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This whole thread has been so eye-opening! I had no idea the Restaurant Meals Program even existed until I saw this post. My dad is 63 and has been on CalFresh for about two years now, but I don't think anyone ever mentioned this option to him. He lives alone and sometimes struggles with cooking due to arthritis in his hands, so being able to get prepared meals with his EBT benefits would be amazing for him. Based on what everyone's saying here, it sounds like I should have him call his county office to check if his card is coded for RMP and get a list of participating restaurants in our area. It's frustrating that this isn't more widely publicized - seems like a lot of eligible people don't even know this benefit exists! Has anyone had success getting their county to add the coding over the phone, or did you have to go in person?
Your dad should definitely look into this! Most counties can add the RMP coding over the phone - you don't usually need to go in person. When you call, just explain that he's over 60 and would like to use the Restaurant Meals Program. They should be able to update his account within a few days. You're absolutely right that this benefit isn't well publicized. I think a lot of caseworkers either forget to mention it or assume people will ask if they're interested. For someone with arthritis, this could be a real game-changer on days when cooking is difficult. Make sure to ask for a list of participating restaurants in your county too - some places you might not expect (like certain Subways or pizza places) participate in the program.
I'm dealing with something similar right now! My mom is 62 and has CalFresh, but when I called her county office last week to ask about getting RMP coding added to her card, they told me she'd need to wait until her next recertification appointment to get it activated. This was really frustrating because other people here are saying they got it added over the phone right away. I'm wondering if different counties have different policies about this? Has anyone else run into a situation where they were told to wait for recertification instead of getting it added immediately? My mom's next appointment isn't for another 4 months and it would really help her to have this option sooner, especially during the winter months when it's harder for her to get to the grocery store.
That's really frustrating that they're making your mom wait 4 months! From what I've seen in this thread, it does seem like different counties handle this differently. Some people got it added right away over the phone, while others had to wait or jump through more hoops. You might want to try calling back and speaking to a different caseworker - sometimes you get someone who's more helpful or knows the process better. You could also try escalating to a supervisor and explaining that your mom is clearly eligible (she's over 60) and that waiting 4 months for something she already qualifies for seems unreasonable, especially given her mobility challenges in winter. If that doesn't work, you might want to contact your local legal aid organization or food assistance advocacy group - they sometimes know the ins and outs of county policies and can help push things along. Your mom shouldn't have to wait months for a benefit she's already entitled to!
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Your benefits will still be added to your account even if card is frozen. The freeze just stops purchases. I do the same thing after someone stole $400 of my benefits last year!!!
Just wanted to add my experience - I've been freezing my card religiously for about 8 months now after hearing horror stories like some of y'all shared. Can confirm 100% that benefits deposit normally even when frozen! I actually forget to unfreeze it sometimes and panic when I get to the store, but the money is always there waiting for me. It's such a relief knowing this security feature exists. More people need to know about the ConnectEBT app - it's a game changer for protecting your benefits.
Thanks for sharing your experience! As someone new to CalFresh, I had no idea the ConnectEBT app even existed until I saw this thread. Just downloaded it and set up the freeze feature - feels so much better knowing I can protect my benefits this way. Really appreciate everyone sharing their knowledge here, especially about the deposit vs purchase distinction. This community is so helpful for navigating all these things they don't really explain when you first get approved!
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After checking the most recent CDSS updates, I can confirm that: 1. Some households are receiving new P-EBT cards instead of having benefits added to existing EBT cards (especially if you received PEBT 1.0 or 2.0 on a separate card) 2. The final batch of PEBT 3.0 benefits won't be completely distributed until June 2025 3. There IS a way to check your status online now at ca.p-ebt.org - you'll need your child's student ID number and date of birth Hope this helps clarify the situation for everyone waiting.
Thank you so much for that website! I had no idea there was a way to check online. I'm going to try that right now.
FINALLY some actual useful information! Going to check this site right now.
I'm in the same situation - still waiting for my PEBT 3.0 and getting so frustrated! Reading through all these comments though has been really helpful. I'm definitely going to check that ca.p-ebt.org website that @Zara Khan mentioned, and also double-check my mail for a separate card like @Diego Fernández suggested. It's crazy how inconsistent this whole process is across counties. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - at least now I know I'm not the only one dealing with this mess!
Welcome to the PEBT waiting club! 😅 I'm also still waiting and it's been such a roller coaster of emotions. This thread has been a lifesaver - I had no idea about the online status checker or that they might send separate cards. Definitely going to try both of those things. It's frustrating how little communication there is from CDSS about these delays, but at least we're all figuring it out together. Fingers crossed we all get our benefits soon!
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Update: I called the EBT customer service number and asked specifically about app security. The rep told me that the OFFICIAL California EBT app is secure but to be careful about any other apps that claim to work with EBT. She also said most theft is happening from skimmers at stores or from phishing scams where people get texts/emails pretending to be from CalFresh asking for their info. I'm keeping the official app but deleted a third-party balance checker I had. Thanks everyone for your help!
thanks for updating us! good to know the official one is ok at least
This is so scary but thank you all for sharing your experiences. I'm a new CalFresh recipient and had no idea about these risks. Just downloaded what I thought was the official app but now I'm second-guessing myself. Can someone confirm - is the app called "BenefitsCal" the official one? And should I be worried if I've already used it to check my balance a few times? I'm really paranoid now about entering my PIN anywhere. Also does anyone know if there are specific stores that are worse for skimmers? I usually shop at the same few places but wondering if I should switch it up.
Yes, "BenefitsCal" is one of the official apps from California DSS! If you downloaded it from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store, you should be fine. I've been using it for months without issues. As for stores, I've heard gas stations and smaller convenience stores tend to have more skimmer problems, but honestly it can happen anywhere. The key things are to cover your PIN when typing it, wiggle the card reader a bit before inserting your card to see if anything feels loose, and check your balance regularly. Don't stress too much - just be aware and take basic precautions!
Brianna Schmidt
Update: mine just showed up in the app! Check yours now maybe
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Andrew Pinnock
•Just checked and mine is showing now too! Thanks everyone for the reassurance. Benefits will be deposited on the 3rd like usual.
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Arjun Patel
Glad you got it sorted out! This happens way more often than it should. For future reference, if you ever need to check your benefit status quickly, you can also text your EBT card number to 511-411 and get your balance info that way - sometimes that updates faster than the apps do. It's saved me from panicking a few times when the systems are being slow to sync up.
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