I just went through this exact situation. Called the county about my CalFresh application after waiting 3+ weeks and found out they needed verification documents they never told me about. I used the Claimyr service (claimyr.com) to get through quickly - they connected me directly to a caseworker in about 15 minutes instead of waiting on hold for hours. The worker told me that with a baby, we qualified for expedited CalFresh processing but the system hadn't flagged our application correctly. Got everything sorted in one call and had benefits within 3 days after waiting weeks. Definitely worth calling ASAP.

One additional note: Make sure when you follow up about your CalFresh application that you ask if you qualify for expedited services. With an infant and limited income, you might be eligible to receive benefits within 3 days instead of waiting up to 30 days for regular processing. You'll need to specifically ask about this as sometimes the expedited service eligibility isn't automatically checked. Also, request a benefit calculation breakdown so you understand exactly how your benefit amount is determined.

One more thing to consider: if you decide to go ahead with this, I'd recommend documenting your current inventory and sales patterns before applying. When I helped a client apply, USDA actually asked for 3 months of receipts and inventory records to verify the 50% staple food requirement. They're pretty thorough in their verification process. Also, keep in mind that if you're approved, you'll need an EBT point-of-sale system. Some payment processors include this functionality in their standard systems now, but others charge extra for EBT processing capability.

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!!

wait does he get financial aid?? my caseworker said some of that counts as income now in 2025 so maybe that affected ur benefits too???

UPDATE: I finally got through to our county worker! My son qualified for EOPS at his community college, and we submitted the verification documents through BenefitsCal. They're restoring our full benefit amount for next month AND giving us back the amount we lost this month! The worker said it was an automatic system thing when he turned 18, but the student exemption fixes it. Thanks everyone for your help!!

MAKE SURE you report this!!! These scammers are getting so bold. My neighbor got the same call and they even threatened that her benefits would be CANCELED if she didn't verify her info!! She got scared and gave her info and they wiped her account clean within HOURS. The county told her there's been HUNDREDS of similar reports. The county is supposed to do fraud investigations but they're SO SLOW to respond!!!

Based on all the responses, it's clear this is a scam. To summarize for anyone else reading this thread: 1. Report the scam call to your county CalFresh office 2. Check your EBT balance regularly 3. Set up transaction alerts through the ConnectEBT app 4. Never give personal information to someone who calls you 5. If you suspect fraud, report it immediately (within 10 days) to be eligible for benefit replacement 6. Always call the official numbers directly rather than responding to incoming calls Stay safe everyone!

When i lost my apartmnt i used my aunts adress for mail but told calfresh i was stayin diffrent places with freinds. they just need somwhere to send your EBT card and papers. but your frend should know that calfresh dosent share info with other agencys so it wont affect her housing or anything.

To answer your question about proof - CalFresh may ask for some verification of your living situation, but there are multiple ways to handle this: 1. A simple written statement explaining your temporary housing situation 2. A letter from your friend confirming you stay there (though this sounds like it wouldn't work in your situation) 3. A statement from a community organization familiar with your circumstances 4. Sometimes just your detailed explanation during the interview is sufficient With zero income, you'll also need to explain how you're meeting your basic needs right now. Be prepared to explain you're using savings, help from family/friends, etc. The most important thing is to be completely truthful about your situation while exploring options for the mailing address issue. A PO Box is probably your best bet since it completely separates mail from your friend's address.

When you do try to contact someone about this issue, I'd recommend using Claimyr to get through to a real person instead of the automated system. I was having a similar issue with my daughter's P-EBT card (her name starts with Q) and was getting nowhere with the hotline. I used Claimyr (claimyr.com) and they got me through to a real human at the state office in under 10 minutes. There's a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8. They managed to verify that my daughter's payment was actually processed but had been sent to an old address, so they're reissuing it now.

update: i just got my sons p-ebt payment today!!!! check your accounts everyone with P names!!!

Glad to hear it's working again! For everyone in this thread - this is a good reminder to always have a backup plan for accessing your benefits. Some suggestions: 1. Set up direct deposit for cash aid instead of keeping it on your EBT card 2. Try to keep a small emergency fund when possible 3. Know which grocery stores in your area offer cash back with purchases 4. Save the direct number to your specific eligibility worker if you have one assigned 5. Make sure your contact info is updated with the county so they can notify you of any system issues The CalFresh and CalWORKs systems aren't perfect, but having contingency plans can help reduce stress during these outages.

This happened to me once before back in November. Turns out my card was actually damaged (the magnetic strip was worn out) but I thought it was a system issue because other people were having problems too. If anyone is still having issues after the system comes back online, might be worth requesting a replacement card just to rule that out.

OMG i forgot to mention!!! if u can get your sister to write a letter 2, it helps SOOOOO much. when my cousin wrote a letter saying i lived with him and how much i pay, they approved me in like 3 days!!! make sure she puts her phone # so they can call her if they need 2.

One more thing I wanted to add - when I was helping my mom with her affidavit for CalFresh, the worker told us to make sure we explained WHY we couldn't provide the standard verification they normally ask for. So in your case, you'd want to specifically state why your name isn't on the lease or utility bills. For example, "My name is not on the lease because my sister already had an existing lease when I moved in, and the landlord does not allow additional adults to be added without a new application and increased rent which we cannot afford at this time." This preemptively answers the question of why you can't just provide normal verification and makes the worker's job easier.

I'm curious how someone could steal from your EBT card if you still have it? Was your card skimmed maybe? There's been a lot of reports about skimming devices being placed on ATMs and card readers. Thieves can copy your card information and PIN that way. Make sure when you get your new card, you always check the card reader for anything suspicious before inserting your card.

UPDATE: As of March 2025, California has enhanced protection for EBT theft victims. Under the new rules, counties must process theft claims within 10 calendar days (not business days), and replacement benefits should be issued within 5 days of approval. You're entitled to get back any benefits stolen within the 90 days prior to your report. The county should issue emergency replacement benefits if the theft causes immediate food insecurity. Make sure to specifically mention food insecurity for your children when filing your claim.

weird that it was chicago. when my moms got hacked last year it was from florida. maybe they target california ebt cards specifically??

UPDATE: Just got back from the welfare office. Took 3 hours but they helped me file the EBT-2259 form and said they'll expedite the investigation. They also gave me a referral to a local food bank to help us get through until the benefits are restored. Apparently this is happening A LOT right now - the worker said they're getting dozens of similar reports every week. They think scammers are using card skimmers at stores to steal card info and PINs. Everyone BE CAREFUL with your EBT cards!!