Quick update for everyone - I just called about this (last name M in Solano) and apparently they're doing Solano County M surnames in two batches - May 28th and June 2nd. So if you haven't received yours yet, you're probably in that June 2nd batch which should be hitting cards by tomorrow or Wednesday. Hope that helps!

Just wanted to update everyone - I'm also in Solano County with last name M and mine finally loaded this morning! So for anyone still waiting, keep checking. It looks like that June 2nd batch Owen mentioned is right on schedule. The amount was $120 per kid which matches what I was expecting. Really grateful to have this extra help with summer groceries - it makes such a difference when the kids are home all day!

I'm in almost the exact same boat as you! Got approved for $28/month working part-time at Target. At first I was frustrated too, but honestly it's been a lifesaver for buying basics like oatmeal, peanut butter, and canned goods. The thing that surprised me was how much further it goes when you focus on cost-per-serving instead of just looking at the total. Also, if your hours ever get cut (which happens a lot in retail), you can report that change right away and potentially get more benefits without waiting for your next review. Definitely worth getting the card - I've been using mine for almost a year now and it really does add up!

Congrats on getting approved, Kai! I know it's frustrating when the amount seems so small, but $22 is actually pretty typical for your income level. I'm a single person working similar hours and got $19/month when I first applied. What really helped me was calling to make sure they had all my expense documentation - turns out they missed my utility costs entirely. Also, don't underestimate how much that $22 can stretch! I use mine exclusively for pantry staples like rice, beans, oats, and eggs at discount stores. It covers my basics for the month and frees up my cash for other necessities. Definitely get that EBT card - worst case you're out nothing, best case you save $22+ every month on groceries!

I had the exact same worries when my caseworker first mentioned the BenefitsCal portal! After reading everyone's experiences here, I decided to give it a try last month and it went smoothly. Here's what helped me feel more secure: - I used a secure internet connection at home, not public wifi - Made sure to completely close my browser when finished - Took photos of all my documents with my phone before uploading, just as backup - Called my county office 2 days after uploading to confirm they received everything The website version worked much better than the app for me too. My documents showed up in their system within 24 hours and I got my recertification approved in under a week. Way faster than when I used to mail everything in! One tip: if you're still nervous, you could try uploading just one non-sensitive document first (like a utility bill) to test how the system works before submitting your more important financial paperwork. That's what I did and it helped build my confidence with the process.

I was in your exact same situation a few months ago - super paranoid about identity theft after my neighbor got scammed. What finally convinced me to try BenefitsCal was when I realized I was spending 3-4 hours every month just getting to the county office, waiting in line, and dealing with paperwork potentially getting lost. I started by just creating an account and checking my benefit status without uploading anything. Once I saw how the interface worked and felt comfortable navigating it, I uploaded my first document - just a simple address verification letter. Getting that confirmation number and seeing it show up as "received" in my account the next day was such a relief! Now I've been using it for 6 months and honestly can't imagine going back to the old way. The key things that made me feel secure were: using my home wifi (never public), always logging out completely, and keeping screenshots of every confirmation page. For your SAR7, I'd definitely recommend the website over the app - it's more stable and you can easily save your confirmation pages as PDFs. The peace of mind from instant confirmation that your documents were received is worth overcoming the initial nervousness. Good luck!

Hey Amara! Congrats on getting approved for CalFresh! 🎉 I see you've gotten tons of great advice already. Just wanted to share one more tip since you mentioned you're new to the program - if you ever need to update your information or report changes, you can do a lot of it online through BenefitsCal instead of having to call or visit the office. Super convenient! Also, since you're thinking about saving up benefits for bigger shopping trips like someone mentioned with Costco, don't forget that CalFresh can be used at farmers markets too if you want to get fresh produce. Many markets even have programs that match your EBT dollars for fruits and veggies. Enjoy your trip to Arizona and welcome to the community!

One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is that you should also keep your EBT card secure while traveling - treat it like a debit card! If it gets lost or stolen while you're out of state, you'll need to call the customer service number immediately to report it. They can usually rush a replacement card to you, but it might take a few days which could leave you in a tough spot while traveling. I always make sure to have the customer service number saved in my phone before any trips, just in case. Also, some states have different rules about what you can buy with EBT (like energy drinks or certain prepared foods), so don't be surprised if something that works in California gets declined elsewhere. Have an amazing time visiting your sister!

This is such a helpful thread! I just started receiving CalFresh benefits two months ago and have been so paranoid about doing anything that might affect my deposits. I actually avoided using the freeze feature entirely because I was worried it would somehow block my benefits from coming through. Reading everyone's experiences here - especially Paolo's successful outcome - has really eased my anxiety about this. It's reassuring to know that the EBT system is designed to keep benefit deposits separate from card security features. I'm definitely going to start using the freeze function now, especially when I'm traveling or if I can't find my card right away. Thanks everyone for sharing your knowledge and experiences!

This whole discussion has been incredibly eye-opening! I've been on CalFresh for about a year now and honestly never fully understood how the freeze function worked. Like many others here, I was always hesitant to use it because I worried it might somehow interfere with my benefits or cause issues with the system. Reading through Paolo's original question and seeing everyone's real-world experiences has been so reassuring. The analogy about the frozen card being like a locked house where mail still gets delivered really clicked for me - it perfectly explains how the benefit deposit system works independently from the card's spending functionality. I'm definitely going to start using the freeze feature more proactively now, especially the tip about freezing between shopping trips to prevent card skimmers. It's amazing how a feature that seemed risky before now feels like an essential security tool. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and knowledge here!