UPDATE: Still nothing in today's mail. Getting worried because we've had mail theft in our neighborhood before. Does anyone know if there's a way to check online if cards were mailed? Or request replacements if they were stolen?

When you finally get your cards, remember to create a PIN immediately! The cards are useless until you activate them with a PIN. Call the number on the back of the card to set it up. I learned this the hard way standing embarrassed at checkout when my daughter's card kept getting declined. 🤦‍♀️

Just checking in - did your benefits post yet? Several people in my building had theirs show up early this morning (around 4am).

YES! Thank you for checking. They finally showed up at 5:30am. Such a relief! I was able to place my grocery order and delivery is coming this afternoon. Really appreciate everyone's help and suggestions - this community is amazing. 💕

I work with a local assistance organization, and we're seeing tons of these cases right now. That June 3rd skimming operation hit hundreds of people across multiple counties. Here's what you need to know: 1. Yes, it can take up to 30 days by law (actually, up to 90 days if they need to investigate further). 2. The state has been overwhelmed with fraud claims, which is causing delays. 3. While waiting, you can: - Apply for emergency replacement benefits (separate from your claim) - Contact your county supervisor's office for help expediting - Reach out to local food banks (every county has emergency food assistance) - File a complaint with CDSS if it exceeds 30 days Also, make sure you've changed your PIN and are checking your balance daily. These skimmer groups often hit the same cards multiple times.

UPDATE: I finally got through to someone helpful at the county office! They told me my claim was approved yesterday and the funds should be on my card within 24-48 hours. They also said they're prioritizing households with children under the expedited process. For anyone else waiting - keep calling and specifically ask for your claim to be reviewed for expedited processing if you have children or vulnerable household members. Will update again when the money actually appears on my card.

make sure u tell them about the cooking situation too. my worker said specifically that sharing food preparation is what makes u a "calfresh household" not just living together. good luck!!

also if they have any medical expenses make sure to report those! seniors and disabled ppl get special deductions for medical costs over $35 a month which could mean more benefits for ur household!

Just to clarify some confusion I'm seeing in the comments: P-EBT is separate from CalFresh, though many families qualify for both. P-EBT cards are mailed based on data from schools, while CalFresh is county-administered. For P-EBT issues, you need to contact the P-EBT hotline at 877-328-9677, not your regular CalFresh worker. The second card will almost certainly arrive within 2 weeks, but if not, be ready with both children's names, dates of birth, school information, and your mailing address when you call.

Based on the 2025 P-EBT distribution schedule, they're sending cards out by age groups and school districts in phases. Children ages 5-8 were in the first distribution group, which explains why your 7-year-old received a card first. Children 9-13 are in the second phase, scheduled to receive cards approximately 10-14 days later. This is intentional to avoid overwhelming the system. Unless there's a specific issue with your 10-year-old's eligibility, the card should arrive by next week. If it doesn't arrive within the expected timeframe, you can request a replacement through the P-EBT portal or by calling the hotline.