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my kids teacher sent home a note yesterday saying they should all have their pebt by october so maybe theres delays? idk schools always the last to know anything lol
That October timeline might be including the buffer period for any cards that need to be reissued due to mailing problems or address changes. The official distribution should end by September 30, 2025, but resolving issues can take additional time. If you haven't received anything by early October, definitely contact the P-EBT hotline or your local county office.
As a parent who's been through this P-EBT process multiple times, I can confirm it's definitely confusing! For P-EBT 4.0, I received a new card for my daughter last week here in Orange County. The card came in a plain white envelope with just "P-EBT California" as the return address - almost looked like a credit card offer. One thing I learned from previous rounds is to call your child's school office to make sure they have your current address on file. My friend missed her P-EBT 2.0 card because she had moved but forgot to update her address with the school district. The benefits were still issued, but the card went to her old address. Also, if you do get a new card, make sure to activate it right away! I made the mistake of putting it aside "for safekeeping" with my first P-EBT card and then couldn't find it when I needed groceries. The activation phone number is on the sticker attached to the card. Hope this helps ease some of the anxiety around waiting for these cards to arrive!
Thank you for sharing your experience! That's really helpful about checking the address with the school - I never thought about that. My family moved earlier this year and I completely forgot to update our address with my son's school district. I better call them tomorrow to make sure they have our current info before the cards get mailed out. Also good tip about activating right away - I'm definitely the type to put important things "somewhere safe" and then spend hours looking for them later!
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Reading through all these responses has been incredibly eye-opening! I'm also in California (Orange County) and have been putting off applying because I assumed I made too much at $2,650/month with rent at $1,750. But seeing how the shelter deduction and other factors work makes me realize I might actually qualify. @fd111dffc265 I really hope your reapplication with all the proper deductions works out! It's so frustrating that the initial screening doesn't explain all these options clearly. @16f1cf625ae2 @61ec8a31d0a7 thank you for explaining the net income calculation - I had no idea about the 20% earned income deduction or how the shelter costs factor in. This thread has given me the motivation to actually apply instead of just struggling quietly. It's amazing how much support and knowledge everyone is sharing here!
@f13a4e368dfd @886e39611779 @1cb8f35a573b It's so encouraging to see how this thread has motivated so many people to actually apply! I'm also new to this community and have been reading through everyone's experiences. Like many of you, I've been hesitant to apply thinking I wouldn't qualify, but seeing @fd111dffc265's journey and all the helpful advice from @16f1cf625ae2 @61ec8a31d0a7 and others has really opened my eyes. The fact that there's both a gross AND net income test, plus all these deductions like the shelter deduction and automatic 20% earned income deduction, completely changes things. I'm in San Diego paying $1,900 for rent on a $2,900 salary, so I'm definitely in that same boat of rent eating up most of my income. Thanks to everyone for sharing their knowledge and creating such a supportive space - it's given me the confidence to finally apply instead of just assuming I won't qualify. Good luck to everyone who's planning to apply!
Wow, this thread has been such a lifeline! I'm also in California (Riverside County) and have been in the exact same situation - making $2,850/month but paying $1,650 in rent and getting denied repeatedly. I had completely given up after my second denial, thinking the system was just impossible to navigate. But reading @fd111dffc265's experience and seeing all the detailed explanations from @16f1cf625ae2 and @61ec8a31d0a7 about the net income calculation and shelter deduction has completely changed my perspective. I had NO idea they automatically deduct 20% of earned income or that there's a separate net income test beyond just gross income. It's so frustrating that they don't clearly explain these deductions during the initial application process - it feels like you have to be an expert just to understand what you might qualify for. I'm definitely going to reapply now armed with all this information. Thank you everyone for creating such a supportive and informative discussion - it's given so many of us hope and the knowledge we need to actually navigate this system properly!
