Why are some CalFresh recipients getting $200 emergency allotments while others aren't?

its probably the emergency supplement for the flooding in those northern counties. my sister got it but i didnt, turns out its only for ppl in those 6 counties that had the disaster declaration last month. if u dont live in one of those areas u dont get it

This is most likely the Disaster CalFresh supplement that was approved for specific counties affected by the March 2025 flooding. The supplement is automatically added to EBT cards for households in the designated disaster areas (Humboldt, Mendocino, Trinity, Del Norte, Siskiyou, and Shasta counties). If you're not in one of those counties, you wouldn't receive it. The amount is standardized at $200 per household as emergency food assistance. Your regular benefits are completely separate and will continue as normal.

I work with a community resource center, and I can confirm this is the Disaster CalFresh supplement (D-CalFresh) that was authorized after the Governor's emergency declaration in March 2025. It's specifically for the six northern counties that experienced severe flooding. If your neighbors received it but you're not in those counties, there might be a few possibilities: 1) They have household members or an address in the affected counties, 2) There's been a mistake in distribution, or 3) They're referring to a different supplemental payment. If you think you should qualify but didn't receive it, you should definitely contact your county office, though prepare for long wait times. I've had clients use Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to CalFresh workers quickly - they have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8. Much easier than waiting on hold for hours!

MY SISTER AND I BOTH GOT CALFRESH AND SHE GOT THE $200 BUT I DIDNT!!! WE EVEN LIVE IN THE SAME APARTMENT COMPLEX!!! I called the EBT number THREE TIMES and they just keep transferring me around. This system is SO BROKEN!!

I think its differnt then the flood thing becase my cusin got a deposit too and hes in San Diego??? He said they gave extra to some peple who get the minimum benifits or something. i didnt get it either tho and i get like $275 a month

this happened to me last year!!! everyone was getting some extra money and i got nothing. i called and called and finally someone told me it was because i had an overpaymnet from 2 years ago that i didnt even know about!! they were taking it out of any extras before telling me. check if you have any overpayment on your account maybe?

After reading through all these comments, it sounds like there are actually a few different things happening at once that are causing confusion. To clarify: 1. The $200 Disaster CalFresh supplement is only for the six northern counties affected by flooding (Humboldt, Mendocino, Trinity, Del Norte, Siskiyou, and Shasta) 2. There was also a separate adjustment for minimum-benefit households in April 2025 (this would be a smaller amount, not $200) 3. Some counties might be processing regular benefit adjustments that could appear as separate deposits If you're not in one of those disaster counties and your neighbors claim they got $200, I would recommend asking them to check their EBT transaction history to confirm the exact amount and what type of deposit it shows. It might be something completely different or possibly even a mistake. If you're concerned about your benefits, you should contact your county office to verify everything is correct with your case. Have your case number and identification ready when you call.

I'm new to CalFresh and this whole discussion is really helpful! I just got approved last month and was wondering if I should expect any extra payments like this. From what I'm reading, it sounds like these disaster supplements are pretty rare and only happen during emergencies. Is there anywhere I can check for updates about these kinds of special benefits, or do they just automatically appear on your EBT card when you're eligible? I don't want to miss out on anything I might qualify for in the future.

As someone who's been on CalFresh for about two years, I can add that these special supplements can be really confusing when they first happen! I remember getting a random $95 deposit during the wildfire season in 2023 and panicking that it was a mistake that would get clawed back later. Turns out it was legitimate emergency assistance for my county. One thing I've learned is to always screenshot or write down any unexpected deposits with the date and amount, just in case there are questions later. Also, if you ever move between counties, make sure to update your address immediately - I've heard of people missing out on benefits because their address wasn't current in the system. The CalFresh program actually does a pretty good job of getting emergency help to people when disasters strike, but the communication about WHY you're getting extra money could definitely be better!