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- DO post questions about your issues.
- DO answer questions and support each other.
- DO post tips & tricks to help folks.
- DO NOT post call problems here - there is a support tab at the top for that :)
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Thank you for the update! I finally got in using Chrome (was using Safari before). My benefits did load correctly today. Such a relief! Will definitely be more prepared next time with screenshots and receipts as others suggested.
I've been dealing with CalFresh for about 6 months now and this is such helpful information! I had no idea about the EBT customer service line at 877-328-9677 - that's going to be a lifesaver for checking balances when the website is down. Also really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences with keeping documentation. As a new recipient, I've been pretty trusting that the system just works, but clearly I need to start taking screenshots and getting receipts for everything. This community is so valuable for learning these practical tips that they definitely don't tell you about during the application process!
Welcome to the CalFresh community! You're absolutely right that they don't tell you about these practical workarounds during the application process. I've been receiving benefits for about 2 years now and learned most of these tips the hard way through situations like this login issue. The EBT customer service line is definitely a lifesaver - I keep that number saved in my phone contacts now. Also, if you ever need to submit documents urgently and the online portal is down, most county offices will accept fax submissions too. Don't hesitate to ask questions here - this community has been incredibly helpful for navigating all the quirks of the system!
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My friend got a flyer about some town hall meeting where they are discussing the benefits increase. I think its happening at the community center next week. Maybe you could go and ask questions?
That's likely a community meeting about local food resources rather than an official announcement about CalFresh increases. The COLA is determined at the federal level by USDA, not at local town halls. But these community meetings can be great sources of information about additional food resources in your area, so still worth attending.
I'm new to CalFresh and this thread has been super helpful! Just wanted to add that I found the official USDA Food and Nutrition Service website has a section where they post the annual benefit adjustments once they're finalized. It's usually updated around late August/early September. The URL is fns.usda.gov if anyone wants to bookmark it for official updates rather than relying on rumors. Also, @Hailey O'Leary definitely report that childcare expense ASAP - that could make a huge difference in your monthly benefits while you're waiting for any COLA increase!
Thanks for sharing that official USDA link @Luca Russo! As someone who's been on CalFresh for about 6 months now, I've learned the hard way that there's so much misinformation floating around about benefit changes. Having an official source to check is really valuable. I've been following this whole conversation and it's wild how much I didn't know - like the childcare deduction thing that @Hailey O'Leary discovered. Makes me wonder what other deductions I might be missing out on. Going to definitely bookmark that USDA site and maybe review my own case to see if I'm claiming everything I'm entitled to.
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Just to clarify for everyone: P-EBT 4.0 for Summer 2025 should be approximately $490 total per eligible child, distributed in 2-3 payments. The first payment is typically $120, with the remainder split into 1-2 additional payments over 6-8 weeks. The payments load automatically onto the P-EBT card - no additional action needed if your child already received the first payment. If you haven't received any payments but believe your child qualifies, contact their school first to verify they were included on the eligibility list. For those asking about regular CalFresh - that's separate from P-EBT, requires its own application, and provides monthly benefits year-round based on household income and expenses.
Thank you for the clear explanation! This makes so much more sense now. I'll wait for the remaining payments and check the card balance weekly.
Just wanted to add that you can check your P-EBT card balance anytime by calling the customer service number on the back of your card or visiting the ebtEDGE website. I set up text alerts for when new payments are loaded, which has been really helpful for tracking when the next installment arrives. Also, if you're still having trouble reaching someone by phone, try calling first thing in the morning (around 8 AM) - that's when I've had the most success getting through to a real person without waiting forever on hold.
Thanks for the tip about calling at 8 AM! I tried calling yesterday afternoon and was on hold for over an hour before giving up. Will definitely try the morning approach next time. The text alerts sound really useful too - I had no idea that was an option. Do you know if you can set those up online or do you have to call to activate them?
You can set up the text alerts through the ebtEDGE website! Just log in with your card number and create an account if you haven't already, then go to the notifications section. It's super convenient - I get a text within a few hours whenever any money gets loaded. Way better than having to remember to check the balance manually all the time.
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UPDATE: I finally got through to a supervisor at my county office. Turns out the worker had entered my medical expenses in the wrong field in their system, so they weren't being counted in the calculation! The supervisor fixed it and recalculated my benefits on the spot. I now qualify for $281/month in CalFresh! She said I can withdraw my appeal since it's resolved. So relieved I don't have to go through with the hearing. Thanks everyone for your help and advice!
That's fantastic news! I'm so glad you were persistent and got it resolved. This is exactly why it's so important to understand your rights and the rules. Make sure you keep all your medical receipts organized going forward, as they'll likely ask for verification again at your next recertification. Congrats on getting the benefits you deserve!
Congratulations on getting it resolved! Your story is so helpful for others in similar situations. It's really telling that it was just a data entry error in their system - makes you wonder how many people get wrongly denied because of these kinds of mistakes. I'm dealing with a similar issue right now with my recertification and this gives me hope that persistence pays off. Did you have to provide any additional documentation to the supervisor, or were they able to see your medical expenses in the system once they looked in the right place?
Hi everyone! I'm new to this community and just wanted to say how helpful this thread has been. I'm currently dealing with a CalFresh application myself and reading about everyone's experiences is really eye-opening. @CosmicCadet, your situation sounds almost identical to what I'm going through - I'm also on SSDI and they initially said I made "too much" without considering my medical expenses. Did the supervisor ask you to bring in new paperwork or were they able to pull up what you had already submitted? I'm trying to figure out if I should gather more documentation before I call them. Thanks for sharing your success story - it gives me hope that there's light at the end of the tunnel!
Liam O'Donnell
UPDATE: You guys were right! I just checked my EBT account this morning (Saturday) and the funds are now available! Looks like it took about 24 hours from authorized to available. Thanks everyone for your help and reassurance!
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Sofia Perez
•Yay! So glad it worked out! Always such a relief when the benefits finally show up.
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Dmitry Smirnov
•Great news! For future reference, this authorization-to-available delay is completely normal. The system typically refreshes overnight, which explains why many people notice funds becoming available early in the morning. Thanks for updating us!
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Jay Lincoln
So glad you got your benefits sorted out! This is actually a really helpful thread for anyone else who might experience this. I went through the same thing a few months ago and was panicking because I didn't understand what "authorized" meant. It's frustrating that the EBT system doesn't explain these statuses better - a simple note saying "funds will be available within 1-2 business days" would save so much stress. Thanks for sharing your experience and the update!
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Hunter Brighton
•Totally agree! The EBT system really needs better user interface design. I'm new to CalFresh and had no idea what any of these statuses meant when I first started. Even just a simple FAQ section on the website explaining "authorized vs available" would help so many people avoid unnecessary panic. It's already stressful enough relying on these benefits without having to guess what the system messages mean!
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