Just wanted to add another tip that's helped me save money on fees - if your cousin lives near any colleges or universities, many campus bookstores and food courts accept EBT and offer cash back with no fees. I discovered this by accident when I was visiting a friend at UC San Diego. The campus convenience store let me get $40 cash back when I bought a drink, and there was no fee at all. Not every campus location does this, but it's worth checking if he's in the area. Also, for what it's worth, San Diego County's GA program should allow 4 free BofA ATM withdrawals per month before fees kick in. The county office on Broadway downtown sometimes has printed fee schedules available if he wants to stop by in person - sometimes easier than trying to get through on the phone. The staff there seemed more helpful than the eligibility workers at the initial appointment.

This whole thread has been incredibly eye-opening! I had no idea the fee structure was so complicated or that there were so many ways to avoid them. I've been on CalFresh for about 6 months but never had cash benefits before, so this is all new information for me too. One thing I wanted to add that might help your cousin - I recently learned that some Dollar General and Family Dollar stores also offer cash back with EBT purchases, and their limits are usually pretty reasonable (around $40-50). Since there are so many of these stores around, it might give him more options for getting cash without fees, especially if he's in an area without a lot of grocery stores. Also, just want to say how frustrating it is that we all have to crowdsource this basic information that should be clearly explained during the application process. The fact that people are losing money to fees because they weren't properly informed is really messed up. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this is exactly the kind of practical knowledge that makes a real difference in people's lives!

Hi Melaena! The RAMP (Restaurant Meals Program) allows eligible CalFresh recipients to use their EBT cards at participating restaurants. For Blackstone Avenue in Fresno specifically, I'd recommend checking the official CalFresh website or calling your local county office at (559) 600-2060 for the most current list of participating locations. Restaurant participation can change, so it's best to get up-to-date information. You can also look for "CalFresh EBT Accepted Here" signs at restaurants along Blackstone. Common chains that often participate include Subway, Carl's Jr., and some pizza places, but each location needs to be individually approved. Hope this helps!

UPDATE: I had my interview this morning and explained the family emergency situation. They're going to restore my benefits under the 'good cause' provision! The worker said there might be a slight delay, but I should get my full benefit amount for next month. She also explained that the payment I get on the 25th is actually from the CAPI program for my elderly mother who lives with us, not P-EBT or CalFresh. So that would have continued regardless. Thank you everyone for your help and advice! And special thanks to whoever recommended Claimyr - that's the only reason I got through to reschedule my interview so quickly.

That's awesome news! Really happy to hear they approved the good cause restoration. It's such a relief when the system actually works in our favor for once. Your story will probably help other people in similar situations too - knowing that family emergencies can qualify for good cause and that there are resources like Claimyr to help get through to the county offices. Thanks for posting the update!

Thank you so much for the detailed breakdown! This makes so much more sense now. I didn't realize there were so many deductions. We have childcare expenses too for my cousin's kids, so sounds like that would help as well. I'll go ahead with the application now that I understand how it works.

Just wanted to add that when you apply, make sure to bring documentation for everyone in the household - pay stubs, bank statements, rent receipts, utility bills, etc. The more organized you are with your paperwork, the smoother the process goes. Also, if you apply online through BenefitsCal, you can upload documents directly which is super convenient. Good luck with your application! It sounds like you'll definitely qualify and the benefits will really help with groceries for 5 people.

my kids got cards but had no $$ on them lol thanks for nothing california

I'm going through the exact same thing right now! I have 3 kids (ages 9, 7, and 4) and only got one P-EBT card so far for my oldest. I was panicking thinking I messed something up on my application. Reading everyone's responses here is so reassuring - sounds like this is totally normal and the cards just come at different times. The waiting is stressful though when you're counting on those benefits for groceries. I'll keep checking the mailbox and try to be patient. Thanks for asking this question because I was about to make the same post!