CalFresh benefit increase for October 1st not showing in pending EBT deposits?
I just checked my BenefitsCal account and was expecting to see the annual benefit increase that's supposed to start October 1st, 2025. But when I look at my pending deposits, I only see my regular benefit amount ($487) - nothing about the increase we were supposed to get. I got a letter a few weeks ago saying benefits were going up with the cost of living adjustment, but it's not showing up in my pending transactions for October 1st. Anyone else having this issue? Do they add the extra separately or should it already be included in the pending amount? Getting worried since I'm really counting on that extra money for my grocery budget this month.
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Giovanni Martello
same here!!! checked mine this morning and nothing extra showing up. thought we were supposed to get like 12% more starting oct?? my caseworker said something about it last time i talked to her but maybe its delayed???
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Grant Vikers
•Glad I'm not the only one! Did your caseworker specifically mention 12%? My letter didn't give an exact percentage, just said there would be an increase.
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Savannah Weiner
The annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for CalFresh should indeed be applied to benefits starting October 1st. However, the increase is already calculated into your total benefit amount - you won't see it as a separate deposit. If you received $445 last month, for example, and the new amount is $487, then the increase is already included. The COLA for 2025 is approximately 9.4% for most households. If your pending deposit shows the exact same amount as last month, there might be an issue. You should contact your county office to verify the adjustment was applied correctly.
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Grant Vikers
•Thanks for explaining! I just double-checked and my September amount was actually $445, so I guess the $487 DOES include the increase. I just expected it to be shown separately or at least have some note about it. Sorry for the confusion!
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Levi Parker
•wait i'm confused. mine still shows EXACTLY the same as last month ($612). no increase at all. should i be worried?
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Libby Hassan
Oh crud, I completely forgot about the October increase! Just checked my account and my pending deposit is $574, which is definitely more than the $525 I got last month. So I think the system IS applying the increases, but maybe there was a glitch for some people? Have you tried logging out and back in, or checking again today? Sometimes BenefitsCal is weird about updating.
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Levi Parker
•just did that and still showing $612 from last month 😞 gonna have to call the county i guess
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Hunter Hampton
THE SYSTEM IS TOTALLY MESSED UP RIGHT NOW!! I've had nothing but problems with my benefits for THREE MONTHS. First they said I didn't turn in my SAR7 (I DID), then they cut my benefits for no reason in August, and now this COLA thing isn't showing up right either. My worker NEVER answers the phone and when I go to the office they just tell me to call!!! I swear they're trying to stress us all out on purpose. Check your MyBenefits app instead of the website - sometimes they show different amounts.
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Sofia Peña
•i feel your pain about not being able to reach anyone. i found this service called Claimyr that actually helped me get through to a real person at the CalFresh office. instead of waiting on hold for hours, they call and wait for you, then call you when they have someone on the line. saved me so much stress! you can see how it works at https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 or check out claimyr.com - seriously worth it when you're dealing with these COLA issues or missing paperwork problems.
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Hunter Hampton
•THANK YOU!!! Will definitely check that out because I'm about to lose my mind trying to get someone on the phone!!! 😤
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Aaron Boston
I work with a nonprofit that helps people navigate CalFresh benefits, and I want to clarify a few things about the October 1st increase: 1. The 2025 COLA is 9.4% for most households, but the exact increase varies based on your specific situation and household size 2. The increase is automatically calculated into your regular benefit amount - you won't see a separate line item for it 3. Some counties process the COLA a few days later than others, so if you're not seeing an increase yet, give it until October 3rd before getting concerned 4. If by October 5th you still see the exact same amount as September, then you should contact your county office as there might be an issue with your case Hope this helps clear things up!
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Grant Vikers
•This is super helpful, thank you! I'll definitely wait until the 5th before panicking. It sounds like mine did include the increase after all (went from $445 to $487).
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Levi Parker
•thanks for the info! will wait til the 5th before calling
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Giovanni Martello
guys i just checked again and now mine updated!!! was $593 last month and now shows $650 for october! maybe they're just updating in batches?
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Hunter Hampton
•Still nothing new for me. System probably crashed from everyone checking at once lol
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Savannah Weiner
As a follow-up, I want to mention that if anyone needs to verify their new benefit amount after the COLA increase, you can: 1. Check your BenefitsCal account (may take a few days to update) 2. Call the EBT customer service line at 1-877-328-9677 (often faster than the county office) 3. Check the MyBenefits CalFresh mobile app 4. Wait for your next notice of action letter, which should explain the new amount Remember that any income or household changes can affect your benefit amount beyond just the COLA increase, so the percentage increase might not be exactly 9.4% for everyone.
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Grant Vikers
•Great advice! I checked the EBT customer service line and confirmed my new amount is correct with the COLA. Such a relief!
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