California CalFresh
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Can I get my EBT card number over the phone after losing my card? Machine was down at county office
Just my luck! I lost my EBT card yesterday (pretty sure it fell out of my wallet at the grocery store), and I went to the county office this morning to get a replacement. Of course when I got there, they had a sign saying their card-issuing machine was down for maintenance until next week! I've got like $430 in benefits I need to use for my kids' groceries. Does anyone know if I call the EBT customer service, will they give me my card number over the phone so I can at least order some groceries online until the new physical card arrives? Or am I just out of luck until the replacement comes in the mail? Stressing out because I was counting on those benefits for this weekend's shopping trip.
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Been calling CalFresh EBT customer service for 3 weeks with no answer - desperate for help
I've been trying to get through to someone at CalFresh EBT customer service since my benefits suddenly stopped showing up on my card three weeks ago. I've called at different times (early morning, midday, right before closing) and I'm either stuck on hold for 2+ hours before getting disconnected or can't even get past the automated system. I've tried the main county number AND the EBT customer service line with the same results. I can't figure out what happened - I submitted my SAR7 on time last month and got a confirmation notice. My recertification isn't due until August. My family (me and two kids) depends on these benefits for food, and I'm at my wit's end. Has anyone successfully gotten through recently? Any tricks or specific times that work better? I'm getting desperate and the local office is an hour away by bus.
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One more thing - if all else fails, contact your county Board of Supervisors office and explain your situation. They can sometimes intervene when there are serious barriers to accessing benefits. I had a case worker contact me within 24 hours after I reached out to my Supervisor's office last year during a similar situation. Just explain that your family is at risk of food insecurity because you can't reach anyone to resolve your CalFresh issue.
That's really good to know! I'll keep that as a last resort if I can't get through by the end of this week. Thank you!
I'm dealing with something similar right now - my benefits got cut off unexpectedly last week and I've been getting the runaround trying to figure out why. One thing that helped me was calling the fraud hotline (1-800-344-8477) instead of the regular customer service line. They have shorter wait times and can sometimes see what's happening with your case even if they can't fix it directly. They told me there was a "pending verification" flag on my account that I never got a notice about. At least now I know what documents to bring when I go in person. Also, if you have kids under 6, you might qualify for WIC as a backup food assistance program while you get this sorted out. Hang in there - the system is definitely broken but your family deserves these benefits.
CalFresh benefits missing after system update - anyone get their EBT funds restored yet?
I usually get my CalFresh loaded on the 10th of every month, but it's now the 14th and still nothing on my EBT card. Called the customer service number yesterday but all I got was a recording saying something about a 'system update' that might delay some benefits this month. I'm down to basically nothing in my fridge and really counting on these benefits. Has anyone else experienced this delay? Did you get your funds back already? I'm worried they might have discontinued me without notification, but my account online still says I'm active.
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FINAL UPDATE: My benefits were finally loaded this morning! Full amount, no reduction. For anyone else experiencing this issue, definitely try that special hotline number that was shared. I got through in about 15 minutes yesterday, and they confirmed my case was affected by the system update but was scheduled for processing last night. Sure enough, funds were there this morning. Thanks everyone for your help and suggestions!
Great news! Glad it worked out. This is why I always tell people to keep checking their EBT balance daily when there are issues. The funds can appear at any time without notification. And always keep documentation of these situations in case it happens again!
So glad to see this resolved! I'm dealing with the same issue in Fresno County - benefits were supposed to load on the 12th and still nothing. Just tried that special hotline number and actually got through in about 8 minutes! The rep confirmed my case is in the queue and should process within 24-48 hours. She also mentioned they're prioritizing households with children and elderly members, so if that applies to anyone still waiting, definitely mention it when you call. Thanks for sharing all the updates throughout this thread - it really helped knowing I wasn't alone in this situation!
When will Summer EBT cards reload for 2025? Any official dates announced?
Has anyone heard when the Summer EBT benefits are supposed to reload this year? My kids' school just ended for summer break, and I'm trying to plan our grocery budget. Last year there were delays and the benefits didn't load until mid-June. Any official announcement about the 2025 timeline? I checked my BenefitsCal account but didn't see any updates about it. Getting a bit anxious since food prices keep going up!
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I'm new to this program and this thread has been super helpful! Just to add - if anyone is in Orange County, I called yesterday and they said they're aiming for June 16th for the first batch (A-L) and June 23rd for the second batch (M-Z). They also mentioned that if you move during the summer, you need to update your address ASAP because they can't reissue cards easily once the program starts distributing. Also learned that the $120 is per child, not per household, which is awesome for families with multiple kids!
Just wanted to share what I found out from Riverside County - they're doing their distribution June 14th-28th in alphabetical batches too. The worker I spoke with mentioned that if you haven't received Summer EBT before but think you're eligible, you can also check the CA.gov/SummerEBT website to see if there's an application portal for your county. Some counties have online applications for families who might have been missed in the automatic enrollment. Also learned that the benefits don't roll over year to year, so make sure to use them before the expiration date (usually end of August/early September). Hope this helps other newcomers like me!
EBT card stolen today - what's the emergency replacement process for CalFresh benefits?
Just had my EBT card stolen out of my wallet at the bus stop. Someone pushed into me and I didn't realize until I got to the grocery store that my card was gone! Already called the EBT customer service number to report it stolen, but they just deactivated the card and said a new one would arrive in 7-10 business days. My family literally cannot wait that long for food. I have 3 kids and we were counting on those benefits for groceries today. Does anyone know if there's an emergency replacement process for CalFresh benefits? Can I go to the county office tomorrow and get a temporary card? This is in Sacramento County if that matters.
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UPDATE: Just got back from the Florin Road office. Got there 30 mins before opening and there was already a line, but they were super helpful once I got inside. Had my new card within an hour! They also helped me file a claim for the $87 that was spent before I reported the card stolen. Thank you everyone for your help!
yay!! so glad it worked out!!
Great to hear! For the benefit replacement claim, make sure to follow up in about 10 business days if you don't hear anything. They should send you a notice about the status of your claim.
Jenna Sloan
Update on my situation - I took the advice about calling other county offices and found one about 25 miles away that could print a card today! Just got back with my new EBT card in hand. The worker there told me they can actually see all EBT accounts statewide in their system, it doesn't matter which county issued your benefits. Wanted to share this info in case anyone else has this problem in the future!
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Isaiah Cross
That's great news! And yes, this is correct - any county office in California can print an EBT card for any California CalFresh recipient, regardless of which county manages your case. I'm glad you were able to get your benefits accessed quickly!
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Zainab Ali
So glad you got your card sorted out! I'm actually dealing with something similar right now - my card stopped working yesterday and I think the magnetic strip got damaged. Good to know about being able to go to any county office in California. I was dreading having to wait for a replacement in the mail. Going to call around tomorrow to find the closest office with a working card printer. Thanks for sharing your experience!
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