Middle Class Tax Refund card arrived 5 months late & already canceled - CalFresh family needs this money!

This happened to me too! My card arrived 3 months late, but I was able to get it reactivated. You need to call the FTB (Franchise Tax Board) at 1-800-542-9332 and specifically say you never received the original card until after it was deactivated. They'll ask for verification - your social, tax info, and address. Once verified, they can reissue a new card that should arrive in 7-10 business days. Make sure you mention that you're on CalFresh and this is causing financial hardship. That seemed to help my case get prioritized. The Middle Class Tax Refund is separate from CalFresh benefits, but both are important for families trying to make ends meet. Don't give up - that money is rightfully yours!

i got mine late 2 but only like 6 weeks not 5 months thats crazy!!! u should def be able to get a new 1. when u call make sure u tell them ur on calfresh n have kids they usually help faster. the middle class refund was sooooo helpful for my family when we got it

I work with benefit programs and can offer some guidance here. The Middle Class Tax Refund (MCTR) cards from 2024-2025 have been problematic with delivery issues. The good news is that the Franchise Tax Board has a process for addressing late-arriving and deactivated cards. Call 1-800-542-9332 and select the option for "MCTR Card Issues" when prompted. You'll need: - Your Social Security Number - Your 2023 tax return information (AGI) - Your current address - The deactivated card number if possible Explain that you're a CalFresh recipient who just received the deactivated card months after it was issued. By law, they must reissue these funds as they are rightfully yours. The funds don't count as income for CalFresh eligibility either, so it won't affect your food benefits. If you can't get through on the phone after multiple attempts, you might want to try Claimyr (claimyr.com). They have a service that helps people get through to government agencies like the FTB without waiting on hold for hours. I've seen many clients successfully use it for similar situations. They have a demo video here: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8

The USPS is HORRIBLE!!!!! I had the same thing happen with my EBT card replacement and almost lost my benefits because of their incompetence! You should file a mail complaint with the USPS as well as calling FTB. The government doesn't care about us at all 😡😡😡

When I got my MCTR card last year it was also super late but not canceled yet. The most important thing is document EVERYTHING. Write down who you talk to, their ID number, date/time of calls, and what they promise. Take a photo of the envelope showing the postmark date compared to the issue date on the card/letter. This will help if they try to deny your claim. Also, if you can't get through by phone, you can submit a secure message through the FTB website: ftb.ca.gov/myaccount If that fails and you're on CalFresh, your county office sometimes can help advocate for you with other state agencies. When you file your next SAR7 or have your CalFresh recertification, mention this issue to your eligibility worker and ask if they have any contacts at FTB who could help.

idk if this helps but my brother had something similar happen with his card and he went IN PERSON to the local FTB office instead of calling. said he got it sorted out same day. might be worth trying if the phone thing isn't working out. good luck!

I help families with benefit issues, and I've assisted several clients with late MCTR cards. Here's what worked for them: 1. Call the FTB's dedicated MCTR line: 1-800-542-9332 2. Use option 1 for general assistance, then option 5 for MCTR 3. Explain you received a deactivated card due to mail delays 4. Request a "Card Reissuance Due to Non-Receipt" The system should recognize that the original card was never activated, which supports your claim. They typically process these within 5 business days, then the new card takes another 7-10 days to arrive. If they deny your request, ask to speak with a supervisor and cite California Revenue and Taxation Code Section 17052.10, which established the MCTR program. The law includes provisions for ensuring eligible taxpayers receive their payments. The good news is that I've seen a 95% success rate with reissuances when people can prove they never received the original card until after deactivation.

Update: I FINALLY got through to someone at FTB this morning! They verified my information and are sending me a new card that should arrive in 7-10 business days. The representative said they've had a lot of mail delivery issues with these cards and were very understanding. Thanks to everyone for your advice - especially the specific phone menu options and what to ask for. That made a huge difference!

So happy to see this worked out for you! This is exactly why community support matters - when we share our experiences and knowledge, we can help each other navigate these confusing government systems. Your situation will definitely help other families who might face the same issue with delayed MCTR cards. For anyone else reading this thread, the key takeaways seem to be: call 1-800-542-9332, use the specific menu options, mention if you're on CalFresh/have kids for potential expedited processing, and don't give up! The money is rightfully yours and the FTB does have processes in place to handle these delivery issues. Hope your new card arrives quickly and helps with those grocery costs. Food prices are rough right now, especially for families on CalFresh benefits.