UPDATE: Finally got through to my county worker! Turns out they flagged my account because they got returned mail from an SAR7 reminder they sent to my old address (even though I updated my address 4 months ago). Instead of calling me or checking my updated contact info, they just suspended my benefits! The worker was actually pretty helpful once I reached her. She's reactivating my benefits today and said I should see them restored within 48 hours, including the amount I was supposed to get this month. She also fixed my address in all their systems so this shouldn't happen again. Thanks everyone for your help and suggestions! Special thanks to @user1 for recommending Claimyr - that service actually worked and got me through to a real person in about 25 minutes instead of waiting on hold forever.

This is such a relief to hear you got it sorted out! The fact that they suspended your benefits over returned mail to an old address when you had already updated your information is absolutely ridiculous. The system really needs better communication protocols - there's no excuse for cutting off a family's food assistance without proper notice or attempting other contact methods first. I'm bookmarking that Claimyr service for future reference too, sounds like a lifesaver for actually reaching someone at the county office. Hope your benefits show up on schedule and this doesn't happen again!

Did your EBT card expire? Mine expired in February and I didn't realize it until my benefits didn't load. They automatically mail a new one but I never received it. Had to request another one and it was such a hassle. Just another thing to check!

Just as an update for everyone following this thread - I called my county office this morning and confirmed what @profile2 mentioned. There is indeed a system update causing delays for supplemental payments this month. The representative said all delayed supplements should post by April 24th at the latest. If you don't receive yours by then, definitely call your caseworker.

Has anyone else had trouble with their EBT card not working at certain stores? I've had my card for about 2 years now and sometimes the chip doesn't read right. I've found I have to swipe it at some places but others require the chip. Just something to be aware of if you're new to using the card.

i was confused about this too when i first got calfresh!! but yeh u keep the same card and they just put the $$ on it each month. u can also check ur balance by calling the number on the back or use the app. the app is actually pretty good.

That's awesome that you got it resolved so quickly! Thanks for updating us - I was wondering how this would turn out. It's good to know the P-EBT office is aware of the system glitch and that they're actually thanking people for reporting it instead of making them feel bad about it. I'm definitely going to look into that Claimyr service too since I always seem to have issues getting through to government offices. Glad you did the right thing and got it sorted out properly!

I'm so glad you got this resolved and shared the update! This is really helpful info for others who might face the same situation. It's reassuring to know that the P-EBT office is aware of the system glitch and that they actually appreciate people reporting these duplicates instead of treating it like you did something wrong. The fact that they gave you a confirmation number shows they're taking it seriously too. Thanks for doing the right thing and letting us know how it turned out - posts like this really help the community!

While ur waiting for this to get fixed try 211 for emergency food resources. They can connect u with food pantries in ur area. Also check if ur school district is still doing grab-n-go meals - some still have this from the pandemic. My kids school does free dinner pickup for any family that needs it no questions asked

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this stress - I've been there and it's awful. One thing that helped me was also contacting your local community action agency or United Way chapter. They often have emergency food vouchers or direct assistance programs separate from CalFresh. Also, WIC might be able to help with your younger kids if you're not already enrolled - they serve families with children under 5 and the income limits are higher than CalFresh. Some churches also do "blessing boxes" or community fridges where you can grab groceries without paperwork. Hang in there - this is fixable but I know waiting is the hardest part when you have little ones to feed.