California CalFresh

Update: I FINALLY got through to someone at FTB this morning! They verified my information and are sending me a new card that should arrive in 7-10 business days. The representative said they've had a lot of mail delivery issues with these cards and were very understanding. Thanks to everyone for your advice - especially the specific phone menu options and what to ask for. That made a huge difference!

So happy to see this worked out for you! This is exactly why community support matters - when we share our experiences and knowledge, we can help each other navigate these confusing government systems. Your situation will definitely help other families who might face the same issue with delayed MCTR cards. For anyone else reading this thread, the key takeaways seem to be: call 1-800-542-9332, use the specific menu options, mention if you're on CalFresh/have kids for potential expedited processing, and don't give up! The money is rightfully yours and the FTB does have processes in place to handle these delivery issues. Hope your new card arrives quickly and helps with those grocery costs. Food prices are rough right now, especially for families on CalFresh benefits.

Good idea - I'll call them tomorrow too. This is all so frustrating. The system is designed to make people give up.

I work at a local community center and we see this exact situation almost daily. Here's what's helped other families: 1) If you have kids under 18, contact your school district's family liaison - many have direct contacts with county workers for emergency situations. 2) File a complaint with the California Department of Social Services if your benefits were wrongfully discontinued - you can do this online while waiting to reach someone by phone. 3) Most importantly, go to your county office IN PERSON if possible. They can't hang up on you and often have same-day emergency assistance available. Bring ID, any paperwork you have, and specifically ask for "immediate needs assistance" for your children. Don't let them schedule you for next week - emphasize this is an emergency food situation.

Just wanted to follow up - were you able to get any assistance? One thing I forgot to mention is that if you have children, you might also qualify for CalWORKs which does provide cash aid that can be used for housing. The income limits are different from CalFresh but if you're struggling with work hours, it might be worth applying. The application can be submitted through BenefitsCal.com or at your county office.

That's great news that you went in person and got the application expedited! The Housing Support Program has really helped a lot of families in similar situations. While you're waiting for that decision, you might also want to reach out to your local Salvation Army or United Way - they sometimes have emergency funds that can help bridge the gap if the county assistance takes longer than expected. Also, document everything with your landlord (keep texts, emails, etc.) in case you need to show you're actively working to resolve the situation. Hope it all works out for you!

I'm glad you got through! One more tip - document EVERYTHING. Take photos of any papers they give you, write down the names of workers you speak with, and keep notes about all conversations. If the full replacement gets delayed, this documentation will help. Also, when you receive your new card, immediately set up the California EBT Mobile app if you haven't already. It allows you to freeze and unfreeze your card between uses, which provides extra security against theft in the future.

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this - it's incredibly stressful when you have kids to feed! I went through something similar last year and wanted to share a few things that helped speed up my case. First, when you go to your appointment tomorrow, bring any receipts from the last few times you used your card to show your normal usage pattern - this helps prove the fraudulent transactions. Second, ask specifically about "expedited processing" for households with children under 18 - some counties can fast-track these cases. Also, if you're still having trouble reaching county workers by phone in the future, try calling right when they open (usually 8 AM) or during lunch hours when call volume is sometimes lower. The food bank was a lifesaver for us during the waiting period. You're doing everything right by staying on top of this and advocating for your family!

Thank you! I'll try both of those. Really hoping I can find something that works with my situation.

UPDATE: I went to the CSA office today and they told me I do qualify for the Homeless Assistance Program even though I'm not on CalWORKs! The worker said because I have children and am in temporary housing (the motel), I meet their definition of