Just wanted to add another perspective as someone who recently went through this process in San Diego! With twins on the way, you'll definitely want to apply ASAP since processing times are so long right now. One thing I wish I had known - when you calculate your household size for the applications, you can include unborn children if you're in your third trimester (which it sounds like you might be with twins due in 2 months?). This could potentially increase your benefit amounts even before they're born. Also, since you mentioned being confused about the BenefitsCal website - I found it helpful to use the pre-screening tool first just to get a rough idea of eligibility before starting the actual application. It's not perfect but gives you a ballpark estimate. And definitely keep screenshots of everything during the application process - I had to resubmit parts of mine when the system glitched and lost my uploaded documents. Good luck with the twins and the application process! Having that extra food assistance will be such a huge help with a family of 6.

Congratulations on the twins! 🎉 As someone who just went through this process recently in San Diego, I wanted to share a few practical tips that helped me navigate the system: First, with your income of $5,800 for a family of 6, you should definitely qualify for both programs. The income limits mentioned by others are correct - CalFresh allows up to $6,875 gross monthly and Medi-Cal goes up to around $9,200 for your family size. One thing that really helped me was organizing all my documents in a folder BEFORE starting the application. You'll need: recent paystubs (2-3 months), rent agreement, utility bills, childcare receipts, birth certificates for all family members, and Social Security cards. Since you mentioned $2,200 rent and $1,800 childcare, those are substantial deductions that will really help your CalFresh benefit calculation. A couple San Diego-specific tips: Apply online through BenefitsCal.com early in the morning (7-9 AM) when the system is less glitchy. If you need to call the office, Tuesdays and Wednesdays tend to have shorter wait times than Mondays/Fridays. And definitely follow up 2 weeks after submitting to make sure they have everything - San Diego county has been having issues with documents not properly uploading. With twins coming in 2 months, you're going to need all the help you can get! The extra food assistance will be a huge relief. Feel free to ask if you have any other questions about the process!

This thread is so reassuring! I'm also pretty new to CalFresh and got a replacement card last week that I've been nervous about activating. Reading everyone's experiences here - especially hearing from folks who work in grocery stores and understanding that card issues happen all the time - really helps ease that anxiety about potentially getting declined at checkout. I love how supportive this community is! It's clear that the activation process is straightforward and the balance transfers automatically, so I'm going to stop overthinking it and just call the number today. Thanks to everyone who shared their stories - knowing that other parents have been through the same worries and that it all worked out makes such a difference. Time to get this sorted before I need to do my weekend shopping!

This entire thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm also relatively new to CalFresh and had the exact same confusion when I got an unexpected replacement card in the mail last month. Like so many others here, I was terrified I'd somehow mess up my benefits if I activated it. But after reading similar advice and experiences shared by community members like all of you, I finally worked up the courage to call the activation number. I'm so glad I did! The whole process was literally 3 minutes, super straightforward, and my balance transferred over perfectly. What really helped me was the tip someone mentioned about testing the new card with a small purchase first - I bought a pack of gum just to make sure everything worked before doing my big grocery haul. It's amazing how much anxiety could be prevented if the county just included a simple explanation with these replacement cards about why they're sent and how the process works. Thank you to everyone who shared their stories, especially those who mentioned getting stuck at checkout - it really drives home why it's so important to be proactive about activation rather than waiting until the last minute!

did u try calling the county yet? I know its frustrating but u really need to talk to ur worker to get this fixed. Sometimes the EBT customer service number can transfer u directly to a caseworker if u tell them its urgent!

Just wanted to add that you should also check if your county has any local CalFresh offices that might be easier to reach than the main number. Some counties have satellite offices or community partners where you can drop off documents in person. Also, when you do get through to report the utility allowance, ask them to backdate it to when you first started paying utilities separately - sometimes they can adjust your benefits retroactively for a few months if you can prove you were eligible earlier. Good luck getting through, and don't give up! The extra benefits will be worth the hassle of dealing with the phone system.

Quick update on good news - I just checked and Alameda County does offer same-day emergency EBT card replacement at their main office (if you go early). Bring your photo ID and verification documents just in case. Some counties limit emergency replacements to certain hours, so if possible, arrive when they first open for the best chance of quick service.

Hey Sofia! I went through this exact same situation last month and I know how stressful it is. Since you already deactivated the card and no benefits were stolen, you're in a much better position than many people. Just wanted to add that when you go to the Alameda County office tomorrow, try to get there about 15 minutes before they open - there's usually a line for emergency services and they handle people in order of arrival. Also, if for some reason they can't issue a same-day card, ask specifically about their emergency food voucher program. Some counties can give you a temporary paper voucher to use at certain stores while you wait for your replacement card. Good luck tomorrow and don't let them make you feel bad for needing help - this happens to people all the time and it's not your fault!

btw has anyone noticed the benefit amounts went up a bit this year? i got like $38 more this month for my family of 4 and wasnt sure if it was a mistake or if theres a cost of living increase thing?

I'm new to using CalFresh at farmers markets - is there a way to find out which markets in my area are having these EBT issues before I make the trip? I live pretty far from the downtown market and would hate to drive all that way just to find out the system is down. Also, when you mentioned Market Match doubling benefits, is that available at all farmers markets or just certain ones? Thanks for all the helpful info everyone is sharing here!