my cousin got a personal injury settlement last year and that didnt count toward her calfresh because it was one-time money not regular income

Just wanted to add one more thing that might be helpful - if you're getting financial aid for school, make sure to keep documentation of what's specifically for tuition/books vs. what might be considered "living expenses" in your financial aid package. I learned this the hard way when my community college's financial aid office included some living allowance money that DID count as income, even though the rest of my Pell Grant didn't. The CalFresh worker was really helpful in breaking down my award letter to figure out what was excludable and what wasn't. Good luck with your application!

This is such valuable information for someone like me who just started the CalFresh application process! I submitted my paperwork two weeks ago and I'm still waiting to hear back, but reading Holly's experience and everyone's responses has really prepared me for what to expect once I start receiving benefits. The fact that you can get a notification saying benefits were deposited but nothing actually shows up is exactly the kind of thing I would have never thought could happen. I'm definitely going to save all the tips people shared here - especially about checking both the EBT system AND BenefitsCal, knowing about the 48-hour rule, and having the county office number ready. It's also really encouraging to see how helpful this community is when someone runs into problems. Holly, thank you for posting all those updates throughout your experience - it really shows the whole process from problem to resolution. This thread is going straight into my bookmarks!

This whole situation really highlights how stressful the CalFresh system can be when things go wrong! I've been receiving benefits for about a year now and I've learned that these notification glitches happen more often than they should. What really helped me was setting up alerts on my phone to check my EBT balance every month on the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd - that way if there's a delay or error like Holly experienced, I catch it right away. It's also worth mentioning that if you ever can't get through to your county office (which happens A LOT), try calling early in the morning right when they open or later in the afternoon - I've had better luck during those times. Holly, I'm so glad you got this resolved and thanks for sharing all the updates! Your persistence really paid off and this thread is going to help so many people who run into similar issues.

Update: I just signed up using the link someone shared above and got approved within a few hours! The process was super easy. Thanks to everyone who helped explain how it works. I'm excited to start using the Prime benefits, especially the free shipping and Prime Video. This will definitely help stretch my budget a bit further!

That's awesome that you got approved so quickly! Just a heads up - if you're planning to use your EBT benefits for grocery delivery through Amazon Fresh or Whole Foods, make sure to check if delivery is available in your area first. Some parts of California don't have coverage yet. Also, there's usually a minimum order amount (around $35) for free delivery even with Prime, but it's still super convenient for bulk shopping or when you can't get to the store. The Fresh pickup option is also great if delivery isn't available - you can order online and just drive up to collect your groceries.

Thank you all so much for the helpful information! I just submitted our application online through BenefitsCal. I included all the info about my sister moving in and our current income situation. Hopefully it all goes smoothly! I'll update when I hear back about our eligibility.

Best of luck with your application! Just wanted to add that if you need any documents translated or have language barriers during the process, Kern County is required to provide interpretation services for free. Also, don't be discouraged if they ask for additional verification - it's pretty standard. They might want proof that your sister actually lives with you now (like a utility bill with her name, or a statement from you both confirming she's moved in). The whole process can take up to 30 days, but often it's faster. Keep us posted on how it goes!

I work at a local community center that helps families navigate benefit programs, and I see this situation pretty regularly. A few things that might help while you're dealing with the replacement: 1. Some grocery stores will let you do a "manual voucher" transaction if you can provide proof that you have P-EBT benefits but lost the card. You'd need documentation showing the benefits were issued to your child. Not all stores do this, but it's worth asking at customer service. 2. If your son's dad is willing to help with the call, sometimes having the custodial parent information ready speeds things up - they may ask about custody arrangements or who's authorized to make changes to the account. 3. For future reference, many parents don't realize you can actually request a second card for the same account (like having one for each household in shared custody situations). Might be worth asking about when you call for the replacement. The 877 number is definitely right, and definitely emphasize that it's P-EBT 3.0 when you call. Good luck - I hope you get through quickly and your son gets his food assistance restored soon!

I just went through this exact same situation two months ago with my daughter's P-EBT 3.0 card! Here's what worked for me: Definitely call 877-328-9677 (that number is correct), but try calling right at 8am when they open - I got through in about 20 minutes versus the 2+ hour waits later in the day. Have everything ready: your son's full name exactly as it appears on school records, DOB, school name, and your current address. One thing that really helped speed up my call - I found the original P-EBT welcome letter in my files which had some reference numbers on it. Not required, but the rep said it made the process much faster. For this weekend, call your son's school Monday morning to ask about their weekend food backpack program if they have one. Also, some grocery stores will do manual voucher transactions if you can show proof of the P-EBT benefits (like old statements or the welcome letter). My replacement card came in exactly 7 business days, and they immediately canceled the old card when I called so no one could use it if they found it. Make sure to ask them to confirm the cancellation! Hang in there - I know how stressful this is when you're counting on those benefits. You'll get through this!