I just wanted to share that in my experience, following up with the county office BEFORE summer starts makes a huge difference. Last year, families who proactively checked their children's eligibility status in May were able to resolve issues before the benefit distribution started. Those who waited until July or August to check often missed out because of the backlog of requests. So definitely call your CalFresh office soon to verify your son's status!

Just wanted to add that you can also check if your preschool participates in the federal meal programs by looking them up on the California Department of Education's website. They have a searchable database of schools that participate in the National School Lunch Program. This might save you a phone call and give you the info right away! The database is usually pretty up-to-date, and if your son's preschool is listed there, he should definitely qualify for Summer EBT as long as you're on CalFresh.

One important thing to remember - always check your balance before withdrawing! You can check your CalWORKs cash balance for free by calling the number on the back of your EBT card (1-877-328-9677) or using the BenefitsCal website/app. I learned this the hard way after getting hit with an insufficient funds fee once when I assumed money had been deposited but it was delayed.

Just wanted to add that if you're in the South Bay area, the ATMs at most County Federal Credit Union locations are also part of the surcharge-free network for EBT cash withdrawals. They have branches in San Jose, Campbell, and Santa Clara. I've used the one on Stevens Creek Boulevard several times without any issues. Also, pro tip - if you're ever unsure about an ATM, look for the "Quest" logo on the machine - that's the network that processes EBT transactions. If you see that logo, you should be good to go!

UPDATE: I finally got through to my county office and spoke with a supervisor. She said my application was approved yesterday but is waiting for benefit issuance which could take 2-3 more business days. She said they've been completely overwhelmed with D-CalFresh applications (over 15,000 in our county alone) and are bringing in workers from other departments to help process them all. For anyone still waiting - don't give up! Keep calling and specifically ask to speak with a supervisor or manager who can look up your actual status.

This thread has been so helpful! I applied for D-CalFresh on 2/23 and have been stuck in "processing" status for 18 days now. Reading everyone's experiences gives me hope that it's not lost in the system. I'm definitely going to try calling and asking for a supervisor like Sophia suggested. It's frustrating that processing times vary so much by county - some people get approved in 8 days while others wait a month! Has anyone else noticed if certain counties are faster than others? I'm in San Bernardino County and wondering if I should expect a longer wait based on what I'm seeing here.

I work at a community resource center, and we've been helping families with this exact issue. Here's what you need to know: 1. P-EBT 3.0 benefits are currently being issued, which explains your recent card. 2. Previous P-EBT phases (1.0 and 2.0) had specific issuance windows that have officially closed. 3. However, there IS an exception process for families who can demonstrate they were eligible but never received benefits due to administrative errors (wrong address, school reporting issues, etc.) 4. The best approach is to gather documentation showing your children's eligibility during those periods (free/reduced lunch verification from their school) and contact the P-EBT hotline. 5. Be persistent and specific about requesting the "exception review process" - not all call center workers mention this option unless directly asked. The P-EBT hotline (877-328-9677) is notoriously difficult to reach. Try calling right when they open or in the last hour before they close for slightly better chances of getting through.

Thanks everyone for all this info! I'm going to try calling about the exception process that @Josef Tearle mentioned. I've got all my kids' school paperwork showing they were on free lunch since the beginning of 2024, so hopefully that'll be enough documentation. For anyone else in the same boat - sounds like the key is to specifically ask about "exception review process" and have your school records ready. I'll update this thread if I have any luck getting through to someone who can actually help! Also @Laila Fury - really appreciate the tip about calling right when they open. I was planning to call during lunch but sounds like timing matters a lot with that hotline.

lucky u!!! mine still pending after 2 weeks 😭

I'm in Riverside County too and just got approved for CalFresh last week! This is all really helpful info as a new recipient. I'm in group E and was wondering why my first payment seemed to come later than expected. Good to know it's not just me and that there's an actual reason for the delays. @Isaiah Sanders thank you for mentioning the expedited form - I'll definitely keep that in mind if I run into issues. Hope everyone gets their benefits sorted out soon! 🙏