I'm glad you got through! One more tip - document EVERYTHING. Take photos of any papers they give you, write down the names of workers you speak with, and keep notes about all conversations. If the full replacement gets delayed, this documentation will help. Also, when you receive your new card, immediately set up the California EBT Mobile app if you haven't already. It allows you to freeze and unfreeze your card between uses, which provides extra security against theft in the future.

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this - it's incredibly stressful when you have kids to feed! I went through something similar last year and wanted to share a few things that helped speed up my case. First, when you go to your appointment tomorrow, bring any receipts from the last few times you used your card to show your normal usage pattern - this helps prove the fraudulent transactions. Second, ask specifically about "expedited processing" for households with children under 18 - some counties can fast-track these cases. Also, if you're still having trouble reaching county workers by phone in the future, try calling right when they open (usually 8 AM) or during lunch hours when call volume is sometimes lower. The food bank was a lifesaver for us during the waiting period. You're doing everything right by staying on top of this and advocating for your family!

To follow up on the expedited services question - you qualify for expedited CalFresh if: 1. Your household has less than $150 in monthly gross income and no more than $100 in liquid resources (like cash or bank accounts), OR 2. Your combined monthly gross income and liquid resources are less than your monthly housing costs (rent/mortgage and utilities), OR 3. You're a migrant or seasonal farmworker household with less than $100 in liquid resources. If any of these apply to you, definitely call and request expedited processing. Even if you've already applied, they should still follow the expedited timeline once you request it.

UPDATE: I called the county number and after waiting for 45 minutes, finally got through! They said my application is still pending but scheduled for an interview tomorrow afternoon. The worker mentioned they're currently processing applications from 8-10 days ago, so that matches what several of you said about the timeline. Thanks everyone for your help and advice! Will update again after my interview.

Thank you! I'll try both of those. Really hoping I can find something that works with my situation.

UPDATE: I went to the CSA office today and they told me I do qualify for the Homeless Assistance Program even though I'm not on CalWORKs! The worker said because I have children and am in temporary housing (the motel), I meet their definition of

mine came in just now!!! just checked my balance and it finally loaded. maybe check yours again?

I'm so glad to hear your benefits came through! This is exactly why I always recommend people check this community first when they have issues - you get real-time updates from people going through the same thing. The system delays seem to be happening more frequently lately. For anyone else reading this thread in the future, it's worth knowing that the CDSS website posts official notices about system issues, and checking BenefitsCal for any pending tasks or messages is always a good first step. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and advice!

I went through this exact situation last year! My 17-year-old started working at Target and I was so worried about reporting it. Here's what I learned: yes, you absolutely have to report it, but it's not as scary as it seems. Since you said your IRT is $4,050 and she's only making around $400-500/month, you can wait until your next SAR7 to report it - no need to stress about the 10-day rule. When you do report, make sure you emphasize that she's a full-time student and include her school enrollment verification along with her paystubs. Also, don't forget about the earned income deduction! They automatically deduct 20% of her gross earnings before calculating your new benefit amount. So if she makes $500, only $400 counts toward your household income, and then they only reduce your benefits by about 30% of that amount. In our case, my son was making about $600/month and our benefits went down by roughly $180. It hurt at first, but honestly, having him contribute to his own school supplies and clothes actually freed up some of our food budget. Plus he felt so proud being able to help out! Just make sure to keep good records of everything for when you submit your SAR7.

I just wanted to add something that might help ease your worries a bit - I work for a nonprofit that helps families navigate CalFresh, and teenage employment is actually pretty common. The key thing to remember is that the system is designed to gradually reduce benefits as income increases, not cut you off entirely unless you're way over the limits. Since your daughter is only working 15-20 hours at minimum wage, we're talking about maybe $400-600 per month gross income. After the 20% earned income deduction, that's more like $320-480 counting toward your household income. Your benefits will probably drop by around $100-150 per month, which I know still feels like a lot when every dollar counts. But here's what I tell families: encourage your daughter to take over some of her own expenses that you're currently covering with your food budget or other money. Things like her school lunch, snacks, maybe some basic toiletries. This can actually help balance out the benefit reduction. Plus, it's great preparation for when she's an adult and has to manage her own budget. The most important thing is to report it honestly and on time. Keep copies of everything you submit, and don't hesitate to ask the eligibility worker to explain the calculation if the reduction seems wrong. Good luck!