UPDATE: I wanted to thank everyone for their helpful advice! I ended up trying a few different things. First, I tried Firefox instead of Chrome like someone suggested, but still had the same issue. Then I used Claimyr to get through to my county office (it really did work!) and spoke with a worker who confirmed there's a system update happening that's affected some accounts. She helped me submit my recertification over the phone and also sent me an email confirmation that my benefits won't be discontinued while they resolve the technical issue. I also printed and filled out the SAWS 2 Plus form as a backup and dropped it off at the county office dropbox (with photos for proof like someone suggested). Such a relief to have this figured out! Thanks again to everyone who helped.

So glad to hear you got it resolved! This is exactly why I love this community - everyone jumps in to help when someone's struggling with the system. Your update will definitely help other people who run into the same issue. It's crazy that these system updates cause so much stress for people who are just trying to keep their benefits, but at least now we know what to expect and have multiple backup plans. Thanks for taking the time to update us on what worked!

hey just wonderin - do u get paid differently for community hours vs home hours? cuz thats what would affect calfresh not where u clock in

As someone who's been through CalFresh recertification multiple times while working in caregiving, I can confirm what others have said - you're overthinking this! CalFresh only cares about your total gross income, not the specifics of how your employer tracks your time. The key things for your upcoming recertification: 1) Report your actual gross income from paystubs accurately, 2) Keep all paystubs for at least 30 days before your recert appointment, and 3) If your monthly income varies a lot, check your IRT on your approval notice like Mohammed mentioned. Your employer's clocking procedures are completely separate from CalFresh reporting. Get clarity from your supervisor for your own peace of mind and to follow company policy, but don't stress about it affecting your benefits. You've got this!

just 2 add something else - if ur in a food desert area (not many grocery options nearby) u might get more consideration. my friend has a small market in south LA and they got approved faster cuz they were in an area with limited food options. might be worth mentioning if thats ur situation!!

I'm new to this community but wanted to share my experience from when I helped my family's deli navigate this process last year. One thing that hasn't been mentioned yet is that California specifically has some additional state-level requirements beyond the federal USDA ones. You'll also need to register with the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) and they have their own inspection process. They're pretty strict about food handling certifications and will want to see that your grocery section meets state food safety standards separately from your restaurant operations. Also, if you do decide to expand your grocery section to meet the 50% requirement, consider focusing on items that have good shelf life and turnover - things like pasta, rice, canned goods, and basic household staples. These tend to be easier to manage inventory-wise than fresh produce, especially when you're primarily running a pizza business. The whole process took us about 4 months from application to approval, and that was with everything going smoothly. But it has been worth it for bringing in new customers who appreciate having a local option that accepts their benefits.

i herd they might do a P-EBT 5.0 for last school year too (2023-2024) but not sure if its true. anybody know?

Just wanted to add that if you're having trouble activating your P-EBT 4.0 card, you can also try activating it online at ebtedge.com rather than calling. I had the same issue with long hold times, but the website worked immediately. You'll need your card number and some basic info like your ZIP code. Also, don't worry if the card looks different from your regular EBT - the P-EBT cards often have different designs but work at all the same places. The benefits are retroactive for the 2022-2023 school year, so even though it's 2025 now, you're not missing out on anything by just receiving it!

I'm in San Bernardino County and still waiting for mine too! My benefits load on the 12th so I was getting really worried, but after reading all these comments I feel so much better knowing my old card will keep working. It sounds like they're really moving south through the counties systematically. Has anyone from San Bernardino or Imperial counties gotten theirs yet? Also thanks to everyone who shared that EBT customer service number - I'm definitely going to try calling them instead of my local office which never picks up!

I'm in Kern County and just wanted to add my experience for anyone else still waiting! Got my new card 3 days ago and the activation was super smooth. Like others mentioned, it came in a plain white envelope that looked like junk mail. The new blue card definitely looks more official than the old yellow one. One thing I wanted to mention that I haven't seen others talk about - when I activated the new card, I got a text message confirmation which was nice. Also, I tested both cards at the store the same day (before the old one got deactivated) and the new chip reader is noticeably faster than swiping the old magnetic strip. For anyone in the Central Valley counties still waiting, it looks like they're definitely working their way south. The EBT customer service line (1-877-328-9677) was able to give me the exact week my county was scheduled which helped ease my anxiety a lot. Don't stress if yours is running a few days behind what your worker estimated - seems like the rollout has some natural delays but your benefits are totally safe with the old card until you're ready to switch!