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Just wanted to add that while you're waiting for your replacement card, make sure to keep checking your old card balance online or through the app in case it somehow turns up during your move! I thought I lost mine once and found it wedged between some boxes weeks later. The balance will still be there even after they deactivate it if you find the physical card, but you'd need to call them to reactivate it instead of waiting for the replacement. Hope your new card arrives quickly!
That's actually really good advice! I never thought about the card potentially still working if I find it later. I'm definitely going to keep looking through all my moving boxes just in case. Do you happen to know if there's a fee for reactivating the old card if I find it, or would they just cancel the replacement request?
I just went through this exact same situation last month! The stress is real when you're counting on those benefits. One thing that helped me while waiting for my replacement was calling ahead to stores to ask if they had any technical issues with EBT systems that day - saved me a few trips when the new card finally arrived. Also, if you have multiple kids on the P-EBT program, make sure to mention all of them when you call so they can consolidate everything onto one replacement card. The customer service rep initially only processed one of my kids and I had to call back. Good luck with everything!
That's such a helpful tip about calling stores ahead of time! I never would have thought of that. And wow, I'm glad you mentioned the multiple kids thing - I have two children who both get P-EBT benefits and I definitely want to make sure they consolidate everything onto one card. When I called this morning I only mentioned my oldest, so I should probably call back to make sure they have both kids' information. Thanks for sharing your experience!
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Thank you all so much for the advice! We're going to try this plan: 1. She'll apply for WIC this week (already made appointment) 2. She'll apply for the Pregnant Woman Only CalWORKs program and specifically ask for that 3. Once she gets CalWORKs, apply for CalFresh as a separate household I'll let you know how it goes. Really grateful for all the detailed explanations about these confusing rules!
Great plan! One more thing - when she gets to her third trimester, she might qualify for the CalFresh expedited services (getting benefits within 3 days) if she meets certain financial criteria. So be sure to ask about that when applying once she has her CalWORKs set up. Good luck!
Just wanted to add that if she runs into any issues with the CalWORKs application, she can also contact her local legal aid organization. Many counties have advocates who specialize in helping people navigate benefit applications, especially for pregnant women. They know all the rules and can sometimes even attend appointments with you or make calls on your behalf. In my experience, having an advocate involved really speeds things up and makes sure workers apply the correct policies. Also, keep copies of everything - applications, denials, approvals - because these cases can get complicated and you might need to reference things later!
This is such valuable advice about legal aid! I didn't know they could actually attend appointments with you. Do you happen to know if there's a specific way to find these advocates? Like is there a directory or do you just call the county directly? My cousin is pretty shy and gets overwhelmed easily, so having someone who knows the system help her through this process would be amazing. She's already stressed enough with the pregnancy complications and losing her job.
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Hi Bucky! As someone who recently moved to California and started receiving CalFresh benefits, I've been following this thread with great interest - your question is one I've had myself! From everything I've read here and my own experience calling my local office a few weeks ago, it does seem like California's ABAWD waiver is still active through January 2026. When I spoke with an eligibility worker about my own situation, they confirmed the waiver was in place and mentioned that California has been committed to maintaining it given the ongoing economic challenges many people face. What I found really helpful during my call was being specific about my concerns, similar to what you're asking here. The worker was able to walk me through exactly what my current requirements were and what documentation I'd need for future recertifications. Everyone's advice about getting official confirmation directly from your local CalFresh office is spot-on. I was initially nervous about calling, but the staff were really patient and knowledgeable. Having your case number ready definitely helps speed up the process too. This community has been such an incredible resource for someone new to navigating these systems - the collective knowledge and willingness to help is amazing. Best of luck with your recertification next month!
Thank you @Zara Mirza for sharing your recent experience! It s'really reassuring to hear from someone who just called their local office and got confirmation about the waiver status. Your point about being specific with concerns is great advice - it sounds like that really helped you get the detailed information you needed. @22763747c065 This entire discussion has been so valuable! As someone who s'also new to California s'CalFresh system, I m'amazed by how much collective wisdom this community has. The consistent message from everyone seems to be that the ABAWD waiver is still in place, but calling for official confirmation is definitely the smart approach for your recertification. I m'also grateful to learn from everyone s'positive experiences calling their local offices. As a newcomer, I was honestly a bit intimidated by the idea of calling government offices, but hearing so many people describe helpful and patient eligibility workers makes me feel much more confident about reaching out when I have questions about my own benefits. This thread is a perfect example of why community support matters so much when navigating these important systems. Thank you to everyone for being so generous with sharing your knowledge and experiences!
Hi Bucky! As someone who's also relatively new to California's CalFresh system, I really appreciate you asking this question - it's something that affects so many of us! From all the helpful responses in this thread, it sounds like California's ABAWD waiver is indeed still active and set to continue through January 2026 as originally planned. The community knowledge here is really impressive, and everyone's consistent advice about calling your local CalFresh office for official confirmation makes total sense, especially with your recertification coming up. What I find encouraging is how many people have shared positive experiences with eligibility workers being patient and helpful when answering these kinds of policy questions. As someone who's still learning to navigate these systems, that gives me confidence to reach out when I have my own questions. I'd echo the suggestions about having your case number ready when you call, and asking not just about current requirements but also about any advance notice they'll provide before the waiver expires in 2026. It sounds like being proactive with these questions - like you're doing now - really pays off. This thread has been incredibly educational for me too. Thanks for starting such an important discussion, and best of luck with your recertification next month!
