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Just wanted to add for anyone else who might be wondering - I work at a nonprofit that helps people with benefits applications, and we get this question a lot. The key thing to remember is that CalFresh looks at your MONTHLY income, not lump sum payments. So things like tax refunds, stimulus checks, the MCTR, even things like insurance settlements or back pay from disability don't count toward your monthly income limit. However, if you put that money in a bank account, it DOES count toward your asset limit (which is $2,750 for most households, or $4,250 if someone in your household is elderly/disabled). Most people don't hit those asset limits, but it's worth knowing about. Also, if you use a lump sum payment to buy something that generates regular monthly income (like investing it), then that new monthly income would need to be reported.
This is really helpful information! I had no idea about the asset limits. We keep our tax refund in savings for emergencies, but it sounds like as long as we're under $2,750 total in the bank we should be fine. Do you know if they actually check bank balances regularly, or just when you apply/recertify? Also, what counts as "assets" - is it just cash and savings accounts, or does it include things like your car or household items?
Great question! They typically only check assets during application and recertification, not monthly. For assets, it's mainly liquid assets - cash, checking/savings accounts, stocks, bonds. Your primary home and one vehicle per household member don't count. Household items like furniture and appliances also don't count. So if you have a car worth $10k, that wouldn't count toward your $2,750 limit - just the cash in your accounts. The asset test is really designed to make sure people aren't sitting on large amounts of readily available cash while getting benefits.
This whole discussion has been really eye-opening! I'm new to both CalFresh and navigating California benefits in general. As someone who just moved here from another state, I had no idea about things like the Middle Class Tax Refund or how different types of payments interact with benefits. It's reassuring to know that one-time payments like tax refunds won't mess with my CalFresh eligibility. I'm still learning all the rules about reporting income changes and asset limits - it seems like there are a lot of nuances that aren't immediately obvious when you first apply. Thanks to everyone who shared their knowledge here, especially about the Income Reporting Threshold and asset limits. This kind of peer-to-peer information sharing is invaluable for people trying to navigate the system!
Welcome to California! Moving states can definitely be overwhelming when it comes to figuring out all the different programs and rules. You're absolutely right that there are a lot of nuances that aren't clear upfront. One thing I'd recommend is keeping good records of any income changes and when they happen - it makes filling out your SAR7 much easier later. Also, don't hesitate to ask your county worker questions during your next contact with them. Most are pretty helpful once you get through to them. This community is great for getting real-world insights from people who've been through similar situations. Feel free to ask questions as they come up!
Welcome to California! The benefits system here can definitely feel overwhelming at first, but you'll get the hang of it. One tip that helped me when I was new - if you ever have questions about how a payment might affect your benefits, you can always call your county office before you receive it to double-check. I did this when I got an unexpected insurance payout last year and it saved me a lot of stress. Also, make sure you keep your county contact info handy - each county runs their own CalFresh program so the rules are the same but the processes can vary slightly. Good luck with everything!
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This whole situation is so relatable! I'm dealing with something similar right now - my EBT card got automatically frozen last week due to "suspicious activity" (which was just me buying groceries at a different store than usual), and now I can't get back into the website to unfreeze it. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful though. I had no idea about the separate EBT customer service line (1-877-328-9677) or that you could freeze/unfreeze by phone without needing the website at all! I've been banging my head against the wall trying to get the EBT Edge site to work when apparently there's a much easier way. I'm definitely going to try calling that number first thing Monday morning and specifically asking for an "EBT Edge account reset and unfreeze" like Jamal suggested. It's frustrating that this information isn't more widely available - I spent hours googling solutions and never found any of these workarounds. Thank goodness for this community sharing real solutions that actually work!
Welcome to the EBT Edge nightmare club! 😅 It's so frustrating that we all have to become detectives just to figure out how to access our own benefits. I'm still pretty new to navigating CalFresh myself, but this thread has been eye-opening about all the workarounds that aren't documented anywhere official. The automatic freezing for "suspicious activity" sounds especially maddening - like you can't even shop somewhere different without the system thinking you're a criminal! Definitely try that direct EBT line on Monday. From everything I'm reading here, it seems like the key is being specific about what type of help you need and avoiding the regular CalFresh customer service that just transfers you around. Good luck getting it sorted out quickly! At least now we all know there are better options than suffering through the broken website.
This whole thread is so valuable! I'm a CalFresh recipient who's been having similar issues with the EBT Edge website, and I had no idea about most of these workarounds. The fact that you can freeze/unfreeze your card by calling 1-877-328-9677 instead of dealing with that buggy website is a game-changer - I wish they made this more obvious! I've been avoiding using the freeze feature because I was scared of getting locked out like this, but now I feel more confident knowing there's a phone backup option. The tip about calling early in the morning and asking specifically for an "EBT Edge account reset and unfreeze" is going in my notes for future reference. It's really unfortunate that we have to crowd-source solutions like this because the official resources are so lacking, but I'm grateful this community exists to help each other navigate these frustrating system issues. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and solutions!
