That's great news! Make sure when you go in tomorrow to ask them for a list of all documents they need to complete the theft investigation so you don't have to make multiple trips. Also ask them to note in your file that you've verified your identity in person - this sometimes speeds up the investigation. Glad you're getting some relief!

good 4 u!!! put a freeze on ur card when ur not using it btw. u can do it in the app now

To follow up on the expedited services question - you qualify for expedited CalFresh if: 1. Your household has less than $150 in monthly gross income and no more than $100 in liquid resources (like cash or bank accounts), OR 2. Your combined monthly gross income and liquid resources are less than your monthly housing costs (rent/mortgage and utilities), OR 3. You're a migrant or seasonal farmworker household with less than $100 in liquid resources. If any of these apply to you, definitely call and request expedited processing. Even if you've already applied, they should still follow the expedited timeline once you request it.

UPDATE: I called the county number and after waiting for 45 minutes, finally got through! They said my application is still pending but scheduled for an interview tomorrow afternoon. The worker mentioned they're currently processing applications from 8-10 days ago, so that matches what several of you said about the timeline. Thanks everyone for your help and advice! Will update again after my interview.

update on mine: called today and found out the wrong-name card was actually for summer 2025 and the first card was for spring 2025 benefits! so check if yours are actually for different time periods, they might both be valid!

Thanks for the update! I finally got through to someone this morning after using that Claimyr service (which worked great btw). Turns out mine WAS a duplicate caused by a data entry error. They flagged it in their system and told me to destroy it. They said the funds will never load onto it since it's been marked as an error. Glad I checked before activating it!

Just a tip - when you receive the replacement P-EBT card, immediately create an online account at connectebt.com to monitor activity. You can set up text alerts for transactions, check balances, and review transaction history. This way, if your card ever gets lost again, you'll know immediately if someone is using it. Also, don't forget to destroy the old card if you find it later, as it will no longer work and could create confusion.

UPDATE: I called the P-EBT number (877-328-9677) and after about 45 minutes on hold, finally spoke to someone. They canceled the old card and are sending a replacement. They confirmed no one had used any benefits since I last used it three days ago. The new card should arrive in 7-10 business days. Thanks everyone for your help!

yes they count everyone in the household's income! my teenage daughter works part time and they counted it. super annoying bcuz she saves that money for college but whatever

@profile7 If your 17-year-old is in school at least half-time, his income should be EXEMPT from the CalFresh calculation. Make sure to mention that he's a student during your interview and on the application. This is a special student exemption that many workers forget to apply! Also, once approved, remember you'll need to report changes on your SAR7 (Semi-Annual Report) if your household income goes above the IRT (Income Reporting Threshold) they assign you. This is usually 130% of your monthly income when you're approved.

That's awesome! Congratulations! This gives me hope. I'm going to keep calling daily too. Did they backdate your benefits to when you first applied?

Yes! They backdated to my application date so I got the full amount I was supposed to receive. Honestly I think the only reason they finally processed it was because I mentioned filing for that administrative hearing thing someone else talked about on here. Suddenly they found my \

Important information for everyone concerned about this change: Your regular CalFresh benefit amount is based on your household size, income, and expenses. If your circumstances have changed since your last certification or SAR7 report, you should contact your county office immediately. Specifically, make sure they have accurate information about: - Your current rent/mortgage amount - Utility costs (you may qualify for the Standard Utility Allowance) - Childcare or dependent care expenses - Medical expenses over $35/month for elderly or disabled household members - Child support payments Each of these deductions can significantly increase your base benefit amount. Don't wait until your next SAR7 or recertification to report these changes if they'll help your benefit calculation.

Has anyone received an official letter from CalFresh about the exact date in March when the emergency allotments will be issued? Some counties seem to be doing it early March, others late March. I need to plan my budget very carefully with this change.

sooo did anyone else notice they got less p-ebt this year than last year? my daughters benefit went down by like $30/month and i cant figure out why

my kids got theirs this week! the envelope is super basic with a little window. honestly i wouldnt have known what it was except they said at the school meeting to watch for it. when i opened it there was a letter explaining the amount and how to activate the card. u have to call and set a pin before u can use it btw

Just went through this headache last week! First, P-EBT and regular EBT are totally different systems even though the cards look similar. Update your address with: 1. Your child's school (most important) 2. P-EBT hotline (877-328-9677) When calling, I selected option 4 then option 2. Waited about 35 minutes. Definitely use the P-EBT card number when they ask, not your regular EBT. Also discovered that if you also have regular CalFresh, you need to update that address separately through your county office or BenefitsCal. The systems don't talk to each other which is so frustrating!

wat if u lost the pebt card? my kids got them last year but i think i threw them out cuz i didnt know wat they were lol

thx for info, just signed up for alerts

Update: My benefits just loaded! About 36 hours late but they're finally there. Thanks everyone for your help and suggestions during my mini-panic. I've signed up for text alerts now so hopefully I'll be notified if this happens again.