Will my EBT card be cancelled when transferring CalFresh case between counties in California?

Your EBT card should continue to work during the transfer process. The card itself is statewide - it's your case/benefits that transfer between counties. When I moved from Alameda to Orange County last year, my benefits continued without interruption. Just make sure you report your address change promptly. The new county will handle the case transfer through their internal system (CalSAWS), but your EBT account number stays the same. Any existing benefits on your card will remain available to you.

My card got shut off when i moved counties!!! Had to wait like 10 days with no access to my benefits. They said it was becuz my case was "in transit" or some BS. Had to borrow money from my sister for food. make sure u call them like every day to check the status

I've gone through this exact situation twice now. Your EBT card itself doesn't get cancelled - it's a statewide system. The funds already on your card will remain accessible. However, what can happen is a delay in your next month's benefits during the transfer process if the timing is off. Here's what you need to know: 1. Report your address change ASAP to both counties 2. Your case will need to be closed in Sacramento and reopened in San Diego 3. This transfer can take 1-30 days depending on workload and timing 4. Any existing balance on your card remains available during transfer 5. New benefits might be delayed until San Diego fully processes your case Make sure to get a receipt or confirmation number when you report your change!

ya dont worrie too much ur card will still work for watever money is already on it. its just the next month that might get messd up. make sure u keep ur reciepts from the old county that shows u reported the move

I moved from Riverside to LA County in 2024 and had SUCH a nightmare with my CalFresh transfer. My EBT card kept working for the money that was already on it, but my next month's benefits were delayed by 6 weeks! I called the county office literally 47 times and could never get through to a human being - always stuck in their automated phone system that eventually hung up on me. The only thing that finally worked was using Claimyr to connect with an actual worker. It's this service that gets you through the phone systems and connects you directly to a real person. Their site is claimyr.com and they have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 Once I actually got to speak with a live person, they discovered my case was stuck in some weird limbo between counties and fixed it that day. My benefits were loaded the next morning. Seriously saved my family from going hungry.

To directly answer your question about the EBT card during county transfers: 1. Your physical EBT card will continue to work - it's valid statewide 2. Any benefits already on the card remain accessible during transfer 3. Your 16-digit EBT card number stays the same 4. Your PIN remains unchanged 5. Benefits already issued to your account remain available for the full 12 months What can be affected during a county transfer: 1. Your next monthly issuance might be delayed if your case transfer isn't processed by your usual issuance date 2. You may need to complete additional paperwork for the new county 3. Your worker will change, so contact information needs to be updated Be sure to follow up with San Diego County if you don't receive confirmation within 5 business days of reporting your move. California's integrated eligibility system (CalSAWS) should make these transfers smoother, but delays can still occur.

I just remembered - when I moved counties last summer, they told me the transfer would take 2-3 days but it actually took 3 WEEKS! Make sure you have enough food or money saved just in case there's a delay with your next month's benefits. The existing balance stayed on my card just fine though.

make sure u tell them ur new address EVEN THO they can see it in the system cuz sometimes they dont update it right n then ur paperwork goes to the wrong place n u get cut off for not responding!!!!!

Just to add one more important detail - if your certification period ends during the county transfer process, you might need to complete a new recertification with your new county rather than finishing it with your old county. Make sure to ask about this specifically when you follow up with San Diego County. That's one of the few situations where benefits can be interrupted during a transfer.

I work for a CalFresh advocacy organization and can confirm what others have said - your EBT card will NOT be cancelled during the county transfer. The card is issued by the state, not individual counties, so it remains active statewide. Your $340 will stay accessible throughout the transfer process. However, I'd recommend taking these steps to protect yourself: 1. Get written confirmation of your address change - either email or a case number 2. Ask San Diego County for an estimated timeline for your case transfer 3. If possible, visit the San Diego office in person rather than just calling 4. Keep receipts from any grocery purchases in case you need to document hardship The biggest risk isn't losing your current balance, but potential delays in your next monthly issuance. With your move timing, you should be fine, but it's always good to have a backup plan just in case there are unexpected delays in the system.

