California CalFresh

UPDATE: I wanted to let everyone know what worked! I used that Claimyr service to get through to an actual person at my county office yesterday. Got connected in about 30 minutes when I'd been trying for days with no luck. The worker was able to verify my identity over the phone and marked my case as emergency hardship. Just got back from picking up a temporary card at the office and all my benefits are there! Thank you all SO MUCH for your help - my kids will eat well tonight!

So glad you got this resolved! This thread is incredibly helpful for anyone dealing with similar issues. Just wanted to add that if anyone else runs into this problem, it's worth knowing that you can also contact your local county supervisor's office if you're getting stonewalled by the regular channels. They often have staff who can help navigate these emergency situations and sometimes have more direct access to county services. I've seen them help cut through red tape when families are facing food insecurity. Also, for future reference, keeping a copy of your case number and worker contact info saved somewhere accessible can really speed things up when these emergencies happen.

i think its super weird they can see every place we shop tho... feels like being stalked by the government lol

This is so frustrating and honestly feels like harassment! I've been on CalFresh for 2 years and had no idea they were tracking where I shop. Like others have said, there's absolutely nothing wrong with using your EBT card in a different city - especially when you work there! I think the worker was way out of line calling you in for an "appointment" without explaining what it was about, then making you feel like you were doing something wrong. You shouldn't have to justify normal grocery shopping patterns. Definitely document everything from this interaction and consider filing a complaint. Workers need to understand the difference between actual fraud (like selling benefits) and normal life circumstances like working in a different city. Hope you get this resolved quickly!

keep us updated after u call back! now im worried cuz my cousin just reported theft last week and didnt get reference # either...

I'm so sorry this happened to you - EBT theft is becoming way too common and it's incredibly stressful when you're depending on those benefits to feed your family. Based on what everyone else has shared, it definitely sounds like you need to call back and get a proper claim reference number. I went through something similar about 6 months ago when $450 was stolen from my card. The first person I spoke with seemed confused about the process, but when I called back and asked specifically for someone who handles EBT theft claims, I got connected to someone much more knowledgeable. They gave me a claim number immediately and walked me through exactly what would happen next. A few things that might help: - Write down the exact date/time you called and any details the first worker gave you - When you call back, ask for the claim number from your previous call first - if they can't find it, that's a red flag - Ask about emergency food assistance while your claim is being processed - Get everything in writing if possible (email confirmation, case notes, etc.) The waiting is the worst part, but from what I've seen here, most people do get their benefits back eventually. Hang in there and definitely don't give up on getting that reference number - you deserve to have proper documentation of your claim.

UPDATE: I submitted my SAR7 through BenefitsCal last night and got a confirmation number! Thanks everyone for the advice - especially about the holiday closure on Monday. I called this morning just to confirm they received it (took forever to get through) and they said everything looks good for my August benefits. Such a relief!

So glad to hear you got it submitted successfully! This is a perfect example of why it's important to not wait until the last minute with these deadlines. For anyone else reading this thread - the key takeaway is that BenefitsCal.com is available 24/7 and gives you immediate confirmation, which is super helpful when you're cutting it close on deadlines. Also, always keep those confirmation numbers! I screenshot mine and email them to myself so I have a backup record. Thanks for updating us on how it turned out, Leslie!

my friend said u need to report the cash aid part if u get calworks too but not the calfresh part

Just wanted to add my experience as someone who's been on CalFresh for 3 years and does my own taxes - you definitely don't report it! I use TurboTax and there's actually a section that specifically asks about government benefits, but when you click on CalFresh/SNAP it literally says "not taxable - do not report." Made me feel so much better the first time I saw that. Also, if you're doing your taxes yourself, most of the free tax software will walk you through what benefits are taxable vs not. CalFresh is always in the "not taxable" category along with things like WIC and other food assistance programs.