CalFresh 2025 increased benefits not showing up on EBT - still getting old amount
Just checked my EBT balance this morning and I'm confused about my CalFresh benefit amount. I was getting $439 for my household before the 2025 increase was announced. According to the letter I received last month, my benefits should have gone up to $490 starting this month because of the new COLA adjustments. But when I checked my balance today, it's still showing the old $439 amount! Has anyone else not received their increased benefits yet? Is there a delay with the new rates being applied? I'm counting on that extra $51 for groceries this week...
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CosmicCruiser
Same thing happened to me too! I was supposed to get bumped from $301 to $342 for my household of 2, but my account still shows the old amount. Called the EBT customer service line and after being on hold FOREVER they said something about a "system update delay" and that everyone should see the correct amounts within 5 business days. Hope they're right because I'm tight on grocery money this month.
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Anastasia Fedorov
•thx for sharing ur update, glad its not just me then!!! was worried i did something wrong on my SAR7 or something
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Sean Doyle
There's typically a phase-in period when benefit amounts change. The 2025 COLA adjustments are being implemented across California counties on a rolling basis. Your county office likely sent the letter about the increase before their EBT system was fully updated. The good news is that benefits are almost always backdated when this happens - so even if you don't get the increased amount right away, you should eventually receive the difference retroactively once your county processes the update. Keep your letter as proof of the approved amount. If it's not fixed within 7-10 days, I'd recommend contacting your county office directly.
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Diego Vargas
•Oh that's a relief to hear! So you think I'll get the extra $51 even if it's delayed? I kept the letter just in case. Do you know if they typically add the backpay as a separate deposit or just include it with the next month's benefits?
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Zara Rashid
FYI I JUST talked to my county worker about this EXACT issue. They said their computer system is having problems applying the new 2025 benefit amounts and some counties won't be fully updated until MARCH!!! 😡 But supposedly we WILL get backpay for any months that were at the wrong amount once they fix it. So keep track of what you SHOULD be getting vs what you actually GET each month!!
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Luca Romano
•While there may be delays in system updates, it's important to note that benefit amount changes should apply according to the effective date on your Notice of Action letter. If you're experiencing significant delays, you may want to submit a state hearing request to ensure your rights are protected. The deadline to request a hearing is typically 90 days from the date of the notice.
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Nia Jackson
my sister had this problem last year when they did the benefit increase and she got a lump sum payment like 3 weeks later... just showed up on her card one day
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NebulaNova
If you need to reach your CalFresh worker about this issue, I'd recommend trying Claimyr (claimyr.com). I was having the same problem last month and couldn't get through on the regular county phone lines - kept getting disconnected after waiting 45+ minutes. Claimyr got me connected to an actual worker in about 15 minutes who explained the situation and confirmed I'd get backpay. They have a video that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8. Definitely worth it when you need to get answers quickly about your benefits.
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Diego Vargas
•Thanks for the tip! I've been trying to call my county office all week with no luck. Does this service actually work? I'm a little skeptical of third-party services, but at this point I'm desperate to talk to someone who can fix this.
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NebulaNova
•It really does work - I was skeptical too! They just help you get through the phone system faster. The actual conversation is still directly between you and the county worker. I found it especially helpful because I could request a callback instead of sitting on hold all day.
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Anastasia Fedorov
is anyone else confused about how they calculate the amounts anyway??? like why is it 490 now instead of 439? my worker never explains how they decide how much i get
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Sean Doyle
•The increase from $439 to $490 represents about an 11.6% increase, which aligns with the 2025 COLA (Cost of Living Adjustment) for CalFresh benefits. The exact amount you receive depends on several factors: your household size, countable income, and allowable deductions (like housing costs, childcare expenses, and medical expenses for elderly/disabled household members). The maximum benefit for each household size increases annually based on the USDA's Thrifty Food Plan calculations. If you want to understand your specific calculation, you can request a detailed breakdown from your county worker.
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Mateo Hernandez
When I got my notice about the increase I thought it was a scam at first lol. But then I got my increased amount last week no problem. Maybe it depends on which county you're in? I'm in Alameda.
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Diego Vargas
•I'm in San Bernardino County. Maybe they're rolling it out by county? At least now I know I'm not the only one experiencing this. I'll give it another week before I start making calls.
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CosmicCruiser
UPDATE: Just got my increased amount today! It appeared as a separate deposit on my EBT card labeled "Benefit Adjustment." Check your accounts everyone!
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Diego Vargas
•Just checked - nothing yet on mine. But that gives me hope! I'll keep monitoring my card daily. Thanks for the update!
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