12 days waiting for CalFresh EBT card - is this normal or should I panic?

The exact same thing happened to me last month!!! I waited 15 DAYS for my card to arrive after approval, and when I called the county office they just kept saying to wait longer. Finally on day 16 I got mad and demanded to speak to a supervisor, turns out my card was sent to my OLD address even though I updated everything in the system. You need to call ASAP and check if they mailed it to the right place!!

Unfortunately this is pretty common right now. There's been a backlog with EBT card production since they switched vendors in January 2025. The county workers don't always have the most updated information about these delays. You should: 1. Call the EBT customer service line (not the county) at 1-877-328-9677 to check if your card was actually mailed out 2. If it was mailed, ask for the date and tracking information 3. Request an expedited replacement if it's been over 10 business days Don't wait too long - if there's a problem with your address or the card got lost, you need to get a replacement issued.

my card took 2 weeks to come and then when it did the pin didn't work lol fun times

If you're really in a bind while waiting, you can call your county office and ask if they can give you an emergency in-person pickup EBT card. Some counties (not all) can issue a temporary card from their office that you can use until your permanent one arrives. You'd have to go to the physical office location though.

I've been helping people with CalFresh issues for years, and this delay unfortunately happens quite often. The most efficient way to get through to someone who can actually help is using Claimyr.com - it's a service that gets you through the phone queue without waiting on hold. They call the county welfare office and then connect you when a real person answers. I used to waste hours trying to get through, but now it's much faster. You can see how it works in their video demo: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8

The county told me all new cards are taking 10-14 business days now, not 5-7 like they used to. Something about a new contract with the card provider that started this year. I recently had to get a replacement and they didn't even start the clock until 3 days after approval! Just bureaucratic nonsense as usual. But definitely call to confirm your address is correct in their system.

DONT EVEN GET ME STARTED ON THE EBT CARD DELIVERY!!!! I waited THREE WEEKS after approval and when I finally got thru to someone they said 'oh we never mailed it because there was a system flag on your case' but nobody bothered to tell me or fix it!!! Then when they finally sent one it was EXPIRED RIGHT OUT OF THE ENVELOPE!!! The whole system is designed to make us give up I swear

Update for everyone: As of March 2025, CalFresh EBT cards are now being mailed from a central facility in Sacramento instead of from individual counties. This has caused significant delays in card delivery. If you've been waiting more than 14 calendar days, call the EBT customer service line and specifically ask for a "status trace" on your card. If they confirm it was mailed over 10 business days ago, request an expedited replacement that can be mailed priority (2-3 days) instead of standard mail. Also, once you get your card, immediately set up the BenefitsCal mobile app to track your benefits and report any issues.

Just want to update that I called using that Claimyr service someone mentioned above and it actually worked! Got through to a person in about 10 minutes who confirmed my card was mailed last Tuesday. Apparently there's a major mail delay in my zip code affecting lots of deliveries. They're sending me a replacement card via expedited shipping that should arrive in 3 days. Such a relief to finally know what's happening!

It was worth it for me! Not expensive considering I would have missed another day of work sitting on hold. The worker I spoke with was super helpful once I got through - even put a note on my file to make sure my benefits don't expire while I'm waiting for the replacement card.

I'm dealing with the exact same issue right now! Got approved 10 days ago and still no card. Reading through all these comments is both reassuring and terrifying - at least I know I'm not alone but wow, the system is really broken. I'm definitely going to try calling the EBT customer service line tomorrow using that status trace request. Has anyone had luck with food banks or emergency assistance while waiting? I have two young kids and we're really struggling right now. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this thread is more helpful than anything I've gotten from the county office!

I'm going through the exact same nightmare right now! Got approved 11 days ago and still nothing in the mail. This whole thread has been so helpful - I had no idea about the EBT customer service line being separate from the county office. I've been calling the county for days and just getting transferred around in circles. The info about the Sacramento facility and asking for a "status trace" is gold - I'm calling first thing tomorrow morning. It's so frustrating that they're still telling people 5-7 days when it's clearly taking 2+ weeks for everyone. My kids keep asking when we're going grocery shopping and I keep having to make excuses. Thank you all for sharing your experiences - at least now I know I'm not crazy and this is a systemic issue, not just my case being lost in the system!

