California CalFresh
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When do CalFresh benefits marked for 10th show up as pending on EBT?
Anyone know exactly when CalFresh benefits get loaded as 'pending' on our accounts? I normally get my benefits on the 10th of each month, but I need groceries asap and wondering if it might show up as pending a day or two before? Never paid attention to this before but really tight on food right now. If it matters, I'm in LA County. Does the pending status appear at midnight or is there some weird processing time?
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Confused if CalFresh recipients get the new California stimulus payment this weekend?
Hey everyone, I'm seeing all over facebook that California is sending out stimulus payments starting tomorrow morning. My neighbor said she heard CalFresh recipients are getting it first? I get CalFresh for my kids and me ($975/month) but haven't received any notice about a stimulus. Is this real or just another rumor? My EBT balance is really low right now and I'm trying to figure out if I should wait before grocery shopping this weekend. Has anyone from CalFresh gotten official notice about this? Would it be loaded onto our EBT cards or come separately?
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I asked my county worker about this stimulus thing when I was doing my SAR7 yesterday and she laughed and said they've been getting calls all week about it. Definitely not real! She said whenever there's actually a new program they send official notices through mail and text if you're signed up.
This is such a good reminder to always verify information through official channels first! I've fallen for similar rumors before and it's so disappointing when you're counting on that extra money. For anyone who wants to stay updated on actual CalFresh changes, you can sign up for text alerts through your county office or follow the official CDSS social media accounts. They're pretty good about announcing real program updates there. Also, if you're struggling with low benefits like the original poster, don't forget about local food banks and pantries - many don't have income restrictions and can help stretch your grocery budget between EBT deposits.
How do thieves steal money from EBT cards? Is my CalFresh at risk?
I keep hearing horror stories about people having their EBT benefits stolen. My neighbor said she woke up one morning and ALL her CalFresh benefits were gone! She swears she never lost her card. I'm really worried since my family depends on these benefits to eat and I just got my recertification approved for $1,075/month (family of 4). How are thieves stealing benefits? Do they need the physical card or just the card number? Can they get into CalWORKs cash benefits too or just food benefits? Is there any way to protect ourselves? I'm seriously considering withdrawing all my benefits as soon as they deposit each month but don't know if that's even possible with CalFresh.
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just so everyone knows, they can take ur benefits without having your physical card. happened to me. i think it was from using my card at a sketchy liquor store. now i ONLY use my EBT at big grocery chains like ralphs or food 4 less. and i change my pin every 2 weeks. never had a problem since. also if ur benefits get stolen they WILL replace them but you have to be super annoying and keep calling and following up. the squeaky wheel gets the grease lol
yeah thats good advice. i only use mine at safe places too. my friend works for the county and she says they see so many claims from the same stores over and over. those little corner markets are the worst offenders
This is really helpful information everyone! I had no idea about the card freezing feature either. One thing I wanted to add - if you do need to report stolen benefits, keep detailed records of everything. Write down the date/time you called, who you spoke with, case numbers, etc. I learned this the hard way when my cousin had her benefits stolen and the county "lost" her first report. She had to start the whole process over again because she couldn't prove she had already filed. Also, take screenshots of your balance regularly through the app - this can serve as proof of when the theft occurred. The more documentation you have, the smoother the replacement process will be.
EBT skimming stole my CalFresh benefits - diabetic & now can't afford food
Just a heads up to everyone here - PROTECT YOUR EBT CARDS! Someone skimmed my CalFresh card last week and drained almost all my food benefits for April. I've got about $28 left to last me the rest of the month. Filed a police report immediately and there's supposedly an investigation happening, but who knows if they'll catch the thief. The transactions show they used it at several stores in Anaheim, and I live in Sacramento! Haven't been anywhere near SoCal in years. What makes this especially bad is I'm diabetic and need consistent meals - can't just skip eating until next month's benefits load. Has anyone dealt with EBT theft before? Can the county replace stolen benefits? My worker isn't responding to messages on the BenefitsCal portal.
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hey, did u ever get this resolved?? im curious what happened
Yes! Finally got through to my county worker and they're replacing most of my benefits! They're loading emergency funds to my new card today, and said the full replacement should come through in about 5 days. They also told me they're working with the store in Anaheim to get security footage of the person who used my benefits. Feeling much better now - thanks everyone for all the help and advice!
I'm so glad to hear you got your benefits replaced! This is exactly why we need to spread awareness about EBT skimming - it's happening way too often. For anyone else reading this thread, another tip I learned from my county worker: if you shop at the same stores regularly, ask the manager about their card reader security. Some stores are better than others at updating their systems to prevent skimming devices. Also, if you see anything suspicious about a card reader (loose parts, different colors, etc.) don't use it and report it to the store immediately. Thanks for sharing your experience and keeping everyone informed!
URGENT! EBT skimming fraud in my area - got my CalFresh benefits stolen
Has anyone else experienced EBT card skimming lately? My entire April CalFresh balance (over $450) disappeared overnight last week! I called the EBT hotline and they confirmed someone used my benefits at a store 50 miles away that I've never shopped at. The county worker said there's been a huge increase in EBT skimming scams happening all over our area. I'm at the CalWORKs office right now getting a replacement card, but they said it could take up to 10 business days to investigate and possibly restore my benefits. My kids and I rely on those benefits for food - what am I supposed to do for the next 2 weeks? Has anyone successfully gotten skimmed benefits back? Any emergency food resources while I wait? PROTECT YOUR CARDS EVERYONE!
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what they told me is there is no way to tell if a machine has a skimmer!!! i only use my card at safeway now. no more corner stores or gas stations.
This is so scary - I had no idea EBT skimming was this widespread! Reading everyone's experiences makes me realize I need to be way more careful with my card. I always thought those warnings about checking card readers were just for credit cards. For anyone dealing with this right now, I found out that some food pantries don't require any paperwork or waiting periods - you can literally just show up and get groceries the same day while you're waiting for your benefits to be restored. The Salvation Army and Catholic Charities usually have emergency food programs. Also, if you have kids, call 211 - they can connect you to local resources for families in crisis situations. Stay safe everyone and thanks for sharing your stories. This community really helps us look out for each other! 💙
Axel Far
one time mine showed as pending but then didn't actually load on my regular day and i panicked!!! turned out there was a system glitch and they fixed it the next day but maybe don't count on it until it's actually there lol
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Melody Miles
AuthorOh no, that would freak me out too! I'll try not to get too excited if I see it pending then. Just really hoping it comes through on time this month.
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Oliver Fischer
If you're in LA County and really need food before the 10th, check if there are any local food banks or pantries near you that can help bridge the gap. Places like the LA Regional Food Bank have locations all over and usually don't require much paperwork - just show up. Also, some churches and community centers do emergency food distribution. I know it's not ideal but when you're really tight on groceries it can help get you through those last few days. Hope your benefits show up as pending soon!
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