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When will CalFresh extra $95 emergency allotment be deposited this month?
Hey CalFresh community, I'm confused about the emergency allotments this month. Are we still getting the extra $95 supplement, and if so, does anyone know what day it hits our EBT cards? I tried calling the county office but got stuck in an endless automated loop (of course). I've heard different dates from different people - some saying the 10th and others saying it depends on your case number? Even better if someone knows a website where I can check the deposit schedule every month instead of stressing about it. My rent just went up and I really need to budget carefully. Thanks in advance!
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Got P-EBT card for my 5th grader - only $120 but neighbors got $200+? (Monterey County)
Just received a random P-EBT card in the mail yesterday for my 5th grader. It only has $120 loaded on it (checked the balance online). We're in Monterey County and my last name starts with A, so maybe they're sending them out alphabetically? My confusion is that my neighbor's kids (same school) got cards with over $200 each! Is the amount supposed to vary this much? I thought P-EBT was a standard benefit for qualifying students. Do I need to call someone to ask about this difference or is this normal? I don't want to complain about free money but want to make sure my kid isn't getting shortchanged on benefits we actually need right now.
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Important reminder for everyone receiving P-EBT cards: These benefits will EXPIRE if not used within 274 days (about 9 months) from issuance. Don't set it aside and forget about it! Also, P-EBT has fewer restrictions than regular CalFresh - you CAN purchase hot prepared foods with P-EBT at any location that accepts EBT.
wait REALLY?? u can buy hot food with the p-ebt but not regular ebt? thats so backwards! so i can get my kid a rotisserie chicken with his p-ebt but cant buy one with my regular calfresh?? make it make sense 🙄
Yep, it's confusing! P-EBT was created with different rules during the pandemic. Regular CalFresh has the hot food restriction except in counties with disaster waivers. The logic is that P-EBT replaces school meals (which are served hot), while regular CalFresh is for groceries. I agree it's not very logical when you think about it practically!
Update: I called the P-EBT hotline (took forever to get through) and you all were right! The amount is based on actual attendance. My son missed 17 school days due to that pneumonia plus some other absences, and they subtract approximately $8.28 per day missed. Mystery solved! Thanks everyone for your help. Now to figure out what to spend this on since apparently it expires faster than regular benefits!
Glad you got it sorted out! And yes, definitely use those P-EBT benefits before they expire. Unlike regular CalFresh which expires after 365 days of inactivity, P-EBT has that shorter 274-day timeframe. Some families create a schedule to use their P-EBT first, then switch to their regular CalFresh.
Where to call for P-EBT issues? CalFresh rep couldn't help with missing card
I've been waiting for my kids' P-EBT cards for almost 7 weeks now (supposedly mailed out March 12th). Nothing has arrived, so I called the CalFresh office thinking they could help since it's related to food benefits. The worker told me they have NOTHING to do with P-EBT and couldn't even give me the right number to call! I've got 3 school-age children who qualify for free lunch, so we should definitely be getting these benefits. Does anyone know the actual working phone number for P-EBT issues? The number on the website (877-328-9677) just puts me on hold forever and then disconnects. Getting desperate since we're really counting on this extra food money with how expensive groceries are getting.
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a friend told me u can also try calling ur kids school district office sometimes they have a pebt coordinator who can check on card status. worked for her but not me lol worth a try tho
I didn't think of that! Will definitely call the district office tomorrow. Thanks for the suggestion!
UPDATE: I finally got through to P-EBT this morning using the Claimyr service that was mentioned earlier. Confirmed that cards for my 3 kids were mailed on March 12th as I thought, but the representative said there have been massive mail delays with this batch. She's sending replacement cards and canceling the old ones just in case. Should arrive within 10-15 business days. Thanks everyone for the help and suggestions! Will update when the new cards arrive.
omg im trying that service right now hope it works for me too!! so sick of calling and getting nowhere
Stolen P-EBT card benefits used by someone at my old address - can I report theft and get benefits replaced?
So frustrated and worried right now! I just found out my P-EBT card was sent to my old apartment address (I moved about 4 months ago, but forgot to update my address with the school district). When I finally called to check on the status, they told me the card was already activated and all the benefits ($1,465) have been used! The customer service rep said it looks like someone at my old address activated it in February. I asked if I can report this as theft and if my kids' benefits can be replaced, but they just transferred me around and nobody gave me a clear answer. Has anyone dealt with this situation before? Can I press charges against whoever took my kids' food money? And most importantly, can I get those benefits reissued? My kids really need this food assistance right now.
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This happened to my sister too!!! She never got her benefits back tho cuz she waited too long to report it!! Make sure u do the police report ASAP!! There's like a 30 day window or something
The reporting window for P-EBT theft is actually 90 days from discovery, not 30. The important distinction is that the clock starts when you discover the theft, not when it occurred. So the original poster should still be well within the reporting window.
UPDATE: I filed the police report this morning (they gave me a case number) and finally got through to P-EBT customer service using that Claimyr service someone suggested. The rep confirmed I need to submit Form PEBT-10 with the police report number and proof of my current address. She said processing takes around 2-3 months but the full benefit amount ($1,465) should be replaced if my claim is approved. Thanks everyone for the guidance - will update again when I hear something!
so glad u got thru to them!! did they say anything about if the person who stole ur benefits will get in trouble??
The P-EBT rep said they don't handle the legal side of things directly, but the police report gets forwarded to a benefits fraud investigation unit. The officer I talked to at the police station said these cases are prosecuted when they have clear evidence of who did it (like if it was a specific person at my old address). Fingers crossed they figure it out AND I get the benefits replaced!
CalFresh extra allotment not showing on EBT card after midnight - something wrong?
I'm kind of freaking out right now. Every month since I got approved for CalFresh in September, our extra allotment has been deposited by midnight on the 5th like clockwork. It's now 3am on the 6th and nothing has shown up in my EBT balance. I checked BenefitsCal and my case still shows as active. We really depend on these benefits to get through the month with our 3 kids, and I've already planned my grocery shopping for tomorrow. Has anyone else not received their extra benefits yet? Is there a delay happening this month or should I be worried something's wrong with my case?
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Based on recent patterns, this is a system-wide delay affecting the supplemental allotments. The standard benefits should be unaffected and delivered on your regular issuance date. These delays typically resolve within 2-3 business days. If you're experiencing financial hardship while waiting, some counties offer emergency allotments - you can request this through your county office if the delay extends beyond 3 business days. Most importantly, this doesn't indicate any problem with your ongoing eligibility.
Thank you for this detailed information! It's such a relief to know it's system-wide and not something wrong with my specific case. My benefits actually just showed up about an hour ago, so the delay was about 36 hours in total. I appreciate everyone's help and support!
Yara Khalil
my friend who works for the county says theres talk about inflation increases to calfresh coming soon maybe next years benefits will go up alittle fingers crossed
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Paolo Esposito
I'll believe that when I see it! They always TALK about helping but then nothing happens! Meanwhile grocery prices keep going UP!
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LunarEclipse
Just to clarify something important - your regular CalFresh benefits DO increase each year with the cost of living adjustment (COLA). This usually happens in October. Last October (2024), benefits increased by about 3%. While this doesn't fully cover inflation for many families, there is an automatic annual adjustment. And yes, definitely report your rent increase - shelter costs are a major factor in benefit calculation.
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Zainab Ibrahim
AuthorI had no idea benefits increase automatically each year, even a little bit helps. I'm going to report my rent increase tomorrow and see if that helps my situation. Thanks for all the information, everyone!
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