I went through the exact same transition last year! My case number ends in 7, so I get my Transitional CalFresh on the 3rd of every month. The first month was confusing because they issued it mid-month when my CalWORKs closed, but after that it's been consistent on the 3rd. One thing that really helped me was setting up the MyBenefits CalWIN account - you can see exactly when your next payment is coming and track your balance without having to call anyone. Also, don't be surprised if your benefit amount is higher than what you were getting with CalWORKs - mine went up by about $60 because they don't count work income against it during the transitional period. The 5 months goes by fast though, so definitely watch for that application they'll send you toward the end if you want to continue with regular CalFresh!

I just wanted to add something that might help - if you're ever in a situation where you need food immediately but your benefits haven't loaded yet, many food banks don't require any paperwork or proof of income. I had to use one during my transition period and they were incredibly helpful. Also, some grocery stores like Walmart and Target let you check your EBT balance at their customer service counters or self-checkout machines without having to make a purchase, which can be easier than calling the number sometimes. The MyBenefits portal that others mentioned is definitely worth setting up - it saved me so much anxiety because I could check exactly when my next payment was coming instead of guessing!

This is such helpful information from everyone! I'm in a similar boat - my disability benefits increased slightly and now I'm worried about losing CalFresh too. @Dmitry Smirnov mentioned the medical expense deduction for seniors and disabled individuals - can you tell me more about what kinds of medical expenses count? I have regular prescriptions and doctor visits but wasn't sure if those would be enough to make a difference in the income calculation.

I went through this exact same situation last year when my Social Security COLA increase pushed me just over the CalFresh income limit. It's really frustrating how a small increase meant to help with cost of living can actually hurt you by losing food benefits! But yes, as others have said, the benefits already on your EBT card are yours to use - no rush to spend them all at once. Just make sure to use your card at least once every 9 months so the benefits don't expire from inactivity. Also, definitely keep that paperwork showing you properly reported the income change. The county workers are usually pretty good about explaining this when they close your case, but it sounds like yours might have rushed through it. If you have any medical expenses, definitely ask about the medical deduction - it might be worth recalculating your eligibility!

This whole situation really highlights how confusing the CalFresh system can be! I'm glad you were able to resolve it, but it's frustrating that a simple employer name change can cause such a massive disruption in benefits. For anyone else reading this - I've learned that it's also worth keeping a paper trail of everything you submit. I always take screenshots when uploading documents to BenefitsCal and keep copies of any letters I send. It's saved me a couple times when they claimed they never received something I definitely sent. The system has its flaws, but at least there are ways to navigate it once you know what to look for!

Reading through this whole thread has been so educational! I'm new to CalFresh and had no idea that things like employer name changes or missing verification deadlines could cause such dramatic benefit reductions. It's really reassuring to see how helpful this community is and that most of these issues can be resolved with the right approach. I'm definitely going to bookmark this thread as a reference - the advice about reading every notice carefully, keeping documentation, taking screenshots when uploading to BenefitsCal, and including written explanations with submissions seems invaluable. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences and tips!

Connor, first of all - HUGE congratulations on getting selected! I know exactly how you're feeling right now. I went through this same process about 3 years ago and that mix of excitement and absolute terror over the paperwork is so real. Everyone here has given you excellent advice about CalFresh not counting as income - they're 100% correct. I just wanted to add a couple of practical tips that really helped me: 1. Make a simple checklist of every single document they're asking for and check them off as you gather them. It sounds basic but it really helps when you're stressed. 2. When you submit everything, I'd recommend hand-delivering it if possible and getting a receipt with the date/time stamp. After waiting 4 years, you don't want anything getting lost in the mail! 3. Keep your CalFresh worker's contact info handy because you'll need to report your housing change to them once you move in with Section 8. Your benefits will likely adjust since your housing costs will be lower. The paperwork feels overwhelming now, but remember - you've already done the hardest part by waiting 4 years. This is just the final step between you and stable housing. Take it one section at a time and don't hesitate to call the housing authority with questions. They want you to succeed! You've got this! 🏠

Hey Connor! I've been following this thread and wanted to add my experience from when I went through this process about 2 years ago. Everyone here has given you fantastic advice about CalFresh not counting as income - that's absolutely correct. One thing that really saved me stress was organizing everything the night before I planned to submit it. I laid out all my documents on my kitchen table and went through the application one more time to make sure everything matched up. It sounds silly, but actually seeing everything laid out physically made me feel so much more confident that I had everything they needed. Also, I know the 10-day deadline feels scary, but in my experience, housing authorities understand that this paperwork takes time to do correctly. When I called to ask a question, they actually told me it was better to take an extra day or two to get everything right than to rush and make mistakes that could delay the process. You've waited 4 years for this moment - you're not going to lose your spot over being thorough with the paperwork. Take a deep breath, follow all the great advice everyone's given you here, and remember that in a few weeks you're going to have stable, affordable housing. That's incredible! You've absolutely got this! 💪

I'm really sorry you're dealing with this - EBT theft is becoming such a huge problem and the denial process seems designed to discourage people from fighting back. Reading through all these responses, it sounds like you have a really strong case for appeal! One thing I wanted to add that might help: when you gather all your evidence, also check if you made any other purchases (gas, groceries, etc.) with a regular debit/credit card on the same day as the fraudulent EBT transactions. Bank records showing you were shopping locally while someone was using your EBT card 30 miles away would be powerful proof that it wasn't you. Also, I noticed someone mentioned Claimyr earlier - I used them last year when I couldn't get through to my county office about a different issue. The fee was around $20 but honestly worth it just to avoid the endless phone tree nightmare. They got me connected to an actual caseworker in under 30 minutes. Please keep us posted on how your appeal goes! Stories like yours help other people know they're not alone and that it's worth fighting these denials. You've got this! 💪

I'm so sorry you're going through this - EBT theft is incredibly stressful and the denial just makes it worse. Reading through all the advice here, it sounds like you have a really strong case for your appeal! One thing that might help: when you file your appeal, make sure to emphasize that the transactions occurred at a location you've NEVER visited and that's 30 miles from your home. This kind of geographic evidence is exactly what appeals officers look for when determining if theft actually occurred vs. cardholder negligence. Also, if you still have the original packaging or receipt from when you first got your EBT card, bring that to show when you received it and that you've been protecting it properly. Some people don't think to save that stuff but it can help establish your pattern of responsible card handling. The appeals process is frustrating but don't give up - so many people here have had success fighting these wrongful denials. You clearly reported it promptly and have good evidence. Wishing you the best of luck! 🍀