Why haven't I received my extra CalFresh benefits for February 2025 when others already have?
I got approved for CalFresh on January 19th and immediately received my regular monthly benefit plus the extra emergency allotment for January. Then on February 5th, they loaded my regular monthly benefit amount, but it's already February 22nd and I still haven't gotten the extra amount this month. When I contacted my caseworker about it, she just said they 'regularly distribute the extra benefits by the end of the month' but I'm in several CalFresh Facebook groups and almost everyone is saying they already got their extra benefits last week! Is anyone else still waiting for their February emergency allotment? Should I be worried? This is my first time on CalFresh so I don't know if this is normal or if something's wrong with my case.
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Maria Gonzalez
The extra allotments aren't guaranteed to be deposited on the same day for everyone. My husband and I usually get ours anywhere from the 15th to the 25th of the month, while my sister (different county) gets hers like clockwork on the 10th. It really depends on your county and how they process things. I wouldn't worry unless the month ends and you still haven't received it.
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Elijah Brown
•Thanks for replying! That makes me feel a little better. I'm in Los Angeles County - does anyone know if they typically release extras later in the month here? My caseworker wasn't very helpful and I'm counting on that extra amount for my grocery budget.
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Natalie Chen
Just to clarify - are you talking about the emergency allotments or the nutrition assistance plus-up? The emergency allotments that started during COVID ended in April 2023, so those don't exist anymore in 2025. If you're referring to the new Nutrition Assistance Plus-Up (NAP) program that started in 2024, those supplements have a different distribution schedule than your regular benefits. They're usually distributed in the second half of the month based on the last digit of your case number, not your regular issuance date. Your worker is correct that they come later in the month for many recipients.
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Elijah Brown
•Oh! I didn't realize there was a difference! Maybe I'm confused about the terminology. I was approved for $450 regular monthly benefits, but in January I got an additional $387 labeled as "supplemental benefits" on my EBT transaction history. My worker said I would get that extra amount every month as long as I remain eligible. Is that the NAP program you're talking about?
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Santiago Martinez
Hey there, I work for a community organization that helps people with benefits. The NAP benefits (what you're calling "extra") are indeed distributed on a different schedule than your regular benefits. Here's the schedule for 2025: Case number ending in 1: 15th of month Case number ending in 2: 16th of month Case number ending in 3: 17th of month And so on up to... Case number ending in 0: 24th of month So depending on your case number, yours might not be scheduled until the 23rd or 24th, which explains why you haven't received it yet while others have. Nothing to worry about!
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Elijah Brown
•Thank you! My case number ends in 9, so I guess that means the 23rd! That explains everything. I wish my worker had just told me this instead of giving a vague answer about "the end of the month." I really appreciate the clear explanation.
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Samantha Johnson
i didnt get mine either and im freaking out cause i need it for my kids!! worker never picks up the phone ever!!! this is so frustating being on hold for HOURS.
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Nick Kravitz
•Have you tried using Claimyr? It's been a lifesaver for me when trying to reach CalFresh workers. Instead of waiting on hold for hours, they wait for you and call when a representative is available. I was skeptical at first but they got me connected to my worker in about 25 minutes when I had been trying for days on my own. Their website is claimyr.com and they have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 - seriously worth checking out if you need to talk to someone ASAP about your benefits.
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Hannah White
Sorry to change the subject a little but...did anyone else's benefit amount go DOWN in February? My NAP supplement was $230 in January but only $187 in February, and when I called they said something about income fluctuations but my income hasn't changed at all???
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Natalie Chen
•The NAP supplement amount is calculated based on your household size, income, and expenses. If anything in your SAR7 or last recertification changed (even slightly), it could affect the calculation. For example, if your utility costs were estimated differently or if they recalculated your medical deductions. Also, there was a COLA adjustment to the benefit calculations in January 2025 that might have affected some households differently. You should request a benefit breakdown from your worker to see exactly what changed.
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Michael Green
I'm having the EXACT same issue! Approved in January, got regular + extra, then February only got regular so far. My worker NEVER responds to messages in the BenefitsCal portal either. So frustrating! But looking at the schedule someone posted above, I have 2 more days to wait based on my case number. The system is so confusing - they should just give everyone the extra benefits on the same day they get their regular benefits instead of making it complicated.
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Santiago Martinez
•They use different distribution dates for the regular benefits and the NAP benefits to help grocery stores manage inventory and staffing. If all CalFresh recipients received both their regular and supplemental benefits on the same day, it would create enormous lines and empty shelves at grocery stores on those days. By spreading out the distribution dates, it helps create a more even shopping pattern throughout the month. It's actually a well-thought-out system, even though it can be confusing when you first start receiving benefits.
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Maria Gonzalez
Quick question - did you report any changes between January and February? Sometimes if you have a pending report or verification that hasn't been processed yet, they'll hold the supplemental payment until it's cleared. Just another possibility to consider.
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Elijah Brown
•No, I haven't reported any changes. I just got approved in January, so everything is still the same. But after seeing the schedule someone posted above, I think I just need to wait until the 23rd since my case number ends in 9. Thanks for the suggestion though!
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Natalie Chen
Just to follow up on this thread - for anyone new to CalFresh in 2025, here's a quick explanation of the different benefit components: 1. Regular CalFresh benefits: Issued once a month on a schedule based on the last digit of your case number (1st through 10th of month) 2. Nutrition Assistance Plus-Up (NAP): Additional supplement based on your household size and circumstances, issued between the 15th-24th depending on case number 3. Special Supplements: Occasional additional benefits for certain qualifying events (disaster relief, back-to-school nutrition boost in August, etc.) Keep in mind that your total benefit amount (regular + NAP) is still subject to the maximum allotment for your household size. The system just splits it into two payments now instead of one. Hope this helps clarify things!
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Elijah Brown
•This is super helpful information! I wish they explained all this clearly when you get approved. Thank you so much for breaking it down - I understand the system much better now. I'll report back when I hopefully get my NAP benefits on the 23rd!
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