I'm new to CalFresh and just got approved too! Reading through all these responses is so helpful - I had no idea about the farmers market option giving you double the value. Quick question for everyone: does anyone know if the incentive program works at smaller independent grocery stores, or is it mainly just the big chains? There's a really nice family-owned produce market near me that accepts regular EBT, but I'm wondering if they'd have the fruit and vegetable incentive set up too. Also super grateful for the tip about Claimyr - I've been trying to reach my caseworker for weeks!

Just wanted to add another tip that's been working great for me - if you have an Aldi near you, they participate in the program and their produce prices are already really low, so the $60 incentive goes even further there! I've been able to get almost two weeks worth of fruits and vegetables for my family of four using the full $60 benefit. Also, pro tip: download your store's app first - some places like Safeway show the CalFresh incentive discount right in the app after you link your card, so you can track how much of your monthly $60 you've used without having to keep all your receipts. The program really is worth it once you figure out how to use it properly!

I'm really sorry this happened to you! I know how scary it is when you can't access your benefits, especially with kids to feed. I lost my EBT card about a year ago and here's what I wish someone had told me: Call 877-328-9677 right away to report it lost - they'll freeze your card immediately so no one can use your $340. When you call, definitely mention you have children and ask about expedited shipping. They were able to get my replacement to me in 2 days instead of the usual 5 when I explained it was a family emergency. While you're waiting, check if your county allows temporary authorized representatives - I was able to add my sister so she could buy groceries for us using my benefits until the new card arrived. You'd need to call your local CalFresh office for this option though. Also don't hesitate to reach out to local food banks or churches - many understand the CalFresh situation and can help bridge the gap without making you feel bad about it. Your benefits will absolutely still be there when you get the new card! The money doesn't disappear, just the access temporarily. Hang in there - you've got this and your kids won't go hungry!

I'm so glad to hear you were able to get through to EBT customer service and get your card deactivated! That 2-day expedited shipping is a lifesaver when you have kids to feed. I went through something similar last year and the panic is so real when you realize you can't access your benefits. One small tip for when your new card arrives - make sure you're available to sign for it or have someone trusted who can receive it, because they typically require a signature for replacement EBT cards. Also remember you'll need to set up a new PIN when you activate it. It sounds like you have a solid backup plan with the authorized representative option too. This community really is amazing for support during these stressful situations. Your kids are lucky to have such a proactive parent who knows how to ask for help when needed. Hang in there - Thursday will be here before you know it!

This whole thread is incredibly helpful! I'm relatively new to navigating the CalFresh system and had no idea about so many of these options. The temporary card same-day pickup is amazing information - I wish they made this more widely known instead of just telling people to wait 7-10 days. It's also really helpful to know about resources like 211 and Claimyr for when you can't get through the regular phone lines. @Astrid Bergström so glad you got it resolved and can have a proper Thanksgiving! This community is such a lifesaver for figuring out how things actually work in the real world.

This is such a perfect example of why community knowledge is so much more valuable than official channels! I've been on CalFresh for about 6 months now and learned more from this one thread than from all my interactions with customer service combined. The fact that same-day emergency cards are available but not widely advertised is honestly infuriating - how many families have gone hungry waiting for replacements when they could have gotten help immediately? @Astrid Bergström I'm so relieved you got sorted out in time for Thanksgiving! And huge thanks to everyone who shared practical solutions like Claimyr and 211. Saving all of this info because you never know when you'll need it. This is exactly why we need spaces like this where people share real experiences and actual working solutions! 🙏

I don't have WIC (no kids) but good to know about the Friday market in Old Oakland! Thanks for clarifying the different program names too.

Hey Jacob! I'm new to CalFresh and just moved to the Bay Area too (from LA). This thread has been SO helpful - I had no idea about Market Match at all! I'm in San Francisco and wondering if anyone knows which farmers markets here participate? I saw mentions of Oakland and Berkeley markets but nothing about SF specifically. Also, does anyone know if the Castro Farmers Market or the one at UN Plaza do the matching program? My caseworker never mentioned any of this when I applied. It's frustrating how these programs seem like such well-kept secrets when they could really help people like us stretch our food budgets!

I'm glad you're getting some good suggestions here. One last thing to know is that even if it takes time to get the additional cards, P-EBT benefits are retroactive to the eligibility date. So when your children's cards do arrive, they should have the full benefit amount they're entitled to, including for the months you were waiting. Don't worry about losing benefits during this resolution period.

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now! My daughter got her P-EBT card last month but my son who's in the same grade at the same school still hasn't received his. I called our school's main office and they transferred me to the district's food services coordinator who was actually really helpful. She explained that sometimes there are delays when kids have different spellings of their names in different systems (like if the school uses "Michael" but the state records show "Mike"). She was able to verify both my kids were on the submitted list and gave me a reference number to use when I contact the county office. Definitely try the district food services department - they seem to know way more about the P-EBT process than individual school secretaries!