


Ask the community...
UPDATE: App seems to be working again! Just checked and was able to log in and see my balance. Try again everyone.
Just checked - you're right! Working for me now too. Thanks for the update! My balance is lower than I thought though... going to need to be careful with my shopping trip tomorrow.
Same thing happened to me last month during my grocery run - so embarrassing when your card gets declined at checkout because you thought you had more left! Now I always keep a little notebook in my purse where I write down my balance after every shopping trip, plus I save my receipts so I can do the math myself if the app goes down. It's old school but it works! Also found out that some grocery stores (like Safeway) will let you do a balance inquiry at self-checkout without buying anything - just select EBT and then "balance inquiry" before you start shopping.
So after reading all these responses, I'm pretty sure my neighbor just misunderstood about the regular February utility adjustment. I got excited for nothing lol. But on the bright side, I'm definitely going to report my rent increase and see if that helps with my benefit amount! Thanks everyone for clearing things up. 💕
Good plan! Just remember that when you report the rent increase, also report any change in utilities if they aren't included in your rent. Both affect your benefit calculation. And if you have any childcare expenses that have changed, report those too!
I'm new here but wanted to share my experience - I just went through recertification last month and my caseworker was super helpful in explaining all the deductions I could claim. Like others mentioned, reporting changes right away really does make a difference! I had no idea that even small increases in housing costs could bump up my benefits. Also, for anyone struggling with long phone wait times, I found that calling first thing in the morning (right when they open) or right after lunch tends to be better than calling mid-morning when everyone else is trying to get through. Hope this helps someone!
this whole thing is SO FRUSTERATING!!! why do they make it so hard and confusing??!! i got a p-ebt card for my daughter last year no problem and now nothing and when i call the number its just robots talking!!
I feel your frustration! The automated system is THE WORST. Like I mentioned above, I wasted so much time trying to get through to an actual person. The Claimyr service was the only thing that worked for me - they navigated the phone tree and got me to a real human. Might be worth trying if you really need answers about your daughter's benefits.
I'm dealing with a similar situation and wanted to share what I learned from my county worker. The confusion about P-EBT vs Summer EBT is real - they're technically different programs but use the same cards and similar processes, which is why everyone's mixed up! For your cash job situation, you can absolutely still apply for CalFresh without formal documentation. They allow self-attestation for income, especially for informal work. Just be honest about what you were earning and when it ended. The worker can help you document this during your interview. One thing that might help while you're waiting for CalFresh approval - check if your 7-year-old's school participates in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP). You can usually find this info on the school's website or call the main office. If they do CEP, all students automatically get free meals and should qualify for P-EBT/Summer EBT regardless of your family's CalFresh status. The whole system is frustrating but don't give up! With 3 kids and reduced income, you'll likely qualify for substantial monthly benefits that will help way more than the occasional P-EBT payments.
Update from the CalFresh office: They've confirmed that all Summer Nutrition Supplement benefits for July will be completely issued by July 12th. The schedule is: - July 7-8: Case numbers ending in 0-3 - July 9-10: Case numbers ending in 4-6 - July 11-12: Case numbers ending in 7-9 If your case number ends in 5, you should see your supplement arrive tomorrow or on the 10th. If you don't receive it by the scheduled date, contact your county office immediately as there may be an issue with your account or eligibility.
THANK YOU! This is exactly what I needed to know. My case ends in 5 so I'll expect it tomorrow or the next day. Really appreciate the specific information.
Just wanted to add that I called the EBT customer service line (1-877-328-9677) and they can also tell you if there are any pending deposits scheduled for your card. It's sometimes easier to get through to them than the county office. They told me I have a pending deposit for tomorrow, which matches what Giovanni said about the case number schedule. Might save some people the frustration of calling the county office over and over!
Anna Kerber
Just wanted to follow up - were you able to resolve this? Did they load your benefits?
0 coins
Danielle Mays
•Yes! I finally got through yesterday and explained everything. The worker was actually understanding and said she'd expedite my case review. The documents I sent originally were actually sufficient, but they got attached to the wrong case number somehow. My benefits should be loaded by tomorrow. Thanks for checking back!
0 coins
Zara Perez
So glad to hear you got it resolved! This is exactly why I always tell people not to panic too much about these situations. The system has issues but the workers are usually understanding when you explain what happened. Thanks for updating us - it's helpful for others who might be in similar situations to know that these things can work out even when they seem scary at first.
0 coins