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I'm dealing with a similar situation right now! Got duplicate P-EBT cards for my 7-year-old last week. Based on what everyone's saying here, it sounds like the key is to call and report it ASAP. I'm going to try that Claimyr service someone mentioned because I can't afford to sit on hold for hours either. One thing I'm wondering - for those who've been through this, did you get any kind of confirmation letter or email after they resolved it? I want to make sure I have proof that I reported it properly in case any questions come up later. Thanks for sharing your experience @Giovanni, it's really helpful to know we're not alone in dealing with this!
Yes, I got a confirmation letter about 6-8 weeks after I called! It was actually really helpful to have that documentation. The letter basically said they had reviewed my case, confirmed that duplicate cards were issued in error, and that the extra benefits had been properly deactivated. It also noted that I had proactively reported the issue which was good for my records. Definitely keep any paperwork they send you - I filed mine with my other CalFresh documents just in case. Good luck with the Claimyr service, I wish I had known about that when I was dealing with this mess!
I'm going through something similar right now! My 9-year-old got duplicate P-EBT Summer cards too - one to our home address and another to my mom's house where she stays after school. I was panicking thinking I'd somehow accidentally applied twice, but reading all these responses is such a relief. It sounds like this is a widespread system glitch with the 2025 Summer P-EBT rollout. I'm definitely going to call the hotline tomorrow and report it proactively like everyone suggests. The advice about documenting everything and getting the rep's ID number is really helpful. It's scary how something that's completely their mistake could potentially mess with our regular benefits if not handled properly. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - it really helps to know what to expect when I call!
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Just chiming in as another newcomer to the CalFresh system! Reading through all these experiences has been so helpful. I'm in Orange County with a last name starting with S, and I received my Summer EBT benefits about 2 weeks ago (around May 20th). Like others mentioned, it just appeared on my existing EBT card as an extra $240 for my two kids - no separate notification or card needed. For anyone still waiting, I'd definitely recommend checking your balance regularly through the app rather than waiting for mail notifications. The county offices seem overwhelmed with calls about this, so the online tools are probably your best bet for checking status. Also wanted to say thanks to everyone who explained the difference between the old pilot programs and the new standardized system - that context really helps understand why there's still some confusion out there!
@Beatrice Marshall Thanks for sharing your Orange County experience! It s'so reassuring to hear from other newcomers who ve'successfully received their benefits. I m'also new to CalFresh just (started in February and) this whole thread has been incredibly educational. Your tip about using the online tools instead of calling is spot on - I tried calling our county office three times and never got through to a human. The ebtEDGE app has been a lifesaver for checking balances. I m'in Kern County with a last name starting with M, and I received mine about a week ago. Like you said, it just showed up as extra funds on my existing card $360 (for my three kids .)For anyone still reading this thread and waiting, don t'give up! The system really does seem much more reliable now compared to what people described from previous years.
As someone who just went through this process for the first time, I wanted to share my experience to hopefully help others! I'm in Fresno County with a last name starting with P, and I received my Summer EBT benefits on May 25th. Like everyone else mentioned, it just appeared as extra funds on my existing EBT card ($240 for my two kids) with no separate notification. What really helped me was calling my kids' school directly - the office staff actually knew more about the Summer EBT timeline for our county than the CalFresh hotline did! They told me that since my kids were already enrolled in the free lunch program and we're current CalFresh recipients, everything would be automatic. For anyone still waiting, I'd suggest checking not just your EBT balance but also logging into your BenefitsCal account. There was actually a small notification there about Summer EBT processing that I didn't notice until after I'd already received the benefits. The whole experience has made me realize how much more organized this program is now compared to what I was expecting based on older online posts. Definitely keep checking your balances - it'll show up!
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As someone who just went through this process, I can confirm what others have said - they definitely use the primary account holder's last name (Johnson in your case) for the alphabetical distribution. I had the same confusion because my stepkids have different last names but are on my CalFresh case. One thing I'd add is that you should make sure your phone number is updated with the county office because they send text notifications about 24-48 hours before your group's window opens. Also, even though the windows are only 3-4 days each, the actual Sun Bucks benefits stay on your EBT card for 30 days once loaded, so you don't have to rush to spend them immediately. Hope this helps ease some of the stress!
This is really reassuring to hear from someone who's actually been through it! I'm definitely going to call and make sure my phone number is current - I think I might have changed it since I first applied. Good to know the benefits don't expire right away either. Thanks for sharing your experience!
I'm new to CalFresh and still figuring out all these programs. This Sun Bucks thing sounds helpful but I'm confused about something - do you have to do anything special to sign up for it or does it automatically get added to your EBT card if you're already getting CalFresh benefits? I don't want to miss out because I didn't know I was supposed to apply separately or something. Also, is this a one-time thing or does it happen regularly? Sorry for all the questions, but the paperwork they send is always so confusing!
Welcome to CalFresh! You don't need to apply separately for Sun Bucks - it automatically gets added to your EBT card if you're already receiving CalFresh benefits. No extra paperwork or applications needed! From what I understand, this is a new program so I'm not sure if it will be regular or just a one-time thing, but the county office should have more details about that. The main thing is just making sure your contact info is up to date so you get the text notification when your alphabetical group is up. Hope this helps!
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Just a heads up that when I got approved for the California Low Cost Auto program with my CalFresh documents, they still asked about my driving record. Had a speeding ticket from 2 years ago and it affected my rate. So it's not just about income.
OF COURSE they check driving record too! Just another way to squeeze more money from us. My record is clean and they STILL charged me crazy rates because I couldn't provide the exact income papers they wanted.
I actually work at a county CalFresh office and wanted to clarify something important - you can request what's called a "Benefits Verification Letter" online through your county's portal in most cases, which is much faster than calling. This letter shows your approval status, household income used for eligibility, and benefit amount. It's the official document insurance companies need, not the EBT card itself. For car insurance specifically, I'd definitely recommend trying the California Low Cost Auto Insurance Program first since CalFresh recipients automatically meet the income requirements. The coverage is basic but legitimate and way cheaper than regular insurance. Just make sure you have a clean driving record to get the best rates!
Thanks for the insider perspective! That's really helpful to know about the online portal option. I've been dreading having to call and wait on hold forever. Quick question - do you know if the Benefits Verification Letter shows the same income info that was on my original approval notice? I'm worried my income might have changed slightly since I first applied but I haven't reported it yet because it's still under the limit.
Ezra Beard
im so glad u asked this i was confused too!! got 4 cards for my 2 kids (2 rounds of benefits) and thought maybe they sent duplicates by accident lol
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CyberSiren
I'm in the same boat as you! Just got my second round of P-EBT cards and was super confused at first. Reading through all these comments has been really helpful - I had no idea each kid was supposed to get their own card. I've been treating them like regular EBT where the whole family shares one card. Good thing I kept all the cards from the first round! Now I need to figure out which card belongs to which kid since they all look pretty similar. Does anyone have tips for keeping track of multiple P-EBT cards?
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Nia Williams
•Hey CyberSiren! I had the exact same problem keeping track of which card belonged to which kid. What worked for me was using a small label maker to put each child's initials on the back of their cards. You could also use colored stickers or even just write their names on a small piece of tape. I keep all the cards in a small envelope in my wallet with a note listing which card goes with which kid and the remaining balance on each. The child's name is printed on the front of the card too, but it's in small print so the labels really help when you're in a hurry at the store!
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