CalFresh Sun Bucks program - confused about which last name they use for alphabetical distribution

i think they go by the case name which is whoever applied for the benefits. so probably your last name. that's how they did it when they sent out those p-ebt cards last year too

Hello! For the Sun Bucks program, they're using the last name of the primary account holder (the person who applied for CalFresh) to determine the distribution schedule. Since you're the primary cardholder, they'll be using Johnson, not Martinez. The alphabetical distribution is just to manage the rollout so everyone doesn't try to access the benefits on the same day. Your kids' last names won't affect when you receive the Sun Bucks benefit.

why are they doing this alphabet thing anyway?? its so stupid. just give everyone the money at the same time instead of making people wait based on their NAME of all things. my last name starts with W so i bet ill be waitng forever while everyone else gets their sun bucks. the whole system is stupid.

Just to clarify some things about the Sun Bucks program, since there seems to be some confusion: 1. Yes, they use the primary case holder's last name (yours - Johnson) for the alphabetical distribution 2. The distribution windows are actually quite short - usually 3-4 day periods for each letter group (A-D, E-H, etc.) 3. If you miss your window, you can still access the benefit after all initial distribution is complete 4. The alphabetical approach helps prevent system crashes that happened with previous benefit releases when everyone tried to access at once If you're having trouble reaching someone at the county to confirm your distribution date, I'd recommend trying Claimyr.com - they can get you through to a live person at the CalFresh office without the endless wait times. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 showing how it works. I used it last month when my recertification was stuck in processing.

my wife's last name is different from mine and we were confused too, but we got our sun bucks according to MY last name because I'm the main person on the calfresh account. they sent a text message the day before our group was eligible.

did anyone else's sun bucks amount seem kinda low? i thought it was supposed to be like $250 per person but mine was way less

I was SO CONFUSED about this too!! I called the county office (took FOREVER to get through) and they confirmed they use the name of whoever is the head of household on the CalFresh case. For me that's my name even though my kids have a different last name. The worker said the alphabetical groups are: A-F (May 10-13), G-M (May 14-17), N-S (May 18-21), and T-Z (May 22-25). After May 25, everyone can access regardless of last name if they somehow missed their window.

As someone who just went through this process, I can confirm what others have said - they definitely use the primary account holder's last name (Johnson in your case) for the alphabetical distribution. I had the same confusion because my stepkids have different last names but are on my CalFresh case. One thing I'd add is that you should make sure your phone number is updated with the county office because they send text notifications about 24-48 hours before your group's window opens. Also, even though the windows are only 3-4 days each, the actual Sun Bucks benefits stay on your EBT card for 30 days once loaded, so you don't have to rush to spend them immediately. Hope this helps ease some of the stress!

I'm new to CalFresh and still figuring out all these programs. This Sun Bucks thing sounds helpful but I'm confused about something - do you have to do anything special to sign up for it or does it automatically get added to your EBT card if you're already getting CalFresh benefits? I don't want to miss out because I didn't know I was supposed to apply separately or something. Also, is this a one-time thing or does it happen regularly? Sorry for all the questions, but the paperwork they send is always so confusing!