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Has your daughter switched schools or been absent a lot? My cousin works for CDSS and told me that P-EBT benefits for 2025 are calculated based on actual attendance records, not just enrollment. If your daughter has had significant absences or transferred mid-year, that might explain the difference. Also, double-check that both P-EBT cards are properly activated. Sometimes when they issue new cards, the old ones stop working, and you might be checking an old balance instead of the new card. The county workers can fix this with backdated payments, but you definitely need to reach someone on the phone who specifically handles P-EBT issues, not just the general CalFresh line.
Did u ever get this resolved? Having the exact same issue with my kids right now and getting nowhere with the hotline
Yes! Finally got it fixed yesterday. Turned out my daughter's student ID number had been entered incorrectly in the system (transposed digits). I used that Claimyr service someone mentioned above to get through to a person at the county office, and they fixed it right away. They're issuing back payments for the months she missed within 10 business days. Definitely worth pushing on this!
my neighbor gets almost $800 for her and her 2 kids but she doesnt work at all so thats probably y yours is less. my amount changes all the time depending on how many hours i get at my job. some months i get $600 sometimes $500 its so annoying to predict
After reading through everything, it sounds like you might qualify for more benefits if they include your childcare expenses. The $200/week after-school program ($800/month) is definitely a deductible expense that would lower your countable income. Just remember that when you call tomorrow: 1. Be prepared with documentation of the childcare costs 2. Ask for a detailed breakdown of how they calculated your benefit 3. If they did miss the childcare expense, request a benefit adjustment going back to your application date 4. If you have any receipt or proof you mentioned the childcare during your interview, have that ready Good luck! Let us know how it goes.
btw make sure u activate it RIGHT AWAY!! my neighbor waited like 2 weeks and then couldnt remember what PIN they chose when setting it up...huge hassle to reset it
Update: My 12-year-old's P-EBT card finally came in the mail today! Both kids got the same amount ($958). Thanks everyone for your help and reassurance that I just needed to be patient. For anyone else waiting, they really are sending them in batches even within the same household.
anybody know if theres a way to get more calfresh? i got 3 kids and $640 a month doesnt even last 3 weeks with how expensive everything is now
Make sure you're reporting all eligible deductions when you submit your SAR7 or recertification. These include: - Child care costs - Medical expenses over $35/month for elderly or disabled household members - Child support payments - Excess housing costs Also, if anyone in your household is enrolled in a qualifying education/training program, ask about the Student EFC (Educational Food Credit). And always report any decrease in income right away - don't wait for your SAR7 if your income goes down.
I still CANNOT believe they ended these benefits when inflation is this bad! My grocery bill has nearly DOUBLED since 2020 but my benefits went back to the pre-pandemic amount!! The government doesn't care if people go hungry!! Does anyone know if there's a petition or something we can sign to bring back the emergency allotments??
I understand your frustration, but the emergency allotments were always meant to be temporary during the public health emergency. The regular CalFresh program is still in place and benefits did receive a cost of living adjustment last October. Rather than looking for petitions about emergency allotments (which were tied specifically to the COVID emergency declaration), you might want to contact your representatives about supporting legislation to increase regular SNAP benefit calculations to better reflect current food costs. The USDA's Thrifty Food Plan, which determines benefit amounts, was updated in 2021 but many argue it still doesn't adequately account for today's food prices.
Malik Johnson
let us know what happens! i had to bug my worker like 5 times before they fixed my benefits last year lol
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QuantumLeap
•Will do! Fingers crossed I can get through to someone helpful on the first try.
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QuantumLeap
UPDATE: You all were right! I finally got through to a worker who went through my case with me. Three issues: 1. They were counting my severance pay as ongoing income 2. They didn't apply the heating/cooling utility allowance 3. They didn't count my son's medication costs After fixing all three, my benefits are increasing to $387/month starting next month! They're also issuing a supplement for this month. Thanks everyone for your help - I never would have known to ask about these specific things without your advice.
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Isabella Santos
•That's great news! This is exactly why it's so important to understand how your benefits are calculated. Glad you were able to get it resolved and receive the correct amount your family is entitled to.
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Chloe Taylor
•SEE?? THIS is why you have to FIGHT the system! They ALWAYS try to give people less than they deserve! So happy you got what you're entitled to!!
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