California CalFresh
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Anyone received the January 2025 CalFresh emergency allotment yet?
Has anyone gotten their extra CalFresh allotment for this month yet? My regular benefits came through on the 10th like always, but I thought the emergency supplement was supposed to hit our EBT cards by the 15th. It's already the 18th and nothing's showing up when I check my balance. The county sent a text saying something about 'distribution delays' but didn't say how long. My family is counting on this extra amount - we've got three kids and groceries are crazy expensive right now. Anyone else still waiting or did y'all get yours already?
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P-EBT 4.0 payment amount for 2-year-old seems low - only $302?
I just received our P-EBT 4.0 replacement card yesterday. My son is 2 years old, and we only got $302 loaded on the card. That seems really low compared to what I've been hearing others received. My neighbor's 4-year-old got nearly $650! Is there an age-based calculation for P-EBT 4.0 amounts? Or did they make a mistake with my son's benefits? I already checked BenefitsCal and it shows the same amount. Has anyone else with toddlers received similar amounts or should I call the county to ask about this?
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Just an update since I see others mentioning the P-EBT hotline issues - the state actually added more staff recently because of all the complaints about wait times. I called last week and only waited about 45 minutes, which is still ridiculous but better than before. They told me they're processing correction requests through June 2025, so if there is an issue with your amount, you have time to address it.
That's good to know, thank you! If I find out from the daycare that there might have been a reporting error, I'll try calling. At least there's no immediate deadline to worry about.
dont 4get this is totally seprate from regular calfresh!!! u should still get ur normal ebt amount on ur regular card even if the pebt seems low
Yes! Thankfully our regular CalFresh benefits are still coming as usual on our EBT card. This P-EBT was just something extra I wasn't expecting, so I probably shouldn't complain about the amount! 😅
CalFresh HCTP payment missing after submitting activity log - what now?
I enrolled in the Homeless CalFresh Transitional Program (HCTP) last month and received my first payment with no issues. I uploaded my activity log and written statement to BenefitsCal on time (before the 10th deadline), but it's been 9 days and I haven't gotten any communication or my second payment. My EBT card balance is getting really low. Do I need to call the county office directly? Has anyone had delays with HCTP payments after submitting documentation? I'm worried they might have missed my upload somehow.
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I'm a benefits navigator with a local nonprofit. Quick clarification - the Homeless CalFresh Transitional Program (HCTP) has specific rules about payment processing that differ from regular CalFresh. Your second payment should be issued within 5 business days of them processing your activity log and written statement. Since you submitted through BenefitsCal, I strongly recommend calling your county office immediately. Ask specifically for the "HCTP specialist" or "homeless services liaison" - most counties have dedicated staff for this program. Explain that you submitted documentation by the deadline but haven't received your payment. Also important: Take screenshots of your BenefitsCal submission confirmation page if you still have access to it. This proves you submitted on time if there's any dispute.
Thank you for this detailed information! I didn't know there were HCTP specialists. I'll definitely ask for that when I call tomorrow. I do have the confirmation email from BenefitsCal so I'll keep that handy as proof.
Just checking back - were you able to reach someone about your HCTP payment? What did they say?
Yes! Finally got through after being on hold for almost an hour. They confirmed they received my upload but it was sitting in the general queue. The worker processed it while I was on the phone and said my payment should hit my EBT card within 3 business days. Thanks everyone for the advice!
Missing emergency CalFresh allotment in Orange County when others received it
So I'm really confused right now. My sister and 2 friends all told me they got extra food stamps deposited on their EBT cards last week (around $95 extra), but I didn't get anything additional with my regular amount. We're all in Orange County and nobody got a notice explaining it. Has anyone else missed out on this? Is this some kind of emergency allotment I should have qualified for? My household is just me and my 6-year-old, and I get $457/month normally. Do I need to call my eligibility worker to ask about this? The last time I tried calling the county office, I was on hold for over an hour before getting disconnected.
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weird question but does ur last name start with letters in second half of alphabet? my worker once told me they sometimes process benefits in alphabetical order when doing big batches. maybe thats why ur friends got it first?
that would explain EVERYTHING!!! my last name starts with W and my neighbor who always gets everything first is an A!!! this system is SO UNFAIR!!! why should I have to wait just because of my last name???? they should go reverse alphabetical sometimes to make it fair!!!!
I'm glad you called the EBT line and got confirmation about your supplement! Just to clarify for everyone: the batching system for this particular supplement is based on case numbers, not alphabetical order (though some other processes may use alphabetical batching). The state announced this supplement rather suddenly, which is why many counties are struggling with communication about it. The total amount varies based on household size - single-person households get around $95, while larger households can receive up to $250. These supplements should all be distributed by March 31st, 2025 according to the latest CDSS guidance.
Thank you for the additional information! I'm just relieved to know it's coming. Every bit helps with grocery prices being so high lately.
This is correct information. The supplements are being distributed based on case number ranges, not alphabetical order. And the amount is determined by household size - exactly as described above. I'm glad the EBT line was able to confirm your upcoming deposit!
First P-EBT 3.0 card for my daughter - confused about loading dates and schedule
Just got my daughter's first P-EBT 3.0 card in the mail yesterday and I'm completely lost about how these work. Do they automatically reload? I heard something about specific loading dates based on last names but can't find clear info anywhere. Her card has $650 on it right now (checked the balance online), but will more money be added next month or is this a one-time thing? Never dealt with any kind of EBT before. Also, can I use this at the same stores as regular CalFresh or are there restrictions? Any help from parents who've been through this would be awesome!
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my kids school sent home a flyer about pebt but it was so confusingggg!!! said something about summer ebt being different? anyone know if thats the same card or different??
Summer EBT and P-EBT are related but distinct programs. Summer EBT is specifically for the summer months when school is out, while regular P-EBT covers the school year. In California for 2025, they're using the same card for both programs, so any Summer EBT benefits (usually distributed in June) will load onto the same P-EBT card your children already have. The Summer EBT amount is typically around $120 per eligible child for the summer period.
Thank you all so much for the helpful information! I've set up the online account at connectebt.com to track her benefits and marked the calendar for mid-May for the next potential deposit. It's a relief to understand how this works now. One last question - does she need to be enrolled in free/reduced lunch at school for this to continue, or is it automatic for all kids in California public schools this year?
For the 2024-2025 school year in California, P-EBT 3.0 eligibility is primarily based on free/reduced lunch status OR attending a Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) school where all students receive free meals. If your daughter's school provides universal free meals (many CA schools do now), she'll continue receiving P-EBT automatically. If not, she needs to be individually eligible for free/reduced lunch. You can check your school's status by calling the district office. The good news is that once approved, you don't need to reapply during the school year.
Malik Davis
guys i just checked and mine came thru!! last name starts with B so guess that alphabet thing is true
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GalacticGuru
UGH of course... I have to wait because my last name starts with T. So unfair they're making some families wait longer than others!
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Isabella Santos
Btw my cousin had to call about her benefits last month and they told her the emrgency allotments are gonna stop in April 2025. Did anyone else hear this??
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Emma Wilson
Yes, this is accurate information. The emergency allotments were originally tied to the public health emergency declaration, but California secured additional funding to extend them through April 2025. After that, benefits will return to the standard calculation based on household income, expenses, and deductions. It's important for all CalFresh recipients to prepare for this change. Make sure you're reporting all allowable deductions on your SAR7 and recertification forms (like childcare costs, medical expenses for elderly/disabled household members, and housing costs) to maximize your regular benefit amount.
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