Just to clarify some information about the inter-county transfer process since there seems to be some confusion: 1. Your certification period (the 12-month period you're approved for) stays the same when you transfer counties 2. Your SAR7 due date also remains the same 3. Your benefit amount might change if your new county has different utility allowances or if your rent changed with the move 4. The physical transfer of your case data between county systems can take up to 30 days, but your benefits should continue without interruption If it's been more than 7 business days since your transfer was processed and the app still isn't showing your correct information, you should contact your new county worker directly. The EBT customer service line (the number on your card) can only confirm your balance - they can't fix issues with the transfer itself.

I went through this exact same situation last year when I moved from Fresno to Kern County! The app confusion is so stressful when you're trying to budget for groceries. One thing that really helped me was writing down the phone number from the back of my EBT card and keeping it in my phone contacts as "EBT Balance Check" so I could quickly call anytime I needed to verify my balance while the app was being weird. Also, pro tip - if you're shopping and want to be extra sure about your balance before checkout, most grocery stores will let you do a balance inquiry at the card reader before you start shopping. Just select "EBT" and then "Balance Inquiry" instead of payment. That way you know exactly what you have to spend without any surprises at the register! The app will eventually catch up, but in the meantime the phone system and balance inquiry at stores are your best friends. Hang in there!

btw make sure you activated it right? you have to call that number on the sticker and set up your PIN before anything works

I had this exact same issue with my daughter's card a few months ago! The timing is so frustrating because you're expecting the benefits to be ready when the card arrives. In my case, it took exactly 2 business days after receiving the card for the benefits to load. I kept checking the balance multiple times a day (probably drove myself crazy lol). The EBT customer service rep told me that the benefits usually load during overnight processing, so checking first thing in the morning gives you the best chance of seeing the update. Since you got your card today, I'd expect to see the benefits by Thursday morning at the latest. The system is just really slow at syncing everything up, but it will come through!

I just wanted to thank everyone for the helpful information! I reported my rent and utility increases to the county yesterday and they said my benefits might increase next month. Much better than waiting for a stimulus that doesn't exist! 😊

As a newcomer here, I really appreciate this thorough discussion! I was about to fall for one of those misleading articles myself. It's so helpful to see experienced community members clarifying these myths. I'm curious though - for those of us who are struggling with rising food costs, are there any other California-specific programs we should know about besides CFAP? I keep hearing about different county-level assistance but it's hard to know what's legitimate vs what's outdated information online.

my sister works for the county and she says they r SUPER behind right now cuz of staff shortages so thats probs why ur waiting so long

UPDATE: I went to the county office this morning and waited about 2 hours, but it was worth it! Turns out they had been trying to call me for an interview but the number in their system (not BenefitsCal) was wrong - they had transposed two digits. The worker did my interview right there and approved me on the spot since I had all my documents with me. She said my EBT card should arrive in 7-10 days and my benefits will be available as soon as I activate it! So relieved!

My friend got a flyer about some town hall meeting where they are discussing the benefits increase. I think its happening at the community center next week. Maybe you could go and ask questions?

I'm new to CalFresh and this thread has been super helpful! Just wanted to add that I found the official USDA Food and Nutrition Service website has a section where they post the annual benefit adjustments once they're finalized. It's usually updated around late August/early September. The URL is fns.usda.gov if anyone wants to bookmark it for official updates rather than relying on rumors. Also, @Hailey O'Leary definitely report that childcare expense ASAP - that could make a huge difference in your monthly benefits while you're waiting for any COLA increase!