Just to add a bit more information - the new system that's gradually replacing BenefitsCal is called CalSAWS (California Statewide Automated Welfare System). It's been in development for years and is meant to unify all 58 counties under one system. The transition is happening in phases, and Sacramento County might be in one of the current transition phases. During these transitions, some online features might be temporarily limited while they migrate data. Your best bet is to: 1. Follow your worker's specific instructions 2. Submit your paper recertification with plenty of time before deadline (at least 2 weeks) 3. Keep a copy of everything you submit 4. Get a receipt or confirmation of submission if possible 5. Call a week after submitting to confirm they received it The system should stabilize again after the transition period.

after reading all these comments im confused now too lol. seems like everyone's county is doing something different?? typical government mess tbh

not directly related to ur Summer EBT question but since ur sons starting pre-school soon make sure u report the change to CalFresh when it happens! my benefits went down when my daughter started school cuz they counted the free lunch as income or something weird like that. just a heads up

To update everyone here, I checked with my supervisor (I work at a community resource center) about the 2025 Summer EBT program in California, and there are some important details to know: 1. Children must be enrolled in free/reduced meals during the regular school year 2. For pre-K students, they need to be in a school that participates in the National School Lunch Program 3. Benefits are typically $120 per eligible child for the summer 4. Applications are not required - eligible families get the benefits automatically So @OP, once your son starts pre-school, check if his school participates in the national lunch program, and if so, get him enrolled in free/reduced meals. Then he should automatically receive Summer EBT next summer.

can u use the formula for ur baby and then use the wic for next month? thats what id do tbh

Just to summarize the best options based on everyone's advice: 1. Contact Target to see if they'll process a special return/repurchase with your WIC card 2. Call your WIC office to see if they can adjust next month's benefits 3. Contact your CalFresh worker to explain the situation 4. Use the formula and adjust your budget for the month The most important thing is NOT to sell or exchange the formula for cash, as that could result in program violations. These programs take trafficking very seriously, and the consequences can be severe (disqualification periods of 1 year or more).

I'm still so MAD about these scammers targeting CalFresh recipients!! Like we don't deal with enough headaches with the system already?! Should be ILLEGAL to impersonate government benefit programs!!! 😡

Since we're on this topic, it's a good reminder that the actual CalFresh/EBT deposit schedule for Alameda County (and all of California) for 2025 is: Case number ending in 1: 1st of the month Case number ending in 2: 2nd of the month Case number ending in 3: 3rd of the month Case number ending in 4: 4th of the month Case number ending in 5: 5th of the month Case number ending in 6: 6th of the month Case number ending in 7: 7th of the month Case number ending in 8: 8th of the month Case number ending in 9: 9th of the month Case number ending in 0: 10th of the month This schedule never changes based on your name, and the county will never text you using slang terms for your benefits.

THIS IS WHY THE SYSTEM IS BROKEN!!! They never properly communicate about benefits. They expect people to magically know which programs they qualify for and how to apply. Then when you try to call, you're stuck in an endless hold loop. I've been on CalFresh for 5 years and STILL don't understand half the programs. The EBT website is from 1995 I swear!!

One important thing to understand is that California has residency requirements for most benefit programs. For the Golden State Stimulus specifically, you needed to be a California resident for more than half of the 2020 tax year. Since you moved in June, that's right at the halfway mark, and it would depend on exactly which date in June you established residency. For CalFresh eligibility, residency isn't about how long you've lived in California but simply that you currently live here. The emergency allotments that were added during COVID would have been applied automatically to your EBT card if you were receiving CalFresh at that time. If you have specific questions about your eligibility for past benefits, I'd recommend reaching out to your county CalFresh office with your case number ready. They can see your specific history and eligibility in their system.