I'm new to this community but wanted to share my recent experience that might help! I had to get an EBT card replacement at the Fresno DSS office just last month. Everything everyone has said is accurate - definitely go in person! One additional tip: if you're bringing your kids and worried about them getting restless, there are actually some coloring books and crayons available at the front desk that you can ask for. The staff keeps them specifically for families with children who have to wait. Also, I noticed they have a "fast track" option for certain emergency situations - when you check in, mention that your card was stolen and you have kids at home with no food. Sometimes they can expedite these cases. The morning really is the best time to go - I was there at 8:15am and out by 9:45am. You've got this! Your quick thinking to reach out to this community and plan to go in person shows you're handling this crisis exactly right.

I'm so sorry this happened to you! As someone who just went through this exact situation in Fresno about two weeks ago, I can confirm everything everyone is saying - definitely go in person to the DSS office tomorrow morning! I got there at 7:45am and was out by 10:15am with my new card in hand. Just wanted to add a couple things that helped me: bring a phone charger or portable battery pack since you might be there for a while, and if you have any documentation about reporting the theft (like a police report number or the EBT customer service case number from when you called), bring that too - it can help speed up the process. The staff was really understanding about my situation and even gave me some resource pamphlets about identity theft protection. Your balance will definitely transfer immediately and you can use the card right away. Hang in there - you're doing everything right and your kids will have food soon! This community has been amazing with all the detailed advice. 💙

Hey is anyone still having trouble withdrawing cash from the ATMs or is it just me only?

Hey @Chippale! I haven't tried withdrawing cash recently, but based on all the issues people have been having with EBT cards in this thread, it could be related to the same security flag problems. If your card is working for purchases but not ATM withdrawals, that might be a different issue though. Have you tried calling that EBT customer service number (1-877-328-9677) that everyone's been recommending? They should be able to tell you if there are any restrictions on your account or if there's a system-wide issue with ATM withdrawals. Also, some ATMs have daily withdrawal limits for EBT cards that are separate from your balance - usually around $40-60 per day depending on the machine. Let us know what you find out!

I'm so glad you asked this question! As someone who just got approved for CalFresh a few weeks ago, I had the exact same confusion and anxiety. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful and reassuring. It's amazing how much misinformation is out there - I think a lot of people confuse CalFresh/SNAP rules with other programs like WIC that have stricter guidelines. What really stands out to me from everyone's comments is how the EBT system itself makes it simple - if something isn't covered, it just gets separated out at checkout, no drama involved. I love seeing this community support newcomers like us and provide such clear, practical advice. It's given me the confidence to stop overthinking every purchase and just focus on feeding my family well, treats included!

I'm also new to CalFresh and had this exact same worry! What really helped me was understanding that the program is intentionally designed to give families dignity and choice in their food purchases. I was initially hesitant about buying anything that seemed "unnecessary," but then I realized that occasional treats are part of normal family life and childhood experiences. My kids were so excited when I was finally able to get them some cookies and juice boxes like their classmates have - it's those little things that help them feel included and normal during what's already a stressful time for our family. The EBT system really does make it straightforward - everything that's eligible will go through automatically, and if something isn't covered, it just gets separated out without any fuss. Don't let anyone make you feel guilty about using your benefits to feed your family the way you see fit. Summer treats for your kids sound perfectly reasonable and they deserve those little joys just like any other children!

I'm new to CalFresh and this thread is really helpful - I had no idea weekend delays were a thing! My benefits are supposed to load on the 15th this month which falls on a Saturday. Based on what everyone's saying here, should I expect it to actually come on Monday the 17th instead? I'm trying to plan my grocery shopping and don't want to end up in the same stressful situation. Also, is there any way to find out ahead of time if your county tends to have these weekend delays, or do you just have to learn from experience?

This is such a common issue and it's really frustrating that CalFresh doesn't clearly communicate the weekend delay pattern. I've been receiving benefits for about a year now and have noticed that Saturday deposits almost always get pushed to Monday, despite what the official policy says. What really helped me was starting to track my deposit dates and patterns in a simple notebook - after a few months I could predict when delays would happen. For anyone dealing with this regularly, I also recommend checking if your local food banks have weekend hours or emergency food programs. Many offer Saturday distributions specifically because they know about these EBT delays. It shouldn't be necessary, but having that backup option has been a lifesaver when my kids needed meals and the benefits were delayed. The system definitely needs to be more transparent about these delays instead of leaving families scrambling!

UPDATE: So I tried using my card at Food 4 Less to buy groceries, and it worked perfectly fine! So the card isn't damaged after all. I checked my account again and my CalWORKs payment is now scheduled for tomorrow (it shows as pending). Looks like I just got confused about the payment dates and tried using it for cash too early. Thanks everyone for your help!

Just wanted to say thanks to everyone for being so helpful! I'm pretty new to using both CalFresh and CalWORKs benefits and honestly the whole system is confusing to navigate. It's really reassuring to know there's a community here where people share their experiences and help each other out. I was panicking thinking my card was broken and I wouldn't be able to feed my kids, but now I understand how the different benefit schedules work. This has been a huge learning experience!