This is really reassuring to read everyone's experiences! I'm actually going through something similar right now - just moved from Fresno to Orange County last month. My EBT card has been working fine for the existing balance, but I'm still waiting for my case to fully transfer over. One thing I learned is to screenshot or write down your current balance before the transfer starts, just so you can keep track of what you had. Also, if you have any pending paperwork or appointments with Sacramento, make sure to ask if you need to complete those first or if San Diego will handle everything. The waiting is definitely stressful, but it sounds like your existing funds should be safe! Good luck with your transfer.

I went through this exact same situation about 8 months ago when I moved from Ventura to San Bernardino County. Your EBT card will definitely keep working - the card itself is statewide and your existing balance stays put. What I did was call both counties on the same day to make sure they were coordinating the transfer properly. The San Bernardino office gave me a case transfer number that I could reference when calling to check status. Might be worth asking San Diego if they have something similar? Also, don't panic if your next month's benefits are a few days late - mine were delayed by about a week but they did backdate it to my normal issuance date so I didn't lose any money. One last tip: if you have any automatic payments set up (like for utilities) that come out of your EBT card, those will continue working normally too since it's the same card number and account.

I just wanted to add my experience from when I moved from San Francisco to Los Angeles County about 6 months ago. Your EBT card will absolutely continue working - I was so worried about the same thing! The card itself doesn't get cancelled, just your case gets transferred between the county systems. What I found helpful was keeping a daily log of when I called each county and who I spoke with (if I could get through to anyone). It helped me stay organized and gave me reference points when calling back. Also, if you're comfortable with it, consider going to the San Diego office in person for your initial visit. I found that face-to-face meetings moved things along faster than phone calls. Your $340 will definitely stay on your card - that money is already yours and tied to your EBT account number, not the specific county office. The only thing that might get delayed is your next monthly deposit while they sort out the paperwork, but even then, most transfers I've seen complete within 1-2 weeks if you stay on top of it. Don't stress too much - you've got this! The system is designed to keep people fed during these transitions, even if it doesn't always feel that way.

I'm going through a similar county transfer right now (moving from Orange County to Riverside) and this thread has been so helpful! I was panicking about losing my benefits during the switch, but it sounds like the existing balance stays safe on the card. One thing I wanted to add that helped me - I started documenting everything by taking photos of my EBT balance on the app/website and keeping screenshots of any confirmation numbers from phone calls. It's given me peace of mind to have that record. Also, for anyone else dealing with this, I found that calling early in the morning (like right when they open at 8am) gave me better luck getting through to an actual person instead of being stuck in the phone system forever. The workers seem to have more time to explain things clearly too. @Keisha Jackson - definitely go in person if you can! I know it's a hassle but every person I've talked to who did face-to-face visits had smoother transfers. Good luck with everything!

I went through this same situation last year when I moved from Kern County to San Mateo County! Your EBT card will definitely keep working - the card itself is issued by the state, not individual counties, so your $340 will stay accessible throughout the entire transfer process. Here's what I learned from my experience: 1. The card number stays the same and your PIN doesn't change 2. Any money already loaded stays put during the transfer 3. The main risk is just delays with your next monthly issuance I'd recommend calling San Diego County every few days to check on your transfer status, and don't be afraid to ask for a supervisor if you're not getting clear answers. My transfer took about 10 days total, and while I was stressed the whole time, my existing benefits never disappeared. Also, make sure you keep any paperwork or reference numbers from when you reported the address change - it'll help if there are any hiccups in the process. You've got this!

I just moved from Los Angeles County to San Diego County about 3 weeks ago and went through this exact same process! Your EBT card will absolutely NOT be cancelled - it's a statewide system so the card itself stays active no matter which county handles your case. Here's what happened in my experience: - My existing balance ($280 at the time) stayed on my card throughout the entire transfer - The card number, PIN, and everything else remained exactly the same - I could still use it at stores, ATMs, and online just like normal The only thing that got delayed was my next month's benefits deposit by about a week while San Diego processed my case transfer. But they backdated it to my normal issuance date so I didn't lose any money. My advice: Get a confirmation number when you report your address change, and don't hesitate to call San Diego County every few days to check your transfer status. Also keep using your current balance normally - there's no need to ration it or worry about it disappearing. You should be totally fine with your $340! The system is designed to keep people fed during these transitions, even when the bureaucracy moves slowly.

