CalFresh benefits not showing up on EBT card after H&R Block processed my taxes - stimulus confusion?

You're mixing up a couple of different things here. First, your EBT card for CalFresh and the H&R Block Emerald Card are completely different cards. The Emerald Card is H&R Block's prepaid debit card for tax refunds, while your EBT card is strictly for your CalFresh food benefits. Your tax refund cannot be deposited to your EBT card - they're separate systems. If your CalFresh benefits aren't showing up, that's a separate issue from your tax return. You need to contact your county CalFresh office directly to find out what happened to your March benefits. There might be an issue with your semi-annual report (SAR7) or something else affecting your eligibility.

I had somethin similar happen but it was cuz my address changed and i didnt update it with calfresh so they thought my mail was returned. check ur BenefitsCal account online if u have one it might show if theres a problem with ur case

THE SYSTEM IS DESIGNED TO CONFUSE US!!! I've been on CalFresh for 3 years and they're ALWAYS finding ways to cut benefits or make it impossible to reach anyone. Last month they claimed they "didn't receive" my verification documents even though I uploaded them TWICE to the portal. Had to go without benefits for 10 days while they "investigated" 🙄

I just checked my EBT card yesterday and my March benefits were there like normal. Definitely call your county office directly - the EBT customer service people can only see if benefits were loaded, they can't tell you why they might be missing. You could also check your BenefitsCal account to see if there's a notice about your benefits.

It sounds like there might have been a trigger event that caused them to request an early redetermination. This sometimes happens if they receive information (like from tax records) that suggests your income might have changed significantly. You should call your county office ASAP to get this sorted out. I had so much trouble getting through to my county worker last month that I finally tried this service called Claimyr. It basically holds your place in the phone queue and calls you back when a real person is available. Saved me from spending 3 hours on hold. Their website is claimyr.com and they have a demo video: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 But yes, definitely separate issue from your tax refund/Emerald Card. Your CalFresh benefits can only go on your EBT card.

Hey so I've worked with both systems before - definitely separate cards like everyone said. One thing to check - the county sometimes puts your benefits on hold if they think you have new income sources (like your tax refund) that might affect eligibility. You need to clarify with them that the tax refund is a one-time payment, not regular income. Also, what probably happened is when you filed taxes, they somehow flagged your case for review. Doesn't matter if your recert isn't due yet - they can request verification anytime they receive information suggesting your circumstances changed. Check that redetermination notice carefully for a deadline!

This happens a lot during tax season. The systems talk to each other and when the IRS reports your tax filing to the county, it can trigger a mid-year review if it looks different from what they have on file. The good news is that once you submit your verification documents, they should restore your benefits back to the date they were supposed to be issued. Definitely try to reach a worker to explain the situation. If you can't get through by phone, you can also try going in person to your county office. Sometimes that's faster than waiting on hold.

btw ur tax refund and the stiumulus are different things too. the stimulus comes from the government direct not through hr block unless u set that up special

Update us after you talk to your county worker! This information could help others who might face the same issue. Remember to: 1. Submit the verification documents they're asking for right away 2. Explain that your tax refund is a one-time payment 3. Ask them to restore your March benefits retroactively 4. Update your income information if anything has changed Good luck!