I work with several families in Salinas who received their P-EBT 4.0 benefits this week (specifically Monday and Tuesday). It seems to be coming in waves. One thing to check - are you sure you have the correct P-EBT card? Some families still try to use the original P-EBT 1.0 card, but P-EBT 2.0, 3.0, and 4.0 all use the same newer card that was issued later. The original white P-EBT cards from the first pandemic round won't receive new benefits.

UPDATE: Just wanted to let everyone know that our benefits finally arrived this morning! Checked the cards and each of my kids got $402 for the summer benefits. So if you're in Salinas and still waiting, they're definitely rolling out now. Thanks everyone for the helpful info!

The most important thing is timing! When I moved states last year, I timed it so my previous state benefits closed at the end of the month when we moved, then I applied in the new state on the 1st day of the next month. This minimized the gap. You'll definitely want to apply as soon as you have an NC address though - even if you're still in temporary housing there. Just make sure you've officially closed your CA case first. Good luck with your move!

As someone who helps families navigate benefit transitions, I wanted to add a few practical tips for your move: 1. Contact food banks in both Sacramento and your destination city in NC - they can help bridge the gap during your transition period and don't have the same residency requirements as government benefits. 2. Consider applying for WIC in NC if you have children under 5 or are pregnant/breastfeeding - it's a separate program that can provide additional food assistance and often has faster processing times. 3. Keep detailed records of everything - dates you contacted CA about closing your case, copies of documents you submit to NC, etc. This paper trail can be crucial if any issues arise. 4. Look into local churches and community organizations in your new NC area - many have emergency food assistance programs that can help immediately while you wait for your SNAP application to process. The transition is definitely stressful, but with proper planning and backup resources, you can minimize the gap in food assistance for your family. Wishing you a smooth move!

Update: finally got through to EBT after using that Claimyr service! They confirmed it was fraud, canceled my card, and are sending me a new one that should arrive in 3-5 business days. They said my fraud claim could take up to 30 days to investigate, but the rep noted my account that I have children and need emergency assistance. Said I should also visit my county office on Monday to request emergency replacement benefits while the claim is pending. Will update how it goes!

I'm so sorry this happened to you! This is unfortunately becoming more common. A few additional tips that helped me when I went through EBT fraud: 1. Screenshot or print your transaction history showing the fraudulent purchases - you'll need this documentation 2. When you get your new card, consider changing your PIN to something completely different 3. Be extra careful about where you use your EBT card - avoid gas stations and smaller stores where skimmers are more common 4. Some grocery stores have started putting security sleeves over their card readers - look for those Also, while waiting for your benefits to be restored, check if your kids' school participates in weekend backpack programs. Many schools send home food packages on Fridays for families in need. The school counselor or main office would know about this. Hang in there - I know it's scary but the system does work eventually. My benefits were restored in about 3 weeks.

So glad you got it sorted out! For future reference, you can also check your EBT card balance and transaction history through the ebtEDGE mobile app - it's really helpful for keeping track of your benefits and making sure everything looks right. And don't feel embarrassed about the PIN lockout - it happens to everyone! The cashiers see it all the time and most are pretty understanding about it.

I'm so glad you were able to get this resolved! This is exactly why I love this community - everyone jumps in to help when someone is stressed about their benefits. Just wanted to add that if anyone else runs into this issue, you can also try using your EBT card at an ATM to check if it's truly locked or if it was just a store terminal issue. Sometimes the grocery store machines glitch out but your card works fine elsewhere. And don't worry about being embarrassed - I've seen this happen to so many people, including myself! The important thing is you got your PIN reset and can feed your kids this weekend. 💙

Update on your situation: Riverside County is required by ACL 18-13 (All County Letter) to complete Inter-County Transfers within 7 calendar days of receiving the case from the sending county. If it's been longer than that, they're technically out of compliance. I recommend taking these steps immediately: 1. Submit a new application through BenefitsCal as mentioned above 2. Request expedited service due to low/no income and resources 3. Call AND visit in person if possible 4. If you get a worker on the phone, request to speak with a supervisor if they can't immediately locate and process your transfer 5. If there will be a gap in benefits, ask them to issue emergency CalFresh benefits to cover the gap period You shouldn't have to wait for your next issuance date to receive the benefits you're entitled to. The county is required to preserve continuity of benefits during transfers.

I'm dealing with something similar right now! Moved from LA County to Riverside 3 weeks ago and still haven't received my benefits. What's really frustrating is that when I call the main CalFresh line, they tell me different things every time - one person said the transfer was processed, another said there's no record of it. I ended up going to the Riverside office on Alessandro Blvd last week with all my paperwork and they finally found my case buried in their system. The worker said they've been having issues with their new computer system not properly flagging incoming transfers. She processed it manually and said I should see benefits within 3-5 business days. If calling isn't working, definitely go in person with your case number from San Bernardino and any transfer confirmation they gave you. Bring your kids if you have to - sometimes that helps them understand the urgency of the situation.