I'm so sorry you're going through this - the stress of waiting for food assistance when you have kids depending on you is just awful. I went through something similar last year and the uncertainty was the worst part. A few things that helped me while waiting: 1. Download the "GetCalFresh" app if you haven't already - it sometimes has more updated info than calling 2. If you're in a major city, check if there are any CalFresh enrollment centers that might be able to issue a temporary card in person 3. Contact your local WIC office even if you don't qualify - they often know about emergency food resources in the area 4. Some Walmart and Target locations have started accepting CalFresh applications for immediate temporary benefits while you wait for your card (pilot program in select areas) The 12-day wait is unfortunately becoming the new normal rather than the exception. I know it doesn't help with the immediate need, but you're definitely not alone in this. Keep calling every few days and don't let them brush you off - squeaky wheel gets the grease with these systems. Hang in there - your benefits are approved and the card WILL come. In the meantime, lean on whatever community resources you can find. No shame in getting help when the system is failing you.

I'm new to this community but unfortunately dealing with the exact same situation! Got approved for CalFresh 9 days ago and still no EBT card in sight. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been both comforting (knowing I'm not alone) and eye-opening about how broken this system really is. The information about calling the EBT customer service line directly instead of the county office is incredibly helpful - I've been banging my head against the wall trying to get through to someone at the county who could actually help. And knowing about the Sacramento facility change explains so much about these delays. I'm definitely going to try that "status trace" request tomorrow morning. It's frustrating that they're still quoting 5-7 business days when clearly everyone is waiting 2+ weeks minimum. My family is really feeling the pinch right now and every day feels like forever when you're stretching the last few dollars. Thank you all for sharing your stories and practical advice - this thread has given me more actionable information than hours of trying to navigate the official channels. It's a relief to know there are actual steps I can take instead of just waiting helplessly by the mailbox!

I'm brand new to this community but unfortunately dealing with this exact same nightmare! Just got approved for CalFresh 8 days ago and my EBT card is nowhere to be found. I've been checking my mailbox multiple times a day like a crazy person and calling the county office with no luck getting through to anyone helpful. This entire thread has been a lifesaver - I had no idea there was a separate EBT customer service line or about the Sacramento facility change that's causing all these delays. The fact that they're still telling people 5-7 business days when everyone here is waiting 2+ weeks is just cruel when families are literally going hungry. I'm definitely calling 1-877-328-9677 tomorrow morning and asking for that "status trace" - thank you all for sharing that magic phrase! It's such a relief to know there are actual steps I can take instead of just sitting here helplessly wondering if my case got lost in the system. The stress of explaining to my kids why we can't go grocery shopping yet is eating me alive. But reading everyone's stories here gives me hope that the card will eventually come and this nightmare will end. Thank you all for being so generous with your advice and experiences - this community support means everything when the official system keeps failing us!

Just joined this community after finding this thread while desperately searching for answers about my own EBT card situation! I was approved for CalFresh benefits 10 days ago and still haven't received my card - starting to panic that something went wrong with my application. This entire discussion has been incredibly eye-opening and helpful. I had no idea about the EBT customer service line being separate from the county office, or about the Sacramento facility change causing all these delays. The county worker told me 5-7 business days too, so it's frustrating but reassuring to see this is a widespread issue affecting so many families. I'm definitely calling 1-877-328-9677 first thing tomorrow morning and asking for that "status trace" - thank you everyone for sharing that specific terminology! It's such a relief to have actual actionable steps instead of just waiting helplessly by the mailbox every day. The stress of stretching every dollar while waiting for approved benefits is overwhelming, especially when you're trying to keep your family fed. But seeing how supportive and informative this community is gives me hope. Thank you all for sharing your experiences and advice - it means everything when the official system keeps failing us!

