Can I pick up my CalFresh EBT card in person? Already approved but need benefits ASAP

You can absolutely pick up an EBT card in person! I had the same problem last year. Call your county office and specifically request an "emergency over-the-counter EBT card" - use those exact words. Tell them you were approved but haven't received your card and are experiencing a food emergency. They should be able to issue one while you wait. Bring your ID and case number if you have it.

Yes, you can get an EBT card same-day at most county offices, but policies vary by county. Some require appointments, others accept walk-ins. Make sure to bring your ID, proof of address, and know your case number if possible. Important: only the case head of household can pick up the card. Also, your benefits should be available immediately once you get and activate the card - no waiting period since you've already been approved.

U might want 2 call first before going down there. I went 2 the Pomona office without calling and had 2 wait 4 HOURS just 2 be told they dont do same day cards at that location!!! Had 2 go to the main office downtown instead and wasted a whole day. Some counties do it some don't.

I tried getting a replacement card last year when mine was stolen and was told they don't do emergency cards anymore because of COVID. Had to wait for mail delivery. But that was in Alameda County. It might be different now in 2025 or in your county.

Just wanted to add that I've found a service called Claimyr that can help you get through to a real person at the CalFresh office without waiting on hold forever. I used it when I had a similar emergency situation with my benefits. Basically it calls the office for you and then calls you back when a real person answers. Saved me hours of frustration. Their website is claimyr.com and they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 showing how it works. Much better than getting disconnected after waiting on hold.

Everyone here is giving you bad information! You CANNOT pick up EBT cards in person anymore in California. This changed with the new BenefitsCal system rollout. All cards MUST be mailed for security reasons. I work with families dealing with this system every day through my job. The only exception is domestic violence cases where mail isn't safe.

UPDATE: Success! I called using that Claimyr service (which worked amazingly well) and got through to an actual person who told me I could come to the main county office with my ID and case number. Just got back with my emergency EBT card in hand! All my benefits from April were on there as promised. The worker said normally cards arrive within 7 business days, but there was a mailing system issue affecting several cases including mine. Thanks everyone for your help!

This is such great news and thank you for sharing the update! It's really helpful to know that the Claimyr service actually works - I've been hesitant to try third-party services but hearing a real success story makes me feel more confident about it. Also good to know there was an actual mailing system issue causing delays, so it wasn't just bad luck. Your experience will definitely help other families who are going through the same frustrating situation. Glad you and your kids can finally access the food benefits you need!

This is such valuable information for anyone dealing with EBT card delays! I'm relatively new to CalFresh and had no idea that emergency over-the-counter cards were even an option. The fact that you were able to get your card the same day and access all your backdated benefits is really encouraging. It's also helpful to know about the mailing system issues - explains why some people are experiencing longer delays than usual. Your step-by-step experience (calling with Claimyr, going to the main office with ID and case number) gives a clear roadmap for others in similar situations. Thanks for taking the time to share this success story!

This entire thread is exactly why I love this community! As someone who's been on CalFresh for about 6 months now, I wish I had known about the emergency card pickup option when I first started. I actually had a similar delay with my initial card (though not as long as yours), and I just suffered through waiting for the mail because I didn't know there were other options. The Claimyr service recommendation is brilliant too - I've bookmarked it for future reference since getting through to county offices can be such a nightmare. It's also really reassuring to see how knowledgeable and helpful everyone here is, especially folks like Darcy who consistently provide accurate information. Stories like yours give me hope that there are always solutions, even when the system seems to be working against us. So glad you and your kids finally got the food security you needed!

Wow, this whole thread has been incredibly helpful as someone who's new to both CalFresh and this community! I'm still in the application process myself, and reading through everyone's experiences has taught me so much about navigating potential issues. The fact that emergency over-the-counter EBT cards are available is something I never would have known otherwise. It's also really encouraging to see how supportive everyone is here - from sharing specific phrases to use when calling ("emergency over-the-counter EBT card") to recommending helpful services like Claimyr. @fffb070de727 thank you so much for updating us with your success story! It's one thing to get advice, but knowing it actually worked makes all the difference. This thread is going to be such a valuable resource for other families who might face similar delays. Really grateful to have found this community!

This thread is incredibly valuable! As someone who just moved to California and is applying for CalFresh for the first time, I had no idea that emergency card pickup was even an option. I've been worried about what would happen if my card got lost in the mail or delayed, but now I know there are solutions. The tip about using the specific phrase "emergency over-the-counter EBT card" is so helpful - those kinds of insider details make all the difference when you're trying to navigate bureaucracy. Also bookmarking that Claimyr service for future reference since I've already experienced the endless hold times just trying to ask basic questions about my application. @fffb070de727 thank you for sharing your success story - it gives me hope that even when things go wrong, there are ways to get the help you need. This community is amazing!

As someone who's been helping families navigate CalFresh for over 3 years, I want to emphasize how important threads like this are! @fffb070de727 your situation highlights a critical gap many people face - being approved for benefits but unable to access them due to delivery delays. The emergency over-the-counter card option is absolutely still available, but as others mentioned, policies can vary by county office. For anyone reading this in the future: always mention it's a "food emergency" when calling - this triggers specific protocols that prioritize your case. Also keep your approval notice handy as it speeds up the process significantly. The Claimyr recommendation is spot-on too - I've seen it save families hours of frustration. Really glad this worked out and thanks for updating everyone with your success!

