Update: I took everyone's advice and decided not to risk the fax route. I went to my sister's house to use her internet and submitted through BenefitsCal. It was actually easier than I expected! The website even gave me a confirmation number and email. Thanks everyone for your help - definitely saved me from potential benefit delays!

Awesome that you got it submitted online! Just wanted to add for anyone else reading this thread - if you're ever in a similar situation where your home internet is unreliable, most public libraries offer free computer and internet access. They usually have printers too if you need to print confirmation pages. Many libraries also have staff who can help you navigate government websites if you're not super tech-savvy. It's another good backup option besides going to family/friends' houses!

Update: I FINALLY got through to someone at FTB this morning! They verified my information and are sending me a new card that should arrive in 7-10 business days. The representative said they've had a lot of mail delivery issues with these cards and were very understanding. Thanks to everyone for your advice - especially the specific phone menu options and what to ask for. That made a huge difference!

So happy to see this worked out for you! This is exactly why community support matters - when we share our experiences and knowledge, we can help each other navigate these confusing government systems. Your situation will definitely help other families who might face the same issue with delayed MCTR cards. For anyone else reading this thread, the key takeaways seem to be: call 1-800-542-9332, use the specific menu options, mention if you're on CalFresh/have kids for potential expedited processing, and don't give up! The money is rightfully yours and the FTB does have processes in place to handle these delivery issues. Hope your new card arrives quickly and helps with those grocery costs. Food prices are rough right now, especially for families on CalFresh benefits.

I went through something similar with my grandmother last year when her recertification got messed up due to Social Security income reporting issues. The $340 on her EBT card is absolutely safe to use - that money was already issued for previous months and legally belongs to her. The key thing is getting that appeal filed ASAP since she's already at 2 weeks. I'd also suggest having her contact the family who gave her the holiday bonus to get some kind of written confirmation that it was a one-time payment, not regular income. Even a simple email or note on letterhead would help her case tremendously. Good luck to your mom!

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now! My recertification is pending and I've been so worried about what happens if there's any issues. Reading everyone's responses here is really helpful - I didn't know that existing EBT balances stay on the card even after denial. Also the tip about "non-recurring lump sum payment" terminology is gold! I screenshot that for my own files. Hope your mom's appeal goes smoothly and she gets her benefits restored quickly. The fact that it was just a holiday bonus should definitely work in her favor since that's clearly not regular income.

Thank you for these tips! I'm definitely going to start keeping at least a few days of emergency food on hand. This was too stressful.

This thread is so helpful! I'm new to CalFresh and had no idea that delays like this could happen. I was panicking last night when my benefits didn't show up at the usual time, but reading everyone's experiences and the advice about keeping emergency food supplies really puts things in perspective. It's reassuring to know that the community here is so supportive during these stressful situations. Definitely bookmarking the 211 number and those other tips for the future!

Adding to what everyone else has shared - I'm also in San Bernardino County and went through this exact same confusion when I first got CalFresh! The restaurant signs are definitely misleading if you don't know about the special eligibility requirements. One thing that helped me was downloading the USDA's SNAP Retailer Locator app - it shows you exactly which stores near you accept EBT and what types of food you can buy there. Super useful when you're still learning the ropes! Also, if you're looking for hot food options that work with regular CalFresh, some grocery stores like Food 4 Less have hot food bars where you can get things like fried chicken or pizza by the pound - but only if it's sold cold from a refrigerated case. It's a weird rule but once you get used to it, there are actually more options than you'd think. Welcome to the CalFresh community! Don't hesitate to ask questions - we've all been there with the confusion at the beginning.

Hey Oscar! I totally get the confusion - I had the exact same experience when I first got my CalFresh benefits and saw those restaurant signs everywhere. It's honestly kind of frustrating that they post the signs so prominently when most people with regular CalFresh can't actually use them at those places. What helped me was learning about some alternatives that do work with regular benefits. If you have a WinCo or similar grocery store nearby, they often have really good deli sections with things like rotisserie chicken, mac and cheese, and other prepared foods that you can buy cold with EBT. You can heat them up at home and it's still way more convenient than cooking from scratch. Also, don't feel bad about the confusion with the rules - the whole EBT system is honestly pretty complicated and even some store employees don't fully understand what's allowed. I've learned so much just from reading posts like this in the community. Thanks for asking the question because I'm sure other people are wondering the same thing!