Missing CalFresh extra benefits for June and July - anyone else not getting them?
Hi everyone, I'm really confused about my CalFresh benefits this summer. I was expecting to get some extra benefits loaded onto my EBT card for both June and today (July) but nothing's showing up. I've been getting regular benefits plus some additional amount each month since March, but suddenly it stopped. My regular benefit amount is still coming through ($680 for my family of 4), but the extra payment of $342 that we were getting isn't there anymore. Did anyone else experience this? Was there some change to the program I missed? I didn't receive any notices about this and really count on that extra amount for fresh produce at the farmers market. Called the EBT customer service line but got stuck in the automated system for 45 minutes before giving up. 😫
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QuantumQuasar
yup same here. no extra payment for me either. i got $210 extra in may but nothing for june or july. my regular amount is still coming but the extra is gone
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Miguel Ramos
•So frustrating! Did you get any notice about it ending? I'm wondering if it was some temporary program that just expired.
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Zainab Omar
The extra benefits you're referring to were likely the CalFresh Fruit and Vegetable Supplement that was being piloted in certain counties. It was a temporary program scheduled to end in May 2025. Not everyone qualified for it - it depended on your county and household situation. The regular June and July issuances should still be coming through on your normal issuance date, but the supplemental program has concluded unless they announce an extension.
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Miguel Ramos
•Thank you for explaining! I wish they had sent some kind of notice that it was ending. I really depended on that extra amount. Do you know if there are any other supplements we might qualify for? My kids are home all summer and grocery costs are so much higher now.
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Connor Gallagher
I HAD THE EXACT SAME ISSUE!!! Been on hold with the county for THREE DAYS trying to figure this out. Got disconnected twice after waiting over an hour each time. This system is BROKEN!! I'm a single mom with 3 kids and I NEED that extra money for summer when they're not getting school lunch. Why do they make everything so complicated???
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Yara Sayegh
•I understand how frustrating that can be, especially with kids home for summer. If you're still having trouble reaching someone at the county office, you might want to try Claimyr.com. I used their service last month when I had issues with my recertification and couldn't get through on the phone. They basically call the CalFresh office for you and get you connected to a real person without the wait. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8. Saved me hours of frustration.
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Keisha Johnson
What you're experiencing is the end of the CalFresh Fruit and Vegetable pilot program that was running in 13 counties since late 2024. The program provided an additional 30% of your regular benefit amount specifically for purchasing fruits and vegetables, but it was always scheduled to end in May 2025. If you have children under 18, you should look into the Summer EBT program which provides $120 per eligible child for the summer months to help with food costs while school is out. You can apply through BenefitsCal.com or your county office. The Summer EBT benefits are loaded onto a separate card from your regular CalFresh EBT. Additionally, if you visit farmers markets, many still offer Market Match programs where your CalFresh dollars are matched up to $10-$20 per visit when buying fresh produce.
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Miguel Ramos
•This is so helpful! I didn't know about the Summer EBT program - I'll definitely look into that right away. And I've used Market Match before but didn't realize it was still available. Thank you for the detailed information!
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Paolo Longo
i think its because of that new policy they implemented... my cousin works at the county and said they were changing all kinds of stuff this summer. maybe call your caseworker? mines never answers tho lol
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Zainab Omar
•There's actually no new policy affecting regular CalFresh benefits. What ended was a supplemental program called the CalFresh Fruit and Vegetable Supplement that was only temporary. Regular benefits continue as normal on your usual issuance date based on your case number. If you're not receiving your regular benefits, that would be a different issue requiring contact with your county office.
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CosmicCowboy
Has anyone checked if this has to do with the new reporting requirements? I remember getting something in the mail about semi-annual reporting (SAR7) changing somehow. I just fill out whatever forms they send me but maybe we were supposed to submit something to keep getting the extra amount? The whole system is so confusing sometimes.
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Keisha Johnson
•The end of the supplemental benefits isn't related to SAR7 reporting. The Fruit and Vegetable Supplement was a time-limited program with a predetermined end date. Your regular CalFresh benefits would be affected by SAR7 reporting issues, but not these supplemental benefits. However, it's always important to submit your SAR7 on time (every 6 months) and your recertification (every year) to avoid interruptions to your regular benefits. If you miss a deadline, your benefits could be reduced or discontinued.
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QuantumQuasar
hey does anyone know if they gonna bring back the extra benefits? like is it just a temporary pause or its gone forever?
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Zainab Omar
•The CalFresh Fruit and Vegetable Supplement was a pilot program that has concluded as scheduled. There's been no announcement about it returning, but advocacy groups are pushing for it to become permanent based on its success. You can contact your state representatives if you want to voice support for making it permanent. In the meantime, look into Summer EBT for children and Market Match programs at farmers markets as alternatives.
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StarStrider
As a new CalFresh recipient, this thread has been incredibly helpful! I just started receiving benefits in June and was wondering why my amount seemed lower than what some friends were getting. Now I understand I missed out on the Fruit and Vegetable Supplement program since it ended in May. It's disappointing that there wasn't better communication about these program changes. I'll definitely look into the Summer EBT program that @Keisha Johnson mentioned - having two kids home for summer break has definitely increased our grocery costs. Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences and the helpful resources!
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Mikayla Brown
•Welcome to the CalFresh community! It's great that you found this thread helpful. The timing is unfortunate that you started receiving benefits just after the Fruit and Vegetable Supplement ended. Definitely apply for Summer EBT as soon as possible - those benefits can really help stretch your grocery budget with kids home. Also, if you have any farmers markets nearby, ask about their Market Match or similar programs. Some also accept CalFresh and double your purchasing power for fresh produce. Don't hesitate to ask questions here - this community is really supportive!
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Sophia Russo
I'm so glad I found this thread! I've been stressing about this same issue for weeks. Like @Miguel Ramos, I was getting an extra $298 on top of my regular $623 for my family of 3, and it just disappeared after May. I had no idea it was called the CalFresh Fruit and Vegetable Supplement or that it was always meant to be temporary. I wish they had sent out clearer notices about when it would end - I would have budgeted differently if I knew. The information about Summer EBT is a lifesaver though! I'm heading to BenefitsCal.com right now to apply for my two kids. Has anyone actually received their Summer EBT benefits yet? I'm curious about the timeline for when they get loaded onto the card.
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Zara Mirza
•Hey @Sophia Russo! I'm in the same boat as you - just applied for Summer EBT last week after reading about it here. From what I've read on the BenefitsCal website, they say it can take up to 10 business days to process the application and then another few days for the card to arrive by mail. Some counties are faster than others though. I called my county office yesterday and they said Summer EBT benefits are being loaded throughout July, so hopefully we'll see them soon! The fact that it's $120 per child really helps - that's almost what I was getting from the Fruit and Vegetable Supplement. Really wish they had communicated better about that program ending too. At least we found this community to help each other figure things out!
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Andre Dubois
This whole situation is so frustrating! I've been dealing with the same thing - my extra $156 vanished after May and I had no clue why. I'm a college student with a part-time job and that extra money was crucial for buying fresh groceries instead of just ramen and canned food. Thank you @Keisha Johnson and @Zainab Omar for explaining about the Fruit and Vegetable Supplement ending - I literally had no idea that's what it was called or that it was temporary. The lack of communication from CalFresh is really disappointing. I'm definitely going to look into the Market Match program at my local farmers market. Does anyone know if the Summer EBT program is available for college students too, or is it just for families with children under 18?
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