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Wait are we talking about CalFresh or CalWorks? Because those have different issuance schedules I think? My CalWorks comes on the 1st but CalFresh is based on case number.
You're right that they're different programs with different issuance schedules. CalWorks cash benefits typically come on the 1st of the month, while CalFresh benefits are staggered throughout the first 10 days based on the last digit of your case number. Both go onto the same EBT card though, which sometimes causes confusion.
My sister just called me and said hers came through about an hour ago and she's in Boyle Heights. Have you had any issues with your semi-annual report? Sometimes if your SAR7 was processed late or had any issues that can delay benefits.
I had this happen in February. The county told me 10 days, but it only took 6 days to get my benefits back. I think it depends on how busy they are? Make sure u check ur balance daily until it shows up - they didn't notify me when they replaced it, it just appeared one day. Also, be warned they might make u do an interview about what happened. I had to explain exactly when I last used my card, where i kept it, who knew my PIN, etc. They're trying to rule out family members taking it I guess. Good luck! The waiting part is super stressful when u have kids to feed :
Since you're in immediate need while waiting for the claim to be processed, contact these local emergency food resources in San Diego: 1. San Diego Food Bank - They have emergency food distribution sites across the county 2. Feeding San Diego - Call (858) 452-3663 for their emergency assistance 3. Your local WIC office if you have children under 5 Also, when you call the county office tomorrow, explicitly state that you have children with no food and need emergency replacement benefits. Use those exact words. Under CalFresh regulations, they have options for expediting replacement in hardship situations, but you need to make it clear that this is an emergency situation.
i gave up on p-ebt completely. too much hassle for benefits that dont even cover a weeks worth of food tbh
UPDATE: I finally got this resolved! Called using the advice about asking for the Database Reconciliation Team, and they found my daughter's application was stuck between systems due to a TYPO in her birthdate (they had entered 2018 instead of 2017). They fixed it immediately and said her card should arrive within 7-10 business days. They also said this is happening to lots of families right now because they switched computer systems in January and lots of records got jumbled. If anyone else is dealing with this, definitely ask to speak with that specific team!
Great update! This is exactly why it's so important to speak with the right department. For anyone else reading this thread, another tip is to ask the representative to read back ALL the information they have on file - full name spelling, DOB, address, etc. Many of these issues stem from simple data entry errors that are easily fixed once identified. The P-EBT program is administered differently than regular CalFresh, but the benefits are just as important for eligible children.
This happened to me in October. The recertification process is a NIGHTMARE - they made me submit the same verification docs THREE SEPARATE TIMES claiming they never received them! When I finally got to speak with a supervisor, turns out everything had been in my file the whole time but wasn't properly "tagged" in their system. Here's what worked for me: I asked for an "expedited restoration" based on immediate need (I have kids too) and they were able to reactivate my case and issue benefits within 48 hours. Don't leave the office until you have something in writing about when your benefits will be restored. RE: the emergency allotment - in my case, they added it retroactively about a week after my regular benefits were restored. So while you might not get it Sunday, you should still receive it eventually if you get your case sorted soon.
UPDATE: Just got back from the county office and wanted to share what happened in case anyone faces something similar. It took 3 hours of waiting but I finally got to speak with a worker. Turns out they had ALL my documents the whole time but hadn't "processed" them in the system! The worker was actually really helpful and apologized for the confusion. They reactivated my case on the spot and said my regular benefits should load onto my EBT card within 24-48 hours. For the emergency allotment, she said it might not come on Sunday with everyone else's, but that it would be added within 7 days after my case was reactivated. She also provided me with information about a local food bank I can use in the meantime. The lesson I learned: ALWAYS keep proof of submission for everything, and don't assume they've actually reviewed what you've sent. And sometimes you just have to show up in person to get anything resolved.
I'm so glad you got this resolved! This is unfortunately a common issue with county processing - documents get received but not properly indexed in their system. For future reference, whenever you submit documents, call a few days later to confirm they were not only received but properly processed and associated with your case. Thanks for updating us on the outcome!
Sophie Duck
After I got my issue solved, the worker told me a lot of families are experiencing this same problem. She mentioned that they're receiving thousands of calls about missing P-EBT benefits, so the system is completely overwhelmed. When I used Claimyr to get through, I spoke to an actual eligibility worker who looked up my son's information directly instead of just reading from a script. Definitely worth trying if you're still stuck.
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Mason Stone
•I'm going to try this tomorrow morning. I've spent enough time listening to that hold music! Thanks again for the recommendation.
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Lucas Lindsey
Quick update on P-EBT distribution for San Bernardino County: According to the latest CDSS update from April 30, 2025, Chaffey Joint district is scheduled for the June 10-24 distribution window. There were data transfer issues with several schools but those have reportedly been resolved. Benefits should be automatically issued during that window as long as your child is properly coded in the system. If you don't receive benefits by June 25, that would be the appropriate time to escalate. In the meantime, document that your child receives free school meals as this may be needed if you need to file for missing benefits later.
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Mason Stone
•Thank you SO MUCH for this specific information! That gives me a concrete timeframe to watch for. I'll wait until that window passes before panicking more. I appreciate everyone's help!
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