Still waiting here in West LA! Been checking my mailbox religiously for the past three weeks and nothing yet. My kids are definitely eligible since they've been getting free lunch all year. Reading everyone's updates is giving me hope though - sounds like they're still rolling out in batches. At least I know I'm not the only one still waiting! Going to give it another week before I start worrying about calling the hotline.

Just got mine in the mail today in Santa Monica! So relieved because I was starting to worry too. The letter says benefits will start loading in early June and it's $138 per child per month retroactive to the beginning of the school year. For anyone still waiting, they're definitely still coming out - mine came exactly 3 weeks after my neighbor got hers and we live on the same street. Hang in there everyone!

UPDATE: We got our cards today!! All three came at once in separate envelopes. I almost missed them because they were mixed in with credit card offers! Each card has the child's name on it and came with instructions. For anyone still waiting - they're definitely coming, just be patient a few more days. Thanks everyone for the help and info!

Also in the Inland Empire (Riverside) and just wanted to add - if you're having trouble getting through to anyone about P-EBT status, try calling early in the morning around 8:30 AM right when they open. I've had better luck getting through then versus calling later in the day when the lines are jammed. One thing that helped me last year was creating a simple spreadsheet to track each kid's card info - card number, PIN, and balance. Makes grocery shopping so much easier when you're not fumbling around trying to remember which card goes with which kid. You can also check balances online at ebtedge.com or by calling the number on the back of the card. Hope everyone gets their cards soon! The wait is always nerve-wracking but they do eventually show up.

Update: After checking our white P-EBT cards from last year (I completely forgot they were separate from our regular EBT), I found that our benefits were loaded yesterday! $1,230 each for my two kids. Such a relief! Thanks everyone for your help and information.

I'm still waiting here in Visalia (Tulare County). Does anyone know if we're included in the Central Valley rollout or are we on a different timeline? My kids were eligible during 2021-2022 and we still have our white P-EBT cards from the previous rounds, but nothing's been loaded yet. Starting to wonder if I should call or just wait it out since it sounds like Fresno County just got theirs this week.

Isaac, I'm so sorry you're going through this - I can totally relate to that panic when you get an overpayment notice! I went through something similar about 6 months ago with a $1,100 overpayment from unreported income changes when I picked up extra shifts at my second job. Reading through all these amazing responses, I can see you've gotten incredible advice! I just wanted to add one small thing that helped me: when you call tomorrow morning, ask about their "Income Averaging" policy. Some counties will look at your average income over the entire benefit period rather than month-by-month, which can sometimes reduce the overpayment amount if your overtime was truly sporadic. In my case, even though I had a few high-income months from overtime, my average monthly income was still within the eligibility range, so they reduced my overpayment by about $200. It's worth asking about! Also, I see several people mentioned calling right at 8 AM - this is so true! I finally got through on my third try by calling at exactly 8:00 AM and asking immediately for "Overpayment Collections." The whole conversation took about 25 minutes, and I walked away with a $30/month payment plan that I could actually afford. You've got such a solid plan now thanks to everyone's advice here. The fact that you're being proactive instead of ignoring this puts you in such a better position. Your kids are lucky to have a dad who tackles problems head-on like this. You're going to get through this!

Isaac, I can't even imagine how stressful this must be for you right now! I'm a single mom of two and the thought of getting an overpayment notice like that makes my stomach turn. Reading through all these responses has been so educational - I had no idea there were so many options available if this ever happens to me. I don't have personal experience with overpayments, but I wanted to chime in with something that might help: I've found that when dealing with any county office, it really helps to get the name and direct phone number of whoever you speak with. That way if you need to follow up or if there's any confusion later, you can ask for that specific person instead of starting over with someone new each time. Also, I've learned from other benefit situations that counties sometimes have "Client Advocate" programs or ombudsman services that can help navigate complicated situations like this. It might be worth asking if your county has something like that when you call tomorrow. You're being such a responsible parent by tackling this head-on instead of ignoring it. Your kids are so lucky to have a dad who works this hard to solve problems the right way. This community has given you such an amazing roadmap - I have total confidence you're going to find a solution that works for your family's budget. Please keep us updated on how your call goes! We're all rooting for you!

I'm so glad I found this thread! I'm in a very similar situation - my husband and I separated about 10 days ago and are still in the same house but completely separate with food. We have 3 kids and I'm the one buying all their groceries now. I was totally confused about when to report this and honestly scared they'd think I was trying to get more benefits dishonestly or something. Reading all these experiences, especially hearing from the actual eligibility worker about the 10-day rule, makes me realize I need to call ASAP! It's such a relief to know this is a normal situation they handle and that they focus on actual food purchasing rather than all the complicated legal stuff. The fact that so many people went through this successfully without waiting for divorce papers gives me confidence. One thing I'm wondering - did anyone have issues with their ex-spouse also trying to apply for benefits as a separate household while still at the same address? I'm worried about that causing complications. Thanks everyone for sharing your stories - this community is amazing for getting real practical advice during such a stressful time!

I'm going through a really similar situation right now and this thread has been incredibly helpful! My ex and I have been separated for about 6 weeks - still in the same apartment but completely separate with food and everything else. I kept putting off calling CalFresh because I thought I needed to wait for the divorce to be finalized, but reading everyone's experiences here has made me realize I'm probably already past that 10-day reporting window the eligibility worker mentioned. I'm honestly a bit worried now about whether waiting this long will cause problems, but it sounds like the most important thing is to call ASAP rather than waiting any longer. The reassurance from everyone that this is a routine situation for the workers really helps - I was imagining they'd make it way more complicated than it actually is. Quick question for those who've been through this - did any of you face issues for reporting later than 10 days after the household change? I'm hoping they'll be understanding since I genuinely didn't know about the reporting timeline. Either way, I'm definitely calling first thing Monday morning. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences - it's made such a difference knowing I'm not alone in figuring this out!