Hey Niko! Just wanted to add that when you do report changes, you can also do it online through your county's portal instead of calling - might save you the phone wait times that Alberto's sister experienced. Most counties have online reporting now. Also, pro tip: when using any of those benefit calculators, make sure you're using your NET income (after taxes and deductions) not your gross pay from the raise. A $375 gross increase might only be like $280-300 net depending on your tax situation. This could make your benefit reduction even smaller than the estimates you're getting! Good luck with everything and congrats again on the raise! 🎉

Just wanted to share my experience since I went through this exact situation about 6 months ago! I got a $400/month raise and was terrified my CalFresh would disappear completely. Turns out I went from $520 to $385 - definitely a reduction but not nearly as dramatic as I feared. One thing that really helped was gathering ALL my documentation before reporting the change - pay stubs, rent receipts, utility bills, childcare invoices, everything. Having it all ready made the process much smoother when I talked to my caseworker. Also, if you have any medical expenses or pay for things like school supplies for your kids, make sure to mention those too as they can sometimes count as deductions. The calculators are helpful for ballpark estimates, but your actual caseworker will be able to give you the most accurate numbers once they plug everything into their system. Don't stress too much - sounds like with your childcare expenses, you'll still get meaningful support even with the raise!

This thread is amazing! As someone who just started receiving CalFresh benefits last month, I had so many of the same concerns about traveling. I was actually planning to cancel a family reunion in Texas this fall because I thought my EBT card wouldn't work there and I couldn't afford to buy all my food out of pocket. Reading everyone's experiences and practical tips has completely changed my perspective. The advice about the SNAP Retailer Locator app, documenting travel with your caseworker, and being prepared for different food costs in other states is invaluable. Thank you Kiara for asking this question and everyone else for sharing such detailed, helpful responses - you've made it possible for newcomers like me to feel confident about traveling while on CalFresh!

As someone who just joined this community and recently started receiving CalFresh benefits, I can't express how grateful I am for this entire discussion! I've been so nervous about the program and worried about accidentally doing something wrong that would jeopardize my benefits. Reading Kiara's original question and all the thoughtful responses has taught me more about how CalFresh actually works in real life than any official documentation I've received. The fact that EBT cards work nationwide is incredible news - I had no idea! I've been turning down social events and avoiding any travel because I thought I'd be stuck without food assistance. The practical tips about different grocery chains, tourist areas, the SNAP Retailer Locator app, and documenting longer trips with your caseworker are exactly the kind of real-world advice newcomers need. Thank you all for creating such a supportive environment where people feel comfortable asking questions and sharing their experiences!

Oh wow, reading through this thread is like looking at my own story! I'm literally going through the exact same thing right now - just got approved for CalFresh two weeks ago and cannot for the life of me remember what security questions I set up on EBT Edge ages ago. I've been trying random answers for days and getting nowhere. So frustrating when you just want to check your balance without having to go to the store every time! Thanks to everyone who shared that 1-877-328-9677 number with option 4 - I had no idea there was a specific tech support line for EBT Edge issues. I'm definitely calling tomorrow morning at 8am with all my documents ready. It's really reassuring to see so many people have gotten this resolved the same way. I'm also 100% getting a password manager after this nightmare is over. Can't believe I made the same mistake as so many others here! Fingers crossed the early morning call works - will update if I have any luck! 🤞

I'm going through this exact same nightmare right now! Just got my CalFresh approval last month and ran into the same EBT Edge account issue. It's so frustrating when you know you set up an account years ago but can't remember any of the security questions. I tried that 1-877-328-9677 number everyone's mentioning and pressed 4 for tech support - worked like a charm! Only waited about 20 minutes calling around 8:30am. The rep was super helpful and reset my security questions after verifying my card number, DOB, last 4 of SSN, and address. Pro tip: Have absolutely everything ready before you call because they verify every single detail. Also, once you get back in, definitely write down those security questions somewhere safe! I learned that lesson the hard way. The mobile app is also way better than the website once you regain access. Hang in there - this community has given you all the right advice and you'll get it sorted out soon! Congrats on getting approved! 🎉

Just to pile on with everyone else's advice - December 18th is definitely wrong! I've been on CalFresh for 3 years and the dates have NEVER changed for holidays. My case number ends in 8 so I always get mine on the 8th of every month, including December. The county would send official notices weeks in advance if they were changing anything that major. Stick with your normal schedule and don't let random grocery store conversations mess with your budget planning!

Hey there! I totally get your confusion - there's so much misinformation floating around about benefit dates, especially around the holidays. Just to echo what everyone else has said, December 18th is definitely not correct for either CalFresh or CalWORKs. I've been receiving both benefits for over a year now and the schedules have never changed for holidays. CalFresh always follows the case number schedule (sounds like you'd get yours on the 4th), and CalWORKs is always in the first few days. The only time I've ever seen different dates is when there are system maintenance issues, but they always notify recipients in advance through official channels. Don't let random grocery store chatter throw off your budgeting - stick with what you know!

Just wanted to add a few more practical tips that helped me when I was new to CalFresh! 1. ALDI is amazing for stretching benefits - their prices are consistently low and they accept EBT. You'll need a quarter for the cart but you get it back. 2. If you're comfortable with it, consider joining local Facebook groups or Nextdoor for your area. People often share when stores have great sales or mark down items. 3. Generic/store brands are usually 20-30% cheaper than name brands and the quality is often identical. This is especially true for basics like pasta, rice, canned goods. 4. Keep an eye out for "Buy One Get One Free" deals - these work great with EBT and can really stretch your dollars on things like frozen vegetables or canned beans. 5. Many stores have senior discount days or special discount days that stack with EBT - worth asking customer service about. The learning curve feels steep at first but you'll get the hang of it quickly! And remember, this is temporary help while you rebuild - there's no shame in using every resource available to you right now.

I'm really sorry to hear about your restaurant closing - what a devastating blow that must have been! I've been on CalFresh for about 6 months now and wanted to share a few things I've learned that might help: For warehouse stores, yes Costco and Sam's accept EBT but like others mentioned, be careful about what qualifies. I've found Sam's Club tends to have better bulk pricing on EBT-eligible staples like rice, beans, and frozen vegetables. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is WinCo Foods if there's one near you - they're employee-owned and have incredible bulk bins where you can buy exactly the amount you need of grains, nuts, spices, etc. Really helps stretch those dollars. Also, consider signing up for Ibotta or Checkout 51 apps. You can't use them directly with EBT, but if you have any cash to cover non-food items in the same trip, you can earn cashback that helps offset your grocery budget overall. The most important thing I learned is to not let perfect be the enemy of good. Some weeks you'll meal prep and maximize every dollar, other weeks you'll grab whatever's easy because you're exhausted from job hunting or dealing with paperwork. Both are totally okay. Hang in there - you're being smart by asking for help and advice. That's exactly the mindset that will help you get through this rough patch!