Just want to add - make sure you're ready with your case number, ID, and your child's information when you call. For emergency issuances, they may need to verify your identity again since they're essentially creating a workaround in the system. And don't hesitate to mention the hardship this is causing - be specific about having a child without food, empty cabinets, etc. This helps prioritize your case.

UPDATE: I called this morning using the advice here and it WORKED! I asked specifically for a supervisor and requested a "manual override emergency issuance" due to the system migration error. They verified my identity, confirmed my case was flagged as confidential due to former foster youth status, and processed an emergency benefits issuance that should be on my card within 24 hours! The supervisor also said they're working on fixing the system migration issue for all affected cases and mine should be fully resolved by next week. THANK YOU all for the advice - it truly saved me from having to borrow more money for groceries.

wait what about the rest of us who shop at gas stations??? i live in muscoy and theres only the 7-11 within walking distance for me. no car. am i just supposed to not eat???

This is unfortunately becoming a common issue with CalFresh benefits in the Inland Empire. Here's what you need to know about the current EBT theft situation: 1. Gas stations in San Bernardino County have seen higher rates of skimming devices according to the 2025 CDSS Fraud Report. The Highland Ave corridor has been specifically identified as a hotspot. 2. You must file the EBT-2259 form AND a police report. Despite what some comments suggest, both are required for expedited replacement under the new 2025 guidelines. 3. Under AB-1880, counties must provide replacement benefits within 10 business days of receiving a completed claim. 4. Request "immediate need" replacement when you submit your form - this indicates food insecurity and should prioritize your case. 5. The transaction history on your EBT account should show exactly where the fraudulent charges occurred - print this out as evidence. This is fixable, but you need to be persistent and follow the exact procedures.

Anyone else notice that the eligibility rules keep changing? For the first round of P-EBT in 2022 you needed like 5+ excused absences, then in 2023 it was any absences related to Covid, now in 2025 nobody seems to know what the actual criteria are. My kids' school sent home a flyer that said one thing, the website says another, and the phone reps say something completely different. And it's not like we're getting enough CalFresh to begin with in this economy...

Update: I finally got some answers! I talked to our school's nutrition services coordinator this morning, and she was super helpful. Turns out there was a data entry error where my daughter's student ID was entered incorrectly when they submitted records to the state. They're sending a correction form, but she said it might take 4-6 weeks to process. She also confirmed my son shouldn't be eligible based on attendance, so that's still a mystery. Thank you all for your suggestions and support - this community has been so helpful when navigating these confusing systems!

My kids got theirs but I'm confused about something else - can this P-EBT be used the same as regular EBT? Like at farmers markets for the matching program?

Just wanted to update everyone - my cards finally came today! Both kids got separate cards, and they had different amounts ($425 for my 5-year-old and $375 for my 3-year-old). So they are definitely still sending them out. Check your mail carefully because the envelope looks like junk mail - very plain with just a PO Box return address.

To be specific about your question - YES, this is self-employment income for CalFresh purposes. Here's exactly what you need to do: 1. Keep tracking ALL income and expenses until recertification 2. Only report before recertification if your TOTAL household income exceeds your IRT (this is on your approval notice, usually around 130% of the Federal Poverty Level) 3. For recertification, you'll complete a Self-Employment worksheet (ask for one if they don't provide it) 4. You'll need to show GROSS income (before expenses) and then all allowable business expenses 5. Allowable expenses include: supplies, tools, business insurance, transportation to job sites (mileage or actual gas costs), advertising, and any other direct business costs CalFresh will then calculate your NET self-employment income (after expenses) and only count that toward your household income. This often results in much lower countable income than people expect. One last tip: When doing your SAR7 (Semi-Annual Report), if they ask about income changes, be sure to explain the variable nature of the landscaping work so they understand why amounts fluctuate.

On a related note - have you considered applying for CalWORKs too? If your income is low enough for CalFresh, you might qualify for cash aid as well, especially with children in the household. The self-employment rules are similar.