I'm new to this program and this thread has been super helpful! Just to add - if anyone is in Orange County, I called yesterday and they said they're aiming for June 16th for the first batch (A-L) and June 23rd for the second batch (M-Z). They also mentioned that if you move during the summer, you need to update your address ASAP because they can't reissue cards easily once the program starts distributing. Also learned that the $120 is per child, not per household, which is awesome for families with multiple kids!

Just wanted to share what I found out from Riverside County - they're doing their distribution June 14th-28th in alphabetical batches too. The worker I spoke with mentioned that if you haven't received Summer EBT before but think you're eligible, you can also check the CA.gov/SummerEBT website to see if there's an application portal for your county. Some counties have online applications for families who might have been missed in the automatic enrollment. Also learned that the benefits don't roll over year to year, so make sure to use them before the expiration date (usually end of August/early September). Hope this helps other newcomers like me!

After the clarification in your comments, this is definitely an administrative error. Your prorated August benefits should have been issued along with or before your September benefits. To resolve this efficiently: 1. Write down your case number, application date, and approval date before calling 2. Be clear that you're missing your prorated August benefits that should have been issued based on your mid-August application date 3. Request that they check the benefit issuance system specifically for August 4. If they confirm the error, ask for the estimated date when the correction will be processed 5. Get the worker's ID number or name for your records If you still can't reach someone by phone, you can also visit your local county office in person. Sometimes that's faster than calling.

I went through something similar when I applied in July! One thing that helped me was calling the EBT customer service line (the number on the back of your card) and pressing 0 to speak to a person instead of going through the automated system. They can see ALL your deposits including pending ones that haven't hit your card yet. When I did this, they could see my prorated benefits were actually issued but took an extra 2 business days to show up on my card. If they don't see any August deposit at all, then you definitely need to contact your county office. But try the EBT line first - it's way easier to get through than the county phones! Also keep your approval letter handy when you call because it should show exactly what benefit amounts you're entitled to receive.

To directly answer your original question again: Your monthly CalFresh benefits will definitely still be deposited even with a frozen card. The freeze only affects your ability to use the card, not the county's ability to load benefits onto your account. As others have mentioned, keeping your card frozen when not in use is actually a good security practice moving forward.

I'm so sorry this happened to you! $800 is devastating to lose. I went through something similar about 6 months ago - my card got skimmed at a gas station and I lost $400 before I caught it. The good news is that your benefits will absolutely still deposit on time even with the card frozen. I actually learned to love keeping my card frozen between uses after my theft. One tip that really helped me: take photos of your card transactions right after you make them, especially the receipt showing your remaining balance. It makes it easier to spot unauthorized activity quickly when you check your balance later. Also, if you haven't already, download the ebtEDGE mobile app - the transaction alerts are a lifesaver for catching theft early. Stay strong - the system has gotten much better about replacing stolen benefits since the federal changes. You should see that $800 back within a couple weeks!

So happy to hear you got it resolved quickly! This thread is going to be super helpful for others who go through the same thing. I had no idea about half the stuff people shared here - like the Walmart Pay option and the policy changes from the lawsuit. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences!

This whole thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm new to CalFresh and honestly had no idea there were emergency replacement options beyond just waiting for the mail. The fact that you can get a same-day replacement at the county office is huge - definitely something more people should know about. Also really appreciate everyone sharing the practical tips like getting there early, bringing your case number, and the policy changes from the lawsuit. Going to bookmark this thread in case I ever need it. Hope your benefit replacement claim goes smoothly @e48ca6365907!

UPDATE: Finally got through to my county worker! Turns out they flagged my account because they got returned mail from an SAR7 reminder they sent to my old address (even though I updated my address 4 months ago). Instead of calling me or checking my updated contact info, they just suspended my benefits! The worker was actually pretty helpful once I reached her. She's reactivating my benefits today and said I should see them restored within 48 hours, including the amount I was supposed to get this month. She also fixed my address in all their systems so this shouldn't happen again. Thanks everyone for your help and suggestions! Special thanks to @user1 for recommending Claimyr - that service actually worked and got me through to a real person in about 25 minutes instead of waiting on hold forever.

This is such a relief to hear you got it sorted out! The fact that they suspended your benefits over returned mail to an old address when you had already updated your information is absolutely ridiculous. The system really needs better communication protocols - there's no excuse for cutting off a family's food assistance without proper notice or attempting other contact methods first. I'm bookmarking that Claimyr service for future reference too, sounds like a lifesaver for actually reaching someone at the county office. Hope your benefits show up on schedule and this doesn't happen again!