EBT card arrived today with $120 already loaded - is this normal for CalFresh benefits?
Just got my 8-year-old son's new EBT card in the mail today (our last name starts with R). Called the number on the back to activate and set up the PIN, and was surprised to see there's already $120 in CalFresh benefits loaded on the card. We just applied 2 weeks ago and had our phone interview 3 days ago, but haven't received any approval notice yet. Is this normal? Does this mean we're approved? The worker said something about expedited services during our interview because we had less than $150 in monthly income. Should I wait for an official approval letter before using the card or is it safe to use now? First time applying so I'm a bit confused about the process.
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Harper Hill
Yes, that's normal! You qualified for expedited services since your monthly income is under $150. When you meet expedited criteria, they have to issue benefits within 3 calendar days of your application. The $120 is likely your prorated amount for this month. You can absolutely use the benefits right away - that's what they're there for! You'll still get an approval notice in the mail with details about your certification period and monthly benefit amount going forward, but don't wait to use what's already on your card. Congrats on getting approved!
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Lucas Adams
•Thank you so much! That's a relief. I wasn't sure if using it before getting the official letter might cause problems. Do you know when next month's benefits will be loaded? And will the amount be different?
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Caden Nguyen
congrats on gettin approved! my kid got his card like that too but we had $180 on it cuz we applied mid-month. the regular monthly amount comes on the same day every month depending on the last number of ur case. the case # should be on paperwork they gave u or will be on the approval letter when it comes
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Lucas Adams
•Thanks! I don't know our case number yet. Guess I'll find that on the approval letter when it comes.
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Avery Flores
Sounds like you qualified for Expedited Services, which is great! You'll get your regular monthly benefit amount on your assigned day next month. Benefits are distributed from the 1st through the 10th based on the last digit of your case number. And yes, the amount might be different - the $120 is likely prorated based on when you applied this month. Full monthly benefits for a single person household would be around $300 in 2025 if you have very low income. If your son is the only one on the case, make sure you also look into School Meals and WIC if he's eligible. CalFresh worker should have mentioned those programs during your interview.
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Lucas Adams
•They did mention school meals! He's already getting free breakfast and lunch at school. I didn't know WIC was an option for kids his age though - I thought it was just for babies and toddlers? Will definitely look into that too.
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Zoe Gonzalez
They're always saying 3 days for expedited but it took them TWO WEEKS to get my expedited benefits! Called the county office every day and never got through. Just constant hold and disconnections. Had to borrow money from family to feed my kids while waiting. The system is BROKEN.
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Ashley Adams
•I had the same experience trying to get through to my county office for expedited benefits. Someone told me about this service called Claimyr that got me through to a real person at the county after I'd been trying for days. Basically they wait on hold for you then call you when a real person answers. Saved me hours of frustration. You can see how it works at https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 and sign up at claimyr.com - might help if you have issues again in the future.
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Alexis Robinson
Not to confuse you but are you sure this is CalFresh? $120 sounds more like the California Food Assistance Program (CFAP) amount. Just want to make sure you know which program you got since they have different rules. Both use EBT cards though.
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Harper Hill
•CFAP and CalFresh are actually the same program - CFAP is just the name for state-funded food benefits for legal immigrants who don't qualify for federally-funded SNAP (which is what CalFresh is in California). The $120 sounds like prorated CalFresh for a partial month since they applied recently.
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Alexis Robinson
•Oh, you're right! I always mix those up. I was thinking of CalWORKs vs. CalFresh. Thanks for the correction.
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Aaron Lee
thats super fast! took them 6 weeks to approve my calfresh and i was literally living in my car at the time. the county workers always find ways to delay things... make sure u spend all the benefits each month cuz they don't roll over forever, i think only for like 9 months now
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Lucas Adams
•That's good to know about spending the benefits. Do they expire after 9 months? I might stock up on some shelf-stable foods just to make sure we use everything.
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Harper Hill
Just to clarify regarding benefit expiration - CalFresh benefits stay on your card for 274 days (about 9 months) before they start to expire. They expire on a rolling basis, so oldest benefits are used first. If you're actively using your card every month, you don't need to worry about benefits expiring. For your original question, once you get your approval letter, it will show: 1. Your certification period (how long your benefits are approved for, usually 12 months) 2. Your regular monthly benefit amount 3. Your reporting requirements (most likely a SAR7 at 6 months) 4. Your case number and when your monthly benefits will be deposited Since you qualified for expedited services, they issued benefits quickly but may still need to verify some information. Make sure you respond promptly if they request any additional verification documents.
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Lucas Adams
•Thank you for all this helpful info! I'll keep an eye out for the approval letter and any requests for additional documents. Everyone has been so helpful here - I feel much more confident about using the benefits now.
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