I went through this exact same situation about 6 months ago! Family of 4, similar income range, and I was SO frustrated trying to get a straight answer about benefit amounts. Here's what I learned: forget the online calculators - they're basically worthless. I ended up applying without knowing what we'd get, and we were approved for $298/month. With your rent being so high ($1,900) and having childcare costs, you'll likely get a decent amount because those are both major deductions. The application process was way easier than I expected - mostly just uploading photos of pay stubs, lease agreement, and utility bills. If you're on the fence, just think about it this way: even if you only got $200/month, that's $2,400 a year in groceries you wouldn't have to pay for out of pocket. That's worth an hour of paperwork, right? Go for it!

I've been helping families navigate CalFresh applications for years, and your situation is actually really common! With your combined income of $4,250, family size, and those significant expenses (rent + childcare), you're definitely in the sweet spot for approval. Here's a realistic breakdown: your gross income is well under the $4,625 limit for a family of 4, and after the standard 20% earned income deduction ($850), standard deduction ($213), childcare deduction ($600), and shelter deduction (which will be substantial with $1,900 rent), your net income will likely qualify you for $250-350 monthly. The key thing everyone's mentioned is true - just apply! The online calculators miss so many nuances. One tip: when you apply, make sure to report ALL utilities you pay separately from rent (electric, gas, water, sewer, trash, phone). Each one can add to your utility allowance deduction. Even if you only qualify for $200/month, that's $2,400 annually that goes directly toward feeding your family. With grocery prices these days, that's a game changer!

I'm so sorry you're going through this - the county system really can be a nightmare when it comes to moves and transfers! I went through something similar a few years ago when I moved from Kern County to Ventura County and it was such a headache. A few things that might help based on my experience: 1. When you apply in Riverside, bring a copy of your lease/rental agreement as proof of current residence - they really value that documentation 2. If you have any text messages or emails from when you notified your LA County caseworker about the temporary move, screenshot those! Even if they didn't update your file properly, it shows you tried to follow protocol 3. Consider reaching out to a local legal aid organization - they sometimes have advocates who specialize in CalFresh appeals and can help you navigate both the LA County appeal AND the new Riverside application With your income-to-rent ratio, you should definitely qualify for substantial benefits in Riverside. Don't let the previous county's mistake prevent you from getting the food assistance you need. The fact that you were proactive in reporting your move shows you were acting in good faith. Keep us posted on how it goes! This community is great for sharing real experiences with the system.

I'm following this thread closely because I'm actually in a very similar situation right now - just moved from San Francisco County to Alameda County and dealing with some case transfer issues. Not as serious as a fraud investigation, but the lack of communication between counties is real. One thing I wanted to add that might be helpful: when I called Riverside County's CalFresh office to ask about transferring cases, they mentioned they have a "Complex Case Unit" that specifically handles situations involving previous overpayments, fraud investigations, and inter-county transfers. You might want to ask to be connected to that unit directly when you apply - they're apparently much better equipped to handle these kinds of situations than regular intake workers. Also, I've seen people mention this in other threads, but make sure you get a receipt or confirmation number for EVERYTHING you submit - whether it's your appeal documents to LA County or your new application to Riverside. The counties have been better about tracking submissions lately, but things still get lost sometimes. Your situation is so frustrating because you clearly tried to do everything right by notifying your caseworker. The system should protect people who are being honest and following the rules, not punish them. Really hoping both your appeal and new application go smoothly!

