I'm new to this community but wanted to jump in because I went through something very similar last year in Los Angeles County. First, everyone's absolutely right that CalFresh is only for food benefits - I made the same mistake initially thinking it would help with rent. Here's what actually saved me from eviction: **Immediate Action Items:** - Contact your county's 211 service TODAY - they have real-time info on what emergency rental assistance is actually available right now - Apply for CalFresh online immediately so you can redirect food money to rent - Call Sacramento Legal Aid Society at (916) 551-2150 - they can advise you on the actual eviction timeline and your tenant rights **Time Reality Check:** You have more time than 3 days. After a pay-or-quit notice, your landlord has to file an unlawful detainer lawsuit, serve you court papers, wait for your response period, and get a court judgment before any actual eviction can happen. This usually takes 4-6 weeks minimum, even if you don't fight it. **Sacramento-Specific Resources:** - Sacramento Homeless Services Coordinating Council has emergency prevention funds - Try calling St. John's Program for Real Change - they sometimes have rapid assistance for working people facing eviction Don't panic - you have options and more time than you think. Use this time strategically to work through the assistance programs people have mentioned.

I'm new to this community but wanted to add something that might be helpful. While everyone has correctly clarified that CalFresh is food assistance only, I want to emphasize that you should absolutely still apply for it right away. When I was facing a similar crisis, getting approved for CalFresh within 3 days (expedited services) literally freed up $200+ per month that I could put toward my rent shortfall. Also, I noticed you mentioned you're at a shelter - many shelters have case workers who are specifically trained in housing crisis intervention and know about local emergency funds that aren't widely publicized. Have you asked the staff there about emergency rental assistance programs? They often have direct contacts with organizations that can move quickly on eviction prevention. One more thing - since you mentioned losing hours at work, you might also want to look into your county's General Assistance program. It's minimal cash aid for single adults (usually $200-400/month), but every dollar helps when you're short on rent. The application process is usually faster than other programs. Don't give up - there are more resources available than most people realize, especially for someone who's working but just hit a rough patch like you have.

I'm in the same boat as you Aisha! Just got my $120 P-EBT payment yesterday too and was panicking thinking that was all we were getting for the summer. Reading through everyone's responses here is such a relief - sounds like there are definitely more payments coming to reach that $455 total. I have twin 6-year-olds so I was really stressed about how I'd stretch $240 for both of them through the whole summer. Now I feel so much better knowing there should be 2-3 more payments coming over the next few weeks. I'm going to follow the advice about checking weekly instead of daily since it sounds like the timing is pretty unpredictable. Thanks for asking this question - you helped a lot of us worried parents!

I'm so glad you asked this question! I was literally about to post the same thing. Got my $120 yesterday and immediately started worrying it was all we'd get. My 8-year-old eats like a teenager already and I was doing math on how to make $120 stretch until school starts again - not happening! From reading everyone's responses, it sounds like we just need to be patient for the additional payments. The inconsistent timing is really annoying though. Why can't they just tell us "expect your next payment around July 15th" or whatever? Instead we're all here playing the EBT balance checking game every day. I'm going to try that weekly checking approach people mentioned. My anxiety can't handle checking multiple times a day and getting disappointed. Has anyone tried calling their kid's school directly to ask about the P-EBT schedule? Sounds like some schools have better info than others.

I work at a local community center and we see situations like yours all the time - you're definitely not alone in this! The good news is that with your rent being $1762 plus utilities, you should absolutely qualify for CalFresh once they properly calculate your shelter deduction. A few practical tips for your appeal: Make sure to bring a copy of your lease that clearly shows your portion of the rent (not just the total), recent utility bills in your name, and your pay stubs. Sometimes it helps to write out the math yourself showing how much you have left after housing costs - it can be really eye-opening for the caseworker. While you're waiting for the appeal, I'd also suggest calling 211 (just dial 2-1-1). They can connect you with local food resources, emergency assistance programs, and other support services in your area. Many of these programs can help bridge the gap while you're getting your CalFresh sorted out. You're doing the right thing by advocating for yourself - don't give up! The system can be confusing but you clearly have a strong case here.

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this frustrating situation! It sounds like there were definitely calculation errors in your case. With your rent being $1762 plus $180 in utilities, that's $1942 in shelter costs - way more than half your income, which should trigger a significant shelter deduction. One thing that might help is to specifically request they apply the "Expanded Categorical Eligibility" rules when you appeal. California allows gross income up to 200% of the Federal Poverty Level (about $2868 for one person), so you're well within that limit. Then with your high shelter costs, your net income after deductions should definitely qualify you. I'd also suggest keeping a food diary for a few days showing what you're able to afford to eat with only $801 left after housing costs. Sometimes having concrete examples helps caseworkers understand the real impact. You shouldn't have to choose between paying rent and buying adequate food! Hang in there - with all the great advice people have shared here, you have a really strong case for your appeal. 💪

This whole thread has been such a lifesaver! I'm pretty new to the CalFresh program and honestly had no clue that the state would send out replacement cards for security reasons. When I first signed up a few months ago, I was so worried about all the scam stories I'd heard that I probably would have panicked if I got an unexpected card in the mail. Alice, thank you so much for sharing your experience and walking through the whole process - from the initial concern to the successful resolution. It really helps to see that there are legitimate reasons for these cards and safe ways to handle them. I'm definitely bookmarking that official customer service number (1-877-328-9677) and Samantha's activation steps. It's incredible how much peace of mind comes from understanding these processes. This community is amazing for helping newcomers like me feel more confident about navigating the system!

I'm really grateful I stumbled across this thread! I just started receiving CalFresh benefits about 3 weeks ago and honestly had no idea the state would proactively send replacement cards for security upgrades. Coming from someone who's still learning the ropes, Alice's experience and how everyone rallied to help with accurate information is exactly what makes this community so valuable. I was already pretty anxious about potential scams since I'm new to all this, so seeing the step-by-step guidance on how to safely verify and activate a replacement card gives me so much confidence. Definitely saving that official number (1-877-328-9677) and the activation process. It's amazing how much clearer everything becomes when you have real people sharing their actual experiences rather than trying to figure it out alone. Thank you Alice for following up with the resolution too - that really helps complete the picture for those of us who might face this situation in the future!

I'm having the exact same problem! Been trying to get into MyBenefitsCalWIN for the past three days to update my employment status and it's just giving me that 403 error every single time. My SAR7 is due next Wednesday and I was literally about to drive to the county office tomorrow and take time off work. Reading through all these comments about BenefitsCal is such a huge relief - I had no clue there was another option! Going to try creating an account there tonight. It's really frustrating that they don't send out proper notifications about these system changes. How are we supposed to know when they just switch everything without telling anyone? Thank you everyone for sharing the BenefitsCal solution - you might have just saved me from losing my benefits over a technical issue that's not even my fault!

I'm dealing with this exact same issue! I've been trying to access MyBenefitsCalWIN since yesterday to submit my monthly report and keep getting the 403 error. I was starting to panic because my deadline is coming up fast. Reading through all these comments about BenefitsCal has been such a lifesaver - I had absolutely no idea there was an alternative system! I'm going to create an account there right now. It's really unbelievable that they can just phase out a system that people depend on for their benefits without sending any kind of notification. I never got a letter or email about this transition either. Thank you to everyone who shared the BenefitsCal workaround - you're literally helping people keep their food assistance when the official systems are failing us!