Just wanted to add that some counties also partner with community colleges for the E&T program! I'm in San Diego County and they connected me with Mesa College for a free certificate program in healthcare administration. The program covered tuition, books, AND gave me $25/month for transportation. It took 6 months but I got my certificate and landed a job at a medical clinic. Also wanted to mention - if you're already working part-time but want better skills for advancement, you can still participate in E&T. It's not just for unemployed people. They have evening and weekend options in some areas too.

This thread has been super helpful! I'm a CalFresh recipient and had no idea about the E&T program until reading this. I've been struggling to find affordable training to get out of retail work. The fact that it covers books, transportation, and even childcare in some counties is amazing. One thing I want to add - I called my county office yesterday after reading these comments and the worker told me they also have partnerships with local unions for apprenticeship programs! Things like electrical, plumbing, and construction trades. She said these are really popular because they lead to good-paying jobs and the apprenticeships actually pay you while you learn. For anyone hesitant to call because of the wait times - I used that Claimyr service someone mentioned and it really worked. Got connected to a real person in about 15 minutes instead of the usual hours-long nightmare. Definitely worth the small fee to save your sanity! Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences. It's so helpful to hear from people who actually went through the program instead of just getting the official government website info.

I went through this exact same situation about 6 months ago when my fridge died during a heat wave! The good news is that CalFresh replacement benefits for appliance failure are actually pretty straightforward once you get the process started. Since you already submitted the CF 303 form online with your receipt and landlord's text, you're in great shape. In my experience, they processed mine in about 48 hours because it was clearly documented. One tip while you wait: if you have any neighbors with extra freezer space, ask if you can store a few essentials there temporarily. Also, those insulated grocery bags with ice packs can help you keep things like milk and eggs cool for a day or two. Dollar stores usually sell decent coolers for under $10 if you need something temporary. The replacement benefits should cover what you lost, so hang in there - you're doing everything right by acting quickly and getting all your documentation together!

I'm so sorry this happened to you! Appliance failures are such a nightmare, especially when you've just done a big grocery run. It sounds like you're handling this really well by acting fast and gathering your documentation. I wanted to add that some counties also accept photos of the spoiled food as additional evidence if you took any before throwing everything out. Even if you didn't, don't worry - the receipt and landlord's text should be plenty. Also, while you're waiting for the replacement benefits to process, check if your local food banks have any "client choice" programs where you can select fresh items rather than just getting a pre-made box. Some of the larger ones like Second Harvest have refrigerated sections with produce, dairy, and meat. You're being so proactive about this - I really hope your replacement benefits come through quickly!

UPDATE: I went to the office this morning and brought all my paystubs. Asked for an "immediate need recalculation" like you all suggested. The first worker said I'd have to wait, but I asked to speak to a supervisor and mentioned the "expedited mid-period action" that someone here recommended. The supervisor was actually super helpful! They reviewed my case right there and saw I had consistently reported my NET income correctly on previous reports. They're correcting the error and issuing the rest of my benefits within 3 business days!! Thank you all SO MUCH for your advice. It really made a difference knowing exactly what to ask for!

This is such a perfect example of why we need better advocacy resources! Maya, I'm so glad you got this resolved quickly thanks to everyone's advice here. It's really sad that you have to know the "magic words" like "expedited mid-period action" to get proper help, but this thread shows how powerful community knowledge sharing can be. For anyone else dealing with similar issues - screenshot Maya's update and the specific terms that worked! Having that language ready can make all the difference when you're stressed and trying to advocate for yourself at the county office.

I'm dealing with the exact same nightmare! Been trying to upload my employment verification letter for my mid-period report since Tuesday and the BenefitsCal site just freezes every single time. My report is due Monday and I was starting to panic thinking it was just my computer acting up. This entire thread has been such a lifesaver - I had absolutely no clue there was a mobile app or that we could email documents directly to county offices! Going to definitely try that early morning mobile app trick that worked for @StarSeeker and so many others here. Also planning to email my docs to my county office as backup using the format @Aisha Abdullah shared. It's beyond frustrating that we have to become tech experts and develop multiple backup plans just to submit basic paperwork for benefits we're entitled to, but I'm incredibly grateful for this community sharing real solutions when the official system completely fails us. You've all probably prevented so many people from losing benefits due to technical issues totally outside our control. Will absolutely update here on what ends up working for me - hopefully it can help the next person stuck in this same situation! 🙏

I'm experiencing this exact same issue! Been trying to upload my quarterly reporting documents since Sunday and the site just crashes every time I select files. My deadline is Thursday and I was getting really worried it was something wrong with my phone or internet connection. This thread is absolutely incredible - I had no idea about the mobile app option or that counties have direct email addresses for document submission! Definitely going to try that early morning mobile app approach that worked for @StarSeeker and so many others. Also planning to email my documents to my county office as a backup using the tips from @Aisha Abdullah. It's really frustrating that we have to become troubleshooting experts just to submit routine paperwork, but I'm so grateful for everyone here sharing what actually works when the official system fails. This community saves people from losing benefits over technical problems that are completely out of our control. Will definitely post an update on what works for me - hopefully it helps others dealing with this same website disaster! Thanks everyone for the support and solutions! 🙏

I'm new to this community but found this thread incredibly helpful! My 7-year-old was recently diagnosed with developmental delays and I'm just starting to learn about available support programs. Reading everyone's experiences with managing both IHSS and CalFresh has been so reassuring. I'm curious - for those of you who have been through the IHSS application process, how long did it typically take from application to receiving your first payment? I'm trying to plan ahead for any potential gaps in income or benefits during the transition period. Also, did anyone find it helpful to work with an advocate or social worker during the application process, or were you able to navigate it on your own? Thank you all for creating such a supportive space to share these experiences. It really helps to know there are other parents successfully managing these programs together!

I'm also navigating this situation with my 10-year-old who has multiple disabilities. We've been receiving both IHSS and CalFresh for about a year now, and I wanted to add a few practical tips that have helped me: 1. When you get your IHSS approval notice, take a photo or make copies immediately - you'll need this for your CalFresh reporting and it's easy to misplace. 2. Set up reminders on your phone for SAR7 due dates. Missing these can cause benefit interruptions that take weeks to resolve. 3. If possible, try to report your IHSS income changes to CalFresh the same month they occur. I learned this the hard way when I waited and ended up with a small overpayment to deal with. 4. Keep receipts for ANY expenses related to your child's care - gas for medical appointments, special foods if recommended by doctors, adaptive equipment, etc. These can all potentially be deductible. The learning curve is steep at first, but once you get into a routine with both programs, it becomes much more manageable. And honestly, having that IHSS income has given me so much more flexibility to focus on my son's needs without constantly worrying about finances. You're making the right choice by pursuing both programs!