You need to report to both programs separately, although they're often administered by the same county office. CalFresh and Medi-Cal have different reporting requirements and separate case systems, even though they may use some of the same information. Be sure to specify which program(s) you're reporting changes for when you contact your county office.

Hope your health issues get better soon! I went through something similar when I had to reduce my hours due to medical reasons. One tip that helped me - when you upload your paystubs to BenefitsCal, make sure they clearly show the reduced hours/dates worked. Some counties are picky about documentation. Also, if your employer can write a brief letter on company letterhead stating your hours were permanently reduced (not just temporarily), that can speed up the verification process. My benefits increased by about $85/month when I reported a similar income drop. Good luck with everything!

Thanks everyone for the great advice. I went ahead and set up my PIN immediately and made it completely random. Also downloaded the BenefitsCal app and found the card lock feature - that's going to give me so much peace of mind! I'm also going to try that Claimyr service tomorrow to ask about the pilot replacement program, since waiting on hold with two kids at home is basically impossible. Will update if I find out anything useful that might help others in the same situation!

Really sorry this happened to you! As someone who's been through EBT fraud twice, here's my experience: definitely set up your PIN right now - waiting doesn't make you any safer, and you'll want to be able to access your benefits as soon as they load tomorrow. One thing I learned the hard way is to avoid using your card at smaller stores or gas stations if possible - stick to major grocery chains that have better security. Also, always run your card as "debit" rather than "credit" when given the choice, and never let anyone else handle your card or "help" you at the terminal. The card lock feature in the BenefitsCal app is a game changer - I lock mine immediately after every shopping trip and only unlock it right before I shop again. Takes 30 seconds but gives me so much peace of mind. Hope your replacement benefits situation works out better than most people's experiences!

I'm also new to this community and just wanted to say how helpful this entire thread has been! I'm dealing with the same delayed benefits issue - mine usually come on the 13th and still nothing. Reading everyone's experiences and solutions has been such a relief because I was starting to panic that something was wrong with my case specifically. I had no idea about resources like Claimyr or that you could request emergency issuance at the county office. It's really unfortunate that we have to rely on community knowledge to navigate these system failures, but I'm so grateful for everyone who took the time to share their experiences and advice. This is exactly the kind of mutual support that makes these difficult situations more manageable. I'll definitely be trying some of the suggestions mentioned here and keeping the emergency resources bookmarked for future reference. Thank you all for creating such a supportive space where people can get real help when the official channels fail us!

I turned in my sar7 and it's still being reviewed!?!? I was supposed to get my food stamps today ..I called the 800 number to my county and it's saying EBT is active but won't get my food stamps til November...is anyone else dealing with such chaos ? Yop it off I never got a notice of action

I went through something similar with my mom last year when her EBT card got compromised. The investigation process is real but painfully slow. Here's what I learned that might help your aunt: 1. Document EVERYTHING - take screenshots of the unauthorized transactions, keep copies of all forms submitted, note down reference numbers from phone calls 2. The emergency benefits (CF 303 form) is crucial - don't wait on this, file it ASAP while the investigation is pending 3. Call her county office directly rather than the general EBT line - you'll get someone who actually knows her case 4. If she has a caseworker, email them too (paper trail helps) For immediate food assistance while waiting: - Most senior centers have emergency food boxes available same-day - Churches often have pantries that don't require membership - Some pharmacies like CVS have programs for seniors on fixed income The waiting is awful when someone's depending on those benefits to eat, but stay on top of the process. In my mom's case, it took 26 days but she got every penny back. The squeaky wheel gets the grease with these government systems - be persistent but polite.

I work at a legal aid clinic and we see EBT theft cases regularly. A few additional things that might help your aunt: 1. If she has any disabilities or health conditions that make it hard to access food, mention this when filing the CF 303 emergency form - it can help prioritize her case 2. Keep a log of every phone call made about this case (date, time, who you spoke with, reference numbers) - this documentation becomes crucial if you need to escalate 3. Some counties have EBT fraud victim advocates who can walk you through the process - ask her county worker if this service exists in your area 4. Consider reaching out to your local Area Agency on Aging - they often have emergency food programs specifically for seniors and can advocate on her behalf The investigation timeline is frustrating but legitimate. Banks and ATM operators sometimes take weeks just to provide the footage to investigators. The good news is that skimming cases typically have strong evidence once the footage is reviewed. Stay persistent with follow-ups but don't let them brush you off - seniors have additional protections under state law that caseworkers should be aware of.

Update: I just spent 30 minutes searching my apartment one more time and FOUND MY CARD! It was inside a jacket pocket I hadn't worn in a week. Thank you all for the advice - I'm so relieved I don't have to go through the replacement process!

So glad you found it! I was literally about to suggest checking jacket pockets - that's where mine always ends up too. For next time, I've started keeping my EBT card in the same spot in my wallet every single time I use it. Makes it way less stressful when you need groceries and can't remember where you put it!