also churches!!! i forgot to mention. my local catholic church paid my electric bill when i was in your situation. u dont have to be religious they help everyone

I'm so sorry you're going through this - the combination of DV recovery and CPS involvement while struggling financially is incredibly overwhelming. You're doing everything right by maintaining safe housing and attending your required programs. One thing that hasn't been mentioned yet is contacting your local Community Action Agency. They often have emergency assistance funds specifically for families at risk of homelessness, and many have special protocols for DV survivors. They can sometimes move faster than county programs. Also, if you're working part-time, check if your employer has an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) - many offer emergency financial assistance that people don't know about. For immediate help, try contacting the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233. They maintain updated local resource lists and can often provide referrals that even local workers don't know about. You're being so strong advocating for yourself and your kids. Keep pushing for the help you deserve - stable housing is crucial for both your recovery and your CPS case success.

It sounds like you're dealing with a confusing situation with your BenefitsCal account and case numbers. This happens more often than you might think! Since your current case isn't showing up in your online profile, you have a few options. First, you don't need to delete your existing profile - that might actually complicate things further. Instead, try calling your county office again and specifically ask them to link your current case to your BenefitsCal account. They should be able to help with this syncing issue. Another approach is to visit your local county office in person with your current case number and ask them to update your online profile. Sometimes these technical issues are easier to resolve face-to-face. In the meantime, make sure you keep a copy of your submitted SAR7 form and get confirmation that they received it. Since you're within the 30-day late period, you're still okay timing-wise, but having documentation of your submission is important. Don't worry too much about the old case number showing up - the system often retains previous information. The key is making sure your current case gets properly linked to your account so you can manage your benefits efficiently going forward.

Here's the ACTUAL facts, since there's a lot of confusion in this thread: 1. P-EBT 5.0 distribution is NOT alphabetical by last name 2. Benefits are being issued county-by-county based on when school districts submitted eligibility data 3. Most counties will complete distribution between June-August 2025 4. Some counties with processing delays may extend into September 5. You can verify your address is correct by calling the P-EBT Helpline at 877-328-9677 6. There is NO way to check your specific issuance date online currently The CDSS updates their P-EBT information page monthly with county-specific timelines. Last update showed LA County distributing from June 15-August 10, but your specific date depends on your school district.

I'm in LA County too and have been wondering about this same thing! My last name starts with N and I haven't received anything yet either. Based on what everyone is saying here, it sounds like the county timeline is more important than the alphabetical thing. I'm going to call that helpline number that Caleb mentioned to double-check my address is correct. Has anyone tried checking with their school district directly to see if they submitted the eligibility data yet? Maybe that would give us a better idea of timing.

The ebtEDGE app really can be incredibly frustrating to use. You're absolutely right that it's not user-friendly, especially when it comes to managing old information. That "can't find you" error is particularly maddening after you've taken the time to enter all your details correctly. Many benefit systems weren't designed with all users in mind, especially those who aren't tech-savvy or don't have access to smartphones. It's a legitimate accessibility issue that affects many people trying to access their benefits. If you're still struggling with the app, you might try: - Calling the EBT customer service number on the back of your card for direct assistance - Visiting your local benefits office where they might be able to help in person - Using the desktop website version instead of the app (sometimes it works better) - Asking if there's a paper-based alternative for managing your benefits Your frustration is completely valid. These systems should be designed to work for everyone who needs to use them, not just those comfortable with technology.

Here's what you need to do when you finally get through to an agent: 1. Explain that you recently got a new phone number (give them the exact date if possible). 2. Tell them you tried to update it online but got an error saying it was already in use. 3. Emphasize that you've never used this number for any previous accounts or applications. 4. Ask them to check if there's been a mix-up or if the number is incorrectly associated with another account. 5. Request that they manually update your phone number in the system. 6. If they say they can't do it, ask to speak with a supervisor. 7. Make sure to get a confirmation number or some kind of written proof that your number has been updated. 8. After the call, try logging in again to verify the change. Good luck! Let us know how it goes.

am i the only 1 who thinks its ridiculous we gotta jump through all these hoops just to update a damn phone number? 🤡 the whole system needs an overhaul fr