I just went through this exact situation 2 months ago when I moved from Imperial County to San Diego County! Your EBT card will definitely continue working - don't worry about losing that $340. The card itself is statewide, so your existing balance stays put while your case transfers between counties. What I learned from my experience: - Your card number and PIN stay exactly the same - Any money already loaded remains accessible throughout the transfer - You can keep shopping normally with your current balance - The only potential delay is with your next month's benefits deposit I'd suggest calling San Diego County in a few days to get a status update and make sure they received your address change properly. When I did my transfer, it took about 8 business days total, and my next benefits were only delayed by 3 days. The waiting period is stressful, but the system really is designed to keep your benefits intact during county moves. Your current funds are safe! Just stay on top of following up with the new county to make sure everything processes smoothly.

I moved from Contra Costa to San Diego County about 4 months ago and went through this exact same worry! Your EBT card will absolutely keep working - the card itself is valid throughout all of California, so your $340 is completely safe during the transfer process. What I experienced: - My existing balance stayed accessible the entire time - Same card number, same PIN - nothing changed about the physical card - I could shop normally while waiting for the case transfer to complete - My next month's benefits were delayed by about 5 days, but they issued the full amount The key thing is staying in communication with both counties during the transition. I called Sacramento to confirm they were closing my case and San Diego to track when they opened the new one. Having those reference numbers made all the difference when I had questions. Don't stress too much - the system really is designed to protect people during moves like this. Your current funds won't disappear, and even if there's a small delay with your next deposit, you won't lose any money. Just keep following up with San Diego County every few days to make sure everything's moving along!

I just went through this exact same situation about 6 weeks ago when I moved from Solano County to San Diego County! Your EBT card will definitely NOT be cancelled during the transfer - I was so worried about the same thing. Here's what actually happened with my transfer: - My existing balance (I had about $280) stayed on my card the entire time - Same card number, same PIN - absolutely nothing changed about the actual card - I could shop and use ATMs normally throughout the whole process - The transfer took about 12 days total, and my next month's benefits were only delayed by 4 days The most important thing I learned was to get everything in writing or at least get confirmation numbers. When I first reported my address change to San Diego County, I didn't get any kind of receipt, and it made me super anxious not knowing if they actually processed it. I ended up going in person a few days later just to confirm they had received my information. Also, don't be afraid to call both counties to check on the status. I called Sacramento to make sure they were properly closing my case and San Diego to track when the new case opened. Having those reference points really helped when I had questions. Your $340 is completely safe - that money is already yours and tied to your EBT account, not to any specific county office. The worst that might happen is a short delay with your next monthly deposit, but even then they'll backdate it so you don't lose anything. You've got this! The system really is designed to keep people's benefits intact during moves, even when the process feels stressful.

I just wanted to chime in as someone who works with CalFresh recipients regularly - your EBT card will absolutely remain active during the county transfer! The card is issued by the state of California, not individual counties, so it stays valid statewide regardless of which county office is handling your case. Your $340 is completely safe and will remain accessible throughout the entire transfer process. The EBT system is designed specifically to prevent benefit interruptions during moves like this. Your card number, PIN, and account remain exactly the same. The only thing that might be delayed is your next monthly benefit deposit while the counties coordinate the case transfer, but any delays are typically just a few days to maybe 2 weeks at most. And even if there is a delay, they'll backdate your benefits to your normal issuance date so you don't lose any money. My advice: Get a confirmation number or case reference from San Diego County, and don't hesitate to follow up every few days to check your transfer status. The squeaky wheel gets the grease with these government systems! But rest assured, your current funds are protected during this transition.