I'm also going through my first CalFresh application and this thread has been incredibly helpful! I submitted my documents 3 days ago after my phone interview and have been anxiously checking BenefitsCal constantly - still showing "pending" which is nerve-wracking when you're trying to stretch your last $25. Dmitry's update about calling and finding out he was already approved even though the online system hadn't updated yet is so encouraging! It really shows that being proactive with follow-up is key rather than just waiting and worrying. I'm definitely calling first thing tomorrow morning at 8am with my case number ready like everyone suggests. Also want to thank everyone for sharing food assistance resources - I called 211 today and found three food pantries within walking distance that I had no idea existed! Downloaded the Food Forward app too and already spotted some pickup locations nearby. It's amazing how much support is available when you know where to look. The insider perspective from Charity about typical processing times and having your documentation ready was incredibly valuable. For anyone else in this stressful waiting phase, you're not alone! This community support makes navigating such an overwhelming system so much more manageable. Hoping to have positive news to share soon like others have! 🤞

I'm also navigating my first CalFresh application and this entire conversation has been so incredibly helpful! I submitted my verification documents 2 days ago after my phone interview, and like everyone else, I've been refreshing BenefitsCal obsessively even though it still just says "pending." Reading Dmitry's success story about calling and discovering he was already approved even when the system hadn't updated yet is such a relief! It really shows that the online portal can be way behind what's actually happening with your case. I'm definitely going to call first thing tomorrow morning at 8am with my case number ready - seems like that timing is crucial for getting through without sitting on hold for hours. Thank you so much to everyone who shared emergency food resources! I already called 211 and connected with a food pantry near me, plus downloaded that Food Forward app Chloe mentioned. It's amazing how much help is out there when you know where to look. The community support here during such a stressful time means everything. Also really appreciate Charity's insider perspective about processing timelines and having your case number ready when you call. For anyone else going through this anxious waiting period right now - we're all in this together! The uncertainty when you're already worried about food security is really tough, but seeing these success stories gives me hope we'll all get through this process soon. 🙏

I went through this exact same thing with Safeway pickup about 3 months ago! Mine took exactly 4 business days to show back up on my EBT card. What really helped me was checking my balance through the EBT mobile app every morning around 6 AM - that's when mine finally appeared, not during regular business hours like I expected. Also definitely keep that cancellation confirmation email handy! I thought I wouldn't need it but ended up having to reference the confirmation number when I called EBT customer service on day 3 just to make sure everything was processing correctly. They were able to confirm it was "in the system" which gave me peace of mind. The waiting is super stressful when you're managing every dollar, but Safeway has been pretty reliable in my experience - just slow. Based on everyone else's experiences here, Thursday or Friday seems like a realistic expectation for when you should see those funds back!

I've been in this exact situation with Safeway pickup before! In my experience, it took 3 business days for the EBT refund to show up on my card. The most important thing I learned is to check your balance really early in the morning (like 5-6 AM) because that's when EBT refunds typically post, not during regular business hours. Also, definitely save that cancellation confirmation email - you might need the order number if you have to call customer service later. One thing that helped ease my stress was calling the EBT customer service line on day 2 just to confirm they could see the pending reversal in their system. They told me it was "processing" which gave me peace of mind. Since you cancelled this morning, I'd expect your funds back by Thursday or Friday at the latest. The waiting sucks when you're budgeting carefully, but Safeway is usually pretty reliable with EBT refunds - just slower than we'd like!

I'm so grateful this thread exists! Just got the same "bank value" verification request today and was completely lost about what they meant. I have about $4,100 total between checking and savings and was terrified that would disqualify me. Reading everyone's experiences here has been incredibly reassuring - sounds like I'm safely under the limit! It's really frustrating how they use such vague terminology instead of just saying "send us your current bank statements." The fact that so many people have gone through this exact same confusion shows they really need to improve their communication. Thank you StarStrider for asking the question we were all thinking, and thanks to everyone who shared their knowledge and success stories. You've saved me from hours of unnecessary panic! Going to gather my statements from both accounts and submit them tomorrow.

I'm really glad I found this thread! I just got that same confusing "bank value" verification email this morning and was honestly panicking. I have about $3,300 total between my checking and savings accounts and thought for sure that would disqualify me from CalFresh. The wording they use is so unnecessarily scary - why not just say "please provide recent bank statements" instead of this mysterious "bank value" thing? Reading through everyone's experiences here has been such a huge relief. It's clear I'm well under the $4,925 limit and don't need to stress about my emergency fund that I've been slowly building up over the past year. It's amazing how many people have gone through this exact same panic over what's really just standard paperwork. Thank you to everyone who shared their stories and advice - you've turned what felt like a major crisis into just another step I need to complete. About to gather up my statements from both banks and get them submitted today!

lol welcome to government websites, where nothing works and everything is a headache 🤡

I actually work for a county eligibility office and see this issue pretty frequently. The phone number conflict usually happens because: 1) Someone in your household previously used that number for their CalFresh account, 2) You had an old account that wasn't properly closed, or 3) There's a data entry error in the system. The fastest solution is usually to visit your local county office in person with ID - they can update it on the spot without the phone runaround. You can also try emailing your county's CalFresh coordinator directly (each county has one) - they're usually more responsive than the general helpline.

Just wanted to add another tip for anyone dealing with this in the future - if you're having trouble with the ConnectEBT website even after following the User ID/password reset steps, try clearing your browser cache and cookies completely before attempting the process. I had a similar issue last year and kept getting error messages until I cleared everything and started fresh. Also, I noticed the site works better on Chrome or Firefox rather than Safari or Edge. It's ridiculous that we need these workarounds, but at least there are solutions! Really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences here - this thread is going to help so many people avoid the frustration of being stuck without online access to their benefits.

This thread is incredibly helpful! I'm actually going through something similar right now - my EBT card stopped working at ATMs even though it still swipes fine at stores. The bank said it might be a chip issue and I should get a replacement, but I was dreading dealing with the online account mess. Reading through everyone's experiences here has given me so much confidence about the process. The step-by-step instructions about doing User ID reset first, then password reset are gold! It's really sad that we have to crowdsource basic instructions for government benefit systems, but I'm so grateful this community exists. Going to request my replacement card tomorrow and I'll follow the exact process outlined here. Thanks everyone for taking the time to share your solutions!