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I'm really glad I found this thread! I'm pretty new to receiving CalFresh benefits (just got my first card about 3 weeks ago) and honestly had no idea that EBT fraud was such a big issue. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been both terrifying and incredibly helpful. @Ava Thompson - Thank goodness you acted so quickly with the freeze! That could have saved you from losing everything. I can't imagine how stressful that must have been. After reading all these stories, I realize I've been way too careless with my EBT card. I've been using it at random gas stations and small shops without thinking twice about it. I'm definitely going to: 1. Set up those text alerts immediately 2. Start using the freeze/unfreeze feature between shopping trips 3. Be way more careful about inspecting card readers before using them 4. Stick to major grocery stores for my big shopping trips One question - has anyone noticed if certain times of day are safer for EBT transactions? Like, are scammers more likely to place skimmers during overnight hours when there's less staff around to notice? I usually do my grocery shopping late at night because the stores are less crowded, but now I'm wondering if I should switch to daytime shopping for security reasons. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and tips. This community is such a valuable resource for people like me who are still learning how to navigate the CalFresh system safely!
Welcome to the community @Alberto Souchard! Your question about timing is really smart - I hadn't thought about that angle before. From what I've observed, skimmers are usually placed during busy periods when staff are distracted, not necessarily during overnight hours. Late night shopping at major chains is probably still relatively safe since they have security cameras and overnight staff. That said, if you do switch to daytime shopping, you might have the advantage of more staff around to notice if something looks off with the card readers. Plus, during busy periods, store employees are more likely to be regularly checking and maintaining their equipment. The most important thing is still those precautions everyone mentioned - inspecting the reader, covering your PIN, and using chip readers when available. Time of day probably matters less than the location and your vigilance. But if switching to daytime makes you feel more secure, that's totally valid too! You're being really proactive about this, which is great. Better to be overly cautious than to end up in @Ava Thompson s'situation though (she handled it perfectly! .)
As someone who recently went through a similar scare with my EBT card, I can't stress enough how important it is to act fast like you did @Ava Thompson! I'm so relieved you were able to freeze your card before any benefits were stolen. For anyone new to CalFresh reading this thread - please don't let these stories scare you away from using your benefits, but definitely take the security precautions seriously. Here are a few additional tips I've learned: 1. **Save the EBT customer service number in your phone** - Don't wait until there's an emergency to look it up 2. **Take a photo of your card (front only, never the back with security code)** - This makes it easier to reference your card number when calling customer service 3. **Keep receipts for a few days after shopping** - If there are any discrepancies, you'll have proof of legitimate transactions The rise in EBT fraud is really concerning, but this community sharing experiences and tips like this is so valuable. Knowledge is power when it comes to protecting our benefits! @Ava Thompson - Thanks for sharing your experience and keeping us updated. Your story will definitely help other people know exactly what to do if this happens to them.
This is such great advice @Emma Davis! I'm also relatively new to receiving CalFresh benefits and this whole thread has been incredibly educational (and yes, a little scary!). The tip about saving the EBT customer service number is brilliant - I never would have thought to do that proactively. I love how supportive this community is. Everyone sharing their experiences and tips is helping newcomers like me learn how to protect our benefits before something bad happens. It's so much better to be prepared than to learn these lessons the hard way. @Ava Thompson your quick thinking really saved the day! The fact that you froze your card immediately when you saw something suspicious shows how important it is to trust your instincts. I m'definitely going to start checking my balance more frequently and setting up all those security features people have mentioned. Thanks to everyone who has contributed to this discussion - you re'all helping to protect our entire community from fraud!
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Just wanted to add that if you're ever traveling or temporarily staying somewhere else, your benefits will still load on your regular day regardless of where you are! I was worried about this when I had to stay with family in another county for a few weeks, but everything worked normally. Also, pro tip - if you're ever unsure about whether a store accepts EBT, most grocery store websites have a "payment methods" section that lists if they accept SNAP/EBT. This saved me from some embarrassing situations when I was new to the program. The first few months are definitely the hardest while you're learning everything, but it gets so much easier!
That's really reassuring to know about the benefits working when traveling! I was actually wondering about that since I might need to visit family in another state next month. And the tip about checking store websites for payment methods is super smart - I've definitely had those awkward moments at checkout where I wasn't sure if a place took EBT. It's so comforting to hear from everyone that those first few months of confusion are totally normal. This whole thread has been incredibly helpful for getting oriented with the program!
