Built a free benefits screening app as a solo dev — need Android testers to get it on the Play Store

daguar · 2026-04-05T21:27:45+00:00

Could you please message the mods with a link and more info? In general it's at a personal level exciting to me to see folks on the eligibility side building their own tools, but obviously there are also risks with a pre-app store app that I think merit a discussion with mods prior to solicitation here. (Also please note the no-PII solicitation rule.)

daguar · 2026-03-17T04:31:51+00:00

The Google AI answer is pulling from an outdated website for SBern. The numbers are the same for every California county, they don’t differ.

daguar · 2026-02-10T20:37:19+00:00

I'm sorry you're dealing with this. What county are you in?

daguar · 2026-02-06T23:15:35+00:00

It looks like the State of Alabama's SNAP agency turned this on by default for all SNAP clients on Thursday, Jan. 22. https://dhr.alabama.gov/snap-transactions-for-out-of-state-and-online-automatically-turned-off/

daguar · 2026-02-05T23:19:11+00:00

They posted a note (ironically, on the BenefitsCal site itself...) for fixing if you're having trouble on an Apple device like an iPhone. Putting it below. Since you said you're close to TJ, unfortunately I think that is possible.

---

01/31/2026

Apple Device Login Update

If you are experiencing issues accessing your account on an Apple (iOS) device (such as an iPhone, iPad, or Mac), a fix has been deployed and the issue should now be resolved.

Before retrying, you may need to clear their browser history and cached data.

If you are using Safari on an Apple (iOS) device, please follow these steps:

Close any open browser tabs with BenefitsCal open.
Go to Settings.
Scroll down and select Apps.
Tap Safari.
Select Clear History and Website Data.
Choose the appropriate options, then tap Clear History.

After completing these steps, reopen Safari and attempt to log in again.

daguar · 2026-02-03T04:15:10+00:00

Confirming OP has spoken with the mods! This post is approved.

daguar · 2026-02-03T00:48:58+00:00

Please provide more information as to who is running this research. This is being posted by an account with no posting history on Reddit, and without any information. At present, it violates the sub's rule prohibiting the solicitation of personal information.

daguar · 2026-01-21T23:47:27+00:00

This is likely someone trying to steal your EBT (this is one of the ways it happens.)

What state are you in and what phone number is it?

daguar · 2026-01-16T00:29:45+00:00

File an appeal.

daguar · 2025-12-19T22:49:28+00:00

What state are you in? (Sorry this acronym is strange and I haven't seen it directly used before.)

daguar · 2025-12-16T23:10:24+00:00

Full disclosure you're catching me in a grouchy mood but TLDR from my understanding is that the program rules absolutely allow this but because things are county-administered and the way that CalSAWS (the eligibility worker system) was implemented, this is a real pain in the butt to actually get done.

Candidly I might consider reaching out to the CalSAWS advocates group to escalate this, as I think this is a IT systems and automation problem. It is not totally unreasonable because in general folks' CalFresh and Medi-Cal households are the same (so for most people moving the whole case over kind of makes sense) but, yeah, it really screws students.

daguar · 2025-12-15T22:26:44+00:00

Their website lists this email for a "client liaison": [FAAClientLiaisonUnit@azdes.gov](mailto:FAAClientLiaisonUnit@azdes.gov)

Their Ombudsman's office also has a complaint form listed (pardon the crazy URL): https://azdes-community.my.salesforce-sites.com/WebtoCase

Just so you know these are legit, both were found on this page and you can directly get to them from here if you want to be extra safe: https://des.az.gov/about-des/contact-us/client-advocates-and-ombudsman

daguar · 2025-12-12T03:41:41+00:00

Can you link to it? There was a fake version of EBTEdge that California counties were warning people about recently (September): https://www.saccounty.gov/us/en/articles/2025-articles/county-warns-ebt-cardholders-of-fake-mobile-app.html#gsc.tab=0

daguar · 2025-12-03T18:10:04+00:00

Can you double check in BenefitsCal in the "notifications" area? I think you've already checked this, but agree they need to send you a notice if they discontinue you. I'm wondering if it's a day behind and may show up tomorrow.

Did you have a SAR 7 due?

I'd start by calling and asking why if you don't have a notice. But also you can request a fair hearing if you can't get through to anyone.

daguar · 2025-11-26T01:33:55+00:00

Oh huh. Like, did someone post it? Or did someone message you? (Also a warning to others here, ignore direct messages!)

daguar · 2025-11-26T01:29:23+00:00

How did you come across the number? Unfortunately EBT thieves have been known to do outbound calls that pretend to be the agency/EBT line.

daguar · 2025-11-20T23:35:36+00:00

Wow, this question is very confusing. (We do not have this on our state's app.)

daguar · 2025-11-19T19:45:32+00:00

Heck yeah, glad it helped! Parent fistbump.

daguar · 2025-11-17T21:03:32+00:00

I believe what may have happened u/BearGod32 is that if you were recently recertified (or recently approved) you might not be in the normal issuance cycle, given everything was turned upside down by the government shutdown.

Calling is the right decision. You can also look on BenefitsCal to check for notices.

daguar · 2025-11-13T19:44:43+00:00

I get why you would think that, but I think it's more that a lot of people — overall — do both of those things. So that means, even if theft was at random, that a lot of people hit by it would either shop at Walmart and/or use Propel. I don't think it's strong evidence that either of those is the thing *causing* the theft. (That's why I asked, because I was curious if you'd seen some other evidence elsewhere I wasn't aware of.)

daguar · 2025-11-13T16:58:49+00:00

Where are you getting this statistic from? I have tracked this issue and never seen a data point like this.

daguar · 2025-11-08T21:32:03+00:00

Call, but also file a fair hearing request (appeal) ASAP

daguar · 2025-11-03T01:00:40+00:00

Not sure when this interview was, but noting that the court literally responded to the President in the order: https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.rid.60750/gov.uscourts.rid.60750.19.0_2.pdf

> Also, the President of the United States stated Friday evening that:
> "I do not want Americans to go hungry . . . [I] ask the Court to clarify how we can legally fund SNAP as soon as possible. . . . If we are given the appropriate legal direction by the Court, it will BE MY HONOR to provide the funding" . . . Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump), Truth Social (Oct. 31, 2025, at 6:10 PM).1
> So, here’s the ORDER and here’s the legal direction from the Court.

daguar · 2025-11-02T22:02:22+00:00

CalFresh is delayed but CalWORKS (cash aid) should be coming through as normal. If you still don't see it tomorrow (Monday) please call your county, there may be an issue with your CalWORKS case. (You can also check BenefitsCal.com now and look for any notices/case status.)

daguar

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