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trader joes charged me double last yr too but just once not 3 times! crazy that this keeps happening at the same store maybe its their system
Just as a follow-up for anyone dealing with this issue - the official CalFresh policy is that disputes must be filed within 90 days of the erroneous transaction. The process usually takes 10 business days but can take up to 20 in some counties. If you're experiencing a serious hardship because of the error, specifically mention that you're requesting an "expedited resolution due to hardship" when you call. This can sometimes speed up the process.
anyone else notice they always seem to get stolen right after deposits hit? i think its an inside job lol
YES!!!! always happens on deposit day or day after. makes me think someones watching the system from inside 🤔
It's actually because thieves know the deposit schedule. Benefits are loaded on the same days each month based on your case number. They target busy stores on those high-deposit days to install skimmers or watch for cards. That's why it's safer to shop a few days before or after the main deposit days if possible.
UPDATE: I want to thank everyone for the advice. I followed the steps and: 1. Called EBT customer service and reported the theft - they deactivated my card 2. Filed a police report online (got a case #) 3. Used that Claimyr service someone suggested and actually got through to my county worker in 20 minutes! The county worker was actually really helpful once I got through. She confirmed that California DOES replace stolen benefits now and helped me submit the CF 303E form. She said I should get emergency replacement benefits in 3-5 business days and a new EBT card in the mail within a week. She also told me how to set up a PIN on the EBT app that's required for each purchase? Apparently that's new and helps prevent theft. I'm still stressed but feeling much better knowing this should get resolved!
I think there's also confusion because states implement P-EBT differently. California's implementation might not match what other states are doing or what federal guidelines suggest. The P-EBT and Summer EBT programs have similar goals but different funding sources and rules. If you're applying for CalFresh now (which you definitely should with your reduced income), make sure you gather these documents to speed up your application: - ID for yourself - Birth certificates or ID for your children - Proof of income reduction (final paystub, termination letter) - Rent/mortgage info and utility bills With that documentation ready, you could potentially get benefits within 7-10 days under expedited services.
this whole thing is SO FRUSTERATING!!! why do they make it so hard and confusing??!! i got a p-ebt card for my daughter last year no problem and now nothing and when i call the number its just robots talking!!
I feel your frustration! The automated system is THE WORST. Like I mentioned above, I wasted so much time trying to get through to an actual person. The Claimyr service was the only thing that worked for me - they navigated the phone tree and got me to a real human. Might be worth trying if you really need answers about your daughter's benefits.
just fyi those covid extra benefits ended like 2 years ago. im also single in sb county and get $201. been around that amount since the extras ended. its barely enough for food these days with how expensive everything is getting tbh
One more thing to note - if your income changes at all (even by a small amount), make sure to report it if it puts you over the Income Reporting Threshold (IRT) listed on your approval notice. For a single person, I believe the current IRT is around $1,700/month, but check your specific notice to be sure. If your income goes up and you don't report it when required, you could end up with an overissuance that you'd have to pay back. On the flip side, if your income goes down, reporting it promptly could increase your benefits.
I work with CalFresh recipients, and while the chip card transition is needed for security, I understand your concerns. Here's my advice: 1. Make sure your address is current in the system (update through BenefitsCal or your county office) 2. When you receive your new card, activate it immediately 3. Write down your current EBT balance before the transition 4. Keep both cards until you've verified the new one works 5. Save some shelf-stable food as backup if possible If you experience any issues during the transition, document everything - dates, times, who you spoke with, etc. This helps if you need to request expedited assistance.
This is really helpful, thank you! I'll definitely follow these steps. Do you know if they're rolling out all counties at once or doing it in phases? I'm in Los Angeles County if that matters.
my friend in texas got the chip card last month and she said it was actually fine, no problems at all. maybe california will do better than oregon did?? 🤷♀️
lol welcome to the wonderful world of government bureaucracy. where everything's made up and the points don't matter 🤡
am i the only 1 who thinks its ridiculous we gotta jump through all these hoops just to get our benefits? 🤡 the system is broken af
Pro tip: if you can't get through on the phone, try emailing them. Sometimes they respond faster that way. Just make sure to include your case number and all relevant details.
It should be on your last notification letter. If not, try [county]@medi-cal.ca.gov where [county] is your county name.
Dmitry Ivanov
Thank you all for the helpful responses! I found my approval paperwork and it does list an IRT of $2,435 for my household size (just me). Since I'll only be making about $150-180 per month from this one-day job, it sounds like I don't need to report it immediately. I also found info about the SAR 7 form which is due in July 2025 according to my paperwork. I'll definitely report this income then and keep all my paystubs organized for both the SAR 7 and my recertification in October. It's confusing because my friend on another program had to report every single dollar she earned right away, so I thought CalFresh worked the same way. Thanks for clearing this up!
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Ava Thompson
•You're handling this exactly right! And yes, different benefit programs have different reporting requirements. For example, CalWORKs has stricter reporting rules than CalFresh in some situations. Just remember to track all income carefully, report on your SAR 7, and keep those paystubs safe for when you need them. Good luck with the new job!
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Miguel Herrera
be careful!! my cousin got an overpayment notice bcuz she didnt report a side job and now they take money out of her benefits every month to pay it back. its better to just tell them everything even if u dont have to
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Connor Murphy
•While it's true that unreported income can lead to overpayments, it's important to follow the actual reporting rules. Under Semi-Annual Reporting in California, you're only required to report income changes mid-period if they exceed your IRT. Reporting when not required can actually create unnecessary work for both you and the county, and could potentially reduce your benefits earlier than necessary. The key is understanding your specific reporting requirements and following them correctly.
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