my cousin works for calfresh and she said they sometimes close for emergencies too like if theres a threat or something? maybe check local news?

just to update everyone i called my county (sacramento) and they said its definitely the quarterly training and offices will be open tomorrow. they're automatically adding 10 days to any deadlines for people with appointments today. the lady was super nice about it and said theyre sending notices but they went out late.

anybody else notice that CalFresh theft is getting worse?? seems like every week someone on here is posting about stolen benefits. the whole system needs better security!!! regular credit cards have fraud protection but EBT is stuck in the 1990s 🙄

UPDATE: I finally got through to my county office! Used that Claimyr service someone recommended and it worked great - had a caseworker on the phone within 15 minutes. The caseworker was really helpful and walked me through filling out the CF 303 form. She said I need to email them: - The completed form - Copy of police report - Any evidence showing I couldn't have made the purchases She said they'll review it within 10 days but it looks promising since I reported it immediately and the purchases were made far from my home. She also referred me to a local food bank that can help with emergency food while I wait. Thank you everyone for your help! I'll update again when I hear their decision.

MY FRIEND SAID theres gonna be another increase in october 2025!!!! she works for the county so she knows, but she said its only like 2% so not that much really

This whole system is a JOKE. I'm a single mom with 2 kids and they gave me $23 a month. TWENTY THREE DOLLARS. What am I supposed to do with that??? The worker told me it was because I make "too much money" at my job. I make $17.50 an hour!!! HOW IS THAT TOO MUCH??? Meanwhile my neighbor doesn't work AT ALL and gets $600+ every month. Make it make sense!!!

Anyone else notice how these EBT thefts keep happening right before holidays and rent due dates??? My cousin works for the county and she says they see TONS of "theft" reports at the end of every month. I'm not saying the OP is lying but they investigate these claims REALLY carefully now. If they think ur being dishonest they can terminate ur benefits completely so be 100% truthful about everything

Quick update on the current replacement process: I just confirmed with our local CalFresh office that the rules changed in mid-2025. Now when benefits are stolen electronically (not from a lost/stolen physical card), they can replace up to two months of benefits per federal fiscal year. The process requires: - Police report (required) - EBT-28 form completed in full - Proof of identity - Statement explaining how you believe the theft occurred If your case is still with your previous county, they handle the replacement. If the transfer completed, then your new county handles it. The 10-day processing requirement only starts once ALL documentation is received, so submit everything as quickly as possible.

Also make sure your checking EVERYWHERE in ur mail cuz those envelopes look like junk mail sometimes!!! I almost threw mine away cuz it looked like credit card offer!!!

Just as a follow-up on activation - when the card arrives, you'll need to call the number on the back and have your child's date of birth ready. You'll create a 4-digit PIN. The system will tell you the current balance, which should match what your child's school notified you about. If the amount seems incorrect, you can call the P-EBT helpline, but for first-time activation, the EBT card number on the back is all you need. Also, be aware that P-EBT benefits are different from regular CalFresh. They can only be used for food items, not hot prepared foods (with some exceptions at approved restaurants in certain counties). The benefits also expire after a year, so make note of when they were issued.

NOBODY MENTIONED THIS YET - if she's really out of food right now, check if your county has emergency food banks! My benefits got delayed for 2 months during recertification (still mad about it!) and the food bank saved me. They usually don't even ask for much paperwork for emergency situations. Google "[your county] emergency food assistance" and you should find options while waiting for her card!!!!!

Just to follow up with specific information for Alameda County: Alameda County Social Services Agency: 510-263-2420 or 1-888-999-4772 For same-day EBT card replacement, yes, Alameda County offices can issue cards on-site at their Oakland and Hayward self-sufficiency centers during business hours (M-F, 8:30am-5pm). Your daughter would need to bring photo ID. For the Authorized Representative form, here's the direct link: https://www.cdss.ca.gov/cdssweb/entres/forms/English/SAR80.pdf And the Alameda County Community Food Bank has a helpline at 1-800-870-FOOD (3663) or 510-635-3663 for immediate food assistance.

I had this issue to. mybenefitscalwin is being phased out actualy. my worker told me they sent notices about switching to benefitscal but i never got one!! typical. anyway you need to make new account on benefitscal.com and all your case info should transfer. worked for me last month when i had to do my recertifcation

UPDATE: I was able to create an account on BenefitsCal like several of you suggested and successfully submitted my income changes! The system found my existing case and everything transferred over. For anyone else having the same problem, definitely try BenefitsCal instead of CalWIN. Just make sure you have your case number or SSN and other personal info ready when you create your new account. Thanks everyone for your help! One less thing to stress about this month.

btw did u recertify recently? my friend got a denial for a similar thing but it was bcuz she didn't submit all her verification docs for recert and they were using the theft thing as an excuse

UPDATE: The California Department of Social Services just released new EBT theft guidelines in March 2025 that actually STRENGTHEN protections for victims. They specifically state that: 1. Counties must provide clear evidence of cardholder negligence - the burden of proof is on them, not you 2. Transactions at locations you've never visited are considered strong evidence of fraud 3. Timely reporting (within 10 days) creates a presumption against negligence Bring a copy of these guidelines to your hearing - I can send you the policy memo if you need it. These guidelines haven't been fully implemented in all counties yet, which is why many victims are still getting automatic denials.

my cousin says its actually $60 PER PERSON in ur household but i dont think thats right?? i get $240 regular calfresh for me + my 3 kids but the fruit thing only gave me $60 total last month. am i missing something??

Update: I tried using the fruit and vegetable incentive at my local farmers market last weekend and it worked great! Just like you all suggested, I went to the info booth, told them I wanted to use my CalFresh benefits, and they swiped my EBT card for $60. Then they gave me $60 in regular tokens plus another $60 in special tokens just for fruits and vegetables. We got so much amazing produce! Much better deal than the supermarket. Thanks everyone for the help!

I'm going to call tomorrow and ask about this. Should I gather all my pharmacy receipts first? And will they want proof of my rent increase too?

My aunt had the same thing happen but she got an advocate from the senior center to help her. They found out she was eligible for something called the