Are CalFresh recipients getting extra benefits loaded for March 2025?
Has anyone heard if they're going to reload our EBT cards with extra benefits for March? My caseworker mentioned something about a seasonal supplement but didn't give details. I'm trying to budget for next month and wondering if we should expect anything additional. Single mom with 2 kids here - every bit helps with groceries being so expensive lately. Our regular benefits barely last 3 weeks anymore with these prices!
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Lucy Lam
i got a text from the county yesterday but didnt open it yet. lemme check
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LordCommander
•Please let me know what it says! I haven't received any texts from them.
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Aidan Hudson
There is no general extra CalFresh reload scheduled for March 2025. The emergency allotments that gave everyone the maximum benefit amount ended back in early 2023. What your caseworker might have been referring to is the seasonal Nutrition Incentive Program that some counties are implementing, which gives extra benefits for buying fresh produce at participating farmers markets and grocery stores. This isn't an automatic reload but requires you to shop at specific locations. Check BenefitsCal for any notifications specific to your case - sometimes they do targeted supplements for certain household situations.
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LordCommander
•Thank you for explaining! That's probably what she meant. Do you know how I can find out which stores participate in this program? I shop at Food 4 Less mostly.
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Zoe Wang
•Honestly I'm so tired of them dangling little extra programs that are so complicated to use. They make it sound like we're getting something special but by the time you figure out the rules and find a participating store, you've spent more on gas than the extra $10 or whatever they give you. Just increase the regular benefits already!!
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Lucy Lam
ok so the text was about my SAR7 being due next month not any extra $. but i did get smthing in january that was extra like $78 randomly. anyone else?
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Connor Richards
•Yes! I got an extra $112 in January - it was a correction because they had miscalculated the utility allowance for the previous quarter. Check your EBT transaction history in the app, it should say what it was for. They never actually told me about it directly, just showed up.
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Grace Durand
I've been trying to reach my caseworker for THREE WEEKS to ask this same question because my family's EBT amount changed in February without explanation (went down by $42). Every time I call, I'm on hold for 45+ minutes before getting disconnected. So frustrating! Has anyone had luck actually speaking to a real person at the county office lately? I need to understand if this is permanent or if there's some extra coming for March to make up for it.
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Steven Adams
•I was stuck in the same situation last month! After wasting hours on hold, I tried this service called Claimyr that got me through to an actual CalFresh worker in about 10 minutes. You can see how it works at https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 - basically they wait on hold for you and call when a real person picks up. I was skeptical but checked out their website claimyr.com and decided to try it when I was desperate about my benefits being cut. Saved me so much stress.
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Alice Fleming
Let me clarify a few things about potential additional benefits for CalFresh in March 2025: 1. There are no statewide emergency allotments anymore. Those ended in 2023. 2. Some counties are offering a Nutrition Incentive benefit where you get a percentage match (usually 50%) when purchasing California-grown fresh fruits and vegetables. This is not automatically loaded but works as a discount at checkout at participating retailers. 3. The CalFresh Restaurant Meals Program expanded in some counties, allowing seniors, disabled, and homeless recipients to use EBT at approved restaurants. This isn't extra money, just more options for spending existing benefits. 4. If your caseworker mentioned a "seasonal supplement," they may be referring to the Farm to Family program that sometimes provides additional produce benefits during harvest seasons. Contact your county office for specifics relevant to your case. Benefit adjustments are household-specific and depend on income, household size, expenses, and deductions.
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LordCommander
•This is so helpful, thank you! Is the Nutrition Incentive the same as Market Match? I think I saw signs for that at a farmers market once but wasn't sure how it worked.
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Alice Fleming
•Yes, Market Match is part of the broader California Nutrition Incentive Program (CNIP). At farmers markets, you can typically get up to $10 extra per visit when you spend your CalFresh benefits. The exact amount varies by location. Most participating markets have a special booth where you swipe your EBT card and receive tokens or vouchers with the bonus amount included.
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Connor Richards
My sister in Riverside County just told me her household got an extra $200 this month because of something called the "Family Stabilization Benefit" - has anyone else heard of this? She said it was because her income dropped recently. I'm in Sacramento County and haven't seen anything like that...
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Alice Fleming
•The Family Stabilization Benefit isn't a standard CalFresh program - it's actually part of CalWORKs (cash aid), not CalFresh. Your sister is likely receiving both programs and may have confused which program provided the additional funds. CalWORKs has several supplemental payments that CalFresh doesn't offer. You should check your eligibility for CalWORKs if your income has decreased significantly.
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Zoe Wang
WHY do they make everything so confusing?? I've been on CalFresh for 3 years and I STILL don't understand half the notices they send. One month I get $375, the next it's $341, then back to $375 with ZERO explanation. Called FOUR TIMES last month and couldn't get past the automated system. It's like they WANT us to give up!!
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Aidan Hudson
•The fluctuations might be due to the way your income is calculated month-to-month. If you're paid biweekly, some months have 5 weeks instead of 4, which can cause your benefit amount to change. Also, utility allowance adjustments happen seasonally. I agree they should explain changes better in the notices though.
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