I work with CalFresh recipients regularly, and there's an important distinction in your case. When you received the denial letter citing "no service error," that's their standard response for first-level denials of EBT theft. You need to request a formal Administrative Hearing through your county office within 90 days of receiving that denial. Bring documentation showing: 1. Your whereabouts during the fraudulent transactions (receipts, work timesheet, etc) 2. The police report 3. Any transaction history showing the suspicious pattern Also, request that your caseworker document this as "electronic benefit theft" rather than general card misuse. The state has been dealing with increased skimming cases and has special protocols for these situations. Don't accept the first denial - the appeal process has a much higher success rate.

One more thing - while you're fighting this, immediately request expedited emergency CalFresh benefits. Explain that you have less than $150 in income available for food and less than $100 in liquid resources. This should get you emergency benefits within 3 days. This won't replace what was stolen, but it can help bridge the gap while you appeal the fraud case. Make sure to mention any children in the household as that strengthens your emergency request.

my cousin got the same thing but her ebt card still got money on it even tho they said she was denied lol. the system is so messed up

Just wanted to follow up - if you do need to resubmit any verification documents, make sure to get a "Document Receipt Confirmation" from the worker. This is a specific form they can provide that lists exactly what you submitted and when. This will protect you if documents get lost again in the future. Also, if they say you're still denied after calling, immediately ask for a "Supervisor Review" before filing a State Hearing request. Supervisor reviews can often be completed within 1-2 days and can overturn incorrect denials without the formal hearing process.

Wait why doesnt she just apply for calfresh using only her bfs income? Thats what my girlfriend did when we lived with her mom. We didnt tell them about her mom at all just said we buy our own food which was true.

Thank you all so much for the advice! We're going to try this plan: 1. She'll apply for WIC this week (already made appointment) 2. She'll apply for the Pregnant Woman Only CalWORKs program and specifically ask for that 3. Once she gets CalWORKs, apply for CalFresh as a separate household I'll let you know how it goes. Really grateful for all the detailed explanations about these confusing rules!

Just FYI - they SHOULD have sent you an actual NOTICE if your benefits were being held or stopped for ANY reason!! It's literally THE LAW that they have to notify you! So if you didn't get anything, that's on THEM, not you!

UPDATE: I used Claimyr and got through to someone in about 15 minutes! The worker checked my case and found that there was a system flag because this was my transition to regular ongoing benefits. Apparently my initial approval was under expedited processing, and there was supposed to be an automatic review before my second month. The worker was able to clear the flag and process my benefits - they should be on my card by tomorrow morning! She also noted my account so this doesn't happen again next month. Thanks everyone for your help and suggestions!

To add some additional resources since emergency allotments aren't returning: 1. Check with local food banks - many have increased their distribution since regular SNAP benefits returned to normal levels 2. If you have children in school, make sure they're signed up for free/reduced school meals 3. Look into WIC if you have children under 5 or are pregnant/breastfeeding 4. Some counties have General Assistance programs with food vouchers 5. Call 211 for additional food resources in your area Also, be sure your SAR7 and recertification forms are submitted on time to avoid any gaps in your regular benefits.

I just had my CalFresh recertification interview yesterday and specifically asked about any additional benefits or emergency allotments. The worker confirmed they ended years ago and there are no plans to bring them back for November or anytime soon. She did mention that they can sometimes provide one-time emergency benefits in very specific crisis situations (like if your home burned down or you had to evacuate due to a natural disaster), but nothing related to general inflation or food costs.

just make sure u keep the pin number they sent!!! my friend lost hers and it was a HUGE hassle to get a new one sent out took like 3 weeks and she almost missed using some benefits

wait can i ask u guys something related? i got one of these cards 2 but my son just started kindergrten this year. Do i still qualify for this or should i not use it??

Quick update on this topic: The USDA (which runs SNAP/CalFresh) recently changed their policy and counties CAN now replace some stolen benefits, but you have to report it within 30 days. The new policy started in 2023. Your county worker might not know about it yet since some counties are slow to implement changes. If you experience benefit theft, immediately: 1. Call EBT customer service to report the card stolen 2. File a police report (get a case number) 3. Contact your county office to request replacement benefits under the new federal policy 4. Get a new EBT card with a new PIN They can replace up to 2 months of stolen benefits now.

Can I add something important? ALWAYS check your EBT balance regularly through the official app or by calling the number on your card. Scammers count on people not noticing their benefits are gone until they're at the checkout line trying to buy groceries. If you check frequently, you can catch unauthorized transactions sooner.

It's definitely worth calling to check on your application status, but be prepared to wait on hold for quite a while. In my experience, calling early in the morning (right when they open) or mid-week tends to have shorter wait times. Also, when you do get through, ask them to put notes in your file about your urgent need for food assistance - sometimes that can help prioritize your application.

BTW if ur approved dont forget they load benefits at different times each month depending on the last digit of ur case number. My sister didnt know this and kept checking her card everyday lol

Update to my earlier comment: I just learned that CalFresh/EBT is doing a system update this weekend (April 19-21, 2025). If your card was locked before this, you might actually benefit from the update since they're resetting certain security parameters. Try accessing EBT Edge again on Monday morning - it might recognize your information correctly after the update.

UPDATE: Finally got my card unlocked! For anyone with the same issue, I ended up using that Claimyr service someone mentioned here, and it actually worked! They got me through to a person at the county office in about 20 minutes (versus the 2+ hours I was waiting before). The worker was able to see that my account had a security lock that was different from just the PIN lock, which is why the automated system and website weren't working. She removed that security flag and then helped me reset my PIN. Card is working now! Thanks everyone for your help and suggestions!

Thanks everyone for all the great information! I called KEYS this morning and got through after about 45 minutes on hold. They scheduled me for an intake appointment next week. The lady I spoke with said they can potentially help with rental assistance since I'm at risk of eviction due to the rent increases. And she confirmed it won't affect my CalFresh at all, which is a relief. I'll update after my appointment in case anyone else is wondering about the process!

Just to clarify some information that's been shared in this thread: KEYS stands for Knowledge, Education for Your Success - it's a Housing Authority of San Bernardino County program that provides housing support services to homeless families or those at risk of homelessness. The program offers different levels of assistance based on need: 1. Prevention services (for those at risk but not yet homeless) 2. Rapid re-housing (for recently homeless) 3. Permanent supportive housing (for chronically homeless with disabilities) Each component has different eligibility requirements. While KEYS does coordinate with other benefit programs for comprehensive support, applying for KEYS won't reduce your CalFresh benefits. In fact, stable housing often helps families better utilize their food benefits. To apply, contact their main office at (909) 332-6388 or visit one of their office locations. Be prepared to provide documentation of your housing crisis and income situation.