California CalFresh

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CalFresh EBT suddenly discontinued in Northern California - can't reach anyone by phone!

Just got a heart attack-inducing notice in the mail saying my CalFresh benefits have been DISCONTINUED effective next week! Literally nothing has changed with my situation - same job, same rent, same everything. I'm in Humboldt County and desperately need to talk to an actual human being at the county office. I tried calling the number on the back of my EBT card but it's just a maze of automated options with NO way to reach a real person. My balance is only $43 left and that won't last me through the month. Has anyone else had their benefits suddenly cut off for no reason? How did you fix it? I'm panicking because I literally depend on this for food.

my sisters calfresh got cut off and it was bcuz she didnt report her new job within 10 days...did u start any new work or get a raise maybe?

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No changes at all in my employment or income. Same job for the past 2 years, and my last raise was reported on my SAR7 six months ago. The good news is another commenter helped me check my BenefitsCal account and I found out they were asking for a current rent receipt. Never got that notice in the mail though!

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I'm so sorry this is happening to you! I'm new to this community but have been dealing with CalFresh issues for a while now. Since you found that missing rent verification notice in your BenefitsCal account, you're actually in a really good position to get this resolved quickly. One thing I learned the hard way - always screenshot those BenefitsCal notices as soon as you see them because sometimes they disappear from the system. Also, when you call tomorrow, if the first person you talk to can't help or seems dismissive, politely ask to speak with a supervisor. Sometimes the front-line workers don't have the authority to reinstate benefits immediately but supervisors do. Also wanted to mention - if you're really worried about food this week, most food banks don't require any paperwork or proof of need. The Food Bank of the Redwoods has locations throughout Humboldt County and they're really helpful. You can find their locations and hours online. It's not a permanent solution but it can help bridge the gap while you get your benefits restored. Hang in there - it sounds like this should be fixable once you provide that rent receipt!

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CalFresh benefits deposit date confusion - is the 26th the last day for this month?

Hey everyone, I'm super confused about when my CalFresh benefits are supposed to load this month. I usually get mine on the 11th based on my case number, but I heard someone at the grocery store saying something about the 26th being the 'last allotment date' for this month? I'm really tight on food and trying to budget properly. Is the 26th some kind of deadline? Will I not get my benefits if I don't use my EBT card by then? Sorry if this is a dumb question, I'm still pretty new to the CalFresh program and don't want to miss out on my benefits.

I've heard about this too. My cousin used it when her account got locked and she couldn't access her benefits. Said it saved her hours of waiting.

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Just wanted to chime in as someone who went through the same confusion when I first got CalFresh! The system really isn't intuitive at all. Your benefits will always come on the same date each month (the 11th in your case) and they don't expire for almost 9 months, so you have plenty of time to use them. I actually keep a little calendar now marking my deposit date so I can plan my grocery trips better. Don't feel bad about not knowing - I think most of us had to learn this stuff the hard way through trial and error rather than getting clear explanations upfront.

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CalFresh TFS benefits missing - anyone else not get the extra amount in June 2025?

I've been receiving Transitional Food Stamps (TFS) for about 3 months now after reporting my new job. My regular benefits have been consistent ($345) but I was also getting an extra $75 supplement that usually hits my EBT card on the 15th of each month. Today's the 15th and I checked my balance - regular amount is there but no extra payment! I'm counting on that money for fresh produce for my kids. Could my TFS status be why the supplement is missing? Has anyone else had this problem this month? I tried calling the county office but got disconnected after waiting 45 minutes. 😭😭

UPDATE: Just wanted to let everyone know my extra payment came through today (the 18th) just like you all said it would! Thank you all for the helpful information - especially about the difference between TFS and CNAP. I'm still learning all these CalFresh terms and programs. Now I need to focus on my recertification next month so there's no gap in benefits!

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Glad to hear it! Good luck with your recertification. Remember to submit it at least 15 days before your TFS period ends. The online system through BenefitsCal is much faster than paper applications.

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Mine came too but they should've WARNED EVERYONE properly. Lucky I had some emergency ramen packets or my kids would've gone hungry!!!

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I'm new to CalFresh and this thread has been SO helpful! I just got approved last month and didn't even know about the CNAP supplement until reading this. I've been wondering why I got an extra $75 on my card and thought it was a mistake. Now I know it's actually supposed to be there! Question for everyone - when you're on regular CalFresh (not TFS), does the CNAP supplement always come on the 15th? And is there anywhere I can sign up for notifications about delays like this so I don't panic when payments are late? I'm a single mom and every dollar counts for groceries. Thanks to everyone who explained the difference between TFS and CNAP - the county worker who helped me didn't mention any of this stuff! 🙏

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CalFresh deposit delay on regular deposit date - are 12am benefits late?

Kinda freaking out here. My CalFresh benefits always hit my EBT card at exactly 12am on the 4th of each month. It's now almost 7am and nothing has been deposited. I've been counting on these benefits for a big grocery shop today since my kids are completely out of everything. Has anyone else experienced delays with their regular deposit date? Do system outages happen often? I'm wondering if I should call the EBT customer service line or if this is a known issue that will resolve itself. My benefit amount shouldn't have changed since I'm not due for recertification until September.

This is why I always keep some extra food on hand for these situations. The system is so unreliable sometimes. Glad it worked out!

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You're right, that's a good reminder. I usually do have backup but this month has been especially tight with school starting.

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So glad everything worked out for you @Amina! I've been through this exact same panic before. For future reference, I've found that keeping the EBT customer service number (1-877-328-9677) saved in my phone helps, and they usually have recorded messages about system-wide delays when they happen. Also, some food banks and churches do emergency food assistance if you ever get stuck waiting for delayed benefits again. It's such a relief when those funds finally show up though - hope your grocery shopping went well!

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CalFresh benefits stolen from mom's EBT in another state - facing investigation & possible fraud accusations

I'm panicking right now and could really use some help. My mom (69yo) visited me in Arizona last month and used her CalFresh EBT card at a grocery store there. Three days later, her entire balance ($340) was drained at an ATM in Phoenix - but she was already back in California by then! Now she's received a notice saying she's under investigation for 'out-of-state benefit usage patterns' and possible fraud. The county worker suggested she 'return the benefits' which makes NO sense since someone STOLE them from her! Has anyone dealt with EBT theft across state lines? Can they really expect her to repay benefits that were stolen? She's on a fixed income and absolutely depended on those CalFresh benefits for food this month.

UPDATE: I wanted to thank everyone for their advice! I used Claimyr to finally get through to a supervisor at the county office, and they were actually really helpful once I mentioned the new guidance from March 2025 and Form CF 303. We submitted all the documentation showing my mom was at her doctor's appointment in California when the money was withdrawn in Arizona. They're expediting her replacement benefits and should have them loaded within 3 business days! The supervisor said these cases are happening a lot and they're working on better skimmer detection at out-of-state retailers. For anyone else dealing with this, definitely mention ACL 25-32 and request expedited replacement!

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So glad to hear you got this resolved quickly! This is exactly why community knowledge sharing is so important - the county workers don't always volunteer information about new policies or expedited processes. Your experience will definitely help other families dealing with EBT theft. It's encouraging that the supervisor acknowledged this is a widespread problem they're actively working on. Hopefully they can get better protections in place soon so seniors like your mom don't have to go through this stress in the first place.

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