@c03f0bc28571 @01a75c6de51c @f13a4e368dfd It's incredible how many of us are in the exact same boat! I just joined this community after stumbling across this thread, and I'm honestly shocked at how much helpful information is here that I never knew about. I'm in Fresno making $2,720/month with $1,580 rent, and like so many others here, I just assumed I wouldn't qualify and never even tried applying. Reading about @fd111dffc265's experience and all the detailed breakdowns from @16f1cf625ae2 @61ec8a31d0a7 and others about deductions has been a total game-changer. The fact that they deduct 20% of earned income automatically plus factor in shelter costs when they're over 50% of your income makes such a huge difference in the calculation. It's really frustrating that this information isn't more clearly communicated upfront - it seems like you have to dig deep or get lucky enough to find threads like this to understand how the system actually works. I'm definitely going to apply this week with all this new knowledge. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences and expertise - this community support is exactly what people need when navigating these complicated systems!
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As someone who's been on CalFresh for about two years, I can add that these special supplements can be really confusing when they first happen! I remember getting a random $95 deposit during the wildfire season in 2023 and panicking that it was a mistake that would get clawed back later. Turns out it was legitimate emergency assistance for my county. One thing I've learned is to always screenshot or write down any unexpected deposits with the date and amount, just in case there are questions later. Also, if you ever move between counties, make sure to update your address immediately - I've heard of people missing out on benefits because their address wasn't current in the system. The CalFresh program actually does a pretty good job of getting emergency help to people when disasters strike, but the communication about WHY you're getting extra money could definitely be better!
That's really good advice about keeping records of unexpected deposits! I'm definitely going to start doing that. It's reassuring to hear that these emergency supplements are legitimate and not mistakes that will cause problems later. I was worried about exactly that scenario. Thanks for the tip about updating addresses quickly too - I'm planning to move in a few months so I'll make sure to notify my caseworker right away. It does seem like the communication could be clearer about why these payments happen, but at least this community helps explain things!
I've been on CalFresh for about 6 months now and this thread is super informative! I had no idea about these disaster supplements until reading everyone's experiences. Just wanted to add that if anyone is having trouble getting through to their county office (which seems to be a common problem based on the comments), you can also try calling first thing in the morning right when they open - I've had better luck getting through around 8 AM. Also, some counties have online portals where you can send messages to your caseworker instead of calling, which might be easier than waiting on hold for hours. Thanks to everyone who explained the different types of supplements - it really helps newcomers like me understand how the system works!
That's a great tip about calling early in the morning! I've noticed the same thing - the phone lines seem much less busy right when they open. The online portal suggestion is really helpful too, though I think not all counties have that feature yet. It's frustrating how inconsistent the systems are between different counties. I'm still pretty new to all this myself, but this community has been amazing for learning how everything works. It's kind of overwhelming at first with all the different rules and potential supplements, but threads like this really help break it down. Thanks for sharing your experience!
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Hey Isaiah! Congrats on getting approved! 🎉 I just wanted to add a few more tips that have helped me stretch my CalFresh benefits: 1. Check out your local food banks too - they often have free fresh produce and pantry items that can supplement your EBT purchases. You can usually use food banks even if you have CalFresh! 2. Look for store brands/generic items - they're usually 30-50% cheaper than name brands and the quality is often just as good. Places like Walmart's Great Value brand, Safeway's O Organics, etc. 3. If you have a car, it's worth driving a bit further to discount stores like ALDI (if you have one nearby), WinCo, or FoodMaxx rather than shopping at the closest but more expensive store. 4. Download store apps for places like Safeway, Vons, Albertsons - they often have digital coupons you can stack with sales, and some even give you personalized deals based on what you buy. 5. Stock up during good sales on non-perishables like rice, beans, pasta, canned goods, etc. Your EBT balance rolls over month to month so you don't have to spend it all right away! Welcome to the community - don't hesitate to ask more questions as they come up! 😊
This is such an amazing comprehensive guide! Thank you so much for taking the time to write all this out! 😊 I had no idea about food banks still being available even with CalFresh - that's incredibly helpful since I'm really trying to make every dollar count right now. The tip about store brands is great too, I'll definitely start looking for those generic options. And I love the idea about downloading store apps for digital coupons - I'm pretty tech-savvy so that should be easy to set up. The advice about stocking up during sales is smart too since I didn't realize the balance rolls over! I was worried I'd have to spend it all each month. Everyone in this thread has been so welcoming and helpful - I'm feeling so much more confident about navigating this whole system now. Thank you for being such an awesome community! 🙏
