California CalFresh

Has the composition of your household changed at all? Even something like a household member turning a different age can sometimes affect the calculation. Also, did you recently receive any retroactive benefits from another program like SSI or Social Security? Sometimes that can trigger small adjustments.

I went through something similar a few months ago and it turned out to be related to the Maximum Allotment adjustments that happen federally. What helped me was calling my county office and asking them to walk through the benefit calculation step by step - they can see exactly what changed between your last issuance and this one. Also, if you have dependents, sometimes there are small changes to the dependent deductions that aren't always obvious. The $7 difference sounds frustrating but it's likely one of those automatic system adjustments everyone mentioned. Definitely worth getting the explanation though so you know what to expect going forward!

I went through this exact same situation last year when I moved from LA to San Bernardino County! Here's what worked for me: Call LA County as soon as you have your new address confirmed (even before you physically move). I called about 3 weeks before my move date and they started the ICT process right away. The key is getting it initiated early. Also, ask them to send you a confirmation letter or email about the transfer request - this saved me when Riverside claimed they never received my case info. Having that documentation helped resolve the issue quickly. One tip that really helped: I also called Riverside County directly about a week after LA said they initiated the transfer, just to confirm they were expecting my case. The worker there was actually super helpful and walked me through what to expect on their end. Your benefits should continue seamlessly during the transfer, but definitely keep checking your EBT balance regularly just to make sure everything is flowing properly. Good luck with the move - Perris is a great area!

Just wanted to add one more thing that might help - if you're planning to use the Claimyr service that @Lily Young mentioned, I'd recommend trying it sooner rather than later. LA County's phone lines get especially busy at the beginning and end of each month when people are dealing with benefit renewals and issues. Also, since you mentioned you have kids, make sure to ask about WIC benefits too if you're currently receiving those. WIC transfers work differently than CalFresh and you might need to visit a WIC office in Riverside County within 30 days of your move to avoid any gaps in services. The stress of moving with kids while managing benefits is real, but it sounds like you're being really proactive about planning ahead. That's going to make all the difference!

does anyone know if p-ebt benefits expire? found old card from 2023 and wondering if money still on there??

I went through this exact same situation last year! When I moved, I updated my address with CalFresh immediately but forgot to update it with the school district. My P-EBT card ended up going to my old address and it was such a hassle to get it sorted out. The key thing is that P-EBT primarily pulls address info from the school system, not CalFresh. Since you updated both places, you should be in good shape! But definitely call that P-EBT hotline number that Sean mentioned (877-328-9677) just to double-check. When I called, they were able to confirm my kids were in the system and verify the address they had on file. Also, keep an eye on your mail around the time they're supposed to be distributed. If it doesn't show up within a week or two of when other families in your area are getting theirs, call immediately. The sooner you catch any address issues, the easier they are to fix. Good luck!

Glad you got it resolved! Another tip: in the EBT Mobile app, there's a setting to enable fingerprint/face login that makes it more reliable. Go to Profile > Security Settings to set it up. That way even if you forget your password, you can still get in with your biometrics.

Wow, what a stressful situation! I'm so glad you were able to get it resolved quickly. This exact same thing happened to my sister a few months ago - she accidentally locked her card thinking she lost it, then panicked when she couldn't unlock it at the store. It's such a relief to know that the phone system actually works when the app fails. I'm definitely saving that customer service number in my phone now just in case. Thanks for sharing your experience - it's really helpful to know what to do if this happens to any of us!

Has she checked if she's eligible for expedited benefits while waiting for the claim? If she has less than $150 income and less than $100 in resources she might qualify for emergency CalFresh that she could get within 3 days. Totally different process from the theft claim but might help with immediate food needs.

This is heartbreaking - I'm so sorry your sister is going through this. I had my CalFresh benefits stolen in Sacramento last month ($520 taken through fraudulent ATM withdrawals) and it took 19 days to get them back. Here's what I learned from the experience: definitely file the police report (which she did), but also make sure she has the report number written down for every call to the county. I found that mentioning I had already filed a police report seemed to move things along faster. Also, if she hasn't already, have her call the Kern County Human Services office directly at (661) 631-6000 and ask specifically for the "EBT fraud claims unit" - don't just use the general EBT customer service line. The county workers have more power to expedite things than the EBT customer service reps. Hang in there, and please keep us updated on how long it takes for her claim to be processed!