California CalFresh
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Still no P-EBT 4.0 card in Tulare County - anyone else waiting?
Has anyone in Tulare County received their P-EBT 4.0 card yet? I've been checking my mailbox every day for the past 3 weeks and nothing. My neighbor got hers last week and we applied around the same time. Called the P-EBT hotline twice but got disconnected both times after waiting 45+ minutes. My kids qualified for free lunch all last year so we should definitely be eligible. Starting to get worried since I'm counting on those funds for groceries this month... anyone else still waiting or know when Tulare County is supposed to complete the rollout? Is there a way to check application status online?
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CalFresh Emergency Allotment missing for 4 months - any special number to call?
So confused about this CalFresh situation. My cousin has been missing the emergency supplemental benefit on her EBT card for the past 4 months (March-June 2025). She's still getting her regular CalFresh amount ($270/month), but none of those extra funds that were supposed to continue this year. When she finally managed to speak with her caseworker last week, they basically just said "I'll look into it" but she hasn't heard anything back. Are emergency allotments still a thing in California? Has anyone else had this problem? Is there some special department or phone number she should be calling instead of her regular county worker? She's a single mom with two kids and that extra amount makes a huge difference for their grocery budget.
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Confused about EBT 3.0 - is it just for food or cash benefits too? CalFresh question for my son
Hey everyone, I'm a bit confused about this EBT 3.0 card my son just got. He said I could use it to help with groceries, but I'm not sure if it's just for food or if there's cash benefits on it too? When I tried using it at the store, the cashier asked if I wanted to use 'food' or 'cash' and I didn't know what to say. My son isn't answering his phone today. I don't want to do anything wrong or illegal. Can someone explain if CalFresh EBT 3.0 is supposed to have cash benefits or is it only for food? And is it even okay for me to use it if it's my son's card?
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its annoying but the EBT rules r super strict!! my neighbor got her benefits cut for 6 months for letting her mom use her card!! they check the times and locations of purchases and if they see its impossible for u to be shopping (like if ur at work) they investigate!! not worth the risk!!
seriously?? how do they even know where ur supposed to be? thats creepy af that they track u like that
They don't actively track your location, but if there's ever an investigation, they can look at purchasing patterns and times. If there's evidence suggesting the cardholder couldn't have been making the purchases (like being at a documented work shift during purchase times), that can trigger fraud concerns. It's not about tracking - it's about protecting the integrity of the program.
Thanks everyone for the helpful info! I talked to my son last night and it turns out he only gets CalFresh (food benefits) not cash aid. He didn't realize I wasn't supposed to use his card even for buying food for his kids. We're going to fill out that form to make me an authorized representative this weekend. Really appreciate all the advice and saving us from potential trouble!
That's great news! Just a quick tip - when he adds you as an authorized representative, you'll still use his EBT card and PIN, but now it will be legally documented that you have permission to shop for his household. Make sure to keep all receipts too, just as a good practice.
CalFresh EBT amount seems low with unemployment income - only $150 for family of 2 in Riverside County
I was laid off due to company downsizing on January 1st and immediately applied for benefits. My unemployment just got approved for $2,250/month which disqualified me for CalWORKs (makes sense). But I'm really confused about my CalFresh amount - we only got $150/month for me and my teenage son. That barely covers a week of groceries! Does anyone in Riverside County with similar unemployment income ($2,250/mo) get more in CalFresh benefits? My rent is only $1,075/month for a small apartment - could that be why our benefit is so low? I thought we'd get at least $300-400 since we have almost no income beyond unemployment. Are they calculating something wrong or is this normal?
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let us know what happens! i had to bug my worker like 5 times before they fixed my benefits last year lol
Will do! Fingers crossed I can get through to someone helpful on the first try.
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.
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.
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!!
Unequal P-EBT deposits: son getting max but daughter only got minimum one-time payment?
So confused about these P-EBT distributions for my kids! My son (8th grade at Lincoln Middle) has been getting the maximum amount loaded onto his card every month this school year. But my daughter (3rd grade at Washington Elementary) only got ONE payment back in February, and it was just the minimum amount ($175). They're both on the same CalFresh case, both qualify for free school meals, and both have been in school the same number of days. Makes zero sense! I've tried calling the P-EBT hotline but just get stuck in the automated system forever. Has anyone else had this issue with different benefit amounts for siblings? Is there an actual human I can talk to about fixing this before the school year ends?
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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.
She did miss a week when she had strep throat, but not enough to make such a big difference compared to her brother. You might be right about the card though - I should double check if they sent a new one that I missed in the mail. Thanks!
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!
Dmitry Popov
For those still waiting, there's a specific timeline for P-EBT 4.0 distribution in California. Cards are being mailed between March and June 2025, with different counties prioritized in different waves. If your children qualified for free or reduced-price meals during the 2023-2024 school year, you should receive a card. If you don't receive one by early July, you can request a replacement through the P-EBT Portal at ca.p-ebt.org or by calling the P-EBT Hotline at 877-328-9677. Just be aware the hotline has extremely long wait times currently.
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NebulaKnight
Is it based on when you applied for free lunches? My kids were approved back in September and I got the card already, but my neighbor applied in January and hasn't gotten theirs yet.
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Dmitry Popov
It's not directly tied to when you applied for free/reduced lunches, but rather to when your eligibility data was processed and transmitted to CDSS from your school district. Some districts submit their data earlier than others, which can affect distribution timing. The system also processes cards in batches rather than individually, which explains why people in the same area might receive cards at different times.
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Dylan Wright
UPDATE: Got my card today!!! For anyone still waiting, it was in a very plain white envelope that honestly looked like junk mail. $1,482 for my two kids - such a relief. Thanks everyone for the support and info!
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Ava Rodriguez
So happy for you! Make sure you activate it right away and create a PIN. And just FYI, the benefits do expire eventually (usually after about a year), so don't forget to use them!
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