UPDATE: I was able to get through to my worker using that Claimyr service and you were all right - the July 23 date was my recertification deadline, not a payment date. The worker let me complete the recertification over the phone and said my benefits should continue without interruption! She also explained that the emergency allotments ended in 2023 and told me about some local food banks I can use if needed. Thank you all so much for your help!

I see this happen ALL THE TIME. The notices can be confusing. For everyone reading, here's a quick guide: - Regular benefits: Issued between 1st-10th based on case number - SAR7: Due twice a year (6-month intervals) - Recertification: Once per year - Income changes: Must report within 10 days if you go over your Income Reporting Threshold (IRT) The COVID emergency allotments gave everyone the maximum benefit for their household size regardless of income, but that ended in February 2023. Many people are still adjusting to the lower benefit amounts.

ok so i just got off the phone with ebt customer service and they confirmed this is real! i had to wait on hold for 55 minutes just to talk to someone. they said there are multiple fake apps out there right now and they're working with the fraud department to shut them down. stay safe everyone!!

Thank you for confirming! The county worker I spoke with seemed really worried about how many people are falling for these scam apps. She said they target people through Facebook groups and even sometimes through texts claiming to be from CalFresh.

The $95 minimum emergency allotment ended last year BUT some counties are still doing adjustments and retroactive payments for periods when the allotments were active. My sister just got a retro payment last month for a period when she was underpaid during 2022. Maybe that's what your worker was referring to?

After reading through all the comments, it sounds like your caseworker might have been referring to a retroactive adjustment rather than a current emergency allotment. I'd suggest: 1. Using the Claimyr service mentioned to get through to a live person 2. Asking specifically about any "pending adjustments" or "benefit corrections" on your case 3. Request they check if there are any supplements scheduled to be issued 4. If there was a miscommunication, ask about emergency food resources in your area that could help this month Also, with your rent increase, you should report that change as it might qualify you for increased regular benefits going forward.

UPDATE: Called my county worker this morning and they confirmed there's been a bunch of reports about the EBT system showing phantom PIN changes from 11/30! Apparently it was a system update that incorrectly displayed as PIN changes to users. My benefits were deposited normally today and I can access them with my PIN. So relieved!!! Still glad I changed my PIN just to be safe though. Thanks everyone for your help and suggestions!

Great news! For anyone reading this later - always better to be safe than sorry with EBT security! I always change my PIN every few months just to be extra careful with my foodstamps.

UPDATE: I checked my BenefitsCal messages and there was a notice about the wildfire emergency allotment! It was dated yesterday even though the money came in last night. Says it's a one-time payment for households in the affected areas. So looks like we're good to use it! Thanks everyone for your help figuring this out.

I called my caseworker and finally got through! She confirmed it's disaster assistance and is 100% ours to keep. NOT an error. Anyone in the affected zip codes should have gotten it automatically. If you didn't get it but think you should have, you need to call and request it specifically - mention "wildfire emergency allotment" and they'll check your eligibility. So relieved!