Did you ever resolve this? Please update us on what worked! Others will likely have the same problem in the future.

So glad to hear you got it sorted out! This is exactly why I always tell people to go in person when possible - they can fix address errors and print cards immediately instead of waiting weeks for mail delivery. Thanks for updating us with the resolution, it'll definitely help other parents in similar situations know that the emergency card option really works!

Yes! Thank you for checking back. I went to the county office yesterday after calling them first. I had to wait about 2 hours, but they were able to print a temporary card for me that will work until the permanent one arrives. So relieved! For anyone else reading this with the same problem - definitely go in person if you can, it's much faster than waiting for mail!

That's such great news that you got the temporary card! Two hours is a long wait but totally worth it when you have kids to feed. I'm bookmarking this thread because the advice about going in person for emergency cards is gold - I had no idea that was even possible. Thanks for updating us on how it turned out!

I'm new to this community but experiencing the exact same mail delivery issues! My mail has been incredibly spotty - some days nothing arrives, then I'll get a week's worth of mail all at once. I have one child who qualifies for P-EBT through the school lunch program and I've been really stressed about missing the card. After reading through all these helpful responses, I'm definitely going to try calling the P-EBT hotline at 8am tomorrow since that seems to be the most successful time to get through. I had no idea that P-EBT was completely separate from regular CalFresh - that explains why I was so confused when my address update through BenefitsCal didn't seem to matter! I'm also going to check with my local post office since they've been having staffing issues too. It's such a relief to find other parents dealing with the same challenges and sharing practical solutions that actually work. Thank you everyone for making this stressful process feel less overwhelming!

I'm new to this community but dealing with the exact same P-EBT and mail delivery issues! My mail carrier has been super inconsistent lately - sometimes skipping our block entirely, other times delivering mail that's clearly weeks old. I have two kids who qualify through their school's free lunch program and I've been so worried about missing their cards or having them delivered to the wrong address. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly helpful, especially learning about the 8am calling strategy that seems to work best for getting through to the hotline. I had no idea that P-EBT was completely separate from regular CalFresh - that explains why I was so confused when updating my address in BenefitsCal didn't seem to affect anything! I'm definitely going to try calling 877-328-9677 first thing tomorrow morning and also check with my local post office since they've been having major staffing shortages too. It's such a relief to find other parents navigating the same challenges and sharing solutions that actually work. Thank you all for making this stressful process feel much more manageable!

This thread has been so helpful! I'm dealing with a similar situation with my elderly mother who has mobility issues. One thing I wanted to add is that some McDonald's locations in Sacramento do participate in RMP, but you have to specifically ask for a manager because regular employees often don't know about it. The one on Florin Road near 65th Street definitely accepts it - I used it there last week without any issues. Also, for anyone struggling with the phone system, I've found that calling right when they open (8 AM) gives you the best chance of getting through. The lines get jammed later in the day. And if you do get through, ask them to email you the vendor list instead of mailing it - it's faster and you can save it on your phone to reference when you're out. One last tip: some participating restaurants will have a small "EBT Accepted" sticker near their entrance or register, but it's not always obvious. Don't be afraid to ask before ordering - most places are understanding about it, especially if you explain it's for the Restaurant Meals Program.

This has been such an informative thread! I'm also caring for my disabled uncle (71) who just moved here from out of state. Reading all these experiences makes me feel less alone in navigating this confusing system. A few things I've learned that might help others: 1. If you have a smartphone, taking a photo of the "CAN BUY PREPARED MEALS" text on the EBT card can help show cashiers who aren't familiar with RMP - I've had to do this twice already. 2. The Dollar Tree on Broadway surprisingly has a hot food section that accepts EBT for prepared meals - not fancy but cheap and convenient. 3. For anyone with transportation issues, some Uber Eats and DoorDash drivers will let you pay with EBT at pickup if you order from participating RMP restaurants, though you have to call the restaurant directly to arrange this. The inconsistency is definitely the worst part - my uncle was so embarrassed after being turned away that he didn't want to try anywhere else for weeks. But seeing all the success stories here gives me hope we'll find more reliable options. Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences and tips!

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!

This is such a helpful thread! I'm dealing with something similar right now - my benefits got cut off last month and I had no idea about the 30-day restoration rule. Just wanted to add that if anyone is having trouble downloading forms from BenefitsCal, you can also pick them up at any county office or sometimes at local food banks. My local food pantry actually had copies of the SAR7 form and helped me fill it out correctly. Also, @Geoff Richards glad to hear you got it sorted out! The text reminder option sounds really useful.