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!

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.

Everyone is right about the prorated first month. But I want to add something important - make sure you're aware of the Income Reporting Threshold (IRT) listed on your approval letter. If your income ever goes above that amount, you MUST report it within 10 days even if it's not time for your SAR-7 yet. This is the #1 reason people get overpayments they have to pay back. Your SAR-7 will come at the 6-month mark, and you'll need to complete recertification after 12 months to keep benefits going.

Just wanted to say this thread was super helpful! I'm new to CalFresh too and had similar confusion about my benefit amounts. It's reassuring to know that prorated first months are normal and not some kind of error. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and knowledge - this community is awesome for navigating all the CalFresh details they don't really explain clearly in the paperwork!

update: i just got my sons p-ebt payment today!!!! check your accounts everyone with P names!!!

That's great news that the P names are finally coming through! I'm a single mom with two kids whose names start with P and we've been waiting anxiously too. Just checked our EBT balance and still nothing, but hopefully it'll hit our account in the next day or two. This whole alphabetical system really does cause unnecessary stress for families who are depending on these benefits. At least now I know it's not just us and that the payments are actually being processed!

Update: I called this morning after gathering all our expense info. Turns out there were TWO issues: 1) They had my husband's income entered incorrectly - they had him earning $600 more per month than he actually does! 2) They didn't have our updated rent amount. After fixing both issues, our benefits are going up to $380 per month plus the COLA adjustment which will make it about $425! That's a HUGE difference from $150. The worker said the changes should show up in the next issuance. Thank you all for encouraging me to call and for explaining what to ask about!

This is such great news! I'm so glad you called and got everything straightened out. Going from $150 to $425 is life-changing for a family of 4. Your story is a perfect example of why it's so important to advocate for yourself and not just accept what you're given. Income reporting errors happen way too often in the system, and many people probably don't even realize their benefits are calculated wrong. Thanks for sharing the update - it will definitely help other families who might be in similar situations know that it's worth making that call even when it seems overwhelming!

my cousin works for the school district and she said they're changing the whole program again because of budget cuts... supposedly the summer benefits might be like $75 instead of the full amount from previous years. has anyone else heard this??

Thank you everyone for all this information! It's been so helpful. I'm going to check my kids' school tomorrow to confirm they're on the CEP list and then just plan on getting new cards in June. I'll make sure to budget accordingly and not count on the current cards being reloaded. I really appreciate all the detailed responses - this community is amazing!