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So glad you got it figured out! The system errors happen way too often. Did they say anything about giving you an extra month of benefits since they messed up so bad? sometimes they do that if you ask
No, they didn't mention anything about extra benefits as compensation. Should I call back and ask about that? I wasn't sure if that was something they even did. The stress of not knowing how I'd buy groceries when we get back home was pretty intense.
You can definitely ask about supplemental benefits for the administrative delay! It's called "restorative payments" or "replacement benefits" and they're supposed to provide them when their error causes you to miss benefits you were entitled to. Document the stress and any additional costs you incurred (like having to buy expensive convenience store food, etc). Some counties are more willing to approve these than others, but it's worth asking since this was clearly their system error, not anything you did wrong.
Absolutely ask about it! When I had a similar system error delay last year, I had to specifically request the supplemental benefits but they did approve them. They gave me an extra $200 to cover what I had to spend on more expensive food during the gap. The key is to mention that their error caused you financial hardship - especially with having a young child to feed. Don't let them brush you off, this is a legitimate entitlement when it's their mistake!
just curious did both ur cards come in the same envelope or separate ones? my kids got theirs in different envelopes but on same day
I had this exact same issue last month! My 7-year-old got two Summer EBT cards with $120 each. I called the P-EBT hotline (it took forever to get through) and they confirmed it was a system error. They deactivated one card and told me to destroy it. The rep said this happens when kids are in the system multiple times due to school changes or data entry errors. Definitely call - they were really helpful once I got through, and now I don't have to worry about getting hit with an overpayment later.
Thanks for sharing your experience! It's reassuring to hear that the hotline was helpful once you got through. How long did it take you to reach someone? I'm planning to call tomorrow but want to set aside enough time.
It took me about 2.5 hours of calling repeatedly before I got through - I had to redial probably 50+ times. The system kept saying "all circuits are busy" and hanging up. I finally got through around 2 PM on a Wednesday. Once I was in the queue, it was another 45 minutes on hold, but the representative was very knowledgeable and resolved everything quickly. Definitely set aside a whole morning or afternoon if you can!
i dont understand why they cant just put all the benifits on the same card!! i have a calfresh ebt card and a p-ebt card and now i got another card for the summer ebt program! its so confusing keepin track of all these different balances and cards!
For anyone wondering about eligibility: Your child must attend a school that participates in the National School Lunch Program AND must either: 1. Be approved for free/reduced meals through an application, OR 2. Attend a Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) school where all students get free meals, OR 3. Attend a Provision 2/3 school during the designated years Also, a quick note about the cards - if you got a P-EBT card for previous issuances (1.0-3.0), keep it! They'll reload the same card for 4.0. If you've lost your card, request a replacement NOW before the benefits are issued by calling the EBT Customer Service line at 877-328-9677.
Has the composition of your household changed at all? Even something like a household member turning a different age can sometimes affect the calculation. Also, did you recently receive any retroactive benefits from another program like SSI or Social Security? Sometimes that can trigger small adjustments.
No household changes and no other benefits started. Based on everyone's responses, I'm thinking it's probably one of those annual adjustment things. I'm going to check my notices section on BenefitsCal and if I don't find anything I'll contact my county worker. Really appreciate all the helpful responses!
I went through something similar a few months ago and it turned out to be related to the Maximum Allotment adjustments that happen federally. What helped me was calling my county office and asking them to walk through the benefit calculation step by step - they can see exactly what changed between your last issuance and this one. Also, if you have dependents, sometimes there are small changes to the dependent deductions that aren't always obvious. The $7 difference sounds frustrating but it's likely one of those automatic system adjustments everyone mentioned. Definitely worth getting the explanation though so you know what to expect going forward!
Ravi Kapoor
Update: Thank you all for your responses! I showed this thread to my godmother, and while she still insists "they used to do it back in the day," she's now convinced it won't happen with my application. I think I've calmed her fears enough that she's not going to kick me out, lol. My phone interview is scheduled for next week, so hopefully everything goes smoothly from here!
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Freya Larsen
•Glad to hear it worked out! Good luck with your interview. Just be honest about your situation, have your verification documents ready, and you should be fine. The CalFresh workers are generally pretty helpful.
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Jacob Lee
Great to hear you got it sorted out! Your godmother probably was remembering something real from decades ago - the old welfare system was much more intrusive back then. But today's CalFresh is totally different. For your phone interview, just have your ID, proof of where you're staying (maybe a letter from your godmother), and any income documentation ready. Since you're new to California, they might ask about your move from Tennessee, but that's totally normal. The fact that you properly closed your SNAP case in TN before applying in CA shows you're doing everything right. Hope your interview goes smoothly and you get approved quickly!
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