Thank you everyone for the info! Sounds like there's no extra coming (bummer but good to know). I checked my case number and the last digit is 7, so I'll get September benefits on the 7th. Really helps with my planning. And no, I don't have school kids so guess I won't get that summer program either. I'll just have to stretch what I get even further this month.

Hey Kingston! I totally get the tight budget struggle - food prices are absolutely crazy right now. Since you're getting benefits on the 7th, you might want to check out some of the local food banks in your area to help stretch things until then. Many don't require any paperwork and can really help fill the gaps. Also, if you shop at stores that accept EBT, try to look for manager's specials on meat and produce - you can often find good deals and freeze what you can't use right away. Hang in there!

Update: mine just showed up in the app! Check yours now maybe

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.

my friend works at a place that accepts ebt for restaurant meals and she says they have to run the card differently for people in the program. sounds like your fiance just isn't eligible - my boyfriend isn't either and he's 29. kinda stinks but i guess those are the rules... btw the calfresh website does have a list of all the restaurants that participate if you're curious. it depends on what county you're in though

This thread has been super helpful! I'm new here and was wondering about the same thing. My grandmother is 65 and has CalFresh, but she's never tried using it at restaurants because she didn't know it was allowed. Does anyone know if there's a way to check if her EBT card is already coded for the Restaurant Meals Program, or does she need to contact her caseworker first? I don't want her to be embarrassed trying to use it at a restaurant if it's not set up properly. Also, are there any good resources that show which specific locations participate in each county? The main website seems pretty general.

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.

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.

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!