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i think your cutting the card messed things up cause the system mighta tried to transfer everything but the card wasnt active no more???? anyone else think thats what happened?
That's not how it works. Cutting up the physical card doesn't deactivate the account. The benefits are tied to the account number, not the physical card. When you request a replacement, they simply send a new card that accesses the same account. The issue here is that there are two separate accounts (one for each county) rather than a complete transfer of benefits to the new county account.
UPDATE: I called the EBT customer service line and they're sending me a replacement for my old Alameda card! They said my supplemental benefits are still there (phew!!). They're mailing it to my new address and I should get it in 7-10 business days. I also called San Bernardino County and asked about the ICT form someone mentioned. The worker said they did submit it but these things can take time to process fully. She suggested I use up the benefits on both cards, and by next month everything should be consolidated on my new card. Thanks everyone for the help!!
be carful some markets say they do the program but then the machines are broke or the person doesn't know how to use it. happened to me twice now and i got all the way there with my kids just to be told "sorry not today". frustrating!!!
This! I got to the market once and they ran out of tokens. Now I always go early in the day. Most programs have limited funding.
Just wanted to add some important details: The official name is California's CalFresh Healthy Nutrition Incentive Program (HNIP), which includes several initiatives like Market Match, California Nutrition Incentive Program (CNIP), and GusNIP. For 2025, the program has expanded to more retailers and the match amount has increased in some locations to $15-20. The key is that you need to use your EBT card to make eligible purchases, and the additional benefits are provided immediately during that transaction. These incentives don't count against your regular monthly CalFresh benefit amount and don't need to be reported as income on your SAR7 or recertification.
The fruit and vegetable benefit amounts vary by county and implementation phase. The full program rollout with $67/person isn't complete statewide yet. Some counties are still in phase one with lower amounts. The amount also depends on whether you're in the control or test group for the pilot program. It's supposed to be fully implemented by July 2025.
One more thing about P-EBT that's confusing people - if your kid changed schools during the eligibility period, benefits might be split or delayed. My neighbor's kids switched from one Riverside school to another in January, and she had to call to get it straightened out. Just something to keep in mind if anyone is in that situation.
That's good to know! My younger one did change schools after winter break when we moved to a different part of town. I'll definitely keep an eye out for any issues. Thanks for the heads up!
just checked my mail today and got the NOTICE saying cards coming in 5-10 business days!!! im in riverside/moreno valley area so there definitely sending them out now!!
That's great news! It does sound like Riverside County distribution is now underway. For everyone else waiting, this is a good sign that you should be receiving your notices soon. Remember to activate the card as soon as you receive it, and create a PIN you'll remember easily.
Lara Woods
Update: I finally got through to someone at the county after THREE HOURS on hold. They confirmed there's been a huge spike in EBT theft across California this month. The worker said they're looking into a possible data breach at certain retailers but wouldn't tell me which ones. Here's what I learned about the process: 1. They're issuing me a new card that will arrive in 5-7 business days 2. I had to file the CF 303 form for stolen benefits 3. Since I have minor children and less than $100 available, I qualify for emergency replacement benefits that should be available within 3 days on my new card 4. They'll investigate the fraudulent transaction which could take up to 30 days In the meantime, they gave me the locations of three food banks near me for emergency assistance. This whole situation is so stressful!
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Anna Stewart
•This is really helpful information, thanks for sharing. I'm glad they're processing your emergency replacement benefits. One additional tip: when you get your new card, immediately create a unique PIN that you don't use for anything else. Also, most counties now offer "card locking" features through the EBT Edge app - you can lock your card between uses so even if your data is compromised, thieves can't access your benefits.
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Layla Sanders
this is y i always spend my benefits as soon as they hit my account now cant steal what aint there lol
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Oliver Alexander
•That's actually smart in some ways, but remember if you buy all your food at once some might spoil before you use it. Maybe split it into 2-3 shopping trips through the month?
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