Just wanted to add that if you're having trouble getting through to your county office too, try calling first thing in the morning right when they open - like 8 AM sharp. That's when I finally got through to mine after days of busy signals. Also, some counties have online portals where you can send messages to your caseworker, which might be faster than phone calls. The whole system is so frustrating but don't give up - you deserve those benefits you were approved for!

I work in social services and can confirm what others have said - the EBT helpline (operated by FIS) can only help with card-related issues like PIN resets, balance checks, or reporting lost/stolen cards. They literally cannot load benefits onto your card even if they wanted to. That's handled entirely by your county CalFresh office. When your benefits don't appear after approval, 99% of the time it's because there's a missing step or documentation at the county level. Sometimes it's as simple as a worker forgetting to hit "submit" after entering your case information. I'd recommend calling your county office and specifically asking to speak with your assigned eligibility worker. If you don't know who that is, ask the receptionist to look up your case and connect you directly. Be prepared to provide your case number and SSN to verify your identity. Also, don't be afraid to escalate if the first person you talk to can't help - ask for a supervisor. Your benefits should typically load within 1-3 business days after approval, so if it's been longer than that, something definitely needs to be fixed on their end.

Yes, the ebtEDGE app is completely free! You can download it from the App Store or Google Play. For case numbers starting with 04, your benefits typically reload on the 4th of each month. So your June benefits should load on June 4th, and going forward it'll be the 4th every month. Just a heads up - the app sometimes takes a few hours to update after benefits load, so if you check early morning on the 4th and don't see them yet, don't panic! They're usually there by mid-morning. The app also lets you see your transaction history which is super helpful for budgeting.

Hey there! Just wanted to share my recent experience that might help ease your mind. I applied for CalFresh in Sacramento County back in March and had the exact same thing happen - no interview, just got a voicemail saying I was approved. I was skeptical at first (like some others mentioned), but it turned out to be completely legit! My EBT card arrived about 8 days after the voicemail, and all my benefits were there as promised. The approval letter came a day or two before the card. One tip that really helped me: I set up text alerts through the ebtEDGE app so I get notified immediately when benefits load or when I make purchases. Makes it much easier to keep track of everything. The no-interview thing is definitely real - my caseworker later explained that if you submit clear documentation and they can verify everything electronically, they can skip the interview to speed up the process. Sounds like you hit all the right marks with your application! Congrats on getting approved so quickly.

also dont 4get that u need to do the SAR7 every 6 months AND the recertification once a year... they're different forms and ppl get confused all the time

Just wanted to add that if you're still having trouble with BenefitsCal after trying all these suggestions, you can also visit your local county social services office in person. I know it's not as convenient as doing it online, but when I was having persistent login issues last year, I went in person with my recertification letter and they were able to help me complete it right there. They have computers you can use and staff who can walk you through the process if needed. You can find your local office location on the county website or by calling 211. Don't let the website issues cause you to miss your deadline - there are always backup options available!

I had the exact same issue last month! My daughter's P-EBT card showed $180 balance but kept getting declined everywhere. What finally worked for me was calling right at 8 AM (not 8:01 - literally right when they open) and following Alina's sequence: press 1, then 4, then 2, then stay completely silent when they ask for case info. The key is being patient during those automated prompts - don't press anything! After about 2-3 minutes it transferred me to hold. Took 35 minutes but I got through to someone who fixed it immediately. Turns out the card was "locked" due to multiple failed PIN attempts (my kid had been trying different combinations). They unlocked it right away and it worked at the store that same day. Good luck!

This is exactly what I needed! My 6-year-old's P-EBT card has been showing a balance but getting declined for over a week now. I've been calling every day during lunch breaks and getting nowhere with that automated system. I'm definitely going to try the 8 AM sharp approach with the 1-4-2-silence sequence that multiple people have confirmed works. Really appreciate everyone sharing their actual experiences and step-by-step instructions - it's so much more helpful than the generic "contact customer service" advice you get everywhere else. Will report back once I try it tomorrow morning!

Just wanted to add for anyone else reading this - if you're in a similar situation and need food right away while waiting for benefits to be restored, check out CalFresh Healthy Living's food resource finder at cafreshhl.org. They have a map that shows all the food banks and pantries in your area, plus their hours and what documentation (if any) they require. Some don't require any proof of income or CalFresh status. Also, if you have kids, remember that they might be eligible for free meals at school even if your CalFresh got discontinued - school meal programs have different eligibility rules. Hope this helps someone!

Just went through this exact same thing last month! Lost both regular and emergency allotment when I missed my SAR7 by 3 days. The emergency allotment is tied to having active benefits that month, so no regular CalFresh = no extra payment either. But the good news is you can get restored pretty quickly if you act fast! I submitted my late SAR7 online and got my benefits back within a week. Pro tip: when you submit through BenefitsCal, there's a dropdown where you can select "Late SAR7 - Request Restoration" which helps flag it for faster processing. Also set up those text reminders right away so this doesn't happen again - I wish I had done that sooner!