This is such a helpful thread! I'm dealing with the same issue for my daughter (last name starts with E) - should have gotten her Summer EBT card by June 15th but nothing yet. After reading everyone's experiences, I'm pretty sure it's the address issue. I moved last year and updated everything with the school and BenefitsCal, but apparently that's not enough for Summer EBT. Going to try calling my county CalFresh office first thing Monday morning, and if that doesn't work, I'll check out Claimyr. Thanks especially to @Ben Cooper for the update - really gives me hope that this can get resolved! It's frustrating that we have to jump through so many hoops just to get benefits our kids qualify for, but at least now I know what steps to take.

I'm going through the exact same thing right now! My son's last name starts with C and we should have gotten his Summer EBT card by May 31st according to the schedule. It's so frustrating - I've been calling that 877-328-9677 number for days but can never get through. Reading through all these comments, it sounds like the address issue is super common this year. I'm definitely going to try my county CalFresh office first like @Rosie Harper suggested, and if that doesn't work I'll check out Claimyr. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - it's reassuring to know I'm not the only one dealing with this mess! Really hoping they fix these system issues for next year because this is ridiculous.

one time i tried using ebt for hot chocolate at the starbucks in target and it didnt work but the bottles in the grocery part worked fine with ebt so yeah prepared = no, groceries = yes

Just wanted to add that if you're looking for coffee alternatives you can buy with EBT, instant coffee, coffee beans, ground coffee, and even coffee creamers are all eligible! I get my coffee fix by buying a bag of ground coffee and some flavored creamers - way cheaper than Starbucks anyway. You can also buy tea bags, hot chocolate mix, and other drink mixes to make at home. The key is anything you have to prepare yourself at home is usually good to go with CalFresh benefits.

Thank you all so much for the helpful information! I just submitted our application online through BenefitsCal. I included all the info about my sister moving in and our current income situation. Hopefully it all goes smoothly! I'll update when I hear back about our eligibility.

Best of luck with your application! Just wanted to add that if you need any documents translated or have language barriers during the process, Kern County is required to provide interpretation services for free. Also, don't be discouraged if they ask for additional verification - it's pretty standard. They might want proof that your sister actually lives with you now (like a utility bill with her name, or a statement from you both confirming she's moved in). The whole process can take up to 30 days, but often it's faster. Keep us posted on how it goes!

I work at a local community center that helps families navigate benefit programs, and I see this situation pretty regularly. A few things that might help while you're dealing with the replacement: 1. Some grocery stores will let you do a "manual voucher" transaction if you can provide proof that you have P-EBT benefits but lost the card. You'd need documentation showing the benefits were issued to your child. Not all stores do this, but it's worth asking at customer service. 2. If your son's dad is willing to help with the call, sometimes having the custodial parent information ready speeds things up - they may ask about custody arrangements or who's authorized to make changes to the account. 3. For future reference, many parents don't realize you can actually request a second card for the same account (like having one for each household in shared custody situations). Might be worth asking about when you call for the replacement. The 877 number is definitely right, and definitely emphasize that it's P-EBT 3.0 when you call. Good luck - I hope you get through quickly and your son gets his food assistance restored soon!

I just went through this exact same situation two months ago with my daughter's P-EBT 3.0 card! Here's what worked for me: Definitely call 877-328-9677 (that number is correct), but try calling right at 8am when they open - I got through in about 20 minutes versus the 2+ hour waits later in the day. Have everything ready: your son's full name exactly as it appears on school records, DOB, school name, and your current address. One thing that really helped speed up my call - I found the original P-EBT welcome letter in my files which had some reference numbers on it. Not required, but the rep said it made the process much faster. For this weekend, call your son's school Monday morning to ask about their weekend food backpack program if they have one. Also, some grocery stores will do manual voucher transactions if you can show proof of the P-EBT benefits (like old statements or the welcome letter). My replacement card came in exactly 7 business days, and they immediately canceled the old card when I called so no one could use it if they found it. Make sure to ask them to confirm the cancellation! Hang in there - I know how stressful this is when you're counting on those benefits. You'll get through this!

I went through this exact situation last year when we had rolling blackouts in my area. Your son definitely qualifies for replacement benefits! A few tips from my experience: 1) Call the county office early in the morning (they're less busy), 2) Have his case number ready when he calls, 3) Ask them to email him the CF 303 form so he can fill it out ahead of time, and 4) The utility company can usually provide a power outage verification letter online or over the phone pretty quickly. In my case, they replaced the full amount I lost ($180) within about a week. Don't let him stress too much - this is exactly what the replacement program is designed for!

I work for a county social services office and can confirm that CalFresh replacement benefits are absolutely available for power outages! Your son should call his county CalFresh office as soon as possible (definitely within the 10-day window). He'll need to request Form CF 303 and provide documentation of the power outage from his utility company. One thing I'd add that others haven't mentioned - he should also check if his renters/homeowners insurance covers food loss due to power outages. Some policies will reimburse for spoiled food, and if he gets insurance money, he'll need to report that to CalFresh. But don't let that delay filing the CalFresh replacement request! The county can adjust things later if needed. Good luck to your son - this is a very common situation and the system is set up to help in exactly these circumstances.