I'm so glad this thread exists too! As someone who's relatively new to CalFresh, I had no idea that the EBT system was this complicated or that there were so many unofficial workarounds. I've been too intimidated to use the freeze feature because I heard horror stories about people getting locked out, but seeing all these phone-based solutions makes me feel like I can actually protect my benefits without risking losing access completely. The fact that we have to learn all this from each other instead of from official documentation is pretty telling about how broken the system is, but at least we're building a knowledge base here that actually helps people. I'm definitely bookmarking this thread and sharing it with other CalFresh recipients I know who've been struggling with similar issues. Thanks everyone for turning a frustrating situation into a really helpful resource!
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So relieved to see your update! This is exactly what happened to us last year - the informed delivery showed it but then we waited almost a week worrying about it. I think the P-EBT cards go through some kind of extra security processing that regular mail doesn't, which is why they take longer. Your post will definitely help other parents who are going through the same stress. Hope your son enjoys getting to use his benefits!
This is such a relief to read! I'm new to this community and just went through something similar with my daughter's P-EBT card. It's so stressful when you're counting on those benefits and the card doesn't show up when expected. Thank you for sharing your experience - it really helps to know that delays like this are normal and not necessarily a sign that something went wrong. The extra security processing explanation makes a lot of sense too.
I'm so glad you got your card! This is actually really common with P-EBT - I've helped several families through this exact situation. The informed delivery system scans the mail piece when it enters the postal facility, but P-EBT cards often get held up in additional security processing before final delivery. I always tell parents to expect 5-7 business days between the informed delivery notification and actual arrival. Your experience will definitely help other families who are going through the same worry. Make sure to activate the card as soon as possible since the benefits are time-sensitive!
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anyone know if they'll give backpay for the missed month? i'm in the same boat and even if i get it fixed i already had to borrow money for groceries this month
Yes, they should provide retroactive benefits if the discontinuance was their error or if you resolve the issue within a certain timeframe. Make sure to specifically ask about this when you speak with your worker. It's called "restoration of benefits" and you're entitled to it if you were eligible during the missed period. Keep documentation of everything, including when you submitted paperwork.
I'm dealing with the exact same issue! My benefits were supposed to load on the 15th but my EBT card is still showing $0. I've been a CalFresh recipient for about 8 months and this has never happened before. Reading through these comments is both reassuring and terrifying - it sounds like this is happening to a lot of people but the reasons vary so much. I'm going to try that Claimyr service that people mentioned since I can't get through the regular phone lines either. Has anyone had luck just showing up at the county office in person? I'm wondering if that might be faster than waiting for a callback.
I've had mixed results with showing up in person - sometimes you can get answers faster but other times they tell you to call anyway because your worker isn't available that day. The offices are also super crowded and you might wait for hours just to be told to come back another day. I'd probably try the Claimyr callback first since it seems like several people here have had success with it. At least that way you're guaranteed to talk to someone who can actually access your case. Hope you get it sorted out soon - this whole situation is so stressful when you're relying on those benefits!
Hugh Intensity
Reading through this entire thread as a new community member has been so educational! @Dmitry Petrov, I'm thrilled you got your card activated and could feed your family today - what a relief that must have been after such a long wait for approval. I just wanted to add one more tip for anyone else who might find this thread: if you're ever at a store and your EBT card isn't working, don't be afraid to step aside and call that customer service number (1-877-328-9677) right from the store. I've had to do this a couple times when there were technical issues, and the representatives can often troubleshoot the problem immediately or at least tell you if there's a system-wide outage. Most stores are understanding about EBT technical difficulties. This community is absolutely amazing - seeing everyone share their experiences and practical tips shows what a supportive space this is for people navigating CalFresh. As someone still learning the ropes myself, threads like this are incredibly valuable. Welcome to the program, Dmitry, and don't hesitate to ask if you run into any other questions! 💙
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CosmicCommander
•@Hugh Intensity That s'such practical advice about calling customer service from the store if there are technical issues! I never would have thought of doing that, but it makes perfect sense - getting help in real-time when problems come up could save so much hassle. As a complete newcomer to both this community and CalFresh, I m'honestly overwhelmed by how much helpful information everyone has shared in this thread. It s'like getting a masterclass in all the things they don t'tell you in the official paperwork! @Dmitry Petrov, your original question has created such a valuable resource for other families who will inevitably go through the same activation confusion. Thank you to everyone for being so welcoming to newcomers and creating such a supportive environment where we can learn from each other s'experiences! 🙏
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Miguel Ramos
What an incredible thread to read as someone brand new to this community! @Dmitry Petrov, I'm so relieved you got your card activated and were able to get groceries for your family today. As a newcomer who just applied for CalFresh myself, this whole conversation has been like a step-by-step guide for what to expect when my card arrives. I had no idea about the activation requirement - honestly, the paperwork makes it sound like you can just start using the card immediately. Reading everyone's similar experiences makes me feel so much better about potentially making the same mistake! I'm definitely saving that customer service number (1-877-328-9677) in my phone right now and bookmarking this thread for reference. The tips about testing with a small purchase first, downloading the ebtEDGE app, checking balances online at ebt.ca.gov, and even using benefits at farmers markets - this is all information I never would have found anywhere else. This community is absolutely amazing for sharing real-world practical advice that actually helps families navigate these systems successfully. Thank you to everyone for creating such a welcoming, judgment-free space where people can ask questions and learn from each other. As someone still waiting for approval, seeing this level of support gives me so much confidence that I'll have help figuring things out when my time comes! 🙏
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