As a newcomer to this community, I want to thank everyone for this incredibly informative thread! Reading through @Dmitry Ivanov's experience from $23 to $180 has been both eye-opening and encouraging. I had no idea that so many deductions like childcare expenses and the Standard Utility Allowance weren't automatically applied during the initial application process. What really stands out to me is how this community came together to help solve a real problem. @Ava Garcia's detailed explanations of the calculation process, @Zainab Ismail's practical tip about Claimyr, and everyone else sharing their similar experiences created such a valuable resource. It's clear that having this kind of peer support and knowledge sharing is essential for navigating these complex government systems. I'm currently preparing my own CalFresh application and this discussion has already helped me identify several expenses I might have overlooked. It's unfortunate that the system seems designed in a way that requires applicants to be their own advocates and know exactly what to ask for, but at least communities like this exist to help fill those knowledge gaps. Congratulations @Dmitry Ivanov on getting your benefits corrected - your willingness to share your experience will undoubtedly help many other families in similar situations!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm really grateful to have found this thread! @Dmitry Ivanov, your experience going from $23 to $180 is such an important story that shows how broken the initial application process can be. It's incredible that you had to essentially re-advocate for yourself just to get the benefits you were actually entitled to from the beginning. What really strikes me is how many of us newcomers are commenting about learning things we never knew - like the Standard Utility Allowance or childcare deductions. It makes me think there are probably thousands of families out there getting inadequate benefits simply because they don't know what questions to ask or that these deductions even exist. @Ava Garcia and @Zainab Ismail - thank you for providing such detailed, actionable advice. The breakdown of the calculation process and the tip about Claimyr are exactly the kind of real-world guidance that makes navigating these systems actually possible. This community is clearly filling a huge gap that should probably be addressed at the policy level. For other newcomers reading this: definitely save this thread and don't hesitate to call your caseworker if your benefit amount seems too low. As this discussion shows, persistence and knowing what to ask for can make a life-changing difference!

That's such great news! I'm so relieved you got it resolved quickly. The transition from expedited to regular benefits seems to be a common issue that trips up the system but nobody warns new recipients about it. It's frustrating that you had to go through the stress of not knowing what was wrong, especially with kids to feed. Definitely keeping Claimyr bookmarked for future reference - seems like it's a real lifesaver when the regular phone system fails us. Hope your benefits load smoothly from now on!

This is exactly why I love this community - everyone jumps in to help when someone's struggling! @Chloe Taylor I'm so happy you got your benefits sorted out. The expedited-to-regular transition issue seems to happen more often than it should, and you're right that they really should warn people about potential delays during that switch. For anyone else reading this who might face similar issues, it sounds like Claimyr is definitely worth trying when the regular phone system isn't working. It's ridiculous that we have to use third-party services to get basic help, but if it gets people the assistance they need faster, I'm all for it. Thanks for updating us with the resolution - posts like this are so valuable for other families who might hit the same roadblock!

I've been through this exact situation with Kern County! That yellow envelope is just their standard paperwork packet - definitely not an approval. You're right to be confused because they send EBT information to everyone regardless of status. Here's what you need to do immediately: 1. Complete and return ALL those signature forms ASAP - your application can't move forward without them 2. Call or visit the office to schedule your interview - they won't do it automatically For calling, try early morning (8-9am) or use the tip someone mentioned about calling the General Questions line instead of the direct CalFresh line. I've also heard good things about that Claimyr service for getting through. The fact that your first application disappeared is unfortunately common with the BenefitsCal system glitches. When you talk to a worker, definitely mention that this is your second application and ask if they merged them somehow. Don't wait for them to contact you - Kern County requires you to be proactive or your application will just sit there. You're getting close to that 30-day deadline, so time is critical. Good luck!

I went through something very similar with Kern County last year! That yellow envelope is definitely just their standard paperwork packet - not an approval. The EBT card info they include confuses everyone because it makes you think you're approved, but they send it to all applicants. You absolutely need to return those signature forms immediately or your case won't move forward at all. I'd recommend taking photos of everything before mailing, or better yet, drop them off in person to avoid any "we never received them" issues. For the interview situation - this is classic Kern County unfortunately. They're supposed to schedule it automatically but often don't. I had success calling right at 8am when they open, and if you can't get through on the CalFresh line, try the general information line and ask them to transfer you. Since you're approaching that 30-day mark, I'd also consider going to the Roberts Lane office in person. Bring ALL your documents (ID, pay stubs, rent receipts, etc.) in case they can do the interview on the spot. The wait is long but at least you'll get answers. The good news is that if you do get approved, your benefits will be backdated to when you originally applied. Don't give up - Kern County's system is frustrating but you can get through it!