Thanks everyone for the help! Mystery solved - turns out my benefits DO come on the 7th of each month since my case number ends in 7. I checked my EBT account and the money was already there, I just didn't notice. Feeling silly but relieved. Will mark the 7th on my calendar from now on!

Glad you got it figured out! This is such a common confusion and honestly the state should do a better job explaining this upfront. Pro tip: if you ever need to budget around your CalFresh benefits, knowing that the 7th is your day makes meal planning so much easier. You can also set up text alerts through the EBT app to get notified when your benefits are loaded each month. That way you don't have to remember to check manually!

Update: I ended up going to the 7-Eleven instead and got a sandwich and some fruit with my EBT. Thanks everyone for your help and for the restaurant list! I'm going to save that for future reference even though I don't qualify for the restaurant program. Maybe someday they'll expand it to all CalFresh recipients.

Just wanted to add that some grocery stores like Vons and Ralphs have pretty good deli sections where you can get cold prepared foods with EBT - sandwiches, salads, sushi, etc. It's not hot food but it's ready to eat and sometimes cheaper than convenience stores. The one on University Ave has a decent selection if you're still in that area. Also FYI - farmer's markets often take EBT too and some have prepared foods that qualify!

UPDATE: Finally got through to a CalFresh worker! Turns out they did send verification requests by email AND mail, but the mail one went to my old address somehow even though I've updated it everywhere. They needed current pay stubs because my employer reported a different income amount to the state database than what I reported when I applied (my hours fluctuate slightly week to week). The good news is they're reinstating my benefits immediately since I provided the pay stubs today, and I'll have emergency funds loaded onto my EBT card within 24 hours. They also updated all my contact info and enrolled me in text notifications! Thanks everyone for your help and advice - this community was invaluable when I was panicking!

So glad you got this resolved! This is exactly why I always recommend people sign up for text notifications - email is so easy to miss. It's crazy how the system can flag accounts for "verification" even when nothing has actually changed on your end. The fact that your employer reported slightly different hours to the state database shows how sensitive their automated matching system is. At least now you know for next time to check both email AND make sure your address is updated everywhere in their system. Hope your emergency benefits come through quickly!

Thanks everyone for all the helpful information! I called my daughter's school district this morning and they confirmed she'll be automatically enrolled since she receives reduced-price lunch. The cards should arrive in early June, and they said I don't need to do anything else. This will be a big help for our summer grocery budget!

That's awesome news! So glad you got it figured out. Just a heads up - when you do receive the card, make sure to activate it right away and check the balance. Sometimes there are delays in loading the funds even after you get the physical card. Also, the Summer EBT cards work just like regular EBT cards at grocery stores, but they can't be used at restaurants or for hot prepared foods. Perfect timing with summer break coming up!

my cousins kid got pebt but they dont get calfresh they just get free school lunch is that different?

I'm in a similar situation with my 5-year-old who's not in kindergarten yet but we've been on CalFresh since last fall. Reading through these comments is so helpful - I had no idea about the automatic issuance for kids under 6! I've been stressing about having to apply separately. Does anyone know roughly how long the cards are taking to arrive once they're mailed out? I want to make sure I don't miss it or that it doesn't get lost in the mail. Also wondering if there's a way to confirm our mailing address is correct in the system without having to call that overwhelmed hotline.