California CalFresh
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Extra CalFresh benefits ending July 2025? Last month for emergency allotments?
So I heard from my neighbor that July is gonna be the last month we're getting those extra CalFresh benefits they've been giving us since that big wildfire emergency declaration. My EBT card has been loading with like $250 more than my regular amount for the past few months but I'm freaking out cause I really depend on that extra amount to feed my kids during summer when they're not getting school lunch. Does anyone know if this is true? Will August go back to normal amounts? I haven't gotten any notice in the mail about it stopping. My caseworker never answers when I call the county office!!! 😩
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Confused about P-EBT payments for children under 6 - Third payment coming or just two total?
Hi everyone, I'm really confused about the P-EBT benefits for kids under 6 years old for this year. My daughter is 4 and we received two separate payments on our P-EBT card a couple months apart (in February and April). But I thought I heard from another mom at daycare that there's supposed to be a THIRD payment coming? Has anyone else received a third payment yet? Or was it just those two payments total for the whole program? The county office keeps transferring me around when I call and I can't get a straight answer. Thanks for any help!
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i think theres still a summer p-ebt payment coming later this year? at least thats what i heard from my sons school. not sure if it applies to under 6 kids too or just school age kids. anybody know?
You're right about Summer P-EBT, which is a separate program from the regular P-EBT benefits. Summer P-EBT 2025 hasn't been officially announced yet, but based on previous years, it would likely cover June-August 2025 and be issued around August/September. And yes, it typically includes both school-aged children AND children under 6 who are eligible for CalFresh, though the issuance dates and amounts may differ. We should get official announcement about it in the next month or so.
does anyone else's p-ebt card keep getting declined sometimes even when theres supposed to be money on it? happened to me twice this year already its so embarrassing in the checkout line
YES!! This happened to me too! Try calling the number on the back of the card to check your balance first before shopping. Sometimes the money isn't loaded exactly when they say it will be. Also some stores (like Target by me) always decline P-EBT for some reason even when I have a balance, but it works fine at grocery stores.
This happens to me too! Another tip - sometimes the card readers at stores don't recognize P-EBT cards right away. I've found that if it gets declined, asking the cashier to manually enter it as an EBT card (instead of swiping) usually works. Also, make sure you're only buying eligible food items - I got declined once because I accidentally had soap in my cart with my groceries. The cashier had to remove the non-food items and run it again.
P-EBT 4.0 in California - one-time payment or monthly benefit? New immigrant family confused
Our family moved to Irvine from overseas about 2 months ago, and last month we unexpectedly received P-EBT 4.0 cards in the mail for our children. After some research I understand it's related to school meals, but I'm still confused about whether this is recurring or a one-time payment. We used the benefits already, but checking our balance shows no new deposits (called the P-EBT hotline to verify). Should we keep the cards for future benefits or is this just a single payment? I've tried asking at my kids' school but the front office staff wasn't sure either. Anyone familiar with how the P-EBT 4.0 program works for new residents? Thanks for any guidance!
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Just a warning - make sure you're actually eligible before applying. There's a 5-year waiting period for most immigrants to get CalFresh unless you have refugee/asylee status or have children who are US citizens. The rules are super complicated and depending on your status, applying too early could potentially cause immigration issues later. Not trying to scare you, but a lot of people don't know this!
This is partially correct but needs clarification. The 5-year bar applies to adults with LPR (green card) status, but there are MANY exceptions: • Children under 18 with LPR status don't have the 5-year wait • If there are US citizen children in the household, they can receive benefits even if parents cannot • Refugees, asylees, trafficking victims, and certain other humanitarian immigrants are exempt • Some LPRs with 40 qualifying work quarters are exempt • Military members and their families are exempt And importantly - receiving CalFresh for eligible household members does NOT trigger public charge concerns under current law. This was clarified in 2021 when the Trump-era rules were reversed.
Thank you both for this information! We do have green cards (employment-based), but our children were born abroad. I'll make sure to mention our immigration status when applying so they can determine if we're eligible yet. We don't want to do anything that could cause problems.
Welcome to California! Just wanted to add that if you're unsure about your eligibility, you can always contact an immigration attorney or a nonprofit legal aid organization before applying. Many counties also have CalFresh outreach coordinators who specialize in helping immigrant families navigate the eligibility requirements safely. In Orange County specifically, you might want to reach out to the Orange County Community Resources office - they have staff who are trained on the intersection of immigration status and benefits eligibility. They can do a confidential pre-screening to help you understand your options without filing an actual application first. Better to be cautious and get proper guidance than to worry about potential issues later!
