I work at a county eligibility office and can confirm most of what's been shared here is accurate. A few additional points that might help: 1. The travel reimbursement form is officially called "MC 382" in most counties, though some use local variations. If you call and ask for "MC 382" or "travel expense claim form" they should know what you mean. 2. The distance threshold varies by county but is typically 3-5 miles ONE WAY from your residence to the office. They calculate this using official mapping software, not just what you estimate. 3. For initial applications like yours, you do need to attend in person, but if there are genuine hardship issues (no transportation, disability, etc.) supervisors can sometimes approve phone interviews on a case-by-case basis. 4. Pro tip: If you're denied reimbursement, you can request a supervisor review. Sometimes front desk staff aren't fully trained on the policy nuances. The system definitely could be more transparent about these benefits. Good luck with your interview!

This thread has been so helpful! I'm in a similar situation - have my CalFresh interview next week and the office is about 8 miles away. I've been stressing about the transportation cost since I'm between jobs right now. One question I haven't seen addressed - if you're carpooling with someone else who also has an interview (like a family member), can you both claim mileage reimbursement for the same trip? Or do they only reimburse one person per vehicle? My sister and I both need to go in for our interviews on the same day and we were planning to drive together to save gas money. Also, does anyone know if there's a maximum amount they'll reimburse per trip? At 67¢/mile for 16 miles round trip, that would be about $10.72, which would really help right now. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this community is a lifesaver when the official system is so hard to navigate!

This whole discussion has been such a learning experience for me! I just started receiving CalFresh benefits about 5 weeks ago and honestly had no idea that system delays like this were even possible. When I got my first two deposits right on schedule, I just assumed it would always work that way. Miguel, I'm so relieved your benefits finally came through - that must have been incredibly stressful waiting and not knowing what was wrong! Reading through everyone's advice has given me such a better understanding of how the system actually works. I had never heard of SAR7 reports, didn't know about system updates causing delays, and definitely didn't know about services like Claimyr. The tip about calling county offices first thing in the morning is going straight into my notes - I'm terrible at timing phone calls and always seem to call during the busiest times. What really stands out to me is how supportive everyone is here. Instead of just commiserating about how frustrating the system can be (which it clearly is!), people jumped in with actual solutions and resources. As someone still figuring out all the rules and requirements, having access to this kind of community knowledge makes the whole process feel so much less intimidating. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences - it's given me so much confidence that if issues come up, there are ways to resolve them and people willing to help!

I'm completely new to CalFresh (literally just got my first benefits loaded last week) and this thread has been absolutely invaluable! Miguel, I'm so glad everything worked out for you - reading about your situation initially scared me because I had no idea system delays were even a possibility. What really impresses me about this community is how everyone immediately jumped in with concrete, actionable advice rather than just general sympathy. I've learned so much from reading through all these responses - from understanding that system updates can cause delays, to learning about resources like Claimyr, to getting practical tips like calling county offices first thing in the morning. The documentation advice from Freya is especially smart - I'm definitely going to start keeping better records of everything. As someone who's still figuring out all the rules and requirements, it's incredibly reassuring to know that there's a community of people who've navigated these challenges before and are willing to share their knowledge. The fact that Miguel's story had a happy ending gives me confidence that even when scary situations arise, there are usually solutions if you stay persistent and know where to get help. Thank you to everyone who contributed to making this such an educational and supportive discussion!

This thread has been absolutely amazing to read through! I'm completely new to CalFresh (just got my approval letter yesterday actually!) and stumbled across this community while doing research about what to expect. Reading about @StellarSurfer's experience with the processing delay was initially a bit scary since I had no idea this could happen, but seeing how quickly everyone rallied with support and practical solutions really shows what an incredible resource this community is. The detailed explanation from @GalacticGladiator about the three possible causes is exactly the kind of insider knowledge you just can't get from official government sources, and the Claimyr tip from @Aisha Hussain is definitely going in my bookmarks for future reference. What really impressed me most was how @StellarSurfer, @Zara Malik, and @Sean Kelly all came back with updates once their benefits appeared - that follow-through is so valuable for people who might face this same issue in the future. As someone who's about to navigate this system for the first time, it's incredibly reassuring to know there's a community of experienced members who are willing to share both their knowledge and their support. Thanks to everyone for creating such a welcoming and helpful environment - I'm grateful to have found this place before I even get my first deposit!

