Anyone received the January 2025 CalFresh emergency allotment yet?
Has anyone gotten their extra CalFresh allotment for this month yet? My regular benefits came through on the 10th like always, but I thought the emergency supplement was supposed to hit our EBT cards by the 15th. It's already the 18th and nothing's showing up when I check my balance. The county sent a text saying something about 'distribution delays' but didn't say how long. My family is counting on this extra amount - we've got three kids and groceries are crazy expensive right now. Anyone else still waiting or did y'all get yours already?
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Emma Wilson
The January 2025 emergency allotment schedule got pushed back. I just checked the CalFresh website yesterday and there's a notice saying they're releasing them in batches between the 18th-25th based on case number. They're doing it alphabetically by last name this time. You should get yours within the next week depending on where your last name falls in the alphabet. They're doing A-M first, then N-Z.
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Javier Mendoza
•Thx for the info! Didn't see anything about alphabetical order when I checked my account. My last name starts with W so guess I'll be waiting til the end. Really wish they'd stick to one consistent schedule.
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Malik Davis
wait theres an emergency amount?? i just get my regular calworks deposit on the 1st. did i miss something?
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Emma Wilson
•CalWORKS and CalFresh are different programs. The emergency allotment is only for CalFresh (food stamps), not for CalWORKS (cash aid). If you receive CalFresh in addition to CalWORKS, you should also get the emergency allotment. Check your EBT card balance separately from your cash benefits to see if you've received it.
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Isabella Santos
I got mine yesterday actually! They loaded $397 extra which is a huge help. Check after midnight tonight - they seem to be loading them overnight based on my experience.
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Ravi Gupta
•That's incorrect information. The emergency allotments are not being distributed based on time of day but according to the schedule based on last names as mentioned above. Please don't spread misinformation that could confuse people. The amount each household receives varies based on household size and regular benefit amount - the supplement brings everyone up to the maximum for their household size. Also, you can check the BenefitsCal portal for accurate information about your specific case rather than relying on general statements in forums.
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GalacticGuru
THIS IS RIDICULOUS!! They ALWAYS do this! First they say one date then change it without proper notification. I've been waiting since the 10th too, and my kids are hungry NOW, not whenever they decide to get around to it. My caseworker never responds to messages and the phone line just hangs up after 45 minutes on hold. How are we supposed to budget when they keep changing the dates??!!
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Freya Pedersen
•I feel your frustration! Have you tried using Claimyr to get through to a CalFresh representative? It saved me hours of wait time last month when I had an issue with my benefits not loading correctly. They call the county office for you and connect you when a live person answers. I watched their demo video (https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8) and was skeptical but it actually worked. The website is claimyr.com if you want to check it out. At least you could get a straight answer about your specific situation instead of relying on the general info.
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Omar Fawaz
I just received my emergency allotment this morning. I'm in Los Angeles County, and my last name begins with D. As others have mentioned, they appear to be distributing them alphabetically this month. The policy bulletin on the CalFresh website indicates this is a temporary change to their distribution method due to the system update they implemented last month. Beginning in February 2025, they should return to the regular schedule with emergency allotments deposited between the 10th-15th regardless of last name.
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Javier Mendoza
•Thanks for the detailed info! At least it's good to know they'll go back to normal next month. Did you get the full amount you were expecting?
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Malik Davis
guys i just checked and mine came thru!! last name starts with B so guess that alphabet thing is true
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GalacticGuru
•UGH of course... I have to wait because my last name starts with T. So unfair they're making some families wait longer than others!
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Isabella Santos
Btw my cousin had to call about her benefits last month and they told her the emrgency allotments are gonna stop in April 2025. Did anyone else hear this??
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Emma Wilson
•Yes, this is accurate information. The emergency allotments were originally tied to the public health emergency declaration, but California secured additional funding to extend them through April 2025. After that, benefits will return to the standard calculation based on household income, expenses, and deductions. It's important for all CalFresh recipients to prepare for this change. Make sure you're reporting all allowable deductions on your SAR7 and recertification forms (like childcare costs, medical expenses for elderly/disabled household members, and housing costs) to maximize your regular benefit amount.
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