CalFresh TFS benefits missing - anyone else not get the extra amount in June 2025?
I've been receiving Transitional Food Stamps (TFS) for about 3 months now after reporting my new job. My regular benefits have been consistent ($345) but I was also getting an extra $75 supplement that usually hits my EBT card on the 15th of each month. Today's the 15th and I checked my balance - regular amount is there but no extra payment! I'm counting on that money for fresh produce for my kids. Could my TFS status be why the supplement is missing? Has anyone else had this problem this month? I tried calling the county office but got disconnected after waiting 45 minutes. 😭😭
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Mei Chen
same here! no extra payment 4 me either and i NEED it for my baby formula. my tfs is supposed to last 5 months and this is month 4 so idk whats happening
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Jamal Thompson
•Ugh, at least I'm not alone. How long did you wait to transition to regular CalFresh? I'm supposed to reapply next month and I'm worried this means there's a problem with my case already.
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CosmicCadet
The supplement you're referring to sounds like the CalFresh Nutrition Assistance Program supplement (CNAP) that California implemented in 2024. This is separate from your Transitional Food Stamps benefits. According to BenefitsCal notifications, there was a delay in processing the June CNAP payments due to a system update. They should be deposited by the 18th instead of the 15th this month. Your TFS status shouldn't affect this supplement as long as you're an active CalFresh recipient.
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Liam O'Connor
•is this gonna happen every month now?? nobody tells us anything! i hate how they just change stuff without warning
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CosmicCadet
•Based on the notification, this is a one-time delay for the system update, not a permanent change to the issuance schedule. You can verify this by checking your BenefitsCal account messages or calling your county office. The CNAP supplement is funded through December 2025, so it should continue through then unless the legislature extends it.
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Amara Adeyemi
This happened to me TWICE last year with the extra payment. Everyone at the county office gave me different answers. One worker said it was a glitch, another said I wasn't eligible that month (which made NO sense), and another said it would be added to next month's payment (it wasn't). I finally got through to a supervisor who fixed it and backpaid me. I've found that using Claimyr (claimyr.com) is the ONLY way to actually get through to a real person at the CalFresh office without wasting your whole day. They call and wait on hold for you, then connect you when a worker picks up. Saved me hours of frustration! They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8
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Jamal Thompson
•Thank you for this! I've literally been trying to get through for two days straight. I'll check this out if my payment doesn't show up by the 18th like the other commenter mentioned.
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Giovanni Gallo
Just to clarify - Transitional Food Stamps (TFS) and the CNAP supplement are two completely different things. TFS is the 5-month benefit you get after reporting increased income that would normally make you ineligible, giving you time to adjust financially. The CNAP is the extra payment ALL CalFresh recipients get regardless of their specific program type. You should definitely receive both. The CNAP supplement is just delayed this month as mentioned above. But if you only have 1 month left on your TFS, make sure you submit your recertification application through BenefitsCal at least 15 days before your certification period ends to avoid any gap in benefits.
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Jamal Thompson
•Oh that makes sense! So I should still get the extra payment, just a few days late. And yes, I've already started gathering my income verification for the recertification. Do I need to submit a new SAWS 2 or can I just do the recertification online?
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Giovanni Gallo
•You can do the full recertification online through BenefitsCal - it's basically submitting a new SAWS 2 electronically. Make sure you have your last 30 days of pay stubs, any verification of childcare expenses (these are deductible), and rent/utility information ready to upload. The system will tell you exactly what documents you need to provide based on your answers.
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Fatima Al-Mazrouei
wait i thought transitional food stamps meant you GET LESS not more?????? my worker said i would get LESS when i reported my job last month and now im so confused!!!!!!!
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Dylan Wright
•There's often confusion about this. Transitional Food Stamps (TFS) isn't about getting more or less - it's about getting a stable benefit amount for 5 months when your income changes. The amount is usually based on what you received the month before reporting the change, without counting the new income. So it could be more than what you'd get if they calculated with your new income, but it's typically the same as what you were already receiving. The CNAP supplement the original poster mentioned is completely separate from TFS - it's an extra payment all CalFresh households receive.
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Fatima Al-Mazrouei
•omg thank u for explaining!! my worker made it sound like i was getting penalized or something! im so relieved
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NebulaKnight
This whole CalFresh system is COMPLETELY BROKEN! This is the THIRD time this year they've messed up payments without warning. I have four kids and we DEPEND on this food money. They update their "systems" but can't be bothered to UPDATE THE PEOPLE WHO NEED FOOD! This is why I'm always telling people to keep emergency food in their pantry because CalFresh will ALWAYS let you down eventually!!!
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Mei Chen
•so true!!! and then they expect us to spend hours on hold to fix THEIR mistakes
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Giovanni Gallo
•While I understand the frustration, this is actually a rare occurrence. The CNAP supplement has been consistently issued on the 15th since it started in 2024. This is the first delay they've had, and they did post a notice about it on BenefitsCal on the 10th. Not ideal communication for sure, but they did try to inform recipients.
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Jamal Thompson
UPDATE: Just wanted to let everyone know my extra payment came through today (the 18th) just like you all said it would! Thank you all for the helpful information - especially about the difference between TFS and CNAP. I'm still learning all these CalFresh terms and programs. Now I need to focus on my recertification next month so there's no gap in benefits!
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CosmicCadet
•Glad to hear it! Good luck with your recertification. Remember to submit it at least 15 days before your TFS period ends. The online system through BenefitsCal is much faster than paper applications.
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NebulaKnight
•Mine came too but they should've WARNED EVERYONE properly. Lucky I had some emergency ramen packets or my kids would've gone hungry!!!
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Collins Angel
I'm new to CalFresh and this thread has been SO helpful! I just got approved last month and didn't even know about the CNAP supplement until reading this. I've been wondering why I got an extra $75 on my card and thought it was a mistake. Now I know it's actually supposed to be there! Question for everyone - when you're on regular CalFresh (not TFS), does the CNAP supplement always come on the 15th? And is there anywhere I can sign up for notifications about delays like this so I don't panic when payments are late? I'm a single mom and every dollar counts for groceries. Thanks to everyone who explained the difference between TFS and CNAP - the county worker who helped me didn't mention any of this stuff! 🙏
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