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Just approved for CalFresh in January - will I get extra benefits this month?
Hey everyone, I just got approved for CalFresh benefits last month (January 2025). My EBT card arrived and I got my first regular payment loaded on February 11th. I keep hearing from my neighbor that sometimes they give extra benefits certain months? Is that true and would I qualify for any extra amount this month if I just started? My caseworker didn't mention anything about extras when I applied. I'm a single parent with 2 kids if that matters.
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CalFresh EBT increase October 2025 - different benefit amounts this month?
Has anyone else heard about the CalFresh benefits increasing on October 1st? I was checking my EBT card balance this morning and noticed I got $78 more than last month ($732 instead of my usual $654). Wasn't expecting this! Is this that annual COLA adjustment thing? Or maybe they fixed something with my SAR7 from July that I thought was already processed? My cousin said all benefits are going up but I'm confused why it happened without any notice. Anyone else see different amounts on their account this month?
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Update: I checked my BenefitsCal account and there WAS a notice about the increase dated September 22! I just never saw it because I don't log in regularly. Mystery solved! Thanks everyone for the helpful info. Guess I should check my messages more often lol.
Glad you found it! Pro tip: set a calendar reminder for September each year to check for COLA updates. They happen every October 1st like clockwork but the notification timing varies by county.
Thanks for this thread! I'm new to CalFresh (just got approved last month) and had no idea about these annual COLA increases. I was so confused when I checked my balance yesterday and saw an extra $45. I actually thought there was some kind of error and was worried they'd take it back! This explains everything. Really helpful to see the maximum amounts by household size too - now I understand why mine isn't the full amount since I have some part-time income. Great to know this happens every October so I won't be surprised next year.
P-EBT card PIN setup error message - did it actually work?
I finally got my daughter's P-EBT card in the mail yesterday and tried to set up the PIN today. I called the number on the back, entered all her info, and got to the part where you create and confirm the PIN. I entered the 4 digits, pressed #, then repeated the same PIN and pressed # again. But right after that, instead of a confirmation, I heard this weird sound and an automated message saying "Can't access your account." Then it hung up! I'm so confused - did the PIN actually get set up or not? I tried calling back but keep getting a busy signal. Has anyone else dealt with this? I'm worried we won't be able to use the card when we need groceries this weekend. Do I need to start the whole process over?
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just wanted 2 check back - did ur card end up working? was the PIN actually set? mine did this twice now
Yes! I tried using it at the store yesterday and the PIN I had set up actually worked perfectly! So even though it gave that weird error, the PIN was successfully saved in their system. Hope this helps others having the same issue.
This is such a common issue with P-EBT cards! I'm a newcomer here but went through the exact same thing with my son's card just a few weeks ago. The system gave me that "Can't access your account" error after I set the PIN, but when I tried using the card at Target the next day, it worked perfectly with the PIN I had created. It seems like their confirmation system is broken but the actual PIN setup goes through. Really glad to see it worked out for you too Isabella! For anyone else dealing with this - don't panic, just try using the card with your intended PIN at a store.
Moving out of state - how to transfer CalFresh benefits or reapply?
Hi everyone! I'm planning to move from California to another state in about 2 months (job opportunity I can't pass up). I'm currently receiving CalFresh benefits here in CA and I'm confused about what happens when I move. Do I need to visit my local office in Sacramento County before leaving to report my move? Will they transfer my case and documents to my new state? Or do I have to completely reapply in the new state? I don't want to lose benefits during the transition since my budget will be tight with moving expenses. Any advice from people who've moved states while on CalFresh would be super helpful!
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When I moved between states last year, I found it helpful to get a copy of my verification documents from my California case file before leaving. Having copies of everything (income verification, ID verification, etc.) made the application process in my new state go much smoother. You can request these through your county office. Oh, and don't forget to set up mail forwarding with USPS so you don't miss any important notices!