I'm brand new to this community but unfortunately experiencing the exact same frustrating situation! Got approved for CalFresh 13 days ago and still no EBT card in my mailbox. I've been checking obsessively every single day and starting to really worry something went wrong. This entire thread has been absolutely invaluable - I had no clue there was a separate EBT customer service line at 1-877-328-9677 or about the Sacramento facility change causing these massive delays. The county office kept telling me to "just wait a little longer" but seeing everyone's experiences here makes it clear this is a systematic problem, not just my case. I'm definitely calling tomorrow morning and asking for that "status trace" - thank you all for sharing that magic phrase! It's such a relief to have concrete steps to take instead of just sitting here helplessly wondering if my approved benefits will ever actually arrive. The financial stress is really getting to me, especially knowing I have $589/month in approved benefits that I just can't access. But reading how supportive and knowledgeable this community is gives me hope that I can finally get some real answers. Thank you everyone for sharing your stories and practical advice - it means everything when you're trying to navigate this broken system alone!

I'm new to this community but going through the exact same nightmare right now! Got approved for CalFresh 11 days ago and still no EBT card. I've been calling the county office every day and just getting the runaround - they keep telling me to wait longer while my family is struggling to put food on the table. This thread has been incredibly helpful! I had no idea there was a separate EBT customer service line or about the Sacramento facility causing these delays. The fact that county workers are still saying 5-7 days when everyone is clearly waiting 2+ weeks is just cruel. I'm definitely calling 1-877-328-9677 tomorrow morning and asking for that "status trace" - thank you all for sharing that specific language! It's such a relief to finally have actionable steps instead of just waiting helplessly by the mailbox every day. The stress of explaining to my kids why we can't go grocery shopping yet while knowing I have approved benefits I can't access is overwhelming. But seeing how supportive this community is and knowing I'm not alone in this broken system gives me hope. Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences - it's more helpful than anything I've gotten from official channels!

I'm so sorry you're going through this - I know exactly how stressful it is when you have kids asking about food and you're stuck waiting on a card that should have arrived already. I went through something very similar a few months ago and the uncertainty was the worst part. A couple of things that helped me while waiting: - Call 211 or visit 211.org to find emergency food resources in your area - many food banks don't require any paperwork and can help immediately - If you have kids in school, make sure they're signed up for free breakfast/lunch programs if you haven't already - Some local churches and community centers do weekly food distributions that are open to anyone For getting through to someone who can actually help with your card status, I found the most success calling that EBT customer service line at 1-877-328-9677 early in the morning (like right at 8am when they open) and specifically asking for a "status trace" on your card. That seems to be the magic phrase that gets you real information instead of just "wait longer." The 12-day wait is unfortunately becoming normal with the Sacramento facility change, but you're absolutely right to be calling now. Don't let them brush you off - if it's been mailed and you haven't received it after 10+ business days, push for an expedited replacement. Hang in there - your benefits are approved and this nightmare will end soon. In the meantime, please don't hesitate to use local food assistance resources. That's exactly what they're there for!

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this stress! I'm new to this community but unfortunately going through the exact same situation - got approved for CalFresh 9 days ago and still waiting on my EBT card to arrive. The anxiety of checking the mailbox every day while your family needs food is just awful. This entire thread has been incredibly helpful though! I had no idea there was a separate EBT customer service line at 1-877-328-9677 or about the Sacramento facility change causing these delays. The county worker told me 5-7 days too, so it's frustrating but reassuring to see this is affecting so many families. Based on everyone's advice here, I'm definitely calling tomorrow morning and asking for that "status trace" - seems like that's the key phrase to get real information instead of just being told to wait longer. The tip about calling right at 8am when they open is smart too. In the meantime, I'm going to look into some of the emergency food resources people mentioned like 211.org and local food banks. We shouldn't have to struggle when we have approved benefits, but at least there are ways to bridge the gap while we wait for this broken system to work. Thank you for posting this - it's such a relief to know we're not alone and that there are actual steps we can take instead of just waiting helplessly. Your card will come and this nightmare will end soon!