anyone know if the benefit expires? i still have some left from the last payment and I worry itll disappear?

Just wanted to add my experience for anyone still confused about this! I got my P-EBT card in February with about $900 for my one child. Like others said, it's definitely NOT monthly - I made that mistake too at first and kept checking my balance expecting more money lol. The approval letter actually did have the dates covered if you look closely (mine was buried in the small print). It covered from August through December 2024 for days my daughter was out sick or during winter break when she couldn't get her free lunch at school. One tip: keep track of your child's absences and school closure days because that helps you understand what future P-EBT payments might cover. And definitely use that Claimyr service someone mentioned if you need to call - the regular hotline is impossible to get through to!

Thanks everyone for all this helpful information! I went to my farmers market yesterday and tried the token system. It was so easy! I swiped my EBT card for $20 and they gave me $20 in wooden tokens PLUS another $15 in Market Match tokens for fruits and vegetables! I got so much more food than I would have at the grocery store. The produce was fresher too. Just wanted to update and say thanks for explaining how it all works!

This is such great information! I had no idea about the token system either. One thing I'd add - if you're planning to go regularly, it helps to ask the market manager what their busiest times are so you can avoid the long lines. At my market, they said Saturday mornings right when they open (8am) and Sunday afternoons (around 2pm) are the worst. I started going on Saturday around 10am and there's usually no wait at all. Also, some markets will let you call ahead to ask about their current Market Match funding status so you don't show up when they've run out for the day.

UPDATE: You all were right!!! I went through ALL my papers last night and found that I actually have TWO separate overpayments - one for CalFresh ($1,475) and another for CalWORKs ($2,275). They sent separate notices but they looked so similar I thought it was just duplicate papers about the same thing! I'm still going to request a fair hearing because they never explained they were taking from all these different sources, and I think they're taking more than they should legally be allowed to. Thank you all so much for your help!!!

So glad you figured it out! That's exactly what happened to me too - the notices look almost identical and it's so confusing. You're absolutely doing the right thing requesting the fair hearing. Even with two separate overpayments, they still need to follow the collection limits for each program and can't just take whatever they want. Make sure to mention in your hearing that they never clearly explained you had two different overpayments - that lack of clear communication is a real problem. Also document how much they're taking total from all sources so you can show if it's creating undue hardship. Good luck with your hearing!

Update to my earlier comment: I just checked the official CDSS website, and they specify that while police reports aren't required initially, they reserve the right to request one during their investigation. The 2-10 day timeframe is accurate, but only applies to "standard" cases that don't require additional verification. My recommendation is to document everything related to the theft - where you last used the card, when you noticed the missing funds, any suspicious transactions. This will help if they do ask for additional information. Also, be aware that while they're processing faster now, the system can get backlogged near the end of the month when more theft reports come in.

I'm so sorry this happened to you! $675 is a huge chunk of your monthly benefits. I went through something similar about 6 weeks ago and can confirm the policy did change. I didn't need a police report and got my benefits back in 9 days. The key thing is making sure you fill out that EBT-2259 form completely and accurately - don't leave any fields blank even if they seem optional. Also, if you haven't already, call your card issuer (usually on the back of your EBT card) to report it stolen there too, not just to DPSS. Having it reported in both systems helps speed things up. Hang in there - your kids will be okay and the benefits should come through soon!

Just a heads-up for everyone in this thread: The California EBT system will be down for maintenance from February 3-4, 2025 (next weekend) from 11 PM Saturday until 8 AM Sunday. If you're planning to do your beginning-of-month shopping during that time, you'll need to reschedule. This is part of the security upgrades they're implementing to address the skimming issues. If you haven't already, download the ConnectEBT mobile app - it lets you temporarily freeze and unfreeze your card between uses, which is another layer of protection against skimming.

Another thing that's helped me is signing up for text alerts through the EBT customer service line. You can set it up so you get a text every time your card is used, with the amount and location. That way if someone skims your card, you'll know within minutes instead of finding out days later when you go to buy groceries. Also, I've started taking photos of the card readers before I use them. Sounds paranoid but it only takes 2 seconds and if there's a skimmer installed, you'll have evidence for the police report. The legit readers are usually flush with the machine, but skimmers often stick out a little or look slightly different in color. Stay safe everyone - these scammers are getting more sophisticated but we can protect ourselves if we stay vigilant!