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I'm also nervous about this chip card rollout! I've been on CalFresh for about 6 months now and my family gets $1,050/month for our household of 4. Reading about Oregon's problems is really concerning. I think I'm going to follow everyone's advice here and call my county office to make sure my address is updated, plus maybe start buying a few extra shelf-stable items each shopping trip just in case there are delays. Does anyone know if we'll be able to use both the old and new cards at the same time during the transition period, or do we have to immediately switch over once we activate the new one? I'm in San Bernardino County if that makes a difference for timing.
From what I've read in the earlier comments, it sounds like there will be a short overlap period where both cards work, but you should activate the new chip card as soon as you get it. @Dmitry mentioned that "old cards will still work for a short transition period" so you should have some buffer time. San Bernardino County will probably be in one of the earlier rollout phases since it's a larger county, so you might get your new card sooner rather than later. Your plan to stock up on shelf-stable items is really smart - I'm doing the same thing after hearing about all these potential issues. Better safe than sorry when it comes to feeding our families!
This whole chip card transition is making me so anxious! I'm a single mom with 3 kids and we get $1,325/month in CalFresh benefits - it's literally what keeps us fed. After reading about Oregon's nightmare rollout, I'm really scared something will go wrong. I'm going to start preparing now by: 1) calling my county office to triple-check my address is correct, 2) signing up for text alerts on BenefitsCal, 3) starting to buy extra canned goods and rice/pasta each shopping trip to build up a small emergency stash, and 4) writing down all the important phone numbers and keeping them handy. It's so stressful that we have to worry about losing access to basic food assistance during what should be a routine security upgrade. Has anyone heard if there will be any kind of hotline or emergency assistance specifically for chip card transition problems? I really hope California learned from other states' mistakes and this goes smoothly for all of us families who depend on these benefits.
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I'm really sorry you're going through this stress with your benefits disappearing - having to worry about feeding your kids because of system glitches is absolutely unacceptable. While I understand the frustration that makes paper stamps seem appealing, the EBT system does have some important protections once you know how to navigate it. Based on what others have shared here, it sounds like there might be a known system issue affecting multiple accounts right now. I'd definitely recommend trying that Claimyr service someone mentioned to actually get through to your county worker - sometimes these technical problems can be fixed in minutes once you reach the right person who can see what's flagging your account. In the meantime, if your family is facing immediate food insecurity, don't forget that many local food banks and community organizations can provide emergency assistance while you're waiting for this to get resolved. Your kids shouldn't have to go hungry because of bureaucratic system failures. Keep documenting everything and don't give up - you're entitled to those benefits and there are people here rooting for you to get this fixed!
This is such great advice, especially about the food banks! I completely forgot about those resources while I've been so focused on trying to fix the EBT issue. You're absolutely right that the kids shouldn't have to suffer because of system problems. I'm going to look up local food banks today while I'm also trying to reach my county worker. Thank you for the reminder that there are people in the community who want to help - sometimes when you're dealing with bureaucracy all day it's easy to forget that!
This is so frustrating and I completely understand your anger about the system! I've been a CalFresh recipient for about a year now and while I haven't had benefits completely disappear like yours, I've definitely experienced the nightmare of trying to reach someone at the county office. One thing that worked for me when I had a different EBT issue was calling the state's CalFresh hotline (1-877-847-3663) instead of just the EBT customer service line. They have access to different systems and can sometimes see things that the regular EBT folks can't. Also, they tend to have shorter wait times than calling your county directly. I know everyone's suggesting different ways to reach your county worker, but if none of those pan out, you can also file a complaint with the California Department of Social Services online. When there's an official complaint filed, counties are required to respond within specific timeframes. Hang in there - this shouldn't be happening to families and you have every right to be upset. Your kids deserve better than this broken system putting their food security at risk!
