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my benefits used to come on the 8th but now they come on the 10th and nobody can explain why??? anyone else have their day change for no reason??
That's unusual. The issuance date is tied to your case number. If your date changed, it could mean your case was closed and reopened with a new case number (maybe during recertification). I would definitely call your county office to ask about this.
Welcome to CalFresh! The confusion is totally understandable - there's a lot of information to process when you first get approved. Just to echo what others have said, your benefits will be loaded on the 7th of each month since your case number ends in 7. One thing I wish someone had told me when I started: benefits usually post overnight, so if you check your balance late on the 6th (like after 10 PM), they might already be there. Also, grocery stores sometimes have delays processing EBT transactions early in the morning on benefit days, so if your card gets declined around midnight-2 AM, try again a bit later. The approval paperwork can be overwhelming, but definitely keep it all in a safe place - you'll need to reference it for things like your reporting requirements and recertification dates. Good luck with your grocery shopping!
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One more thing to note - if the 8th falls on a weekend or holiday, your benefits should still load on that day. CalFresh deposits don't get delayed like some other government payments. Just want to make sure you know that for future months!
That's great to know! Thanks for all the helpful information everyone.
Hey Jayden! Just wanted to add that you can also download the "ebtEDGE" mobile app if you haven't already. It's the official EBT app and it works even when the BenefitsCal website is down. You can check your balance, see your transaction history, and it shows your next deposit date right on the main screen. Super helpful for planning grocery trips when you're running low! The app has been way more reliable than the website in my experience.
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o ya forgot 2 say mandela foods coop in west oakland does somthing similar 2. not sure if its the same program but they give u extra $ 4 veggies when u use ebt
Thanks for mentioning Mandela! That's actually not far from me when I'm in Oakland. Will definitely check them out too.
This thread has been so helpful! I'm actually a new CalFresh recipient myself (just got approved two weeks ago) and had no idea about any of these programs. I'm in Sacramento but travel to the Bay Area sometimes for my job. Does anyone know if Sacramento has similar Market Match programs? I'd love to stretch my benefits further, especially since I'm trying to eat healthier. Also wondering - do these programs work the same way everywhere or are there different rules depending on the county? Thank you all for sharing your experiences - this community is amazing for newcomers like me who are still learning how to navigate all these resources!
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I'm so sorry you're going through this stress! This happened to my sister last year - the website lag is real and frustrating. Since you've already uploaded your paystubs to BenefitsCal, make sure you also check your "Messages" section in the portal to see if there are any pending requests you might have missed. Sometimes they show up there even if the physical mail got lost. Also, when you call Tuesday, have your case number ready and ask specifically about "good cause" for late verification - if you truly never received the original request, that could help your case. The fact that you uploaded everything as soon as you found out shows good faith effort. Don't give up hope - I've seen people get their benefits restored within a few days once they get through to the right person!
This is such great advice about checking the Messages section! I just logged back in and you're absolutely right - there's actually a message from 6 weeks ago that I completely missed asking for the pay stubs. I feel so stupid for not checking that section regularly. Thank you for the tip about asking for "good cause" too - I'll definitely use those exact words when I call. It's reassuring to hear that your sister got through a similar situation. I'm trying to stay positive but it's hard when you're worried about feeding your kids, you know? Really appreciate everyone's support and advice on here! 🙏
Don't beat yourself up about missing the message in the portal - that Messages section is really easy to overlook and the system doesn't send email notifications when new requests are posted there. The important thing is that you found it now and took action immediately. When you call Tuesday, definitely mention that the message was buried in the portal without any email alert, as this shows the communication breakdown wasn't entirely on your end. Also, since you found the original request was from 6 weeks ago, you'll want to provide pay stubs covering that entire period up to now to show your income situation. Keep all your screenshots and documentation ready - having everything organized will help speed up the restoration process. You're being a great advocate for your family by staying on top of this! 💪
GalaxyGuardian
For anyone who's had their benefits stolen or is worried about it happening, here are some additional prevention tips from my CalFresh worker: 1. Never use your card at gas station pumps - go inside to pay 2. Only use your card at major grocery stores (they have better security) 3. Change your PIN on payday before shopping 4. Check your balance before and after every purchase 5. If possible, use up your benefits within the first week they're available These steps have kept me safe since my theft last year!
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Yara Nassar
•These are great tips! I didn't even think about gas station pumps being more risky. Will definitely be more careful about where I use my card from now on. Do you know if using the EBT app to check your balance is secure?
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GalaxyGuardian
•My worker said the app is secure, but recommended changing your password regularly and not saving it on your phone. Also never check your balance on public WiFi!
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Yara Nassar
This is such valuable information, thank you for sharing your timeline! I've been putting off reporting what I think might be fraudulent activity on my account because I was scared about being without benefits for months. Knowing you got yours back in just 15 days is really encouraging. I noticed some transactions at stores I've never been to about 3 weeks ago - should I still report it even though it's been a while? Also, did you have to provide anything besides bank statements to prove you weren't at those locations?
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