This thread has been so incredibly helpful! As someone who just got approved for CalFresh last week, I was completely lost about when benefits would load. The last digit system makes perfect sense now - my case number ends in 2, so I'll be getting benefits on the 2nd of each month. I've already downloaded the EBT Connect app and set up my BenefitsCal account. It's amazing how much clearer everything becomes when you have people explaining the real-world aspects that aren't covered in the official paperwork. Thank you all for being so welcoming and sharing your experiences - it makes navigating this whole system feel much less overwhelming!
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UPDATE: I had my interview this morning and explained the family emergency situation. They're going to restore my benefits under the 'good cause' provision! The worker said there might be a slight delay, but I should get my full benefit amount for next month. She also explained that the payment I get on the 25th is actually from the CAPI program for my elderly mother who lives with us, not P-EBT or CalFresh. So that would have continued regardless. Thank you everyone for your help and advice! And special thanks to whoever recommended Claimyr - that's the only reason I got through to reschedule my interview so quickly.
So glad it worked out for you!! The system is complicated and it's easy to get confused between different benefits. Glad you got it straightened out!
That's awesome news! Really happy to hear they approved the good cause restoration. It's such a relief when the system actually works in our favor for once. Your story will probably help other people in similar situations too - knowing that family emergencies can qualify for good cause and that there are resources like Claimyr to help get through to the county offices. Thanks for posting the update!
This is such a great outcome! As someone new to navigating the CalFresh system, it's really helpful to see how this all played out. I had no idea about the "good cause" provision or that there were services like Claimyr to help get through to county offices. The fact that you were able to get your benefits restored and figured out which program was providing those 25th payments shows how important it is to ask questions and get clarity. Thanks for sharing your experience - definitely bookmarking this thread for future reference!
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Hi Melaena! The RAMP (Restaurant Meals Program) allows eligible CalFresh recipients to use their EBT cards at participating restaurants. For Blackstone Avenue in Fresno specifically, I'd recommend checking the official CalFresh website or calling your local county office at (559) 600-2060 for the most current list of participating locations. Restaurant participation can change, so it's best to get up-to-date information. You can also look for "CalFresh EBT Accepted Here" signs at restaurants along Blackstone. Common chains that often participate include Subway, Carl's Jr., and some pizza places, but each location needs to be individually approved. Hope this helps!
Natasha Romanova
Just wanted to add another data point for folks dealing with delays - I'm in LA County and my benefits typically post on the 8th of each month (case number ends in 6). But when I first got approved last year, it took almost 2 weeks because there was an issue with my SSN verification that nobody told me about. The automated phone system kept saying "benefits will be available soon" but gave no real info. Only found out what the actual problem was when I finally got through to a caseworker. So definitely push to speak with a real person if you're experiencing delays - the automated systems don't tell you if there are specific holds or issues on your account.
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Isabella Oliveira
•@Natasha Romanova thanks for sharing that! The SSN verification issue is something I haven t'heard mentioned before but makes total sense as a potential delay. It s'so frustrating that the automated system doesn t'give you any specifics about what s'actually holding things up. Just joined this community and already learning so much from everyone s'experiences. Definitely going to push for a real person when I call about my delayed benefits instead of just accepting the soon "response." This kind of detailed info is exactly what new people like me need to know!
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Gabriel Graham
Just wanted to share my recent experience for anyone else dealing with delays - I had a similar situation where my benefits were delayed for over a week after approval. Turned out my case was flagged because I had moved counties between my old CalFresh case and my new application, even though the old case was from 3 years ago! The worker had to manually clear the flag and my benefits posted the next day. Pro tip: when you call, ask specifically if there are any "system flags" or "holds" on your account - don't just accept "benefits coming soon." Also, if you're calling and getting disconnected constantly, try calling your local office directly instead of the main county number. Sometimes the local offices have shorter wait times. Hope this helps someone!
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Connor Murphy
•@Gabriel Graham this is really helpful info! I m'new to this community and currently waiting for my benefits to post approved (4 days ago .)The system "flags thing" is something I definitely wouldn t'have thought to ask about specifically. I did move from San Diego to Sacramento between my old case from 2022 and my new application, so this could totally be what s'happening with mine too. Going to call tomorrow and ask directly about any flags or holds instead of just accepting the vague soon "response." Thanks for the tip about calling local offices directly - didn t'know that was an option! This community is already so helpful for navigating all these confusing processes.
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