Missing emergency CalFresh allotment in Orange County when others received it
So I'm really confused right now. My sister and 2 friends all told me they got extra food stamps deposited on their EBT cards last week (around $95 extra), but I didn't get anything additional with my regular amount. We're all in Orange County and nobody got a notice explaining it. Has anyone else missed out on this? Is this some kind of emergency allotment I should have qualified for? My household is just me and my 6-year-old, and I get $457/month normally. Do I need to call my eligibility worker to ask about this? The last time I tried calling the county office, I was on hold for over an hour before getting disconnected.
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NebulaNinja
ya i got like $120 extra last week kinda out of nowhere. didnt question it lol. my cousin in LA got it too
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Zara Mirza
•Do you know if it was some kind of special payment? I really could use the extra money for groceries this month...
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Luca Russo
There's a temporary supplemental benefit being issued in phases throughout March 2025 due to the rising food costs. It's not technically an "emergency allotment" (those ended in April 2023 after the public health emergency), but rather a one-time state-funded supplement. The distribution is happening in batches based on case numbers, so your friends probably were in an earlier batch than you. Orange County is distributing these supplements over a 3-week period, so you should receive yours by the end of the month if you're eligible. You can check your EBT account balance by calling the number on the back of your card or using the BenefitsCal app.
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Zara Mirza
•Thank you SO much for explaining! That makes sense. I'll wait until the end of the month before panicking. I didn't realize they were doing it in batches. Is there anywhere official I can read about this supplement? I didn't get any notice about it.
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Luca Russo
•Yes, you can find information about it on the CDSS website under "CalFresh Updates" or call the CalFresh Info Line at 1-877-847-3663. They should be able to confirm if you're eligible and when your batch is scheduled for deposit. The notices were sent out, but many people report not receiving them or overlooking them since they look similar to regular correspondence.
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Nia Wilson
im so SICK of this county!!! my neighbor got her extra benefit two weeks ago and im STILL waiting!!! we both have the same household size (3 people) and similar income but for some reason they always process her stuff faster than mine!!! i called 3 times and just get put on hold FOREVER then it hangs up on me. its like they dont want us to get what we deserve!!!
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Mateo Sanchez
•I AGREE! They make everything so complicated and never explain anything clearly. I've been on hold so many times just to ask simple questions. One time I waited 2 hours and then the worker who finally answered couldn't even access my case! Had to call back the next day. Why can't they just deposit everyone's extra benefits on the same day instead of this "batch" nonsense?
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Aisha Mahmood
•I had the same frustration trying to reach someone at Orange County CalFresh last month about a verification issue. After getting disconnected twice, I tried using Claimyr.com which got me through to a real person in about 15 minutes. They have this service where they wait on hold for you and call when a worker picks up. Saved me hours of hold time. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 - might be worth trying if you need to get through.
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Ethan Clark
I think there's some confusion here. The extra payment could be one of several things: 1. It could be the state supplement that happens in batches like someone mentioned 2. It might be retroactive benefits if your friends recently had their cases reviewed 3. Sometimes they issue supplements when they fix calculation errors I work for a community organization that helps with CalFresh applications, and we've seen all of these situations. The best way to know for sure is to call the EBT customer service line (not the county office) at 1-877-328-9677 and ask them if there are any pending deposits to your account. They can tell you if something is scheduled that hasn't hit your card yet.
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Zara Mirza
•Thanks for the different possibilities! I called the EBT customer service line like you suggested and they said I do have a supplement scheduled for next Tuesday. They said it's the state supplement for rising food costs that was mentioned earlier. I'm so relieved! I wish they had communicated this better to begin with.
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AstroAce
Just wondering if your income changed recently? Sometimes when household income decreases, you don't get the adjustment until your next reporting period or recertification. Your friends might have had recent income changes that triggered a reassessment and higher benefits. When was your last SAR7 or recertification?
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Zara Mirza
•My income has been the same for about 8 months now. I submitted my SAR7 in January and my next recertification isn't until July. But someone else mentioned it's a special supplement being issued in batches, and I called the EBT line who confirmed I'll get mine next week! Thanks for the suggestion though!
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NebulaNinja
weird question but does ur last name start with letters in second half of alphabet? my worker once told me they sometimes process benefits in alphabetical order when doing big batches. maybe thats why ur friends got it first?
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Nia Wilson
•that would explain EVERYTHING!!! my last name starts with W and my neighbor who always gets everything first is an A!!! this system is SO UNFAIR!!! why should I have to wait just because of my last name???? they should go reverse alphabetical sometimes to make it fair!!!!
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Luca Russo
I'm glad you called the EBT line and got confirmation about your supplement! Just to clarify for everyone: the batching system for this particular supplement is based on case numbers, not alphabetical order (though some other processes may use alphabetical batching). The state announced this supplement rather suddenly, which is why many counties are struggling with communication about it. The total amount varies based on household size - single-person households get around $95, while larger households can receive up to $250. These supplements should all be distributed by March 31st, 2025 according to the latest CDSS guidance.
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Zara Mirza
•Thank you for the additional information! I'm just relieved to know it's coming. Every bit helps with grocery prices being so high lately.
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Ethan Clark
•This is correct information. The supplements are being distributed based on case number ranges, not alphabetical order. And the amount is determined by household size - exactly as described above. I'm glad the EBT line was able to confirm your upcoming deposit!
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