This whole thread has been incredibly educational! I just started receiving CalFresh benefits two months ago and had no idea about these security flags or that there was a dedicated EBT customer service line. The fact that trying multiple stores can trigger their system is so counterintuitive - that's literally the first thing anyone would do when their card stops working! I'm definitely saving that 1-877-328-9677 number in my phone. It's frustrating that the system gives such vague error messages like "technical issues" when people are just trying to buy food for their families. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences and solutions - this community provides so much more practical information than any official documentation I've seen. Really grateful for people like @StarStrider who take the time to update us with what actually worked!

This thread is such a perfect example of why community support is so important when dealing with government systems! I'm relatively new to CalFresh (about 4 months now) and reading through everyone's experiences has been incredibly eye-opening. The fact that the EBT system flags accounts for "unusual activity" just because you try multiple stores is absolutely mind-boggling - that's literally the most rational response when your card isn't working! And those vague "technical issues" error messages are so unhelpful when you're already stressed about being able to afford groceries. I had no idea there was a separate EBT customer service line (1-877-328-9677) that could actually diagnose and fix these problems quickly. I've been dreading the thought of having to navigate the county office system if I ever ran into issues. It's so valuable to have real people sharing actual solutions instead of just generic advice. Thank you to @StarStrider for posting this and following up with what worked, and to everyone else who shared their experiences and practical tips. This kind of knowledge-sharing makes such a huge difference when you're trying to navigate these confusing bureaucratic systems!

Oof, been there done that. It's a pain to get back on track but don't give up! Once you get through to someone, ask about expedited benefits if you're in a tough spot. Hang in there! 💪

Check if your county has a CalFresh hotline or chat feature on their website - sometimes those are faster than the main phone line. Also, when you do get through, ask them to note in your case that you never received the SAR 7 notice. Some counties have policies for "good cause" exceptions when notifications aren't received. Don't let them brush you off - you have rights as a recipient!

Just to provide official information: The 2025 CalFresh COLA (Cost of Living Adjustment) takes effect on March 1st, 2025. The maximum monthly allotment for a household of 2 will increase from $439 to $492 (not $490, there's a slight difference). Your February issuance was correct at the 2024 rate. Regarding children under 6: The SNAC program provides supplemental nutrition benefits for young children in CalFresh households. Your nephew should automatically qualify if he's been properly added to your case. The benefit amount is approximately $77/month per eligible child under 6 and should appear as an additional deposit on your regular EBT card (not a separate card like the old P-EBT program used). I recommend checking your next deposit in March. If you don't see both the increased base amount AND the additional SNAC benefit for your nephew, contact your county office for assistance.

Thanks everyone for clarifying this! I'm new to CalFresh and just got approved last month, so I'm still learning how everything works. My first deposit was only $219 for just myself (household of 1) and I was wondering if that would go up in March too. From what I'm reading here, it sounds like all the benefit amounts increase with the COLA adjustment, not just the higher household sizes. Is that right? Also, I'm really glad I found this community - navigating all the CalFresh rules and timing has been confusing and you all seem to have way more accurate information than what I got from my county worker during orientation!

Just wanted to add that while you're waiting for your replacement card, make sure to keep checking your old card balance online or through the app in case it somehow turns up during your move! I thought I lost mine once and found it wedged between some boxes weeks later. The balance will still be there even after they deactivate it if you find the physical card, but you'd need to call them to reactivate it instead of waiting for the replacement. Hope your new card arrives quickly!

I just went through this exact same situation last month! The stress is real when you're counting on those benefits. One thing that helped me while waiting for my replacement was calling ahead to stores to ask if they had any technical issues with EBT systems that day - saved me a few trips when the new card finally arrived. Also, if you have multiple kids on the P-EBT program, make sure to mention all of them when you call so they can consolidate everything onto one replacement card. The customer service rep initially only processed one of my kids and I had to call back. Good luck with everything!

This exact same thing happened to my sister last month! They had her rent listed as $1,050 when she actually pays $2,100, and somehow her utilities were recorded as only $200 when she's paying close to $500. She spent weeks trying to get through on the phone before finally going to the office in person. What really worked for her was bringing a folder with everything organized - her lease, last 3 months of utility bills, bank statements showing the actual rent payments, and a one-page summary at the front listing all the CORRECT amounts. She used the exact phrase "I need a reconsideration due to data entry errors in my housing expenses" and they took it much more seriously. The whole thing took about 2 weeks to get resolved, but they did approve her retroactively once they recalculated with the right numbers. That $1,080 difference in your rent alone should definitely change your eligibility! Don't let them convince you to start over with a new application - this is clearly their mistake and a reconsideration should be way faster. Stay persistent and document everything you submit!

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this - it's absolutely infuriating when they mess up basic numbers like that! I just went through something very similar where they recorded my rent as $1,180 when I actually pay $2,450. The good news is that based on all the advice in this thread, it sounds like this is totally fixable with the right approach. I'm planning to call tomorrow morning and use the exact wording everyone's been sharing: "I need a reconsideration due to data entry errors in housing expenses." I've organized all my documents - lease agreement, utility bills from the last 3 months, bank statements showing actual payments, and I'm making a one-page summary with the CORRECT amounts listed clearly at the top. That $1,080 difference in your rent is huge and should definitely change your eligibility calculation! Don't let them discourage you or try to make you start over. This is clearly their data entry mistake, not yours. From what everyone's shared, the reconsideration process usually takes 1-2 weeks once you get to someone who knows what they're doing. Stay strong and don't give up - you deserve accurate calculations and the benefits you qualify for!