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Can I get a replacement EBT card in person without reporting it lost? Misplaced mine but still looking
So I've been looking for my CalFresh EBT card for a couple days now and can't find it anywhere. I'm pretty sure it's somewhere in my apartment since I remember using it at the grocery store last weekend. I'm planning to do a deep clean today and tomorrow so I might find it. The problem is I need to buy groceries THIS AFTERNOON. Is it possible to go to my county office and just pick up a new card without officially reporting the old one lost/stolen? I don't want to cancel my current card if I'm going to find it tomorrow! Has anyone done this before? Will they make me file a lost card report even if I just want a temporary replacement?
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Can I get discounted Lyft rides with CalFresh EBT? Need transportation options
Hey everyone! I've been struggling with transportation lately and heard someone at the grocery store talking about getting cheaper Lyft rides with their EBT card. Is this actually a thing with CalFresh? My car broke down last month and I can't afford repairs right now, which makes getting to work and taking my kids to school really difficult. Bus routes in my area are terrible. If there's some kind of discount program with Lyft that I can use with my CalFresh EBT, that would be a huge help! Anyone know how to sign up or if this is even real?
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UPDATE: I finally got through to the Sacramento County office using that Claimyr service someone recommended. The worker was super helpful and confirmed there's no official Lyft discount with EBT, BUT she told me about a pilot program called
That's great news about getting through to the county office! It sounds like you found some helpful information. Could you share what you learned about that pilot program? I'm sure other people in Sacramento County would benefit from knowing about it too. Also glad to hear the Claimyr service worked for you - that phone system really is impossible to navigate on your own!
@Jessica Nolan I m'also really hoping you can share those details! I m'in Sacramento County too and have been struggling with transportation since my bus route got cut last year. It s'been really hard getting to my CalFresh appointments and grocery shopping with my kids. If there s'actually a pilot program available, even knowing what it s'called would help me ask the right questions when I call. I tried using that Claimyr service you mentioned and it really does work - finally got through to someone at the county office in like 15 minutes instead of waiting hours! But I forgot to ask about transportation programs. Thanks for keeping us updated!
CalFresh EBT amount increased unexpectedly next month - normal or mistake?
Just got approved for CalFresh last month and received my first EBT deposit of $258. I was budgeting for the same amount next month but just checked my account and noticed they're giving me $310 for April! Not complaining at all 😅 but I'm wondering if this is normal or if there's been some kind of mistake? I didn't report any changes in my situation. My income is still the same (working part-time at $2100/month). Single household, no dependents. Should I call someone about this or just accept the blessing? I'm worried they might think I committed fraud or something if I don't report it, but also don't want to mess up getting more benefits if it's legitimate!
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Everyone is right about the prorated first month. But I want to add something important - make sure you're aware of the Income Reporting Threshold (IRT) listed on your approval letter. If your income ever goes above that amount, you MUST report it within 10 days even if it's not time for your SAR-7 yet. This is the #1 reason people get overpayments they have to pay back. Your SAR-7 will come at the 6-month mark, and you'll need to complete recertification after 12 months to keep benefits going.
Thank you! I just checked my approval letter and my IRT is $2,700. So as long as I stay under that, I only need to report income changes on the SAR-7 at 6 months, right?
Exactly! As long as your monthly income stays below $2,700, you only need to report on the SAR-7. But if you ever earn more than that threshold in any month, report it within 10 days to avoid potential overpayments.
Just wanted to say this thread was super helpful! I'm new to CalFresh too and had similar confusion about my benefit amounts. It's reassuring to know that prorated first months are normal and not some kind of error. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and knowledge - this community is awesome for navigating all the CalFresh details they don't really explain clearly in the paperwork!
Can I use CalFresh benefits to help pay my electricity bill? Desperate for utility assistance
My electricity bill just came in at $375 and I'm completely broke until my next paycheck. I have CalFresh benefits but not much left for this month. Can I somehow use my CalFresh/EBT to help with my PG&E bill? My refrigerator is where I keep my food, so technically it's food-related, right? Or does CalFresh ever offer utility assistance programs? My kids are little and I'm worried about our power getting shut off if I can't make at least a partial payment by next Friday. Any suggestions from people who've been in this situation before?
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just remembered!! if u have school age kids check if ur school district has resources too. our district partners with some local org that helps with bills for families with kids in the schools
That's a good idea! My daughter's in kindergarten, so I'll check with the school office on Monday. Thanks for thinking of this!
I'm so glad you're getting help! Just wanted to add that when you call PG&E, ask specifically about their "Level Pay Plan" too - it averages your annual bill into 12 equal monthly payments so you don't get those shocking high bills in summer/winter. Also, since you mentioned you have little kids, check if your county has a "Keep Your Utilities On" or similar emergency fund - many counties set aside money specifically for families with children facing utility shutoffs. The waiting lists can be shorter than other programs since kids are prioritized. Hope everything works out for you and your family!
Why is my EBT card showing 'restricted' on Instacart? Can't use CalFresh benefits online
I've been using my CalFresh benefits for grocery shopping in person, but decided to try Instacart today since I'm sick with the flu. When I tried to add my EBT card as a payment method, it kept saying my card is 'restricted' and wouldn't let me complete the order. My benefits were just loaded 3 days ago and I have plenty of funds available. I can still use the card at regular stores. Is there some special approval needed to use CalFresh online? Or is Instacart just not accepting EBT in California anymore in 2025?
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Great to hear you got it working! For anyone else having similar issues, here's a quick tip: you can actually check which stores accept EBT online before shopping by going to the USDA's SNAP Retailer Locator website. They have a filter specifically for "online purchasing" that shows all approved retailers in your area. Would have saved you the trial and error! Also, if you're ever stuck between stores, Amazon Fresh tends to have the widest selection of SNAP-eligible items clearly marked, though their delivery fees can add up if you don't have Prime.
For future reference, you can also check your EBT card balance and transaction history online at ebtEDGE.com or by calling 1-877-328-9677 to make sure there aren't any holds or issues before trying to shop online. Sometimes there are temporary system maintenance periods that can cause the "restricted" error even at approved stores. Also, if you're ordering through Instacart at an approved retailer like Walmart, make sure to select "EBT" as your payment method during checkout rather than trying to add it as a regular debit card - the payment flow is slightly different and that can cause confusion. Glad you got it sorted out and hope you're feeling better!
This is super helpful! I didn't know about ebtEDGE.com for checking balance and transaction history online - that sounds way more convenient than calling the phone number. And you're absolutely right about selecting "EBT" as the payment method rather than adding it as a debit card - I think that might have been part of my initial confusion too. I was treating it like any other card instead of using the specific EBT checkout flow. Thanks for the detailed tips and the well wishes! These are exactly the kind of practical details that would have saved me a lot of trial and error.
Kyle Wallace
Update: I just spent 30 minutes searching my apartment one more time and FOUND MY CARD! It was inside a jacket pocket I hadn't worn in a week. Thank you all for the advice - I'm so relieved I don't have to go through the replacement process!
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Ryder Ross
nice!! always in the last place u look lol
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Gianni Serpent
That's great news! Just a helpful tip for the future - take a photo of your EBT card (front and back) and save it somewhere secure on your phone. If you ever do need to report it lost, you'll have all the card information handy to make the process faster. Just make sure your phone has a secure lock screen since that information is sensitive.
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Finnegan Gunn
So glad you found it! I was literally about to suggest checking jacket pockets - that's where mine always ends up too. For next time, I've started keeping my EBT card in the same spot in my wallet every single time I use it. Makes it way less stressful when you need groceries and can't remember where you put it!
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