Did anyone get unexpected extra CalFresh benefits loaded this month?

yep just checked mine after seeing ur post and i got $175 extra too!! no idea why but ill take it lol

This is likely the annual Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) that typically happens at the beginning of each fiscal year. For 2025, there's been approximately a 3.1% increase to maximum CalFresh allotments. The amounts vary by household size, but it sounds like you're seeing that adjustment. It's perfectly legitimate to use these funds - they aren't a mistake. Your regular benefit amount has simply increased to account for rising food costs.

I wouldn't get too excited yet. Last year they accidentally loaded extra benefits to thousands of accounts in my county and then removed them a week later AND some people who spent the money got hit with overpayment notices!!! The system is SO messed up. I'd wait at least a week before spending it just to be safe.

I just called my county office about this (took FOREVER to get through). The worker told me it's a one-time supplemental payment that was approved for January 2025 because of the increased food costs this winter. Not all households got it - depends on your income and household size. She confirmed it's NOT an error and we can use the funds. Hope that helps everyone!

I spent two hours yesterday trying to reach someone at the county office about this same issue and kept getting disconnected. Finally tried using Claimyr.com and got through to a worker in about 15 minutes. They confirmed this is a one-time supplemental payment due to rising food costs and is perfectly fine to use. If anyone else is struggling to reach their county office, check out their demo: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 - saved me tons of frustration!

this has nothing to do with the extra money but I gotta ask - does anyone else hate how the EBT app shows pending transactions that never clear?? i have like 6 pending charges from last month that make my balance look wrong!

For anyone interested in the official information: this supplemental payment is part of the California Food Assistance Program (CFAP) state-funded initiative that was approved in late 2024. Eligible households receive a one-time supplemental payment ranging from $95-$250 depending on household size. The funds are automatically loaded to EBT cards in January 2025. This is separate from your regular CalFresh benefits and doesn't affect your normal allotment. You should receive an official notice in the mail within 10 business days explaining the supplement.

Thanks everyone for all the helpful info! I was worried when I saw the extra $185 on my card this morning but didn't want to spend it if it was an error. Really appreciate @Oliver Fischer breaking down the CFAP details - that makes total sense now. Also @Malik Robinson thanks for mentioning that service to get through to the county office faster, I've been trying to reach them about updating my address for weeks!

Same thing happened to me! Got an extra $160 loaded today and was so confused. Really glad @Emma Taylor called to confirm it's legit - I was about to drive to the county office myself but those wait times are brutal. This extra money is going to help so much with groceries this month, especially with how expensive everything has gotten lately. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences, makes me feel way less anxious about using the funds!

Just wanted to add my experience - I got an extra $142 this morning and was totally freaking out! Like others mentioned, I didn't get any advance notice which made it really confusing. After reading through all these comments I feel so much better knowing it's the CFAP supplement and not some system glitch. Really appreciate everyone taking the time to call their county offices and share what they learned. This extra help is going to make such a difference for my family this month - grocery prices have been absolutely brutal lately. Thanks to this amazing community for always looking out for each other! 🙏