CalFresh benefits missing from EBT today - normally deposits on this date every month
I'm freaking out right now. My CalFresh benefits ALWAYS load onto my EBT card on the 10th of each month. It's been that way for over a year. I just checked my balance today (the 10th) and there's absolutely nothing there! I have three kids and I was counting on those groceries for the week. My refrigerator is practically empty and I planned to go shopping today. Has this happened to anyone else this month? Could there be a system-wide delay? I called the EBT customer service number but got stuck in an automated loop. Is there something going on with the benefit deposit schedule for April 2025 that I missed? Any advice on what to do next would be really appreciated. I'm seriously worried about how I'm going to feed my family this week...
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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.
So glad everything worked out! This is exactly why I love this community - everyone jumps in to help when someone is stressed about their benefits. I've been through similar scares and it's awful when you're trying to plan meals for your family. For future reference, I've found that system delays like this tend to happen around the same time each year when they do maintenance or upgrades. Definitely keep those text alerts active - they've saved me from panicking multiple times. Hope your grocery shopping went well!
Where can I use CalFresh EBT to buy hot prepared food? Restaurant Meals Program locations
Hey everyone! I just heard that CalFresh benefits can be used to buy hot prepared food at some places? This would be LIFE CHANGING for me since I work 12-hour shifts and barely have time/energy to cook when I get home. Anyone know which restaurants or stores accept EBT for hot food in California? Is this available everywhere or only in certain counties? Do all EBT cardholders qualify or is it only for certain people? Sorry for all the questions - just super excited about the possibility of grabbing a hot meal after work without spending my limited cash!
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For those interested in the Restaurant Meals Program, here's some additional information: 1. Counties currently participating in RMP as of 2025: Alameda, Contra Costa, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco, San Luis Obispo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, and Sonoma. 2. To qualify, you must receive CalFresh AND be either: - Age 60 or older - Receiving disability benefits (SSI, SSDI, etc.) - Homeless (lacking fixed/regular nighttime residence) - Spouse of an eligible RMP participant 3. How to check if you're eligible: Your EBT card will have "RMP" printed on it if you qualify. If you think you qualify but don't see this, contact your county office. 4. Finding participating restaurants: Each county maintains its own list of participating restaurants. You can check your county's CalFresh website or ask for a list from your county worker. If you want to learn more about the program or check eligibility, contact your county CalFresh office.
This is really detailed, thank you! I'm definitely not eligible, but it's good to know about this program. Maybe I can share this info with my neighbor who's on disability - she might qualify.
Hey everyone! I'm new to this community and just wanted to say thank you for all the helpful information in this thread. I'm a single parent working two jobs and was really hoping the hot food program would help me out, but I see I don't qualify either. However, I learned a lot about what I CAN use my EBT for that I didn't know before! The cold prepared foods option at grocery stores sounds like it could still save me some time. Does anyone know if places like Costco or Sam's Club deli counters accept EBT for their cold prepared items? I have a membership and their portions are usually pretty good for families. Thanks again for being so welcoming and informative!
Amina Sow
I finally got a letter in the mail today confirming what everyone's saying. Just FYI for anyone in same situation - the letter says if your household circumstances have changed (like higher rent, utilities, medical costs, less income) you should report it ASAP because it might increase your base benefit amount even after the supplements go away. I'm going to submit all my new bills tomorrow because my rent went up $300 since my last recertification.
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Javier Mendoza
That's excellent advice! Many people don't realize that reporting changes like increased housing costs or decreased income between reporting periods can increase their benefits. You don't have to wait for your SAR7 or recertification to report changes that could help you get more benefits. Just make sure you have documentation ready when you submit the changes - lease agreements for rent increases, utility bills, pay stubs showing reduced hours, etc.
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Oscar Murphy
Just wanted to add that if you're struggling with the transition when these benefits end, there are some other resources that might help bridge the gap. Local food banks often have extra distribution during summer months specifically because they know families lose school meal access. Also, WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) provides additional food assistance if you have kids under 5 or are pregnant/breastfeeding - it's separate from CalFresh so you can get both. Some libraries and community centers also run free summer lunch programs for kids. I know it's not the same as having that extra money on your EBT card, but every little bit helps when you're trying to stretch your food budget. Stay strong everyone! 💪
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