This thread has been such an eye-opener for me! I've been on CalFresh for about 8 months now and haven't experienced this processing delay yet, but I'm so grateful to have learned about it through everyone's shared experiences. What really struck me was how @StellarSurfer's initial panic (which I totally would have felt too!) turned into such a valuable resource for the entire community. The way @GalacticGladiator broke down the three possible causes and @Aisha Hussain shared that Claimyr resource - these are the kinds of practical insights that make all the difference when you're actually dealing with these systems. It's also really comforting to hear from @Seraphina Delan that this is just a normal quirk that happens a few times a year rather than a sign of serious problems. The follow-up updates from everyone once their benefits appeared were incredibly helpful too - knowing it took about 36 hours gives such valuable context for anyone who faces this in the future. This is exactly why I love this community - people don't just share problems, they share solutions and support each other through the stressful parts of navigating these government systems. Thanks to everyone for turning what could have been a really scary situation into such a comprehensive learning resource!

This whole thread has been a lifesaver! I'm dealing with the exact same issue right now - my EBT card worked fine last week and suddenly started getting declined at every ATM I tried. I was starting to panic thinking there was something wrong with my benefits, but reading through everyone's experiences has really helped calm my nerves and given me a solid action plan. @Chloe Green - Your insider tips are pure gold! I had no idea that calling during off-peak hours made such a difference, and the reminder about selecting "Cash" vs "Food" at the ATM is exactly what I needed to hear. I can totally see myself making that mistake when I'm stressed out. @Nia Watson - I'm definitely checking ebtEDGE.com first thing tomorrow before trying anything else. Having that account status info ahead of time sounds like it could save me a lot of frustration. It's so reassuring to know that most of these issues can be resolved with just a phone call to the right person. The EBT system really could be designed to be less confusing, especially when people are already dealing with financial stress. Thanks to everyone for sharing your experiences and solutions - this community is amazing!

I'm new to this community but had to jump in because I'm literally going through this exact same situation right now! My EBT card was working perfectly fine until yesterday, and now it's getting declined everywhere I try to use it. I was starting to panic thinking my benefits got cut off or something. Reading through all these responses has been such a relief - knowing that this is a common issue and that there are actual solutions. @Chloe Green, thank you so much for the insider perspective! The tip about calling during off-peak hours is invaluable, and I definitely would have made the mistake of selecting "Food" instead of "Cash" at the ATM. @Nia Watson, I had never heard of ebtEDGE.com before but that sounds like the perfect first step to check what's actually going on with my account before I start making calls or visits. It's honestly frustrating that this system is so prone to these kinds of issues, especially when people are depending on these benefits for basic needs. But I'm grateful to have found this community where people actually share helpful, practical advice instead of just complaining. Going to try the early morning call strategy tomorrow!

I'm completely new to CalFresh and just got my approval letter this week! My deposit date is the 25th and I was absolutely planning to stay up until midnight to check - this thread has saved me so much unnecessary waiting! It's incredible how consistent that 4-5 AM window seems to be across all the different counties everyone has mentioned. I've already downloaded the ebtEDGE app based on all the recommendations here, and I'm taking notes on all the practical tips about calling stores ahead to check their EBT systems and being aware of early morning self-checkout limitations. These real-world insights are exactly what you don't get from the official paperwork! As someone who's never used any government benefits before, reading everyone's detailed experiences has made me feel so much more prepared and confident. The consistency across LA, Sacramento, Orange County, Fresno, and all the other places people have shared from is really reassuring. Thank you all for creating such a helpful and welcoming community for newcomers like me! Looking forward to my first deposit and putting all this great advice to use.

I'm also brand new to CalFresh - just got my approval letter yesterday and my deposit date is the 28th! This entire thread has been absolutely invaluable for setting realistic expectations. Like literally everyone else here, I was 100% planning to check at midnight, but seeing the overwhelming consensus about that 4-5 AM window from people across so many different counties has completely changed my approach. Already downloaded the ebtEDGE app based on all the strong recommendations, and I'm definitely keeping notes on all the practical tips - especially calling ahead to verify store EBT systems are working and being aware of early morning self-checkout limitations. These are exactly the kinds of real-world details that don't come with any of the official paperwork! As someone who's never navigated government benefits before, reading everyone's firsthand experiences has been like getting a crash course in how this actually works in practice. The timing consistency from LA to Sacramento to Orange County and everywhere in between is so reassuring. This community is incredible - thank you all for being so welcoming and sharing such detailed, helpful information for newcomers like me! 🙂