Congratulations on your new baby! Yes, you should definitely get an increase for your second child. CalFresh benefits are calculated based on household size, so each additional person (including babies) increases your maximum benefit amount. The increase won't be as much as when you first added your 3-year-old because of how the benefit formula works, but you should still see a decent bump - probably around $120-180 more per month based on what others have shared. Make sure to report the change within 10 days of the birth and have your baby's birth certificate ready. You can try calling during off-peak hours (like mid-morning on weekdays) to avoid the longest wait times. Don't give up - that extra money will really help with all the new baby expenses!

Congratulations on your new baby! You should definitely see an increase in your CalFresh benefits. Each person in your household counts toward the benefit calculation, so adding your newborn will bump up your monthly amount. Based on what others have shared here, you're probably looking at an extra $120-180 per month. I'd recommend calling first thing in the morning (like 8:30am) or right after lunch around 1pm - those tend to be less busy times. Have your baby's birth certificate ready and mention any childcare costs for your 3-year-old since that can also affect your benefit amount. The increase should be backdated to when you report the change, not when they finally process it, so don't delay! Good luck getting through to them.

This is such a stressful situation! I had something similar happen with my regular CalFresh card last year. One thing I learned is that you should also file a report with your local police department for mail theft - having that police report number can actually help speed up the replacement process when you call EBT customer service. The police might not be able to do much about it, but at least it creates an official record. Also, if you have any security cameras or neighbors with cameras that might have caught someone taking mail from your box, mention that to the police too. Mail theft is a federal crime so they do take it seriously even if it doesn't always lead to arrests. I hope you get this sorted out quickly - it's so unfair that people steal from families who need these benefits!

I'm so sorry this happened to you! As someone new to navigating P-EBT, this is exactly the kind of situation I worry about. Reading through all these responses has been really eye-opening - I had no idea there were so many steps you could take beyond just calling the customer service line. The tip about taking a screenshot of your Informed Delivery email is brilliant, and I never would have thought to file a police report for mail theft. It's really unfortunate that this seems to be such a common problem. I'm definitely going to be extra vigilant when my family's P-EBT card is supposed to arrive. Thank you for sharing your experience and I hope you get everything sorted out quickly!

Just wanted to add that while you're waiting for your replacement card, make sure to keep checking your old card balance online or through the app in case it somehow turns up during your move! I thought I lost mine once and found it wedged between some boxes weeks later. The balance will still be there even after they deactivate it if you find the physical card, but you'd need to call them to reactivate it instead of waiting for the replacement. Hope your new card arrives quickly!

I just went through this exact same situation last month! The stress is real when you're counting on those benefits. One thing that helped me while waiting for my replacement was calling ahead to stores to ask if they had any technical issues with EBT systems that day - saved me a few trips when the new card finally arrived. Also, if you have multiple kids on the P-EBT program, make sure to mention all of them when you call so they can consolidate everything onto one replacement card. The customer service rep initially only processed one of my kids and I had to call back. Good luck with everything!

Based on all the comments here, it seems there's no general extra benefit for October, but there are several possibilities for what your neighbor might be referring to. The most important takeaway is to make sure you're maximizing your regular benefits by reporting: 1. All allowable deductions (childcare, excess medical costs for elderly/disabled household members, child support payments) 2. Utility costs separate from rent (Standard Utility Allowance) 3. Any changes in housing costs 4. Accurate household size and income Also look into local resources that can supplement CalFresh: - Market Match programs at farmers markets - Food bank distributions - CalFresh Healthy Living workshops with incentives If you haven't had a comprehensive review of your case in a while, it's worth connecting with your worker to see if there's anything you're missing that could increase your regular benefit amount.

Just wanted to add - if you're having trouble getting through to your worker, you can also visit your local county office in person. I know it's a hassle with kids, but sometimes they can do a quick review right there and catch things you might have missed on your application. Also, if you have any medical expenses for yourself or your kids (even copays, prescriptions, or over-the-counter stuff a doctor recommended), make sure to report those too. Even small amounts can add up and potentially increase your benefits. Good luck getting this sorted out!

Does anyone know if there's a way to get text alerts when benefits are deposited? I always have this anxiety every month wondering if they'll come on time.

I'm new to CalFresh and this thread is so helpful! I just got approved last week and my benefits are supposed to load on the 8th (my case number ends in 8). Reading about the potential delays and the ConnectEBT app alerts makes me feel more prepared. It's reassuring to see that delays happen sometimes but usually resolve within a day. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this community is amazing for newcomers like me!