Thank you for this clear explanation! I checked my transaction history and that's exactly what happened - my September benefits came at the end of August. I wish they would make this clearer when they do early deposits. At least now I know what to expect around holidays.

I'm new to CalFresh and this thread has been super helpful! I just want to add that if anyone else is confused about their deposits, you can also check your benefit letter or log into your county's online portal. Mine shows a calendar view of when my benefits will be deposited each month, which has been really useful for planning my grocery budget. Also, I learned that if you ever think there's an error with your deposit amount, you have to report it within 90 days or you might lose the right to get it corrected. Just thought that might be useful info for others navigating this system!

One thing I learned from my case worker that might help others - if you're consistently running out of benefits before your issuance date, you can request an earlier benefit date when you do your recertification. They assign dates based on your case number, but if you can show that an earlier date would help you budget better (like if you get paid mid-month), they can sometimes adjust it. Not all counties do this, but it's worth asking about. Also, if you're working and your income fluctuates, make sure to report any changes - sometimes a small decrease in hours can actually increase your benefit amount significantly.

As someone new to CalFresh, this whole thread has been incredibly helpful! I just got approved last week and my first benefit date is coming up on the 15th. I was stressing about the timing since I wasn't sure when exactly the benefits would be available. It sounds like checking the BenefitsCal app after midnight is the way to go, and knowing it could take up to 2-6am gives me realistic expectations. Also really appreciate all the tips about food pantries, requesting different benefit dates, and making sure I'm getting all the deductions I'm eligible for. This community is amazing - thank you all for sharing your experiences and helping newcomers like me navigate the system!

I'm so sorry this happened to you and your kids. EBT skimming is absolutely out of control right now and it's heartbreaking that families have to go through this. I had my benefits stolen twice in the past 6 months - first time took 38 days to get reimbursed, second time took 47 days. The "30 day" timeline they quote is basically meaningless at this point. A few things that helped me: 1. Call your county CalFresh office directly (not the EBT customer service) and specifically ask for "emergency food assistance due to EBT theft hardship" 2. Mention you have children - they prioritize cases involving kids 3. Ask about the mobile food pantries in your area - many don't require paperwork during emergencies 4. If you qualify for WIC, apply immediately as backup food assistance 5. Document EVERYTHING - dates, times, who you spoke with, case numbers The virtual EBT card in the app is much more secure but honestly the whole system needs an overhaul. Families shouldn't have to choose between rent and food because of criminals targeting the most vulnerable people. Keep calling every few days to check status - sometimes the squeaky wheel gets faster processing. Hang in there! 💙

I'm dealing with the exact same nightmare right now - had $425 stolen from my EBT card on May 8th at some sketchy convenience store I've never even heard of. Filed everything immediately but they're giving me the runaround about "30 days" while my family is struggling to eat. Reading through everyone's experiences here is both helpful and terrifying - sounds like we're all looking at 45-60 days minimum based on what people are actually experiencing. I'm definitely going to try calling my county office directly tomorrow instead of the useless EBT customer service line, and ask specifically about that hardship replacement for 60% of benefits that @Zara Shah mentioned. Also switching to the virtual card ASAP because clearly these physical cards are just targets for thieves. It's absolutely insane that families with kids are expected to just wait months without food assistance because criminals are exploiting a broken system. Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences and tips - at least we're not going through this alone. Going to start documenting every call and visit from now on too.

Just went through this same situation two months ago when I moved from San Diego to Sacramento! Here's what worked for me: I called the P-EBT hotline multiple times (like others mentioned, avoid Monday mornings), and when I finally got through, the rep told me something important that wasn't mentioned here yet - they can put a "temporary hold" on your card mailing if you call within 2 weeks of when your county's cards are supposed to be issued. This gives you extra time to sort out the address situation without losing the card to your old address. For LA County since you're in the November-December window, I'd call ASAP and ask about this hold option. Also, definitely set up informed delivery with USPS so you can track when government mail is coming to your address - it's been a lifesaver for knowing when benefit cards are actually being delivered.

One more thing that might help - if you're having trouble getting through to the P-EBT hotline, you can also try contacting your local county social services office directly. They often have a dedicated P-EBT coordinator who can help with address changes. In LA County, you can call 866-613-3777 and ask to speak with someone about P-EBT address updates. Sometimes the county offices have better availability than the state hotline, and they can make the same updates in the system. Also, keep a record of when you called and who you spoke with - if there are any issues later, having that documentation can really help with getting things resolved faster.