I hope everything went well at the county office today! Just wanted to add that if you run into any issues or delays, don't give up. Sometimes the first worker you talk to might not be fully familiar with the homeless assistance program, so don't hesitate to ask for a supervisor if needed. Also, if you get approved for the 16-day temporary assistance, use that time wisely to look for permanent housing AND apply for the permanent homeless assistance to help with move-in costs. Many people don't realize they can get both programs. Keep us updated on how it goes - rooting for you and your daughter! 🙏

Just wanted to share my recent experience since I see a lot of good info here but also some confusion. I just went through the CalWORKs homeless assistance process in January 2025 with my two kids after we got evicted. A few things I learned that might help others: 1. The income limits mentioned are correct - for my family of 3, we qualified even though I work part-time (around $2,800/month income limit for 3 people) 2. They do help with both temporary (16 days motel) AND permanent assistance (deposit + first month rent) but you have to ask for both - they don't always offer the permanent part automatically 3. Bring EVERYTHING - ID, kids' birth certificates, pay stubs, eviction notice, bank statements. The more documentation you have, the faster it goes 4. Some counties have emergency after-hours numbers for homeless assistance - ask about this when you call 5. If you're denied, always ask for it in writing and the appeals process. I know someone who got approved on appeal after initial denial The whole process took about 3 days for me from application to getting the motel voucher. Now we're in a permanent place thanks to the deposit assistance. Don't lose hope if you're going through this - the program really does work when you have all your ducks in a row!

This thread has been so educational! I'm also pretty new to CalFresh (just got approved last month) and had no idea about all these potential issues with replacement cards. The address sync problem between CalFresh and the EBT system seems to be a really common issue that nobody warns you about upfront. I'm definitely going to call and verify my address is correct in both systems before I ever need a replacement. It's also really helpful to know about the emergency pickup option at county offices - I had no idea that was even possible! Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences, especially @Andre Dupont for the update letting us know it all worked out. This community is such a great resource for navigating all the complexities of the system.

As someone who's been on CalFresh for about 6 months now, I really appreciate this detailed discussion! I haven't had to deal with a replacement card yet, but reading through everyone's experiences has given me a great roadmap for what to do if it happens. The most valuable takeaway for me is definitely the importance of verifying your address is correct in BOTH the CalFresh system AND the EBT card system - I had no idea these were separate! I'm going to call tomorrow just to double-check mine are synced up correctly. Also bookmarking that Claimyr service @Liam Fitzgerald mentioned in case I ever need to get through to a human quickly. Thanks to everyone for sharing such practical advice - this is exactly the kind of community support that makes navigating government programs so much easier!

So happy to hear your update! This is exactly why I always tell people not to panic about missing documents - the system is designed to work with you, not against you. The fact that they accepted Medi-Cal cards as proof of identity is a perfect example of how having other benefits can actually help streamline the process. Hope your benefits load smoothly and you get the food assistance your family needs!

I'm so glad to see your positive update, Amina! As someone new to this community, it's really heartwarming to see how supportive everyone has been in helping you navigate this process. Your experience is a great reminder that while the CalFresh application process can seem overwhelming at first, there are usually solutions and alternatives available. The fact that Medi-Cal cards worked as proof of identity is really helpful information for other parents who might be in similar situations. Wishing you and your family all the best as you get your benefits set up!

UPDATE: I submitted my SAR7 through BenefitsCal last night and got a confirmation number! Thanks everyone for the advice - especially about the holiday closure on Monday. I called this morning just to confirm they received it (took forever to get through) and they said everything looks good for my August benefits. Such a relief!

So glad to hear you got it submitted successfully! This is a perfect example of why it's important to not wait until the last minute with these deadlines. For anyone else reading this thread - the key takeaway is that BenefitsCal.com is available 24/7 and gives you immediate confirmation, which is super helpful when you're cutting it close on deadlines. Also, always keep those confirmation numbers! I screenshot mine and email them to myself so I have a backup record. Thanks for updating us on how it turned out, Leslie!

I actually work at a county CalFresh office and wanted to clarify something important - you can request what's called a "Benefits Verification Letter" online through your county's portal in most cases, which is much faster than calling. This letter shows your approval status, household income used for eligibility, and benefit amount. It's the official document insurance companies need, not the EBT card itself. For car insurance specifically, I'd definitely recommend trying the California Low Cost Auto Insurance Program first since CalFresh recipients automatically meet the income requirements. The coverage is basic but legitimate and way cheaper than regular insurance. Just make sure you have a clean driving record to get the best rates!

Hey! I'm pretty new to CalFresh but dealing with the same insurance situation. From reading through all these responses, it sounds like the key thing is getting that official Benefits Verification Letter rather than just showing the EBT card. I had no idea about the California Low Cost Auto Insurance Program - that sounds like exactly what I need! Quick question for everyone - has anyone tried getting quotes from multiple regular insurance companies while also applying for the CLCA program? I'm wondering if it's worth doing both to compare rates, or if the low cost program is always going to be cheaper for CalFresh recipients?