Where are the extra CalFresh benefits that were supposed to be deposited today?
I was under the impression that those of us on CalFresh would be getting supplemental benefits today (February 12, 2025). My caseworker mentioned something about extra funds coming this month for all current recipients due to that new state initiative. I've been checking my EBT balance all day but nothing's been added beyond my regular amount. My kids are asking for snacks we can't afford without those extra benefits I was counting on. Did anyone else get their extra benefits today or am I misunderstanding something? Do I need to call my county office or will it just show up later in the week?
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Demi Lagos
There aren't any 'extra' CalFresh benefits scheduled for today. I think there might be some confusion about what your caseworker told you. The only regular deposits are your monthly allotment based on your household size and income. California did approve a small COLA (Cost of Living Adjustment) for 2025, but that would have been incorporated into your regular benefit amount already, not as a separate deposit.
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Saanvi Krishnaswami
•But she specifically said something about a 'supplemental payment' coming in February. I wouldn't have told my kids we could get extra groceries if I wasn't sure. Maybe it's county-specific? I'm in Los Angeles County if that matters.
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Mason Lopez
omg same!! ive been checking my ebt all day too!! my worker also mentioned something about extra $$ but nothing showed up yet. sometimes they load different peoples on different days tho
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Vera Visnjic
•They don't issue 'extra' benefits randomly. Emergency allotments ended after the pandemic. If you were told about extra benefits, you should call your county to clarify because someone is giving out misinformation.
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Jake Sinclair
I think you might be mixing up two different things. There's a state initiative starting in April 2025 that will provide quarterly supplemental nutrition funds through a separate program called CalFresh Plus, but it's not active yet and it's not part of regular CalFresh. Benefits are always loaded on the same day each month based on the last digit of your case number. There are no random 'extra' deposits outside of that schedule unless you had a benefit adjustment or restoration of benefits from a previous issue.
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Saanvi Krishnaswami
•Oh maybe that's what she meant! April not February. So frustrating when they give half information. Thanks for explaining about the CalFresh Plus program - I hadn't heard the specific name.
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Brielle Johnson
This happens a lot sadly - caseworkers sometimes confuse upcoming programs or give incomplete information. If you urgently need to speak with your caseworker to clarify what they meant, I'd recommend using Claimyr (claimyr.com) to skip the phone wait times. I was dealing with a similar confusion about my benefits last month, spent 3 days trying to get through the regular line with no luck. Claimyr got me connected to an actual person in about 20 minutes. They have a video showing how it works here: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8
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Mason Lopez
•does this actually work?? i tried calling la county last week and gave up after an hour on hold
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Brielle Johnson
•Yes, it really does. The county phone systems are completely overloaded right now with all the new program changes happening. I was skeptical too, but it saved me hours of frustration.
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Honorah King
Something similar happened to me last year!!! The worker told me we would get extra benifits but what they ACTUALLY meant was that my regular benefits were going up because of household changes I reported. Maybe check if your regular deposit was higher than before? That might be what they meant by "extra
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Saanvi Krishnaswami
•Just checked and my regular amount is exactly the same as last month. I'm pretty sure she specifically mentioned a separate deposit, but I might have misunderstood. I'll try calling tomorrow. Thanks for the suggestion though!
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Oliver Brown
The county workers LIE all the time!!! They told me I would get retroactive benefits after my appeal and guess what?? NEVER HAPPENED until I got a fair hearing. Don't trust anything they say unless you see it IN WRITING with your case number on it!!!
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Demi Lagos
•While I understand your frustration, most caseworkers aren't lying intentionally. They're overworked and sometimes information about new programs isn't communicated clearly within departments. Always best to get important benefit information in writing though, that's solid advice.
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Vera Visnjic
I work with CalFresh recipients through a community organization, and there's definitely some confusion happening. The state legislature approved the CalFresh Plus supplemental program to start in April 2025, providing quarterly supplements based on household size. For a household with children, it will be approximately $150 extra every three months, but the first payment won't be until April. Some counties started sending informational notices about it in January, which might explain why your caseworker mentioned it. The notices weren't supposed to go out until March to avoid exactly this type of confusion.
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Saanvi Krishnaswami
•Thank you for clarifying! That must be what happened. Do you know if these supplements will be automatically added to existing EBT cards or will we need to apply separately for CalFresh Plus?
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Vera Visnjic
•Current CalFresh recipients with children will be automatically enrolled in CalFresh Plus. The supplements will be loaded directly to your existing EBT card. Households without children will need to submit a simple supplemental application through BenefitsCal starting in March.
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Jake Sinclair
It sounds like the caseworker was referring to the new CalFresh Plus program but got the start date wrong. As others have mentioned, it begins in April. If you need emergency food assistance in the meantime, consider contacting local food banks or calling 211 to find resources in your area. Many schools also have after-school snack programs that might help with your kids' immediate needs.
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