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As a new member here, I just wanted to say how incredibly helpful this entire thread has been! @Jasmine Quinn, I'm so glad you were able to get your card reactivated - what a relief that must have been! The data matching issue with your old employer really shows how these automated systems can create problems out of nowhere. I'm bookmarking Claimyr for sure after seeing how well it worked for you. It's honestly shocking that these random card deactivations are so common, but it's reassuring to see there are real solutions when you know where to look. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences and advice - this is exactly the kind of community support that makes navigating these complex systems so much easier!
Hi @Nia Williams! I'm also brand new to this community and have been reading through this entire thread with fascination. Like everyone else, I had no idea these kinds of random EBT card deactivations were so common! @Jasmine Quinn s'experience with the old employer data match is really eye-opening - it makes me worried about what random flags might be lurking in my own file. I m'definitely going to save the Claimyr link that @Anthony Young shared. It s amazing'how this one thread has turned into such a comprehensive resource for dealing with CalFresh system issues. Thank you to everyone who took the time to share their experiences and solutions - as someone just getting started with these benefits, this kind of community knowledge is invaluable!
Wow, what a journey this thread has been to read through! As someone completely new to both CalFresh and this community, I'm honestly blown away by how supportive everyone has been. @Jasmine Quinn, I'm so relieved you got your card working again - the stress of having your benefits suddenly cut off with kids to feed must have been overwhelming. The fact that it was caused by a data match with an employer from over a year ago really highlights how these automated systems can create chaos from the smallest discrepancies. I had absolutely no idea that services like Claimyr existed until @Anthony Young mentioned it - that's going straight into my emergency toolkit! Reading through everyone's experiences has been both alarming (these random deactivations seem way too common) and reassuring (there are real solutions when you know where to look). Thank you to this entire community for sharing your knowledge and supporting each other through these frustrating system glitches. This thread is going to be a lifesaver for anyone who faces similar issues in the future!
Hi @Miguel Herrera! I just joined this community too and have been reading through this whole thread - it's been such an education! Like you, I'm completely new to CalFresh and had no clue these random card deactivations were even a thing. @Jasmine Quinn s'story really shows how quickly things can go wrong through no fault of your own - that old employer data match is terrifying to think about. I m'definitely saving all the resources people have shared here, especially Claimyr since @Anthony Young s recommendation'seems to have been the game-changer. It s both'scary and comforting to know that while these system glitches happen frequently, there are people in this community who ve figured'out how to navigate them. Thanks to everyone for being so generous with sharing their experiences - as newcomers, we re really'lucky to have found such a supportive group!
Welcome to the community! As someone who's been navigating CalFresh for a while now, I just wanted to add that Grocery Outlet is definitely one of my go-to stores for stretching benefits. Yes, they accept EBT at all California locations! One thing I've learned is to bring a calculator or use your phone calculator while shopping - since their inventory changes so much, it helps to keep track of your spending as you go. Also, don't be afraid to ask at customer service if you're unsure about whether something is EBT eligible - they're usually pretty helpful. The combination of their already low prices plus your CalFresh benefits can really make a difference in your monthly food budget. Good luck with your shopping!
Thanks for the warm welcome and the calculator tip! That's really smart - I never thought about tracking spending as I go, especially since their prices can vary so much from regular stores. I'm definitely going to try that when I shop there this week. It's so helpful to have practical advice from people who've been doing this longer. This community really makes navigating CalFresh feel less overwhelming!
Welcome to the community! I'm also pretty new to using CalFresh and this thread has been such a lifesaver. I had no idea Grocery Outlet accepted EBT - I've been sticking to the big chain stores and struggling to make my benefits last. Reading about all these shopping strategies (the Tuesday/Wednesday delivery timing, manager's specials with colored stickers, bringing a calculator) is opening my eyes to so many possibilities I never considered. It's honestly a relief to find a community where people share practical tips instead of just venting. I'm planning to check out my local Grocery Outlet this week and will definitely keep all your advice in mind. Thank you all for being so welcoming and helpful - it really means a lot when you're trying to figure all this out!
Do you know if this applies to CalWorks benefits too? My sister had money stolen from her cash aid last month and shes still fighting to get it back...
Yes, CalWorks (cash aid) has similar protections, but the process is slightly different. For CalWorks fraud, she should contact her specific county office and ask for the
@629ba60c4776 Yes, CalWorks cash benefits have similar fraud protections! Your sister should contact her county's CalWorks office directly and ask to speak with a fraud investigator. She'll need to file Form CW 8572 (Statement of Facts for Cash Aid EBT Card Transactions) and provide documentation of the unauthorized transactions. The key is getting that form submitted as soon as possible - counties are required to investigate within 30 days of receiving it. If she's having trouble with her local office, she can also contact the CalWorks State Hearing process for additional support. Hope this helps her situation!
So glad you got it resolved! This is exactly why I always screenshot or print the promotion details before going to stores - it helps when you need to advocate for yourself with managers. Mother's Market promotions are usually really good for stretching benefits, so it's worth the extra effort to make sure they honor them correctly. Thanks for sharing the update!
This is such a helpful tip about screenshotting the promotion details! I never thought of doing that but it would definitely give you something concrete to show the cashier or manager. I'm still pretty new to using CalFresh and learning all these strategies for making the most of my benefits. It's reassuring to know that other people have figured out ways to navigate these situations successfully. Thanks for sharing that advice!
This thread is so helpful! I had no idea that CalFresh could be used at places like Mother's Market - I've been limiting myself to just the big chain grocery stores. And the tip about screenshotting promotions is brilliant. I'm going to start doing that for any store deals I want to try. It's really encouraging to see how everyone came together to help solve this issue and share knowledge about navigating EBT with different retailers and promotions.
Miguel Herrera
This is really helpful information! I'm new to CalFresh and honestly didn't know that system errors could cause benefit reductions like this. It's reassuring to hear that when there's a legitimate mistake, they do fix it and reimburse the difference. I've been worried about similar issues since I keep hearing conflicting information from different people. Thanks for sharing your experience and for following up with the resolution - it really helps those of us who are still learning how all this works!
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Diego Vargas
•Welcome to the community! Don't worry, we were all new to this at some point. The system can definitely be confusing at first, but you'll get the hang of it. One thing I've learned is to always keep track of your benefit amounts and check your account regularly - that way you'll notice right away if something seems off like Paolo did. And don't hesitate to ask questions here - everyone's really helpful and shares their experiences. The CalFresh system has its quirks, but when there are genuine errors, they do make it right once you get through to them.
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Donna Cline
This whole thread is so helpful! I'm glad you got your issue resolved, Paolo. I've been on CalFresh for about 6 months now and this is exactly the kind of information I needed to see. I had no idea that system errors could cause benefit reductions, but it makes sense that they would fix it once you contact them. I've been paranoid about checking my balance constantly because I keep hearing horror stories from people, but most of the time it sounds like there's a reasonable explanation. It's good to know that if something seems wrong, the best thing to do is just call and ask rather than assume the worst. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this community is really valuable for people like me who are still figuring everything out!
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Carter Holmes
•I'm glad this thread helped you too! As someone who's been on CalFresh for a while now, I can totally relate to that constant worry about benefit amounts. It's really easy to get anxious when you hear all these different stories floating around. What I've learned is that most of the time when something seems off, there's usually a simple explanation - whether it's a system glitch like Paolo experienced, an unreported income change, or just forgetting about a purchase you made. The key is definitely to contact your worker sooner rather than later if you notice anything unusual. And you're absolutely right about this community being valuable - I've learned so much from everyone's shared experiences here!
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