Yes! Thank you for checking back. I went to the county office yesterday after calling them first. I had to wait about 2 hours, but they were able to print a temporary card for me that will work until the permanent one arrives. So relieved! For anyone else reading this with the same problem - definitely go in person if you can, it's much faster than waiting for mail!

That's such great news that you got the temporary card! Two hours is a long wait but totally worth it when you have kids to feed. I'm bookmarking this thread because the advice about going in person for emergency cards is gold - I had no idea that was even possible. Thanks for updating us on how it turned out!

UPDATE: I used that Claimyr service someone recommended to reach a worker, and they confirmed my case was discontinued due to the missing SAR7. Good news though - they received the one I submitted yesterday and said they'll process it as a restoration within 3 business days! They also said they'll add a note to my file to send me text reminders for future SAR7 deadlines since I mentioned missing the notice. So relieved this is getting fixed!

This is such a helpful thread! I'm dealing with something similar right now - my benefits got cut off last month and I had no idea about the 30-day restoration rule. Just wanted to add that if anyone is having trouble downloading forms from BenefitsCal, you can also pick them up at any county office or sometimes at local food banks. My local food pantry actually had copies of the SAR7 form and helped me fill it out correctly. Also, @Geoff Richards glad to hear you got it sorted out! The text reminder option sounds really useful.

This whole thread is incredibly helpful! I'm relatively new to navigating the CalFresh system and had no idea about so many of these options. The temporary card same-day pickup is amazing information - I wish they made this more widely known instead of just telling people to wait 7-10 days. It's also really helpful to know about resources like 211 and Claimyr for when you can't get through the regular phone lines. @Astrid Bergström so glad you got it resolved and can have a proper Thanksgiving! This community is such a lifesaver for figuring out how things actually work in the real world.

This is such a perfect example of why community knowledge is so much more valuable than official channels! I've been on CalFresh for about 6 months now and learned more from this one thread than from all my interactions with customer service combined. The fact that same-day emergency cards are available but not widely advertised is honestly infuriating - how many families have gone hungry waiting for replacements when they could have gotten help immediately? @Astrid Bergström I'm so relieved you got sorted out in time for Thanksgiving! And huge thanks to everyone who shared practical solutions like Claimyr and 211. Saving all of this info because you never know when you'll need it. This is exactly why we need spaces like this where people share real experiences and actual working solutions! 🙏

As someone completely new to this community, I just wanted to say thank you for this incredibly informative discussion! I literally just experienced this exact same frustration at my local grocery store two days ago - I was trying to buy a hot prepared meal from the deli section and was totally baffled when told I couldn't use my EBT card for it. Coming from someone who's living in a small apartment with just basic cooking facilities, this restriction feels so arbitrary and outdated. Reading through everyone's experiences and the detailed explanations about the 1977 federal rule really helps me understand the "why" behind this policy, even though it clearly doesn't make sense for how people live today. I'm especially grateful for all the practical workarounds and resources people have shared here - the Claimyr service for getting through to case workers sounds like a game changer, and I'm definitely going to try that tip about asking stores to refrigerate hot items first. It's both reassuring and frustrating to see how many people are dealing with this same issue. This community seems like such a supportive place for navigating these confusing benefit systems. I'm inspired by those of you who are already reaching out to representatives about updating these outdated federal regulations - count me in for advocating for change too!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm so relieved to find this discussion! I just moved here from out of state and had this exact same bewildering experience at Safeway last week. I was trying to buy their hot Chinese food from the deli counter and the cashier had to explain why my EBT card wouldn't work for it. Coming from someone living in a converted garage with just a microwave and mini fridge, this rule feels incredibly punitive and out of touch with reality. Reading through everyone's stories and the explanation about the 1977 federal origins really helps me understand where this comes from, but wow - nearly 50 years later and we're still operating under rules that assume everyone has a full kitchen and time to cook from scratch! The fact that the same exact food is "allowed" cold but "forbidden" hot is just mind-boggling. I really appreciate all the creative workarounds people have shared here, especially that tip about asking stores to refrigerate hot items first. It's both validating and depressing to see how many people are struggling with this same issue. This community seems like such a valuable resource for navigating these bureaucratic obstacles. Definitely going to look into that Claimyr service and maybe join the effort to contact representatives about updating these antiquated federal regulations!

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.

Hey Gael! Just wanted to add that you might also want to look into the P-EBT program if it's still available in your area. It's similar to Summer EBT but was created during COVID to help families when kids couldn't get school meals due to closures or reduced hours. Some districts still offer it for pre-K programs. It's worth asking your son's school about both Summer EBT AND P-EBT when he starts in August. Also, with your income level, you should definitely reapply for WIC like others mentioned - having a 4-year-old makes you eligible and it's a great supplement to CalFresh!