Approved for emergency CalFresh 2 weeks ago but still no EBT card - can I pick one up before the holiday?

definatley go to the office!! same thing happened to me last year. waited 3 weeks for card that never came. wasted time calling. just went to office and they printed me one right there took like 15 min. bring your ID and approval letter if u have it

Yes, you can absolutely go to your county office to get an EBT card issued on the spot. This is actually common when cards don't arrive by mail (which happens more often than it should). Make sure to bring your photo ID and your approval notice if you have it. Your benefits should already be in the system, so once they give you the card, you'll have immediate access to your funds. As for the holiday schedule, most county offices will be open Monday and Tuesday this week, but closed Wednesday through Friday for the holiday. I'd recommend going first thing in the morning tomorrow to avoid long wait times.

I waited almost a month for my card last year! It's so frustrating. The mail system in my neighborhood is terrible though, so maybe that was part of the problem. Good luck getting yours!

Just to add some helpful information: When you go to the office, ask them to check if your card was actually mailed out and when. Sometimes they show as "sent" in their system but never actually get mailed. Also, once you get your card, don't forget you need to call the EBT customer service line to set up your PIN before you can use it. The number will be on a sticker on the card. If you received expedited CalFresh (emergency benefits), those should have been available within 3 days of approval. Your benefits are already in your account waiting for you - you just need the card to access them.

the county offices are THE WORST they probably lost your card or sent it to wrong address, happens all the time. take all your paperwork and dont leave until they give you a card!!

I had a similar issue getting through on the phone lines to check on my missing EBT card. After multiple disconnects, I started using Claimyr to get through to an actual person at the county office. It's this service where they wait on hold for you and then call you when a real person is on the line. Saved me hours of frustration. You can see how it works at claimyr.com or check out their video demo at https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 But definitely go in person if you can! That's the fastest way to get your card right now, especially with the holiday coming up.

question—does anyone know if you can get a replacement EBT at ANY county office or does it have to be the one where you applied? Cuz I work closer to a different county office than my home one

UPDATE: Thank you everyone for your help! I went to my county office this morning and got my EBT card. There was a bit of a line but once I got to the window, it only took about 10 minutes. They said my card had been mailed out but probably got lost. The benefits were already loaded and I set up my PIN right there. So relieved I went before the holiday closure!

So glad you got your card! This is exactly why I always recommend going in person when there are delays. The mail system for EBT cards seems to have issues pretty frequently. Thanks for updating us - it's really helpful for others who might be in the same situation to know that going to the office works and doesn't take too long once you get to the window.