Just wanted to add one more thing that might help - if you're really struggling to get food before your replacement card arrives, you can also look into local food banks or pantries in your area. Many don't require any paperwork and can help bridge the gap while you wait for your new EBT card. You can search for nearby food assistance on 211.org or call 2-1-1. I had to do this once when I was in a similar situation and it really helped. Also, some grocery stores like Walmart and Target allow you to use your EBT card number over the phone for pickup orders even without the physical card, though you'll need to verify with customer service first. Hope this helps!

I went through this exact same situation about 6 months ago! Here's what worked for me: I used the ConnectEBT app like Yuki mentioned - it was SO much easier than dealing with the phone system. For the app, you'll need your EBT card number (which you hopefully remember or have written down somewhere), your ZIP code, and last 4 of SSN. The app let me report it stolen and request a replacement to my new address all in one go. But definitely still call your county office separately to update your address for your actual CalFresh case - that's super important for future notices and renewals. In the meantime, definitely hit up local food banks! Most don't ask for any paperwork and can really help you get through the next week or two. Also, if you have any friends or family who can help with groceries temporarily, don't be too proud to ask - we've all been there. Good luck and I hope you get your replacement card soon!

Hey Liam! I've been following this thread and wanted to add one more consideration - make sure you understand Nevada's background check requirements if you do get approved as a provider. Some states have stricter requirements than others, and the process can take weeks or even months. Also, since you'd be working for a family member, Nevada might have additional documentation requirements to prove the care relationship is legitimate (to prevent fraud). I'd suggest calling Nevada's Medicaid office directly and asking for their "family caregiver" packet or guidelines. Better to know all the hoops upfront than get surprised later!

I'm dealing with a somewhat similar situation helping my grandmother in Riverside County while living in San Bernardino County, and I've learned a few things that might help. First, definitely get clarity from your aunt about what specific program she's enrolled in - "the state" could mean several different things (Medicaid waiver, state-funded programs, etc.) and each has different rules about out-of-state providers. One thing I wish I'd known earlier: some programs require the care recipient to live within a certain radius of the provider's home address, regardless of state lines. In my case, even though both counties are in California, there were still residency requirements I had to navigate. Also, if you do move forward, keep DETAILED records of everything - dates you're in Nevada vs California, all income received, gas receipts if you're claiming travel expenses on taxes, etc. The documentation requirements get intense when you're working across jurisdictions. I use a simple Google Sheets to track it all because my county worker asked for very specific breakdowns during my last review. Have you considered whether your aunt might qualify for any programs that would allow remote check-ins or telehealth support instead? Sometimes there are alternatives that don't require as much physical presence and could simplify the whole situation.

This thread is so reassuring! I just went through the exact same thing last month with my daughter's P-EBT card. It showed up in Informed Delivery on a Wednesday but didn't actually arrive until Friday. I was checking the mailbox obsessively every few hours! One thing I learned from calling the P-EBT hotline (after waiting on hold for over an hour) is that they can actually see in their system when the card was mailed out versus when USPS scanned it for Informed Delivery. The representative told me there's often a 2-3 day gap between those two events during busy periods. Also want to echo what others said about activating immediately - I made the mistake of waiting a week to activate thinking the benefits would still be there, and apparently there are new rules about timing that I wasn't aware of. Luckily everything worked out fine but lesson learned!

This is such a helpful thread! I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - my P-EBT card showed up in Informed Delivery yesterday but still hasn't arrived. Reading everyone's experiences is really reassuring that this seems to be totally normal with the current mail delays. I had no idea about the 30-day activation rule that someone mentioned - that's really important info that I don't think is clearly communicated anywhere! Also didn't know about the 24-hour delay for benefits to become accessible after activation. These are the kinds of details that make such a difference when you're actually trying to use these benefits. Thanks to everyone sharing their timelines and tips. It's so stressful when you're counting on these benefits for groceries, especially with how expensive everything has gotten. This community is amazing for getting real practical advice from people who've actually been through it!

I'm sorry you're going through this - the phone system issues are absolutely maddening! I went through the same nightmare last year and here's what finally worked for me: I contacted my local Legal Aid office and they had a direct contact at the county CalFresh office who could schedule phone interviews outside normal hours. Many Legal Aid organizations have these special relationships with county offices specifically for situations like yours where work schedules conflict with office hours. Also, if you're comfortable sharing which part of Alameda County you're in, some community centers and food banks have CalFresh navigators who can actually make three-way calls with you and the county office. The food bank in my area had someone who could get through to caseworkers way faster than I ever could on my own. One more thing - if your recertification gets delayed because of their phone system failures, make sure to document everything and request "good cause" when you do finally connect. They're supposed to backdate your benefits if the delay was due to their technical issues, not your lack of trying. Don't let them penalize you for problems that are completely out of your control!

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this frustrating situation! The phone system problems are unfortunately widespread right now. Based on what others have shared, I'd recommend trying multiple approaches at once: 1. Try calling using Google Voice or a different phone/carrier as some people mentioned - the connection issues might be carrier-specific 2. Call right at opening time (7:59am if they open at 8am) on a Wednesday 3. Contact your Assembly member's office - they have caseworkers who can get through to CalFresh supervisors directly 4. Email AlamedaRenewal@acgov.org and mention the Flexible Interview Pilot Program for your work schedule conflicts 5. Look into Legal Aid in the Oakland area - they often have direct contacts for after-hours interviews The fact that you're working two jobs and trying so hard to complete your recertification shows you're doing everything right. Don't let their broken system discourage you - there are people and organizations specifically set up to help navigate these exact problems. Keep documenting your attempts and don't give up! Your kids need those benefits and you deserve to get the help you're entitled to without jumping through impossible hoops.

This thread really hits home for me - I just joined this community after my own EBT benefits got stolen last week. Lost $380 that was supposed to last my family the whole month, and like everyone else here, I'm getting the runaround from the county office. What's really eye-opening is reading about how widespread this problem is. I thought I was just unlucky, but it sounds like this is happening to people constantly! The fact that we have "once in a lifetime" reimbursement for something that's clearly a systemic security failure is absolutely ridiculous. I'm definitely going to try some of the protection tips mentioned here - especially only using my card at major grocery stores with cashiers and checking for loose card readers. But honestly, we shouldn't have to become security experts just to keep our food benefits safe. Count me in for any coordinated effort to contact representatives about this. Reading about AB-453 gives me some hope, but we clearly need to put more pressure on politicians to actually prioritize this issue. When families are going hungry because of preventable theft, that should be an emergency, not something to study for years while doing nothing. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences - it's awful that so many of us are dealing with this, but at least we're not alone.

I'm new to this community but unfortunately not new to this problem - my EBT card got skimmed at a corner store last month and I lost $425 in benefits. Reading through all these stories is both validating and heartbreaking. It's clear this isn't just bad luck affecting a few people, it's a massive systemic failure that's leaving families without food. What really struck me is learning about the "once in a lifetime" reimbursement policy. How is that even legal when the theft is happening because of the government's own outdated security system? It's like if your apartment landlord refused to fix broken locks and then told you "tough luck" when you got robbed twice. I'm definitely interested in joining any coordinated effort to push for AB-453 or other solutions. The idea of all of us contacting representatives during the same week sounds smart - maybe we could also share template letters or talking points to make it easier for people to participate? In the meantime, I've started following the safety tips mentioned here. I'm also going to look into that Claimyr service someone mentioned because I've been trying to reach my county office for weeks with no luck. It's ridiculous that we need a third-party service just to talk to the people who are supposed to help us, but here we are. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and advice. At least we know we're not fighting this alone.