ebtEDGE stopped showing pending CalFresh benefits amount for next month - why?

same here!! used to be able to see what i was gettin like a week b4 deposit now nothin till day of. super annoying when ur tryin to plan

This changed around January 2025 when they updated the ebtEDGE system. The pending benefits feature was removed as part of their system upgrade. According to my county worker, this was done to prevent confusion when benefit amounts might change between the pending stage and actual issuance. Now benefits only appear on your account when they're officially issued on your regular issuance date. If you need to know your benefit amount in advance for budgeting purposes, you can: 1. Call your county office directly and ask about your upcoming issuance amount 2. Check your most recent Notice of Action which should state your certified benefit amount 3. Log into BenefitsCal which sometimes shows your monthly allotment

I think they did this on purpose so people can't plan ahead!!! The whole system is designed to keep us confused. My worker NEVER answers the phone and when I leave messages no one calls back for WEEKS. Then they wonder why people get frustrated and give up on benefits they're entitled to.

I noticed this too and I think it might be related to the budget issues they were having at the county level. My friend works for DPSS and she said they had to implement a lot of system changes recently. The pending benefits feature was causing issues because sometimes the system would show one amount pending and then change it before deposit, leading to a lot of angry calls and confusion.

Wait, are we talking about CalFresh or Cash Aid here? Because my Cash Aid still shows pending on ebtEDGE a few days before deposit, but my CalFresh doesn't anymore. So maybe it's just a CalFresh specific change?

Since the ebtEDGE update, your best option for checking your benefit amount in advance is to log into BenefitsCal (https://benefitscal.com/). After logging in, go to "My Benefits" and then "Benefit Details." For most counties, this will show your certified monthly allotment amount. The system has improved significantly since early 2025, so if you had trouble before, it might be worth trying again. Alternatively, if your county has implemented text notifications, you can sign up to receive a text when your benefits are about to be deposited. Not all counties offer this yet, but it's becoming more common.

i just stared at my phone for 20 mins thinkin maybe i was doin something wrong lol. glad im not the only 1 who noticed this change!!

My worker told me you can still find out your benefit amount before deposit day by calling the IVR system at 1-877-328-9677. You have to go through the menu options but supposedly it will tell you your next benefit amount even if ebtEDGE doesn't show it. I haven't tried it myself yet tho.

This is so helpful to read everyone's experiences! I'm a new CalFresh recipient and was getting worried that something was wrong with my account when I couldn't see pending benefits. I've been checking ebtEDGE obsessively since I got approved last month, trying to figure out when my benefits would come through. Now I understand it's just the new system changes. Thanks especially to everyone who shared the workarounds - I'm definitely going to try BenefitsCal and see if my county has the text notification option. It's reassuring to know there are still ways to plan ahead even with these changes!

This is such a frustrating change! I'm a working mom of two and that pending amount feature was literally how I planned my monthly grocery shopping. I used to screenshot it around the 25th so I could make my shopping list and meal plan accordingly. Now I'm basically flying blind until deposit day, which makes it so much harder to budget and take advantage of sales early in the month. I tried the BenefitsCal suggestion and it does show my certified amount, but sometimes that changes if there are adjustments, so it's not always reliable. Really wish they would bring back the pending feature or at least give us better advance notice tools. The system changes seem to make things harder for families, not easier.

This is so frustrating! I'm new to CalFresh (just got approved 3 months ago) and I had no idea this was a recent change. I thought I was doing something wrong when I couldn't see my pending benefits anymore. I've been stressing every month not knowing exactly when or how much will be deposited. Thank you everyone for sharing the workarounds - I'm definitely going to try the BenefitsCal option and see if my county has text notifications. It's really helpful to know I'm not alone in dealing with this change. The fact that so many parents are struggling with the same budgeting issues shows how important that pending feature was for planning family meals and groceries. Hoping they either fix it or give us better alternatives soon!

I've been dealing with this same issue for months and it's been driving me crazy! I'm a single parent working two part-time jobs and that pending amount feature was honestly a lifesaver for my budgeting. I used to check it religiously around the 25th so I could plan which grocery store to hit up for the best deals at the beginning of the month. Now I'm basically gambling with my meal planning until the benefits actually hit my account. I tried the BenefitsCal website like others suggested but it's been super glitchy on my phone and sometimes shows old information. Really hoping they either bring back the pending feature or give us something better because this change has made managing my family's food budget way more stressful than it needs to be.

This thread has been so helpful! I'm a college student and single mom who just started receiving CalFresh last month, and I was genuinely panicking thinking my benefits weren't going to come through when I couldn't see the pending amount. I've been checking ebtEDGE every day like it was going to magically appear. Now I understand it's just the system changes and not something wrong with my case. Thank you everyone for sharing the workarounds - I'm definitely going to try BenefitsCal tomorrow and see if I can get those text notifications set up. It's such a relief to know there are still ways to plan ahead, even if they're more complicated now. Really appreciate this community for helping newcomers like me figure out these confusing system changes!

Just wanted to add my experience for anyone still struggling with this change - I found a workaround that's been pretty reliable! If you call your county office during the last week of the month and ask specifically for your "benefit calculation specialist" or "eligibility technician," they can usually tell you your exact benefit amount for the upcoming month over the phone. I've done this for the past 3 months and it's worked every time. You might have to wait on hold, but it's way better than playing the guessing game with grocery budgeting. Also, some counties will email you a "benefit verification letter" that shows your monthly amount if you request it - mine sends it within 24 hours. Hope this helps other parents who are trying to plan ahead like I was!

I'm so glad I found this thread! I'm a new CalFresh recipient and was completely confused about why I couldn't see my pending benefits anymore. I've been a nervous wreck checking ebtEDGE multiple times a day thinking something was wrong with my application. Reading everyone's experiences has been such a relief - now I understand it's just the system changes and not a problem with my case. I'm definitely going to try the BenefitsCal website and see if my county offers text notifications. Thank you all for sharing these workarounds and making me feel less alone in navigating these confusing changes! As a newcomer, this community support means everything.

This whole thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm a working single dad who just got approved for CalFresh about 6 weeks ago, and I was starting to think I was losing my mind when I couldn't see any pending benefits on ebtEDGE. I've been checking it obsessively every day since my approval, especially as my deposit date approaches. Reading everyone's experiences makes me feel so much better knowing this is a widespread issue from the system changes and not something wrong with my case. I'm definitely going to try the BenefitsCal workaround and call my county office to ask about text notifications. It's frustrating that they removed such a useful budgeting tool without giving us proper alternatives, but I'm grateful for this community sharing all these practical solutions. Thank you everyone for helping newcomers like me navigate these confusing changes!