One more helpful resource I wanted to share - if you have a smartphone, there's also an app called "SNAP Shopper" that lets you scan barcodes while you're shopping to see if items are EBT-eligible before you get to checkout! Super helpful for avoiding those awkward moments at the register. Also, many libraries in California have free nutrition and cooking classes specifically for people using CalFresh benefits - they teach you how to make healthy, budget-friendly meals and sometimes even give out free recipes and meal planning guides. My local library does a "Cooking Matters" program that was really helpful when I was first starting out. And just to echo what others said about ethnic markets - the prices on staples like rice, beans, lentils, and spices are genuinely amazing compared to regular supermarkets. Plus you'll discover some new ingredients that can make your meals way more interesting without breaking the budget! Welcome to the community Isaiah, and don't feel bad about asking questions - we've all been there and this stuff can be confusing at first! 😊
This is such great advice! I'm definitely downloading that SNAP Shopper app right now - that barcode scanner feature sounds like it'll save me from so much embarrassment at checkout! 😅 And the library cooking classes sound amazing, I had no idea libraries offered programs like that. I'm actually a pretty decent cook but I've never had to meal plan on such a tight budget before, so learning some new techniques would be super helpful. The ethnic market tip keeps coming up and I'm really excited to explore some new ingredients - I love trying different cuisines so this could actually make eating on a budget more fun instead of boring. Thank you Oscar for all these resources, and thank you to everyone else who's contributed to this thread! You've all made me feel so welcome and given me way more information than I ever hoped for. This community is seriously awesome! 🙌
Emma Davis
As someone who recently went through a similar scare with my EBT card, I can't stress enough how important it is to act fast like you did @Ava Thompson! I'm so relieved you were able to freeze your card before any benefits were stolen. For anyone new to CalFresh reading this thread - please don't let these stories scare you away from using your benefits, but definitely take the security precautions seriously. Here are a few additional tips I've learned: 1. **Save the EBT customer service number in your phone** - Don't wait until there's an emergency to look it up 2. **Take a photo of your card (front only, never the back with security code)** - This makes it easier to reference your card number when calling customer service 3. **Keep receipts for a few days after shopping** - If there are any discrepancies, you'll have proof of legitimate transactions The rise in EBT fraud is really concerning, but this community sharing experiences and tips like this is so valuable. Knowledge is power when it comes to protecting our benefits! @Ava Thompson - Thanks for sharing your experience and keeping us updated. Your story will definitely help other people know exactly what to do if this happens to them.
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Lucas Turner
•This is such great advice @Emma Davis! I'm also relatively new to receiving CalFresh benefits and this whole thread has been incredibly educational (and yes, a little scary!). The tip about saving the EBT customer service number is brilliant - I never would have thought to do that proactively. I love how supportive this community is. Everyone sharing their experiences and tips is helping newcomers like me learn how to protect our benefits before something bad happens. It's so much better to be prepared than to learn these lessons the hard way. @Ava Thompson your quick thinking really saved the day! The fact that you froze your card immediately when you saw something suspicious shows how important it is to trust your instincts. I m'definitely going to start checking my balance more frequently and setting up all those security features people have mentioned. Thanks to everyone who has contributed to this discussion - you re'all helping to protect our entire community from fraud!
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Norah Quay
Wow, this thread has been incredibly informative! As someone who just started receiving CalFresh benefits this month, I had no idea EBT fraud was such a widespread issue. Reading through everyone's experiences has been both eye-opening and a bit nerve-wracking, but I'm so grateful for all the practical advice shared here. @Ava Thompson - I'm so glad you trusted your instincts and froze your card immediately! Your quick thinking definitely saved your benefits. It's scary that someone tried to use your card in another state, but at least the system worked as intended once you reported it. After reading through all these responses, I'm definitely going to: 1. Set up text alerts for all transactions 2. Start using the freeze/unfreeze feature between shopping trips 3. Save the EBT customer service number in my phone 4. Be much more selective about where I swipe my card The tip about contactless payments being safer is something I never knew - I'll definitely look for that option when shopping. And I had no idea you could set daily spending limits through the app! This community is amazing for looking out for each other. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences and security tips. It's so much better to learn about these precautions from you all rather than having to deal with fraud firsthand. Stay safe everyone!
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