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Reading through this entire thread as a new community member has been so educational! @Dmitry Petrov, I'm thrilled you got your card activated and could feed your family today - what a relief that must have been after such a long wait for approval. I just wanted to add one more tip for anyone else who might find this thread: if you're ever at a store and your EBT card isn't working, don't be afraid to step aside and call that customer service number (1-877-328-9677) right from the store. I've had to do this a couple times when there were technical issues, and the representatives can often troubleshoot the problem immediately or at least tell you if there's a system-wide outage. Most stores are understanding about EBT technical difficulties. This community is absolutely amazing - seeing everyone share their experiences and practical tips shows what a supportive space this is for people navigating CalFresh. As someone still learning the ropes myself, threads like this are incredibly valuable. Welcome to the program, Dmitry, and don't hesitate to ask if you run into any other questions! 💙
@Hugh Intensity That s'such practical advice about calling customer service from the store if there are technical issues! I never would have thought of doing that, but it makes perfect sense - getting help in real-time when problems come up could save so much hassle. As a complete newcomer to both this community and CalFresh, I m'honestly overwhelmed by how much helpful information everyone has shared in this thread. It s'like getting a masterclass in all the things they don t'tell you in the official paperwork! @Dmitry Petrov, your original question has created such a valuable resource for other families who will inevitably go through the same activation confusion. Thank you to everyone for being so welcoming to newcomers and creating such a supportive environment where we can learn from each other s'experiences! 🙏
What an incredible thread to read as someone brand new to this community! @Dmitry Petrov, I'm so relieved you got your card activated and were able to get groceries for your family today. As a newcomer who just applied for CalFresh myself, this whole conversation has been like a step-by-step guide for what to expect when my card arrives. I had no idea about the activation requirement - honestly, the paperwork makes it sound like you can just start using the card immediately. Reading everyone's similar experiences makes me feel so much better about potentially making the same mistake! I'm definitely saving that customer service number (1-877-328-9677) in my phone right now and bookmarking this thread for reference. The tips about testing with a small purchase first, downloading the ebtEDGE app, checking balances online at ebt.ca.gov, and even using benefits at farmers markets - this is all information I never would have found anywhere else. This community is absolutely amazing for sharing real-world practical advice that actually helps families navigate these systems successfully. Thank you to everyone for creating such a welcoming, judgment-free space where people can ask questions and learn from each other. As someone still waiting for approval, seeing this level of support gives me so much confidence that I'll have help figuring things out when my time comes! 🙏
Luca Bianchi
Just to provide official information: The 2025 CalFresh COLA (Cost of Living Adjustment) takes effect on March 1st, 2025. The maximum monthly allotment for a household of 2 will increase from $439 to $492 (not $490, there's a slight difference). Your February issuance was correct at the 2024 rate. Regarding children under 6: The SNAC program provides supplemental nutrition benefits for young children in CalFresh households. Your nephew should automatically qualify if he's been properly added to your case. The benefit amount is approximately $77/month per eligible child under 6 and should appear as an additional deposit on your regular EBT card (not a separate card like the old P-EBT program used). I recommend checking your next deposit in March. If you don't see both the increased base amount AND the additional SNAC benefit for your nephew, contact your county office for assistance.
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GalacticGuardian
•Wait so it's actually $492 not $490? My worker definitely said $490. Why can't they all get their information straight?? This is so frustrating.
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Luca Bianchi
•Yes, the exact amount is $492. Sometimes workers round numbers when speaking with clients, or they might have been looking at outdated information before the final rates were published. The difference is only $2, but you're right that accuracy is important. The official benefit charts should be available on your county's website if you want to verify the exact amounts.
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Diego Rojas
Thanks everyone for clarifying this! I'm new to CalFresh and just got approved last month, so I'm still learning how everything works. My first deposit was only $219 for just myself (household of 1) and I was wondering if that would go up in March too. From what I'm reading here, it sounds like all the benefit amounts increase with the COLA adjustment, not just the higher household sizes. Is that right? Also, I'm really glad I found this community - navigating all the CalFresh rules and timing has been confusing and you all seem to have way more accurate information than what I got from my county worker during orientation!
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Ella rollingthunder87
•Welcome to CalFresh and to the community! Yes, you're absolutely right - the COLA adjustment applies to all household sizes, including single-person households. Your benefit should increase from $219 to approximately $233 starting with your March deposit (the exact amount might vary slightly based on your specific circumstances). And I totally agree about this community being helpful! When I first started, I was so confused about timing, deposit dates, recertification requirements - you name it. The people here have been a lifesaver for getting straight answers when county workers sometimes give conflicting info. Don't hesitate to ask questions as they come up!
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