I turned in my sar7 and it's still being reviewed!?!? I was supposed to get my food stamps today ..I called the 800 number to my county and it's saying EBT is active but won't get my food stamps til November...is anyone else dealing with such chaos ? Yop it off I never got a notice of action

I'm new to this community and this situation is exactly what brought me here - my CalFresh benefits that normally deposit on the 12th still haven't shown up and I was getting really worried. Reading through everyone's experiences has been such a huge relief because I thought maybe my case got closed or something went wrong on my end. It's incredibly frustrating that there's a system-wide issue but no official communication about it to recipients. We shouldn't have to rely on community forums to figure out what's happening with our food assistance! Thank you to everyone who shared resources like Claimyr and information about emergency issuance - I had no idea those options existed. I'm definitely going to try calling tomorrow using some of these suggestions. It's really unfortunate that this is how I'm getting introduced to the community, but I'm grateful for how supportive and helpful everyone has been in sharing practical solutions when the official channels have failed us.

One thing I learned from my case worker that might help others - if you're consistently running out of benefits before your issuance date, you can request an earlier benefit date when you do your recertification. They assign dates based on your case number, but if you can show that an earlier date would help you budget better (like if you get paid mid-month), they can sometimes adjust it. Not all counties do this, but it's worth asking about. Also, if you're working and your income fluctuates, make sure to report any changes - sometimes a small decrease in hours can actually increase your benefit amount significantly.

As someone new to CalFresh, this whole thread has been incredibly helpful! I just got approved last week and my first benefit date is coming up on the 15th. I was stressing about the timing since I wasn't sure when exactly the benefits would be available. It sounds like checking the BenefitsCal app after midnight is the way to go, and knowing it could take up to 2-6am gives me realistic expectations. Also really appreciate all the tips about food pantries, requesting different benefit dates, and making sure I'm getting all the deductions I'm eligible for. This community is amazing - thank you all for sharing your experiences and helping newcomers like me navigate the system!

I'm a night shift pharmacy tech (11pm-7am) and this thread is a lifesaver! I've been having this exact same problem for about 2 months now. My card works fine during regular hours, but gets declined every time I try to shop after my shift ends at 7am. I called once and they said they "fixed it" but clearly didn't remove all the blocks based on what everyone is sharing here. What's really helpful is seeing how many different types of restrictions there actually are - I had no idea it was this complicated! I'm going to call back this week and specifically ask about ALL the different blocks: time restrictions, fraud monitoring, velocity limits, geographic restrictions, and unusual activity flags. And I'm definitely asking for a supervisor right away like several people suggested. It's honestly ridiculous that night shift workers have to become experts on EBT security systems just to buy groceries during our only available hours, but at least now I know exactly what to ask for. Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences and solutions!

I'm a night shift security officer (9pm-5am) and this thread has been absolutely invaluable! I've been struggling with this exact same issue for about 4 months now. What's really frustrating is that I called EBT customer service twice and each time they assured me the "block was removed," but my card still gets declined every time I try to shop at 5:30am after my shift. Reading through everyone's experiences here, I now realize the customer service reps were probably only addressing one type of restriction while leaving others active. It's honestly shocking how many different security layers can prevent us from accessing our own benefits during overnight hours! I'm planning to call back this Friday and I'm going to be super specific about requesting removal of ALL these restrictions: time-of-day blocks, fraud monitoring during overnight hours, transaction velocity limits, geographic fraud prevention, and any suspicious activity flags. I'm also going to ask for a supervisor right away and make sure they actually verify in their system that ALL blocks are removed, not just noted. Thank you to everyone who shared their specific solutions - this community knowledge is way more helpful than anything I've gotten through official channels!

I just wanted to share another option that's worked well for me - many Navy Federal Credit Union ATMs are also surcharge-free for EBT withdrawals, and they're pretty common in California. You don't need to be a member to use their ATMs. Also, I've found that some 99 Cent stores and Food 4 Less locations offer cash back with no fees, which is great when you need smaller amounts. One thing I learned recently is that you can actually call ahead to stores to ask if they offer cash back with EBT purchases - saves you from finding out at the register that they don't. The customer service reps are usually happy to check for you, and it's helped me plan my errands better. Hope this helps anyone still looking for more options!

I'm also new to this and wanted to add that some FoodMaxx and Smart & Final stores do cash back with EBT purchases too! I was surprised to learn this since they're smaller chains. Also, if you're ever near an Indian Health Service clinic or tribal health center, many of them have credit union ATMs on-site that are surcharge-free. One thing that's really helped me is keeping a small notebook in my wallet with addresses of the free ATMs I've found - that way I don't have to rely on my phone battery or data when I'm out. The apps are great but sometimes having a backup list written down has saved me when technology fails!

UPDATE: I wanted to let everyone know what's happened. I tried calling the county office all morning yesterday with no luck. Finally used that Claimyr service someone mentioned, and they got me through to an Emergency Response worker! The worker took all our info and said we qualify for temporary housing assistance while our full CalWORKs application is processed. They're sending us paperwork today and said we might be able to get help with the hotel for up to 16 days while we look for something permanent. They're also connecting us with a housing navigator who can help us find an apartment that will work with our budget. I'm still stressed but at least feel like we have some options now. Thank you all for your advice!

So glad you got the help you needed! This is a perfect example of why it's worth trying multiple approaches when dealing with these systems. The fact that you got connected with both temporary assistance AND a housing navigator is huge - that combination gives you the best shot at transitioning from emergency help to stable housing. For anyone else reading this who might be in a similar situation, Keisha's experience shows that persistence pays off. Don't give up after the first few failed phone calls. And definitely document everything like others suggested - having proof of your emergency situation really does make a difference when you finally get to talk to the right person. Hoping the housing navigator helps you find something affordable and safe for your family. You've got this!