helps keep things organized, and definitely ask for a receipt no matter what! One thing I learned the hard way is to take screenshots or photos of any confirmation pages you get online, because sometimes those confirmation emails can end up in spam folders. Also, if you're worried about the mail system, you could always do certified mail with a return receipt as another backup option - it costs a few extra dollars but gives you tracking and proof of delivery. Whatever you choose, you've got plenty of time before the 15th, so don't stress too much! The system works, it just helps to have a backup plan.

I've been helping people with CalFresh applications at our local food pantry for about 3 years now, and I wanted to add a few more tips based on what I've seen work well for folks. If you do go the online route through BenefitsCal, make sure you have a stable internet connection and set aside about 30-45 minutes to complete everything without rushing. Sometimes the system times out if you're idle too long and you'll lose your progress. Also, if you're uploading documents through the website or app, make sure the photos are clear and well-lit - I've seen applications delayed because caseworkers couldn't read blurry documents. One last thing - if you have any income changes or household changes since your last renewal, gather those documents first before you start any submission method. Having everything ready beforehand makes the whole process much smoother whether you're doing it online, in person, or over the phone. You've got this! The fact that you're planning ahead with 10 days to spare shows you're being really responsible about it.

Update: My benefits just loaded! About 36 hours late but they're finally there. Thanks everyone for your help and suggestions during my mini-panic. I've signed up for text alerts now so hopefully I'll be notified if this happens again.

So glad everything worked out! This is exactly why I love this community - everyone jumps in to help when someone is stressed about their benefits. I've been through similar scares and it's awful when you're trying to plan meals for your family. For future reference, I've found that system delays like this tend to happen around the same time each year when they do maintenance or upgrades. Definitely keep those text alerts active - they've saved me from panicking multiple times. Hope your grocery shopping went well!

I'm so glad you found this thread and got some answers! Those 5+ hour wait times are absolutely unacceptable, but at least now you know it's a widespread system issue affecting thousands of people rather than something wrong with your specific case. Definitely smart to hang up once you learned it's a technical glitch they can't manually fix - no point burning another whole day on hold. The ebtEDGE app is definitely the way to go for checking your balance, and please don't hesitate to use local food resources while this gets sorted out. You've paid into these systems and shouldn't have to choose between feeding your kids and missing work because of their broken infrastructure. What really frustrates me is that they could easily put an automated message at the start of calls letting people know about widespread system issues, but instead they let thousands of us panic and waste entire days thinking we did something wrong. Thank god for communities like this where we can get real information from each other! Really hoping your benefits show up tomorrow morning - keep us posted! 🙏

Wow, I'm so sorry you had to go through that stress! 5 hours on hold is absolutely insane, but sadly it seems pretty typical for CalFresh these days. I'm really glad you found this thread though - it sounds like there's a statewide system issue affecting people whose benefits were processed between the 25th-30th, so at least you know it's not something you did wrong! Definitely try the ebtEDGE app for checking your balance - it's so much easier than calling. And please don't feel bad about hitting up local food banks while this gets sorted out. You've paid into these systems and shouldn't have to choose between feeding your kids and missing work because their technology is broken. The fact that they don't have a simple automated message telling people about widespread system issues is just infuriating. Instead they let thousands of us panic and waste entire days thinking we messed up somehow. Thank god for communities like this where we can actually get real information from each other! Really hoping your benefits show up in the next day or two - keep us posted! 🙏

I'm new to this community but currently going through my own CalFresh application process! Reading through all these detailed responses has been incredibly helpful - I had no idea how specific the General Affidavit needed to be until I found this thread. I wanted to add one tip that's been helpful for me: if you have any receipts or records showing you've been contributing to household expenses over time (even small things like buying toilet paper, cleaning supplies, or splitting a grocery bill), keep copies of those too. It helps establish that you're a genuine household member rather than just a temporary visitor. Also, I've found it really helpful to write out a practice version first in plain English, like I'm explaining my situation to a friend, then go back and make it more formal for the actual affidavit. This helped me make sure I wasn't leaving out important details while trying to sound "official." The timeline approach that several people mentioned is spot-on - I created a simple list of dates (when I moved in, when I started contributing to expenses, when my previous housing ended) and it made writing the chronological sections so much easier. It sounds like you've gotten amazing advice here and are really thinking this through carefully. That attention to detail is exactly what will help you succeed with this process. You've definitely got this!

I'm new to this community and just wanted to say how incredibly helpful this entire thread has been! I'm currently dealing with my own General Affidavit situation and was feeling completely overwhelmed until I found all of your detailed advice. One thing I wanted to add that might help others - if you're submitting supporting documents along with your affidavit (like bank statements, Venmo records, or a letter from your sister), make sure they're all clearly legible and dated within a reasonable timeframe. I almost submitted some bank screenshots that were pretty blurry, but then realized the worker needs to be able to actually read them to verify the information. Also, I've found it helpful to number my supporting documents and reference them in my affidavit. For example: "I contribute $400 monthly to household expenses as shown in the attached Venmo payment records (Document #2)." This makes it easier for the worker to connect your written explanation to the evidence you're providing. Reading everyone's success stories here gives me so much hope! It's clear that taking the time to be thorough and organized really pays off with this process. Thank you all for sharing your experiences and creating such a supportive discussion - it's made a scary situation feel much more manageable!

I'm going through this exact same situation right now and this entire thread has been a lifesaver! My partner and I separated about 3 weeks ago and are still sharing the same apartment (different bedrooms) but completely separate with groceries and cooking. I've been so anxious about when and how to report this to CalFresh, worried they'd want tons of documentation or make me wait for legal separation papers. Reading everyone's experiences, especially from the eligibility worker who explained the 10-day rule, has given me the confidence to call tomorrow morning. It's such a relief to know that CalFresh focuses on actual food purchasing arrangements rather than legal marital status or living situations. The fact that so many people have successfully navigated this exact scenario makes me feel way less alone in this process. One question I have - for those who went through this, did the county worker ask about how you're splitting other household expenses like rent and utilities? I'm trying to prepare for any additional questions they might have beyond just the food arrangement details. Thanks to everyone who shared their stories - this community support during a stressful time means everything!

I'm so glad I found this thread! I'm in a very similar situation - my husband and I separated about 10 days ago and are still in the same house but completely separate with food. We have 3 kids and I'm the one buying all their groceries now. I was totally confused about when to report this and honestly scared they'd think I was trying to get more benefits dishonestly or something. Reading all these experiences, especially hearing from the actual eligibility worker about the 10-day rule, makes me realize I need to call ASAP! It's such a relief to know this is a normal situation they handle and that they focus on actual food purchasing rather than all the complicated legal stuff. The fact that so many people went through this successfully without waiting for divorce papers gives me confidence. One thing I'm wondering - did anyone have issues with their ex-spouse also trying to apply for benefits as a separate household while still at the same address? I'm worried about that causing complications. Thanks everyone for sharing your stories - this community is amazing for getting real practical advice during such a stressful time!