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EBT card benefits stolen at Walmart - How do I report and get emergency replacement?
I'm freaking out right now and need advice ASAP! I just checked my EBT balance this morning to buy groceries and ALL my CalFresh benefits ($675 for my family of 4) are GONE! There were transactions from a Target in Phoenix, Arizona yesterday - I live in Oakland and haven't left California in years! Last time I used my card was at my local Safeway 3 days ago. Has anyone dealt with EBT fraud/theft before? Do I call the county office or the EBT card company? Will they replace my benefits? My kids need to eat and I'm completely out of food money until next month's benefits. I'm sick to my stomach thinking someone has my card info...
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CalFresh customer service rep told me P-EBT 4.0 cards don't get reloaded - is this right??
I am BEYOND frustrated right now! I called the EBT customer service line this morning to find out when my kids' P-EBT 4.0 cards would be reloaded for the next benefit period. The rep had the NERVE to tell me that the P-EBT 4.0 cards don't get reloaded at all! I've been getting these benefits for my children since the program started and KNOW FOR A FACT they reload quarterly. Has anyone else been told this complete nonsense? I swear these workers just make stuff up when they don't know the answer instead of checking with someone who does. I didn't argue because I was already on hold for 45 minutes and didn't want to get disconnected, but now I'm worried. Are they changing the program for 2025 or was this guy just completely clueless about his own job??
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Update: I called again today and spoke with someone different who confirmed the P-EBT 4.0 cards DO get reloaded quarterly! She said the next deposit will be February 11-15 (depending on your case number). She also apologized for the misinformation and said they just had a training about this very issue because too many parents were being told incorrect info. So if anyone else runs into this problem, DEFINITELY call back and speak to someone else!
see told u so!! always call twice 😂 glad u got the right answer finally!!
So glad you called back and got the correct information! This is exactly why I always tell people in my neighborhood to never accept the first answer when it comes to benefits - especially with something as important as feeding your kids. The fact that they had to do a training specifically about this issue shows how widespread the misinformation problem is. It's really concerning that customer service reps are giving out wrong info about programs that families depend on. Thanks for updating us with the February 11-15 timeline - that's super helpful for other parents who might be wondering the same thing!
CalFresh EBT customer service phone lines down? Can't get through for days!
Is anyone else having problems getting through to the EBT customer service? I've been trying to call for THREE DAYS because my January benefits aren't showing up on my card. Every time I call the 877 number it either rings forever or I get some message about high call volume and then it hangs up! I've tried calling early morning, afternoon, evening - nothing works. I'm down to my last few dollars and need to buy groceries for my kids this weekend. Is the whole system down or what?? Anyone know if there's another number I can try or a better time to call?
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UPDATE: Finally got through to my county worker! Turns out they received my verification docs but needed one more recent pay stub because my hours increased. They never sent me a notice about it (or it got lost in the mail). The worker was able to process everything while I was on the phone and said my benefits should load within 2-3 business days. So relieved! Thanks everyone for your help and suggestions.
Great news! For future reference, always check your BenefitsCal account regularly - they're moving away from paper notices and putting most communications there now. Also, remember that if your income changes by more than $100/month, you need to report it within 10 days, not just at recertification. Glad you got it sorted out!
@Malik Robinson So glad you got it resolved! This is exactly why I always tell people to check BenefitsCal regularly - the system has gotten way more digital but they don't really advertise that change. I've been on CalFresh for 2 years and learned the hard way that you can't rely on mail notices anymore. Pro tip: set a calendar reminder to check your account weekly, especially around recertification time. The income reporting requirement that @Freya Andersen mentioned is super important too - I got my case temporarily suspended once for not reporting a small raise quickly enough. Hope your benefits load soon and you can get groceries for your kids!
MyBenefits CalWIN app not working - need safe alternatives to check CalFresh EBT balance
I've been using the MyBenefits CalWIN app for years to check my EBT balance and transaction history, but it seems like it's completely stopped working on my phone. I've tried uninstalling and reinstalling, but it just crashes when I try to log in. I need something reliable to track my CalFresh spending since I'm on a tight budget for groceries this month. Are there other legitimate apps I can download that are safe to use with my EBT card info? I'm hesitant to just put my card details in any random app. Has the county officially moved to a different app that I don't know about? Any help would be appreciated!
