had this happen 2x already this year...its gotten so bad. now i just transfer my benfeits to my other account as soon as they hit so theirs nothing to steal. wish theyd fix this problem but they dont care about us

UPDATE: I wanted to follow everyone's advice here. I filed the CF 303 form online through BenefitsCal and used Claimyr to get through to a real person at my county office. The worker was super helpful and processed an emergency replacement for 60% of my benefits that will be available when my new card arrives in a few days. The rest will be replaced after the investigation, which she said typically takes 10 business days. Thank you all for your help! This forum literally saved my family from going hungry.

I applied for CalFresh back in January and just to let you know, they're giving higher benefits now in 2025 because they adjusted for inflation. The maximum for a household of 3 (like you and your kids) is around $750/month now I think? My sister gets almost that much for her and her two kids. But it really depends on your income and expenses. Make sure you tell them about your rent, utilities, childcare costs if you have any - all that can help increase your benefit amount because they're deductions from your income calculation.

Yes, you can definitely claim cash childcare payments as an expense! Just be prepared to provide a written statement from your childcare provider (your neighbor) that includes: - Their name and contact information - How much you pay them per week/month - Which children they care for and when It doesn't need to be anything fancy - just a signed note with this info. This expense can significantly increase your benefit amount since childcare is fully deductible for CalFresh calculations when it's necessary for work or school. Also, with rent that high, make sure you're claiming all utilities separately (even if some are included in rent). There's a standard utility allowance that can help increase benefits too.

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.

This totally sucks and i know exactly how u feel!!! When I needed housing help I applied for everything but got nowhere until I connected with a family advocate at my local WIC office. They had connections with housing resources I didn't even know existed! Do you go to WIC for your little one? If so ask them about housing resources next time you're there. Also try local Head Start programs - sometimes they have housing connections for families with young kids.

Based on your situation, here's a step-by-step approach: 1. Call your county's social services agency immediately (same place that handles your CalFresh) and ask about emergency housing assistance programs 2. Apply for CalWORKs if you're eligible - this opens the door to their Housing Support Program 3. Visit your local Housing Authority in person if possible - sometimes there are emergency vouchers that aren't advertised online 4. Contact local family resource centers and ask about their housing navigation services 5. Check if your county has a Homeless Prevention Program that helps families before they lose housing Don't wait - start all these processes simultaneously since housing programs often have waits. And make sure to emphasize that you have a 1-year-old and a specific move-out deadline when speaking with agencies.

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.