Can USPS app notify you when your EBT card is arriving? My CalFresh benefits approved but no card yet

yea the USPS app does show pics of ur mail before it arrives! its pretty good at showing letters but sometimes packages dont show up on it. it saved me so much stress knowing when my calfresh stuff was coming

The USPS Informed Delivery service (available through their app or website) does show scanned images of letter-sized mail that will be delivered to your address that day. It's extremely helpful for tracking important documents like your EBT card. Regarding your card timeline: If it's been 14+ days since approval, you should definitely contact your county office again. New EBT cards typically arrive within 7-10 business days, but there can be delays with the current USPS situation. If you're in urgent need, ask about emergency expedited benefits - many counties can provide a temporary card for immediate use while waiting for your permanent one to arrive.

The mail preview thing DOES work but sometimes its annoying because it shows your mail coming but then IT DOESNT ACTUALLY ARRIVE that day!!!! So dont get your hopes up too much. My EBT card showed up in the app but didnt actually get delivered until 2 days later and i was SO UPSET because i really needed my benefits. Just giving you a heads up so you dont get disappointed like i did.

If you haven't gotten your card after 14 days you can request a replacement. You don't lose any benefits, they'll just cancel the first card and send a new one. Had to do this twice last year because USPS kept losing my mail.

Just wanted to mention a service called Claimyr that helped me get through to a CalFresh worker when I had a similar issue with my EBT card not arriving. They basically call and wait on hold for you, then call you when they get a real person on the line. Saved me hours of frustration! I watched their demo video (https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8) before trying it and the service worked just like they showed. You can check them out at claimyr.com - totally worth it when you're dealing with something urgent like feeding your kids.

The USPS app has literally been a lifesaver for me during my CalFresh journey. I had the same anxiety checking my mailbox constantly. Couple tips: 1) Make sure you activate the card IMMEDIATELY when it arrives because there's sometimes a 24-hour processing period after activation. 2) If you need food right now, call your county office and explain the situation - they can sometimes issue emergency food benefits loaded onto a temporary card you pick up at the office. 3) Sometimes the EBT card envelope looks like junk mail - it's not clearly marked as being from CalFresh (for security reasons I guess). It's usually a plain white windowed envelope that could easily be mistaken for a credit card offer. 4) The USPS app isn't 100% perfect but it does catch most letter mail. I've had my EBT card show up there the day before delivery. Good luck!

my neighbor had same problem the card never came and she had to go into the office to get one. they said it was returned to sender for some reason even tho address was right. might be worth checking if thats what happened

Just to follow up on the USPS Informed Delivery service - be aware that it does show most letter mail, but there are limitations. My experience with CalFresh documents is that about 90% of them show up in the preview. Since EBT cards come in standardized envelopes that are machine-processed, they typically do appear in the scanning system. If you're still struggling to reach someone, remember you can also try: 1. Going in person to your county office (bring ID and your approval notice) 2. Sending a secure message through BenefitsCal if you have an online account 3. Contacting your assigned caseworker directly if you have their extension The standard timeframe for card delivery is 7-10 business days, but with current postal delays, 14 business days isn't unusual. After that point, you should definitely request a replacement.

Anyone else think its RIDICULOUS that in 2025 we still have to wait for plastic cards in the mail?!?! Why cant they just send a digital card to our phones like EVERY OTHER SERVICE does now????

did u try calling the EBT customer service number? its different from the county office. sometimes they can tell u if ur card was mailed and when

UPDATE: Finally got my EBT card today! The USPS app actually showed it was coming yesterday, so that was super helpful. For anyone else waiting for their card - it comes in a very plain white envelope that could easily be mistaken for junk mail. Thanks everyone for all your help and suggestions!

So glad to hear you finally got your card! This whole thread has been really helpful for me - I'm in a similar situation waiting for my EBT card after approval. The USPS app tip is genius, just downloaded it. And thanks to everyone who shared the EBT customer service number and info about emergency benefits. It's such a stressful time when you're waiting for help to feed your family, but this community really comes through with practical advice. Hope your grocery shopping trip goes well!

This whole thread is such a great resource! I'm bookmarking it because I know other people in my area are always struggling with the same EBT card delivery issues. One thing I wanted to add - if you're really desperate for food while waiting for your card, many food banks don't require any paperwork or proof of benefits. They're usually understanding about situations like this where you're approved but just waiting for the physical card. Also, some grocery stores will let you use your EBT benefits even without the physical card if you have your case number and can verify your identity, though this varies by store. Worth asking the manager if you're in a pinch!

Such a helpful thread! I'm currently going through the same waiting period after my CalFresh approval and this has eased so much of my anxiety. Just signed up for the USPS Informed Delivery service - what a game changer! I had no idea this existed. Also calling that EBT customer service number tomorrow since my county office keeps putting me on endless hold. It's so frustrating when you're trying to feed your family and just need basic information about where your card is. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences and practical tips - this community is amazing for navigating all these bureaucratic hurdles!

