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# FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE **Contact:** Joaquin Cruz Castillo **Location:** Orange County, California **Related Case:** 30-2026-01589498-CU-PO-CJC *** ## Statement Regarding CalFresh Eligibility Guidance and Enrollment Concerns The Orange County Social Services Agency (OCSSA) recently published guidance explaining how eligible residents may maintain CalFresh benefits, including income standards, work requirements, and available exemptions. This information is important for individuals and families who legitimately depend on food assistance, and I support efforts that make public-benefit programs understandable and accessible to those in need. My concern is not with individuals who properly receive assistance. My concern is whether enrollment, eligibility determinations, recordkeeping, and access to case information are being administered accurately, lawfully, and transparently—particularly in situations where a person may be enrolled in benefits without having applied, without having provided authorization, or while appearing not to meet applicable eligibility standards. According to published OCSSA eligibility guidance, continued CalFresh eligibility may depend on factors including income, work requirements, exemptions, and participation in approved work, training, education, or volunteer activities. The agency’s materials describe criteria that may include: - Weekly earnings of no more than $217.50 in certain circumstances - An approved exemption from applicable work requirements, where relevant - Participation in 20 hours per week, or 80 hours per month, of qualifying work, volunteering, training, or education, where required My own experience appears inconsistent with these stated standards. During a period in which my income exceeded the stated limit, I was reportedly enrolled in multiple public-benefit programs. I did not apply for, request, or authorize enrollment in those programs. I have also encountered barriers to obtaining my complete case records, making it difficult to determine how the enrollment occurred, what information was used, and whether proper eligibility procedures were followed. These circumstances raise serious questions that deserve a complete and documented response: - What application, authorization, or verification was used to establish enrollment? - What income and eligibility information was reviewed? - Were required notices, consent procedures, and reporting obligations followed? - Why has access to relevant case information been limited or delayed? - What safeguards exist to prevent inaccurate or unauthorized enrollment? I am requesting transparency, documentation, and an impartial review of these issues. If agency records were inaccurate, incomplete, altered, or used improperly, those concerns should be investigated by the appropriate oversight authorities. My advocacy is not intended to reduce or restrict assistance for people who qualify and depend on public benefits. It is intended to protect program integrity, ensure that public agencies follow applicable rules, preserve residents’ access to their own records, and prevent administrative errors or misconduct that can harm individuals and undermine public trust. No resident should be enrolled in a public-benefit program without proper authorization or a lawful eligibility determination. No resident should face unnecessary obstacles when seeking access to records concerning their own case. For these reasons, it is important that this matter receive public and media attention. The issues raised in **Case No. 30-2026-01589498-CU-PO-CJC** concern more than one individual’s experience; they raise broader questions about oversight, transparency, record access, and the safeguards intended to prevent unauthorized or inaccurate enrollment in public-benefit programs. Public scrutiny can help ensure that these concerns are addressed openly, that relevant records are preserved and reviewed, and that residents understand their rights when dealing with public agencies. I will continue seeking documentation, answers, and accountability through the appropriate administrative and legal channels. --- ### Sources