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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).
guys make sure ur also checking the right card!! i was checking my regular ebt for days and panicking but then realized p-ebt is on that SEPERATE blue card they sent us last year lol felt like such an idiot
UPDATE: My benefits just loaded this morning!!! $188 for each of my kids! So relieved. Looks like they're just rolling them out gradually like you all said. Thanks everyone for your help and support!
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.
this is why i hate dealing with the system... i got a letter saying my calfresh was going up then another saying it was going down and now its just confusing. my neighbor said shes getting the extra money next week so now idk what to believe lol
To clarify for everyone: The federal legislation that authorized Emergency Allotments for CalFresh (minimum $95 extra per household) officially ended them after March 2025. Here's what's happening: 1. March 2025 was the FINAL month for emergency allotments 2. Some counties issue benefits for a month during the first week of the following month (so March benefits in early April) 3. This is why some people received their final emergency allotment in April 4. There will NOT be any emergency allotments for April or any month after If you need help with getting more benefits due to changed circumstances, you can submit: - A SAR7 (Semi-Annual Report) if it's your reporting month - A "Change Report" through your BenefitsCal account or county office if you've had increased expenses or decreased income - A request for reassessment if you have new medical expenses or dependent care costs You can verify all this information on the CDSS website or by contacting your county office.
Sophia Russo
Has anyone tried the new PIN-less EBT cards some counties were testing? My sister says they're using biometric verification instead of PINs but I can't find ANY information about it on the CalFresh website! Seems like they're keeping it quiet but it would solve all these theft problems!
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Olivia Van-Cleve
•There are currently no PIN-less or biometric EBT cards being tested in California's CalFresh program. All EBT cards still require a 4-digit PIN for security. You might be confusing this with some pilot programs for mobile EBT that allow you to use your phone for transactions, but these still require PIN verification. It's important not to spread misinformation about security features that don't exist yet.
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Natalie Adams
I just wanted to update everyone - I changed my PIN yesterday and also ordered those RFID blocking sleeves. I'm going to change my PIN again the day before benefits load just to be extra safe. Thank you all for the advice! I'll let you know if it helps prevent theft this month.
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Mason Kaczka
•good luck!! hope it works for u
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