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Update: I downloaded both BenefitsCal and ConnectEBT. The ConnectEBT was super easy to set up and I can see my balance right away. The BenefitsCal was more complicated - I had to create an account and then it asked for my case number, which I had to find on an old notice. But now I have access to everything! Thanks everyone for your help!
glad it worked out for u! ya connectebt is way easier just for quick balance checks
Make sure you set up 2-factor authentication in BenefitsCal. There's been a lot of account hacking lately where scammers try to change people's direct deposit info for cash benefits.
I'm still confused about all this. So CalWIN is completely gone now? I have my annual recertification interview for CalFresh next week and I'm worried I'm supposed to be using some new system I don't know about. Will my EBT card still work the same? And when they say "BenefitsCal" is that the same as the old "MyCalFresh" website or something completely different? Sorry for all the questions, I just don't want to lose my benefits because I missed some announcement.
Great questions! Let me clarify: 1. Your EBT card works exactly the same at stores regardless of which system/app you use to check it 2. BenefitsCal has replaced both CalWIN and MyCalFresh (it's a new unified system) 3. For your recertification interview, you should receive instructions specific to your county 4. You won't lose benefits just because you haven't switched to the new system yet If you're worried about your recertification interview, you can create a BenefitsCal account now, but you can also still complete your recert by phone or with paper forms if needed.
This is really helpful clarification! I was panicking that I'd somehow missed a deadline or something. I'll try setting up the BenefitsCal account before my interview next week so I'm prepared. Is there anything specific I should have ready when I create the account, like documents or case numbers?
CalFresh emergency allotment or extra benefits showing as 'pending' in EBT account? Anyone else?
So I checked my EBT account balance online this morning and noticed something weird - there's an extra deposit showing as 'pending' that's about $275 more than my regular CalFresh amount. Has anyone else seen this? My regular benefits already posted on the 10th like normal, but this other amount shows as pending with no date. Is this some kind of emergency allotment or extra stamps I didn't know about? Or is it a system glitch? Called the EBT customer service number but gave up after 45 minutes on hold. Anyone know if CalFresh extras actually show as 'pending' before they drop or what this could be?
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the whole calfresh system is so confusing...i never know what im supposed to report when. do i wait for the SAR7 or report right away? and some things show up random in the account without explanation...
You're right that it can be confusing! The basic rule is: 1. Report on your SAR7 (Semi-Annual Report) for most changes 2. Report IMMEDIATELY if your household income goes above your Income Reporting Threshold (IRT) - this amount is listed on your approval notices 3. Report IMMEDIATELY if someone moves in/out of your household who will significantly affect your eligibility For things like rent increases or utility cost changes, you can wait for your next SAR7 unless you want the potential benefit increase sooner (then report voluntarily).
This is super helpful info! I'm new to CalFresh and just got approved last month. I had no idea that reporting rent increases could actually increase your benefits - I thought reporting changes would only hurt you. Good to know for when I fill out my first SAR7. Thanks for sharing your experience with getting through to the county office too, that sounds like a nightmare but glad it worked out!
Keisha Johnson
UPDATE FOR EVERYONE: California just passed new EBT theft protections that will take effect in August 2025. The new system will include better fraud detection, automatic text alerts for suspicious transactions, and faster benefit replacement. Until then, remember that CalFresh is required to replace stolen benefits if: 1. You report within 10 days of discovering the theft 2. You have documentation (police report) 3. You did not share your PIN or give your card to someone else They must make a determination within 10 days of your report.
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Zainab Ibrahim
THANK GOD they're finally doing something!! Too many families going hungry because of this!! But why does it take so long to implement?? People are suffering NOW!
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Leila Haddad
I'm so sorry this happened to you - EBT theft is unfortunately becoming really common and it's terrifying when you have kids to feed. Just wanted to add that when you go to the county office tomorrow, bring multiple forms of ID and any documentation you have about your usual shopping patterns (like receipts from your local Safeway). Some offices are more helpful than others, so if the first person you talk to isn't giving you clear answers about emergency benefits, politely ask to speak with a supervisor or case manager. Also, many food banks can provide emergency food assistance while you're waiting for your benefits to be replaced - you don't need to prove income loss, just that you're in immediate need. Oakland has several good food banks that can help bridge the gap. Stay strong, you're doing everything right!
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