This entire thread has been such an incredible learning experience! As someone who's completely new to CalFresh and government assistance programs in general, I had no idea that so many options and workarounds existed within the system. Reading through @fffb070de727's journey from desperation to success, along with all the knowledgeable responses from experienced community members, has given me so much confidence about navigating potential challenges. The specific actionable advice - like using exact phrases when calling, knowing about emergency over-the-counter cards, and having backup services like Claimyr - is exactly what newcomers like me need but would never find in official documentation. It's also really heartening to see how people jumped in to help, shared their expertise, and even corrected outdated information to ensure accuracy. This is what a supportive community looks like, and I'm grateful to have found it as I start my own CalFresh journey. Thank you to everyone who contributed their knowledge and experiences!

This thread is such a perfect example of why community support matters so much when navigating government benefits! As someone who just started my CalFresh application last week, I was already feeling anxious about potential delays or issues, but seeing @fffb070de727's successful resolution gives me so much hope. The step-by-step breakdown from crisis to solution - using Claimyr to actually get through to a human, knowing to ask specifically for an "emergency over-the-counter EBT card," and being able to access all backdated benefits immediately - is exactly the roadmap I needed. I'm bookmarking this entire thread as a reference guide! It's also incredibly helpful to learn about the recent mailing system issues from an official source rather than just wondering if delays are normal. Thank you to everyone who shared their knowledge and especially to those who kept the information accurate and up-to-date. This community is already proving to be an invaluable resource for my CalFresh journey!

This thread has been absolutely incredible to read as someone who's brand new to both CalFresh and this community! I just submitted my application yesterday and was already worried about potential delays or complications, but seeing @fffb070de727's journey from crisis to success has given me so much confidence. The practical advice shared here - especially about emergency over-the-counter cards and using specific language when calling county offices - is exactly the kind of insider knowledge you can't find anywhere else. I had no idea that services like Claimyr existed to help get through those endless phone queues, and I'm definitely bookmarking it for future reference. What really stands out to me is how everyone jumped in with accurate, helpful information, and how experienced members like @f9baafdacf87 and @c242593d9e42 made sure to keep the advice current and correct. Thank you @fffb070de727 for taking the time to update us with your success - it transforms this from just another complaint thread into a real solution guide that will help countless other families. This community support is exactly what people need when navigating these complex systems!

As someone who just discovered this community while researching CalFresh, this entire thread has been absolutely life-changing in terms of understanding what resources are actually available! I'm in the middle of my application process right now and was already stressed about potential delays or complications, but reading @fffb070de727's complete journey from crisis to same-day resolution has given me so much hope and practical knowledge. The specific tips about using exact phrases like "emergency over-the-counter EBT card" and "food emergency" when calling county offices are the kinds of insider details that make all the difference but you'd never find in official guides. I had no clue that services like Claimyr existed to help bypass those terrible phone queue systems - that alone is worth its weight in gold! What really stands out is how this community came together with accurate, current information and real solutions. Thank you @fffb070de727 for following through with the success update, and thanks to experienced members like @f9baafdacf87, @c242593d9e42, and @58d436954618 for sharing your knowledge. This thread has transformed from one person's urgent need into an incredible resource guide that I know will help so many other families facing similar situations. I'm bookmarking this entire conversation as my CalFresh emergency playbook!

This thread has been absolutely invaluable as someone who just started my CalFresh application process! I had no idea that emergency over-the-counter EBT cards were even an option - I thought if there were mailing delays, you'd just have to wait it out. Reading through @fffb070de727's complete experience from the initial crisis to the successful same-day resolution has given me such a clear roadmap of what to do if I encounter similar issues. The specific tips about using exact phrases like "emergency over-the-counter EBT card" and mentioning it's a "food emergency" are the kind of insider knowledge that can make all the difference when dealing with bureaucracy. I'm definitely bookmarking the Claimyr service too - those phone queue horror stories are exactly what I've been dreading about this process. What really impresses me is how this community rallied with accurate, practical advice and how experienced members made sure to keep information current and correct. Thank you @fffb070de727 for taking the time to update everyone with your success story - it transforms this from just a venting post into a genuine resource guide that will help countless other families. This is exactly the kind of supportive community I was hoping to find as I navigate CalFresh for the first time!

This thread has been an absolute game-changer for me as someone who just submitted my CalFresh application this week! I had no idea that emergency over-the-counter EBT cards were even a possibility - I genuinely thought if there were any mailing issues, you'd just have to wait it out no matter how desperate the situation. Reading through @fffb070de727's complete journey from crisis to same-day resolution has been both inspiring and incredibly educational. The specific actionable advice shared here - using exact phrases like "emergency over-the-counter EBT card" and "food emergency" when calling, keeping your approval notice handy, and having backup options like Claimyr - is exactly the kind of insider knowledge you need but would never find in official documentation. What really stands out to me is how this community came together with accurate, current information and real solutions, with experienced members like @f9baafdacf87 and @c242593d9e42 consistently providing expert guidance throughout the discussion. Thank you @fffb070de727 for taking the time to update everyone with your success story - it transforms this from just a complaint post into a comprehensive resource guide that will genuinely help other families facing similar emergencies. I'm bookmarking this entire thread as my CalFresh emergency playbook! So grateful to have found such a knowledgeable and supportive community right at the start of my benefits journey.