I'm going through this exact same situation right now! Got my EBT card yesterday and called to check - completely empty. It's so nerve-wracking when you're planning your grocery budget around those benefits. Reading all these responses is making me feel so much better though. Sounds like this delay between card arrival and benefit loading is totally normal, even if it's super frustrating. I'm going to try calling the EBT customer service line tomorrow morning to see if they can confirm my benefits are "pending" like Diego suggested. Really wish they would update those approval letters to warn people about this timing issue! Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - it helps to know we're not alone in dealing with this.

This is such a helpful thread! I'm a new CalFresh recipient and was wondering about this exact timing issue. My card should be arriving any day now and I was expecting the benefits to be available immediately based on the approval letter. It's really good to know that there's usually a 1-3 day delay after receiving the card before benefits actually load. I'll make sure to plan my grocery shopping accordingly and not panic if the balance shows zero at first. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this kind of real-world info is so much more useful than the official letters that don't explain these details!

This is exactly why I always recommend keeping a detailed log of every interaction with CalFresh - date, time, worker name/ID, what was discussed, and any reference numbers. It's saved me so many times when workers claim they never received something or that I was told something different. Also, if you're comfortable sharing, what county are you in? Some counties have better phone systems than others - like LA County has a callback option now where you don't have to stay on hold. And definitely follow up on that appeal advice from Diego - they absolutely cannot cut benefits without proper notice specifying exactly what's missing. The fact that your letter just said "missing verification" with no details is a clear procedural violation.

I'm so sorry you're going through this - the 3+ hour wait times are absolutely ridiculous and shouldn't be normal in 2025. I'm dealing with something similar right now where my case worker seems to have "lost" my recertification paperwork even though I submitted everything on time through the portal. One thing that's helped me is taking screenshots of EVERYTHING when I upload documents - the confirmation page, the timestamp, even the file names. I also learned you can request a "telephonic hearing" for your appeal which means you don't have to take another day off work to go to the office in person. And definitely ask for that Case Review Conference that others mentioned - it's way faster than a formal appeal. The system is completely broken and it's designed to wear us down until we give up. But don't let them win - your kids deserve those benefits and you've earned them through your work. Keep fighting and document everything. You've got this! 💪

Quick update on timelines from my experience: CARE/FERA approval usually takes 1-2 weeks and is applied to your next bill. LIHEAP can take 4-6 weeks but they can expedite in emergency situations, especially with disconnection notices. Also, since you mentioned having children, check if you qualify for CalWORKs - unlike CalFresh, they do offer limited assistance with utility emergencies through their emergency assistance programs. Worth looking into if you meet the income requirements.

Another resource to check out is your local Salvation Army and Catholic Charities - they often have emergency utility assistance funds that can be processed much faster than government programs. I've seen them help people within 24-48 hours in crisis situations. Also, if you're a veteran or have a veteran in your household, there are specific utility assistance programs through organizations like Veterans Community Living Centers that work really quickly. And don't forget to ask PG&E about their budget billing program once you get through this crisis - it spreads your annual costs over 12 equal payments so you don't get these shocking high winter bills. Hang in there, you've got this!

I just wanted to thank everyone for the helpful information! I reported my rent and utility increases to the county yesterday and they said my benefits might increase next month. Much better than waiting for a stimulus that doesn't exist! 😊

As a newcomer here, I really appreciate this thorough discussion! I was about to fall for one of those misleading articles myself. It's so helpful to see experienced community members clarifying these myths. I'm curious though - for those of us who are struggling with rising food costs, are there any other California-specific programs we should know about besides CFAP? I keep hearing about different county-level assistance but it's hard to know what's legitimate vs what's outdated information online.

my sister works for the county and she says they r SUPER behind right now cuz of staff shortages so thats probs why ur waiting so long

UPDATE: I went to the county office this morning and waited about 2 hours, but it was worth it! Turns out they had been trying to call me for an interview but the number in their system (not BenefitsCal) was wrong - they had transposed two digits. The worker did my interview right there and approved me on the spot since I had all my documents with me. She said my EBT card should arrive in 7-10 days and my benefits will be available as soon as I activate it! So relieved!