Thank you for sharing that state hotline number! I had no idea there was a separate CalFresh hotline beyond the regular EBT customer service. That's exactly the kind of information I needed - sometimes you don't know what resources exist until someone who's been through it shares their experience. I'm definitely going to try calling 1-877-847-3663 today before attempting the county office again. And good point about filing an official complaint if nothing else works - I didn't realize that would force them to respond within certain timeframes. It's frustrating that we have to become experts in navigating all these different systems just to access basic food assistance, but I really appreciate you taking the time to share what worked for you!
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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!
How did you actually get through to a HUMAN?? I've called that number 5 TIMES and just get stuck in the automated system that tells me NOTHING useful!!!
I didn't call the main P-EBT line - I called my regular Solano County CalFresh office and asked them to check the system. Sometimes the county workers can see more detailed distribution schedules than what the state hotline tells you. Try the Solano County benefits line at 707-553-5311 and choose the CalFresh option.
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!
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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!
Thanks Ryder! It's good to hear from someone in a similar situation. I work retail too and you're absolutely right about hours getting cut - that happens way more often than I'd like. I didn't realize you could report changes right away instead of waiting for the review period. That's actually really helpful to know! I'm starting to feel better about the $22 after reading everyone's responses. Sounds like focusing on cost-per-serving and basics like you mentioned is the way to go. Did you have any trouble getting your EBT card initially, or did it come pretty quickly after approval?
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!
Mason Kaczka
This whole thread has been such a lifesaver! I'm pretty new to the CalFresh program and honestly had no clue that the state would send out replacement cards for security reasons. When I first signed up a few months ago, I was so worried about all the scam stories I'd heard that I probably would have panicked if I got an unexpected card in the mail. Alice, thank you so much for sharing your experience and walking through the whole process - from the initial concern to the successful resolution. It really helps to see that there are legitimate reasons for these cards and safe ways to handle them. I'm definitely bookmarking that official customer service number (1-877-328-9677) and Samantha's activation steps. It's incredible how much peace of mind comes from understanding these processes. This community is amazing for helping newcomers like me feel more confident about navigating the system!
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StarSeeker
•Absolutely agree with everything you said! I'm also brand new to CalFresh (just got approved last week actually) and this entire conversation has been incredibly educational. Before reading this, I would have definitely freaked out if I received an unexpected EBT card. Alice's experience really shows the importance of staying calm and verifying things through official channels rather than panicking. I'm so grateful for communities like this where experienced members share their knowledge and newcomers can learn from real situations. Already saved that customer service number and screenshot the activation steps - feeling much more prepared now if this happens to me!
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Aisha Mahmood
I'm really grateful I stumbled across this thread! I just started receiving CalFresh benefits about 3 weeks ago and honestly had no idea the state would proactively send replacement cards for security upgrades. Coming from someone who's still learning the ropes, Alice's experience and how everyone rallied to help with accurate information is exactly what makes this community so valuable. I was already pretty anxious about potential scams since I'm new to all this, so seeing the step-by-step guidance on how to safely verify and activate a replacement card gives me so much confidence. Definitely saving that official number (1-877-328-9677) and the activation process. It's amazing how much clearer everything becomes when you have real people sharing their actual experiences rather than trying to figure it out alone. Thank you Alice for following up with the resolution too - that really helps complete the picture for those of us who might face this situation in the future!
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Giovanni Greco
•This has been such an informative thread for all of us newcomers! I just joined this community and started receiving CalFresh benefits recently, so I'm still learning about all these processes. Like everyone else here, I had no idea about the proactive security upgrades - I definitely would have been worried if I got an unexpected card too. It's really reassuring to see how Alice handled the situation so carefully and that it worked out well. I'm also saving that official customer service number and the activation steps everyone shared. What I love most about this community is how willing everyone is to share their experiences and help each other out. It makes navigating these government programs feel so much less overwhelming when you have real people who've been through similar situations offering guidance. Thanks to everyone who contributed - this thread is going to be super helpful for future reference!
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