make sure u activate it as soon as u get it!!! and pick a pin u wont forget my friend lost her pin and had to go thru whole process again

just got my sons card today!!!! so they really are still sending them. check ur mail careful cuz like someone said it looks like junk mail totally

anyone know how much is on the cards this time? last year it was like $120 per month per kid but i heard its less this time

Update: I finally called the P-EBT number today and after 45 minutes on hold (ugh) they told me our card was actually mailed last week! They said it might take 7-10 business days to arrive. They confirmed they're doing zip code batches now, not alphabetical. For anyone still waiting, definitely call to check your status. Thanks everyone for your help!

Thanks for updating! Did you have to wait long to get through? I still can't reach anyone.

I called right when they opened at 8am and still waited about 45 minutes. The recording kept saying I could leave a callback number but that option never actually came up during the menu choices.

let us know what happens!! i always get nervous around reporting time cuz one mistake and boom no food

UPDATE: I used that Claimyr service someone recommended to reach a worker, and they confirmed my case was discontinued due to the missing SAR7. Good news though - they received the one I submitted yesterday and said they'll process it as a restoration within 3 business days! They also said they'll add a note to my file to send me text reminders for future SAR7 deadlines since I mentioned missing the notice. So relieved this is getting fixed!

For your immediate food needs while waiting for this to be resolved, please contact your local food bank. You can find the nearest one by texting your zip code to 898-211. Many food banks have emergency provisions specifically for situations like yours where CalFresh benefits are temporarily unavailable. Also, check if your children's school offers free meal programs that might help in the interim.

Just to follow up - once you get your new card, I strongly recommend enabling account alerts. You can set up text or email notifications for all transactions, low balance alerts, and even deposit notifications. This way you'll know immediately if there's suspicious activity in the future. You can set this up through the EBT cardholder portal or by calling customer service.

P-EBT (Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer) and CalFresh are different programs, though they both provide food benefits on EBT cards. P-EBT was initially created during the COVID pandemic and has been extended for the 2024-2025 school year. It provides food benefits to families with children who would receive free or reduced-price school meals. \n\nCalFresh is California's ongoing food assistance program (formerly known as food stamps) for low-income individuals and families.\n\nSo the card you received is specifically for P-EBT benefits, not regular CalFresh, even though they look similar. You can use both types of benefits at the same stores to buy eligible food items.

Ohhh that makes so much more sense! Thank you for explaining the difference. I was wondering why we got this random card when we haven't applied for CalFresh.

You might qualify for expedited replacement. I lost my card right before a holiday weekend and explained I had no food for my kids. They gave me a temporary card at the office that worked until my permanent one arrived. Bring ID and know your case number if possible!

UPDATE: Good news everyone! I called my county office this morning and explained my situation. They said I could come in for emergency card replacement! I'll be picking it up this afternoon. Thanks for all your help!

To clarify some of the confusion in this thread: The standard COVID emergency allotments that provided extra CalFresh benefits to all recipients ended in March 2023. What exists now:\n\n1. Regular monthly benefits (based on household size, income, expenses)\n2. Disaster CalFresh (D-CalFresh) in federally-declared disaster areas\n3. Transitional CalFresh for families leaving CalWORKs\n4. Expedited benefits for emergency situations\n\nIf someone mentions 'extra benefits,' they're likely referring to one of these specific programs rather than the universal supplements we saw during COVID. If you believe you're eligible for additional benefits, contact your county office for clarification.

Thank you for the detailed explanation! I think what I overheard must have been about the disaster benefits. We weren't in an evacuation zone so we wouldn't qualify, but that makes sense now.

Thanks everyone for clearing this up! Sounds like my neighbor definitely got confused between the regular COLA increase and something COVID-related. I'll let her know so she doesn't keep spreading incorrect info. Even a small increase will help though - groceries have gotten so expensive this year.

Good idea to correct the misinformation. And you're right - even small increases help with today's food prices. If your circumstances have changed significantly (income decrease, new household member, higher housing costs), you can always report those changes to potentially increase your benefits beyond just the COLA adjustment.

its in!!! just checked my account and my benefits just loaded at 10:37am

For anyone who experiences this issue in the future, there are a few steps you can take: 1. Check the BenefitsCal website for any system announcements 2. Call the EBT customer service line (though wait times may be long) 3. Contact your local county CalFresh office directly 4. Check the CDSS website for any system update notifications 5. If you need immediate food assistance, contact your local food bank It's also good practice to keep some emergency food supplies if possible, as these system delays do happen occasionally. If delays become a regular issue for you, you can request to have your deposit date changed by contacting your county worker during your next recertification.