That's smart about getting copies of all your documents! The new state will need most of the same verifications anyway. And if the county sends any overpayment notices or anything after you move, you definitely want those forwarded to your new address.
I went through this exact situation when I moved from San Diego to Texas about 6 months ago! Here's what worked for me: I reported my move through BenefitsCal about 2 weeks before leaving (you can do it online under "Report Changes"). My benefits stopped at the end of that month, and I applied in Texas the day after I arrived. There was about a 2-week gap before my new benefits started, so I'd recommend saving up a little extra for groceries during that transition period. Also, Texas had slightly different income calculations than California, so my benefit amount changed even though my income stayed the same. The whole process was less scary than I thought it would be once I understood the steps. Good luck with your move!
CalFresh login issues with myBenefitsCalWIN - been locked out for days
Hey everyone, I've been trying to log into the myBenefitsCalWIN app for the past 4 days to check my CalFresh balance and it's driving me CRAZY! It keeps saying 'authentication failed' even though I KNOW my password is correct. I even reset it twice! Is anyone else having this problem or is it just me? My recertification is coming up next month and I need to upload some documents. The county office phone line just keeps me on hold forever. Does CalFresh expect us to starve while their app doesn't work?? Should I just drive to the office? I really can't afford to take time off work though...
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UPDATE: I got everything sorted out finally! Created a BenefitsCal account, linked my case, and was able to upload my recertification documents. The new system actually seems easier to use once you get past the initial setup. Thanks everyone for the help! For anyone else having the same problem - definitely try BenefitsCal if myBenefitsCalWIN isn't working for you anymore.
That's great! Yeah the new system is actually better in some ways. The mobile version works way better than the old app. And you can take pictures of documents right in the app instead of having to scan and upload them separately. Glad you got it working before your recertification deadline!
Wow, this thread has been super helpful! I'm new to CalFresh and just applied last month. I was wondering why the myBenefitsCalWIN app on my phone wasn't working properly - it would load but then crash when I tried to check my case status. Sounds like I should skip that entirely and go straight to BenefitsCal.com instead? Also, does anyone know if the BenefitsCal website works better on mobile browsers or should I look for a new app?
Yes, definitely go straight to BenefitsCal.com! The mobile browser version works really well - I actually prefer it to using apps sometimes because it's always up to date. You don't need to download a separate app, just bookmark the website on your phone. Since you're new to CalFresh, you'll find BenefitsCal much more user-friendly than the old system. You can check your case status, upload documents, and even get notifications about important deadlines. Welcome to the program and glad this thread helped you too!
Sydney Torres
I'm confused about this whole SAR7 thing too...is that the same as recertification? I got a packet in the mail but I'm not sure if I'm supposed to fill it out or wait for recertification. Does everybody have to do the SAR7?
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Alfredo Lugo
SAR7 and recertification are two different things: - SAR7 (Semi-Annual Report) is a form you submit halfway through your certification period. It's a shorter form where you report any changes in income, expenses, or household composition. - Recertification happens once a year and is a more complete review of your case where you essentially reapply for benefits. All CalFresh households must complete both unless they're exempt (some elderly or disabled households). The SAR7 is due in the 6th month of your certification period, and recertification is due in the 12th month.
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Donna Cline
I called the county office today and finally got through after trying several times. They updated my information to include the childcare expenses! The worker said my benefits will increase starting next month by about $175. I'm so glad I asked here instead of just assuming what my neighbor said about extra benefits. The childcare deduction is actually going to help way more in the long run. Thank you everyone for your help!
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Dylan Fisher
That's awesome! Congrats on the increase! 👏
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Leila Haddad
That's fantastic news! $175 more per month will make such a difference for your family. It's great that you were persistent and got through to update your case. This is a perfect example of why it's so important to report all eligible expenses - the system really doesn't automatically know about things like childcare costs. Hope this helps other people reading this thread to check their own cases too!
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