Hey Olivia! Welcome to CalFresh and this wonderful community! 🎉 I can totally relate to that rushed interview experience - my caseworker spoke so fast I felt like I needed to take notes but was too nervous to ask her to slow down! Everyone here has given you fantastic advice about the automatic monthly reloads (yes, they definitely happen every month on your assigned day). I just wanted to add something that really helped me in my first few months: consider shopping at discount grocery stores like Aldi or WinCo if you have them in your area - your EBT dollars stretch so much further there! Also, many stores have weekly sales that cycle through different departments, so if you can plan your shopping around those sales, you'll get way more bang for your buck. I started keeping a simple notes app on my phone where I jot down the regular prices of items I buy frequently, so I know when I'm getting a good deal. Don't stress about getting everything perfect right away - there's definitely a learning curve to maximizing your benefits, but you'll figure it out! This community has been such a lifesaver for navigating all the confusing parts of the system. You're in good hands here! 😊

Hey Olivia! Welcome to CalFresh and this amazing community! 🎉 I just went through my first year on CalFresh and remember having the exact same worries about whether benefits would keep coming each month. Everyone here has given you incredible advice already! I just wanted to add that it really helped me to set up a simple calendar reminder on my phone for the day before my benefits reload (sounds like the 6th for you) - that way I can plan my grocery trips and meal prep accordingly. Also, I learned to keep a small emergency stash of non-perishables like rice, beans, and canned goods from my first couple months of benefits, just in case there are ever any system delays or glitches. It's given me so much peace of mind! One more thing - if you ever feel overwhelmed by all the CalFresh rules and deadlines, just remember that making mistakes is totally normal and fixable. I missed reporting a small income change once and was terrified, but my caseworker helped me get it sorted out without any major issues. You're asking all the right questions and this community will always be here to support you through any bumps in the road. You've got this! 💪

Yes! Finally got it working. The suggestion about using the website instead of the app worked perfectly. I logged in with my old password on BenefitsCal.com (not the app), went to account settings, and was able to change my password there without any issues. Then I logged out of the app completely, closed it, reopened and logged in with the new password. All good now and I can submit my quarterly report!

That's awesome that you got it sorted out! The website vs app thing seems to be a common issue - I've noticed the BenefitsCal app can be pretty glitchy compared to the desktop site. Good tip about logging out completely and reopening the app after changing the password too. I'll definitely remember this if I run into the same problem. Thanks for updating us on what worked!

Hey CosmicCrusader! I went through this exact same worry last year as a student. Your uncle means well but he's definitely mixing things up - filing taxes and CalFresh are totally separate. I had zero income my sophomore year and never filed taxes, but my CalFresh continued without any issues. The key is just being honest on your SAR7 about your income situation. Since you mentioned you're in EOP, you're covered for the student exemption too. Don't stress about tax season affecting your benefits - focus on keeping your CalFresh paperwork current and you'll be fine. The anxiety around this stuff is real but you're doing everything right!

I'm so glad you got the clarity you needed! As someone who's been on CalFresh while in school, I can totally relate to the confusion around all these different requirements. Your uncle probably heard about some other program that does tie benefits to tax filing - there are a few out there that work differently. But for CalFresh specifically, you're absolutely right that it's all about your income reporting on the SAR7 and recertification forms, not whether you file taxes. One thing that might help for future peace of mind - if you ever have questions like this again, try reaching out to your school's financial aid office or student services. They usually have staff who are pretty knowledgeable about how different aid programs (including CalFresh) work for students. They helped me understand the EOP exemption when I was stressing about my eligibility. Keep doing what you're doing with honest reporting and you'll be all set!

I'm new to this community but have been following your story and I'm so happy you were able to get through to someone! The support and advice you've received here is incredible. I wanted to add one thing that helped me when I was in a similar situation - when you go to your appointment tomorrow, ask if they can connect you with a family navigator or case coordinator. Some offices have these positions specifically to help families navigate multiple programs at once, and they can be amazing advocates who follow up on your behalf. Also, since you mentioned having trouble with your sister providing documentation, ask if there are any alternative forms of proof they'll accept for your housing situation. Sometimes a simple written statement from you explaining the circumstances is enough, especially in emergency situations with children involved. You're doing everything right and your persistence is going to pay off. Your kids are so lucky to have a mom who fights this hard for them. Hoping your appointment goes smoothly tomorrow and you get all the assistance you need!

I'm new to this community but wanted to reach out because your story really touched me. I went through a similar housing crisis with my kids in San Bernardino County a couple years ago and I know how terrifying and overwhelming it feels. I'm so glad you were able to get through to someone with Claimyr - that's amazing progress! One thing I wanted to add for your appointment tomorrow is to ask specifically about the CalWORKs Homeless Prevention Program if they haven't mentioned it already. It's different from the regular Homeless Assistance Program and sometimes has additional funding for families at risk of homelessness. Also, bring any medical records or school enrollment documents for your kids - these can help establish stability and priority for certain programs. I know everyone has given you tons of advice already, but I just wanted to say that you're doing an incredible job as a mom. The fact that you're fighting this hard for your family and reaching out for every possible resource shows such strength. Your kids may not understand everything that's happening right now, but they'll remember that their mom never gave up on them. Please update us after your appointment tomorrow - this whole community is pulling for you and your family. You've already overcome the biggest hurdle by getting someone to actually listen and help. Tomorrow is just about getting the ball rolling on the assistance you deserve. Sending you so much strength and positive thoughts!

Wow, this thread has been such a goldmine of information! I'm a new CalFresh recipient in Ventura County and had no clue about disaster hot food waivers until I found this discussion. We've been dealing with flooding in our area too, and my kitchen has been out of commission for over a week now. I just tried using my EBT at Smart & Final this afternoon for their rotisserie chicken and some hot soup from their deli counter, and it worked perfectly! The cashier said they've been seeing a lot more EBT hot food purchases lately, so it seems like more people are learning about this benefit. One thing I wanted to add - I noticed that the prepared foods section had clear signs indicating which items were "CalFresh eligible hot foods during disaster period." It was really helpful to see that visual confirmation before getting to the register. Not sure if all stores are doing this, but it definitely made the process less stressful for a newcomer like me. Also wanted to echo what others have said about the Claimyr service - I used it yesterday to confirm our county's waiver status and got through to a representative in under 15 minutes instead of the usual hours-long wait. They confirmed Ventura County is covered through March 25th. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences! This community support is making such a difference during a really tough time with all the storm damage and recovery efforts.

This has been such an incredibly helpful thread! I'm a new CalFresh recipient in Los Angeles County and had absolutely no idea these disaster hot food waivers even existed. We've been dealing with flooding in our neighborhood and I've been living off cold sandwiches and snacks for days since my stove got water damage. Reading through everyone's experiences gives me so much hope! I'm definitely going to try this at my local Ralph's tomorrow - they have a great hot deli section with rotisserie chickens and prepared meals that would be perfect while I'm dealing with kitchen repairs. A quick question for the group - has anyone tried this at smaller independent grocery stores, or does it mainly work at the big chains? There's a local market near me that accepts EBT for regular groceries and has a small hot food counter, but I wasn't sure if smaller stores would have their systems updated for the disaster waiver. Also wanted to say thank you to everyone who mentioned the Claimyr service - I had no idea that was an option to skip the crazy wait times! I'll definitely use that to confirm LA County's waiver status and expiration date. This community is amazing. It's so comforting to know there are people sharing practical information and supporting each other during these really challenging times with all the flooding and storm damage. You're all lifesavers! 🙏