I'm going through something similar right now! My kids have been getting free school meals since 2020, but I only received that very first P-EBT card. I had no idea there were multiple rounds - this thread is eye-opening. Reading everyone's experiences, it sounds like there's a good chance I have benefits sitting somewhere too. I'm definitely going to try calling the P-EBT hotline tomorrow morning early like Julian suggested. Has anyone had luck getting through on certain days of the week? I'm wondering if there are better times to call to avoid those busy signals that Lauren mentioned. Also, should I call my school district first to make sure they have my current address, or is it better to start with the P-EBT hotline directly? Thanks for all the detailed info everyone - this community is amazing!

I'm in almost the exact same boat as you Vanessa! Got that first P-EBT card in 2020 for my daughter but haven't seen anything since, even though she's been on free lunch this whole time. Reading through all these comments has been super enlightening - I had no idea there were so many different rounds of P-EBT benefits over the years. It's crazy how inconsistent the system seems to be with who gets cards and when. I'm definitely going to try calling that hotline number tomorrow and checking with my daughter's school to make sure they have our current address. Thanks for posting this question and thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and tips! It's given me hope that we might have some unclaimed benefits waiting out there too.

tried the app too, same maintenance message. this whole system needs a complete overhaul!! 😡

I'm having the exact same problem! Been trying to access my EBT account for 4 days straight and keep getting that maintenance page. What's really frustrating is that there's no clear communication about when it will be fixed - first they said a few days, then the 15th, now the 17th? My family depends on these benefits and not being able to check our balance makes meal planning impossible. I tried calling the customer service line multiple times but either get disconnected or wait over an hour just to be told they can't help with website issues. This system really needs better communication and backup options for when the main site goes down. At least we're all in this together!

To summarize for anyone reading this thread in the future: 1. Vehicles (owned or leased) are not counted as assets for CalFresh in any California county, including San Bernardino 2. You should report acquiring a new vehicle on your SAR7 in the changes section 3. Lease payments are considered regular expenses and don't directly impact your benefit calculation 4. Keep documentation showing the vehicle is necessary for work purposes 5. San Bernardino County follows the same state regulations as other counties, though administrative practices may vary The most important thing is to report changes accurately and timely to avoid any potential overpayment issues down the road.

As someone who recently went through a similar situation in San Bernardino County, I wanted to share my experience to hopefully ease your worries! I leased a 2024 Toyota Corolla ($315/month) about 6 months ago while receiving CalFresh benefits, and everything went smoothly. Here's what I learned: - The lease itself won't affect your CalFresh eligibility at all - I reported it on my SAR7 under the "changes in household" section and included a copy of my lease agreement - My worker asked a few basic questions about why I needed the car (I'm also a gig worker - DoorDash), but it was just routine verification - My benefits stayed exactly the same The key is being proactive about reporting it and having documentation ready. Since you drive for Instacart, definitely keep some proof of that income/work arrangement to show the car is a necessity for your job. San Bernardino County gets a reputation for being difficult, but in my experience with this specific issue, they were actually pretty straightforward once I had the proper paperwork. Good luck with your new lease - sounds like you found a great deal that will help you keep working!

I went through this exact same situation last year when I moved from Fresno to Kern County! The app confusion is so stressful when you're trying to budget for groceries. One thing that really helped me was writing down the phone number from the back of my EBT card and keeping it in my phone contacts as "EBT Balance Check" so I could quickly call anytime I needed to verify my balance while the app was being weird. Also, pro tip - if you're shopping and want to be extra sure about your balance before checkout, most grocery stores will let you do a balance inquiry at the card reader before you start shopping. Just select "EBT" and then "Balance Inquiry" instead of payment. That way you know exactly what you have to spend without any surprises at the register! The app will eventually catch up, but in the meantime the phone system and balance inquiry at stores are your best friends. Hang in there!

This is such a common issue and it's frustrating how little guidance they give you about what to expect during the transfer process! I went through something similar when I moved from Orange County to Ventura County last fall. One thing I learned is that even though your benefits transfer over, sometimes your PIN might get reset during the process (happened to my neighbor). If you have any issues using your card after confirming your balance is there, you might need to call and reset your PIN. The customer service rep can walk you through it over the phone. Also, keep all your paperwork from both counties during the transition period! I had to prove my transfer date later when there was a mix-up with my recertification notice. Having those documents saved me a lot of headaches. Glad to hear you were able to confirm your benefits are actually on your card! The phone system really is more reliable than the app, especially during transfers.

This is exactly why I always recommend keeping a detailed log of every interaction with CalFresh - date, time, worker name/ID, what was discussed, and any reference numbers. It's saved me so many times when workers claim they never received something or that I was told something different. Also, if you're comfortable sharing, what county are you in? Some counties have better phone systems than others - like LA County has a callback option now where you don't have to stay on hold. And definitely follow up on that appeal advice from Diego - they absolutely cannot cut benefits without proper notice specifying exactly what's missing. The fact that your letter just said "missing verification" with no details is a clear procedural violation.

I'm so sorry you're going through this - the 3+ hour wait times are absolutely ridiculous and shouldn't be normal in 2025. I'm dealing with something similar right now where my case worker seems to have "lost" my recertification paperwork even though I submitted everything on time through the portal. One thing that's helped me is taking screenshots of EVERYTHING when I upload documents - the confirmation page, the timestamp, even the file names. I also learned you can request a "telephonic hearing" for your appeal which means you don't have to take another day off work to go to the office in person. And definitely ask for that Case Review Conference that others mentioned - it's way faster than a formal appeal. The system is completely broken and it's designed to wear us down until we give up. But don't let them win - your kids deserve those benefits and you've earned them through your work. Keep fighting and document everything. You've got this! 💪