Hey Melissa! I just wanted to chime in as another new CalFresh user - I got my card about 2 months ago and had the exact same worries about buying formula for my son. I'm happy to confirm that yes, all baby formula is covered including the expensive specialized ones! I buy Similac Pro-Advance regularly and it works perfectly with EBT. One thing that really helped me overcome the initial anxiety was practicing what I'd say at checkout. I just tell the cashier "I'm using EBT for eligible items" right when I start, and they handle everything from there. Most cashiers are super professional about it and honestly don't even blink - they see EBT cards all day long. Also, if you download the store apps for places like Target or Safeway, you can actually look up products beforehand to confirm they're EBT eligible. It's a great way to feel more prepared before you go shopping. Don't let any anxiety stop you from getting what your baby needs - you qualified for these benefits for a reason and formula is exactly what they're meant to help with! You've got this mama! 🤱

Hi Melissa! Welcome to CalFresh! I just wanted to add my experience as someone who's been using benefits for about 8 months now. Yes, absolutely all baby formula is covered including the specialized hypoallergenic types! I purchase Enfamil Gentlease regularly with my EBT card and have never had any issues. One tip that really helped me when I was first starting out: if you're shopping at stores like Walmart or Target that have grocery pickup, you can place your order online and they'll automatically separate EBT-eligible items from non-eligible ones during checkout. This was super helpful when I was still learning what was covered and feeling nervous about in-store purchases. You just drive up, they load your groceries, and you pay with your EBT card through their terminal - no awkward checkout interactions at all! Also, don't forget that you can use your EBT card at farmers markets too if you want fresh produce. Many of them have programs that match your EBT spending which stretches your benefits even further. You're doing great by asking these questions and making sure your baby gets the nutrition he needs. That's exactly what these programs are designed for! Best of luck with everything! 🌟

glad u figured it out! this stuff is confusing af sometimes

So glad you got it sorted out! This is actually a really common confusion - the term "extra benefits" can mean different things. When your income decreases, the increased benefit amount gets calculated into your regular monthly deposit, not as a separate payment. For future reference, you can always check your benefit calculation on your county portal or the latest notice they sent you - it should show the breakdown of how they calculated your new amount. Hope the increased benefits help with feeding your family!

I went through something similar a few months ago! After recertification, my benefits were delayed by about 3 days from my usual date. What helped me was calling the EBT customer service line (1-877-328-9677) - they can tell you the exact status of your benefits and when they're scheduled to load, even if your caseworker isn't available. Also, if you're really in a bind for groceries, some food banks don't require you to wait for your CalFresh benefits and can help bridge the gap. I had to use one when my benefits were delayed and I had nothing left in my pantry. The 211 helpline (just dial 2-1-1) can connect you with local food resources if needed. Hope your benefits show up soon! The uncertainty is always stressful when you're counting on them for groceries.

I work at a county eligibility office and can shed some light on this! After recertification, your benefit date can definitely change if you get assigned a new case number. This happens more often than people realize - usually when there are system updates or when we need to correct errors in the original case setup. The good news is that once your new schedule is established, it should stay consistent going forward. Your benefits will load based on the last digit of your NEW case number, not your old one. So if your old case number ended in 6 (benefits on the 6th) but your new one ends in 9, you'll now get benefits on the 9th. As for timing, benefits typically start processing around 11:30 PM the night before your scheduled date and are usually available by 6 AM on your actual date. System maintenance can sometimes delay this until mid-morning, but it's rare. Pro tip: Your approval notice should show your case number - check the last digit to confirm your new benefit date! If you're still unsure, calling the EBT customer service line is faster than trying to reach your caseworker.

This is such valuable information - thank you everyone for sharing your experiences! I'm new to this community and haven't had to deal with stolen benefits before, but reading through all these responses makes me feel much more prepared in case it ever happens to me. A couple questions based on what I've read: When you withdraw the cash benefits from an ATM, are there any fees like with regular bank withdrawals? And does anyone know if you can use the cash benefits portion to pay bills online or does it only work for in-person purchases and ATM withdrawals? Also wanted to say how helpful it is that people mentioned specific details like listening to the full automated message and the 90-day expiration rule - those are the kinds of important details that caseworkers sometimes forget to mention but can make a huge difference!

I'm so sorry this happened to you! I went through the exact same thing about 6 months ago and it's such a frustrating experience. Everyone here has given you excellent advice, but I wanted to add one more thing that really helped me. When you do get your cash benefits back, I'd recommend taking a screenshot or photo of your balance right away showing both the food and cash amounts. I did this and it saved me later when there was a discrepancy in my account - having that proof made it much easier to resolve with customer service. Also, just to give you some peace of mind: in my experience, the reimbursement usually shows up faster than they tell you. My caseworker said it could take up to 10 business days but mine appeared after only 5 days. Keep checking your balance every couple of days! The whole system is definitely confusing (why they make stolen benefit replacements work differently than regular CalFresh is beyond me), but at least California does reimburse stolen benefits which not all states do. Hang in there - you should have your money back soon!

I'm new to this community and to CalFresh (just got approved last week), and this thread has been incredibly eye-opening! Reading Connor's experience gave me chills because I can totally see myself making the same mistake with my PIN and panicking when I can't access my benefits. I had no idea there was a separate EBT customer service line - I literally thought you had to go through the county office for everything! I'm so grateful everyone shared their real experiences and solutions instead of just empty sympathy. I've already saved that 1-877-328-9677 number in my phone and screenshotted all the verification tips. It's scary how something as simple as entering your PIN wrong can become such a crisis when those benefits are what's keeping you fed. Connor, I'm so relieved you got it sorted out quickly! Thank you to everyone who took the time to share practical advice - this is exactly the kind of community support that makes navigating these overwhelming government systems so much less terrifying for people like me who are just starting out.

This entire thread has been such a lifesaver to read! I'm brand new to both this community and CalFresh (literally just got my card yesterday), and Connor's situation was exactly what I was worried about happening to me. I had no idea there was a separate EBT customer service number - I thought you had to go through the county office for absolutely everything! Reading everyone's real experiences and practical solutions has been so much more helpful than any official government website. I'm definitely saving that 1-877-328-9677 number and all the identity verification tips right now. It's terrifying how something as simple as forgetting your PIN can turn into a food crisis when you're relying on these benefits. Connor, I'm so glad you got everything sorted out quickly! Thank you to everyone who shared their knowledge and experiences - this is exactly the kind of community support that makes these overwhelming government systems feel less scary for newcomers like me. I feel so much more prepared now knowing what to do if I ever run into EBT issues!