This thread is incredibly valuable! I'm a newcomer here and currently in week 2 of waiting for my EBT card after approval. Reading everyone's experiences has been so reassuring - I was starting to panic that something went wrong. Just downloaded the USPS Informed Delivery app based on all the recommendations here. The tip about the card coming in a plain white envelope is especially helpful since I almost threw away what looked like junk mail yesterday (thankfully it wasn't the EBT card!). Planning to call that 24/7 EBT customer service number too since my county office has been impossible to reach. It's such a relief to find a community where people understand the stress of waiting to feed your family while navigating these systems. Thank you all for sharing your knowledge and experiences!

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm new to CalFresh and just got approved last week, so I'm in that anxious waiting period for my EBT card. Reading everyone's experiences makes me feel so much less alone in this process. I had no idea about the USPS Informed Delivery service - just signed up and it looks amazing! Also bookmarked that 24/7 EBT customer service number. The tip about the card coming in a plain envelope is so important - I've been scrutinizing every piece of mail but would have probably overlooked something that looked like a credit card offer. It's such a stressful time when you're trying to budget for groceries while waiting for help to arrive, but this community gives me hope that there are solutions and people who understand. Thank you everyone for sharing your knowledge and supporting each other through these challenges!

Just wanted to share my recent experience that might help others! I was in the exact same situation - approved for CalFresh but waiting over 2 weeks for my EBT card with three kids to feed. What finally worked for me was calling that EBT customer service number (1-877-328-9677) that someone mentioned earlier. They were able to tell me my card had been returned to sender due to an address verification issue, even though my address was correct on my application. The county office expedited a new card to a pickup location and I had it within 2 days. Also, the USPS Informed Delivery app has been amazing - it definitely shows EBT cards before they arrive (comes in a plain white envelope with a window). For anyone still waiting, don't give up on calling that customer service line - they have access to tracking info the county offices sometimes don't have readily available. Hang in there!

I'm so glad I found this thread! I'm brand new to CalFresh and just got approved yesterday, so I'm at the very beginning of this waiting period everyone's talking about. Reading all these experiences has been incredibly eye-opening - I had no idea there were so many potential issues with card delivery or that there were resources like the USPS app to help track it. I'm definitely signing up for Informed Delivery tonight and saving that 24/7 EBT customer service number. The tip about the plain white envelope is something I never would have thought of - I probably would have tossed it thinking it was a credit card offer! It's also reassuring to know there are backup options like emergency benefits and food banks if the wait gets too long. As a single parent, the stress of not knowing when help will arrive is really overwhelming, but this community makes me feel like I'm not navigating this alone. Thank you all for sharing your knowledge and experiences so openly!

This entire thread has been such a goldmine of information! I'm new to both CalFresh and this community, and I'm currently on day 8 of waiting for my EBT card after approval. The anxiety of checking the mailbox multiple times a day is so real - I felt seen reading everyone's experiences! Just downloaded the USPS Informed Delivery app and already signed up. The detail about the plain white envelope is crucial - I've been looking for something that says "CalFresh" or "EBT" on it, so I definitely would have missed it. Also saved that 24/7 EBT customer service number (1-877-328-9677) to try if I don't see anything in the next few days. It's amazing how this one thread covers literally every aspect of the EBT card waiting process - from tracking tools to backup food options to what the envelope actually looks like. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences and tips. It makes such a difference to know other parents have been through this exact situation and made it through!

This thread is absolutely incredible! I'm new to the community and just got my CalFresh approval two days ago. Reading through everyone's experiences has been so reassuring - I was starting to worry that something was wrong since I haven't received my card yet. Just signed up for the USPS Informed Delivery service based on all the recommendations here, and wow, what a brilliant tip! I had no idea this existed. Also copying down that 24/7 EBT customer service number (1-877-328-9677) in case I need it. The detail about the plain white envelope is so important - I've been watching for something official-looking from the county, so I definitely could have missed it. As a new mom trying to stretch our grocery budget, this waiting period is really stressful, but knowing there are tools to track the card and backup options like emergency benefits makes me feel so much more prepared. Thank you to everyone who shared their knowledge - this community is amazing for helping people navigate these systems!

This thread has been incredibly helpful for me too! I'm currently on day 6 of waiting for my EBT card after approval and was getting pretty anxious about it. Just downloaded the USPS Informed Delivery app - can't believe I didn't know about this service before! The tip about the plain white envelope is so crucial because I've been looking for something that clearly says it's from CalFresh or the county office. Also saved that 24/7 EBT customer service number just in case. It's really reassuring to read everyone's experiences and know that 7-10 business days is normal, but up to 14 days isn't unusual with postal delays. As someone with kids depending on me for meals, this waiting period is definitely nerve-wracking, but having these tracking tools and knowing about backup options like emergency benefits makes me feel much more prepared. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences - it's so comforting to know I'm not alone in this process!