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Okay so I might have seriously messed up my CalFresh benefits. After waiting FOREVER to get my benefits approved (like 2 months), they asked for more verification documents last week. I uploaded everything they asked for through the BenefitsCal portal, but my EBT card still wasn't getting loaded. I tried calling for THREE DAYS STRAIGHT. Each time I was on hold for 2+ hours before either getting disconnected or having to hang up because of work. Then this past Saturday, I completely lost it. I was so hungry and frustrated that instead of uploading another copy of my pay stubs like they requested, I uploaded an angry letter basically saying how ridiculous their system is and how I've already sent everything multiple times. Now I'm freaking out. Will they cancel my benefits for being unprofessional? Has anyone done something similar? I really can't afford to lose my food assistance right now, but Monday phone queues are impossible to get through. Should I just go to the office in person to apologize?
I've been trying to check my CalFresh balance since around 2pm today but the EBT Edge app keeps crashing! It was working fine this morning when I checked my remaining balance after grocery shopping. Now when I try to log in, it either freezes on the loading screen or gives me some vague error message about 'service unavailable.' I've already tried uninstalling and reinstalling the app, restarting my phone, and even tried logging in through the website, but nothing's working. This is super stressful because I'm planning my monthly shopping trip tomorrow and need to know exactly how much I have left. Anyone else having this issue or is it just me? Any ideas how long these outages usually last?
UPDATE: App seems to be working again! Just checked and was able to log in and see my balance. Try again everyone.
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 i was talking to my neighbor yesterday and she swore up and down that CalFresh is giving out emergency allotments again starting in February??? I thought those pandemic extra benefits ended YEARS ago but she said her cousin who works for the county told her they're bringing them back because of the economic situation. Has anyone else heard about this or is she just confused? My regular benefits barely cover 2 weeks of groceries for me and my kids so extra would be amazing if true!!!
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. ๐
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!
Has anybody received their emergency CalFresh allotment for July 2025 yet? I'm seeing conflicting info everywhere. BenefitsCal website says deposits start on the 7th, but the county office recording said the 8th, and my neighbor (who's also on CalFresh) swears they always come on the 10th. I've got bills coming due and really need to plan my budget. Usually I see the extra amount on my EBT by now but nothing's showing up. Anyone got theirs yet? My regular benefits loaded fine on the 2nd (I'm in the B-H batch), but no emergency supplement. Thanks!
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.
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!
I'm so confused about this P-EBT situation for my kids. My neighbor just told me that children ages 0-6 had to already be receiving CalFresh/EBT benefits to get the P-EBT cards in 2025? Is this true? I have 3 children (ages 2, 4, and 7) and we've never been on CalFresh before, but our income dropped significantly last month when I lost my second job. If they really need to have been on EBT already, should I apply for CalFresh now to make sure they qualify for future P-EBT distributions? Or am I totally misunderstanding how this works? The school sent home some confusing letter but didn't explain eligibility clearly.
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.
Anna Kerber
Just wanted to follow up - were you able to resolve this? Did they load your benefits?
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Danielle Mays
AuthorYes! 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!
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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.
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