UPDATE: Just got my deposit at 6:45pm! For anyone else waiting, check again. Seems like there was definitely a system delay today for the 12th-day people. Thanks everyone for your help and suggestions. Grocery shopping is back on for tonight! 🙌

Just saw your update - so relieved for you! I'm also in Alameda County with a case number ending in 2, and mine just hit about 10 minutes ago too. Was getting really anxious since I had the same experience as you - always comes through early morning on the 12th. Definitely seems like there was a countywide delay today. Thanks for posting this thread, it helped me feel less alone in the waiting!

I'm new to CalFresh and this thread is so helpful! I just got approved last week and my benefits are supposed to load on the 8th (my case number ends in 8). Reading about the potential delays and the ConnectEBT app alerts makes me feel more prepared. It's reassuring to see that delays happen sometimes but usually resolve within a day. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this community is amazing for newcomers like me!

I'm dealing with this right now, also the phone automated system didn't have any pending balance for me but Propel did and I checked with my county last week to make sure they said I was ok and active. It's a Sunday so I can't call today

As someone who just went through the CalFresh application process myself a few weeks ago, I can totally relate to that anxiety about potentially messing something up! Reading through this entire thread has been so reassuring - it's clear that situations like duplicate cards are really common and nothing to stress about. What I find most helpful is seeing how systematically everyone approaches these issues: check the dates, verify which card is active, contact the right people if needed, and dispose of inactive cards properly. It's exactly the kind of step-by-step guidance that makes navigating CalFresh feel much less overwhelming. I'm still pretty new to all this myself, but one thing I've learned from this community is that the CalFresh system has a lot of built-in protections and safeguards. When they issue a replacement card, the old one automatically gets deactivated - it's designed to prevent exactly the kind of confusion you experienced. Thanks for sharing your experience and for all the follow-up questions you asked! Your thread has basically become a masterclass in handling EBT card issues, and I'm sure it's going to help so many other newcomers who find themselves in similar situations.

I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who jumped in to help with advice! As someone who's been on CalFresh for about 8 months now, I've definitely had my share of confusing moments with the system, but this community always comes through with practical solutions. Your situation is so relatable - I remember getting my first replacement card and being terrified I was going to accidentally commit fraud or mess up my benefits somehow. But like everyone said, the duplicate card thing happens ALL the time. The system is actually pretty good at protecting against issues like this. One thing I learned from experience that might help other newcomers reading this: if you're ever unsure about ANYTHING related to your benefits - weird balances, card issues, eligibility questions - don't hesitate to reach out either here or to the customer service line. I used to worry that asking "too many questions" would somehow flag my account, but that's not how it works at all. The workers actually prefer when people ask questions rather than making assumptions. It sounds like you've got everything sorted out now with the date checking and balance verification. Welcome to the CalFresh community - you're going to do great!

I'm so sorry you're going through this - your situation is unfortunately becoming way too common and it's absolutely unacceptable! A $85 benefit reduction on a $72 income increase violates basic math, let alone the 30% rule that's supposed to govern CalFresh calculations. Based on everything shared in this thread, it sounds like there are widespread calculation errors happening, particularly around medical expense deductions and utility allowances. The fact that you have $350+ in monthly medical expenses that should be fully deductible makes me think that's where the error is. Here's what I'd recommend based on everyone's experiences: 1. Use that Claimyr service to actually get through to someone quickly 2. Ask for a complete written breakdown of your benefit calculation 3. Specifically verify they're applying your $350+ medical expense deduction correctly 4. Make sure you're getting the Standard Utility Allowance (SUA) if you pay for heating/cooling 5. If the numbers still don't make sense, request a fair hearing immediately Document everything and don't let them brush you off with "that's how it works" - clearly it's NOT working correctly for you and many others here. You deserve accurate calculations and enough food assistance to survive, especially when grocery prices have increased so dramatically this year. The system should be helping you, not punishing you for a tiny disability payment increase! Keep us posted on what you find out - your experience could help others facing similar calculation errors get their benefits corrected too.

I'm dealing with almost the exact same situation and it's beyond frustrating! My disability benefits went up $59 last month and they slashed my CalFresh by $78 - which makes absolutely no mathematical sense under the 30% rule everyone keeps mentioning. What really gets me is that I've been reporting my medical expenses (about $280/month) for over a year, but now I'm wondering if they're actually being counted correctly. Reading through all these experiences, it seems like medical expense deductions and utility allowances are where most of the calculation errors happen. The timing couldn't be worse either - grocery prices in my area have gone up so much that I'm spending about $40 more per week than I was last year just for the same basic items. A benefit reduction right now feels like being punished for getting a tiny cost-of-living adjustment that doesn't even come close to covering actual inflation. I'm definitely going to try that Claimyr service that @Hassan Khoury mentioned and ask for a detailed breakdown of my calculation. It's ridiculous that we have to become benefits experts just to get the correct amount of food assistance, but this thread has given me the knowledge and confidence to fight back. Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences - knowing I'm not alone in this makes such a difference!

Thanks everyone for all the helpful info! I checked my approval letter and my case number does end in 7, which matches up with when I've been getting my benefits. I'll mark the 7th on my calendar each month so I can plan better. This community is so helpful! 😊

Just wanted to add that you can also set up text alerts through your county's EBT system! I get a notification the night before my benefits are deposited, which really helps with meal planning. You can usually sign up for these alerts by calling the customer service number on the back of your EBT card or through your county's online portal. It sends you a message saying something like "Your CalFresh benefits will be available tomorrow" so there's no more guessing or checking your balance at midnight. Really takes the stress out of budgeting when you have that confirmation!