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My county worker told me that u need to have submitted ur SAR7 on time to get the emergency allotment!!!!! I was late with mine last month and she said im not eligible. Has anyone else heard this??
That's not accurate information. The emergency allotment due to the flooding disaster declaration is available to all active CalFresh recipients regardless of reporting status. The only requirement is that you have an active case for the month of May 2025. Your worker might be confusing this with the regular CalFresh rules. If your case is active (even if you submitted your SAR7 late but it was processed), you should still receive the emergency allotment.
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
wait what??? you can transfer CalFresh to another account????? i never heard of this before????
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.
That's amazing news! So glad you got the emergency replacement. Make sure to check your mail carefully for the new card - they come in very plain envelopes that can look like junk mail.
Important information for everyone concerned about this change: Your regular CalFresh benefit amount is based on your household size, income, and expenses. If your circumstances have changed since your last certification or SAR7 report, you should contact your county office immediately. Specifically, make sure they have accurate information about: - Your current rent/mortgage amount - Utility costs (you may qualify for the Standard Utility Allowance) - Childcare or dependent care expenses - Medical expenses over $35/month for elderly or disabled household members - Child support payments Each of these deductions can significantly increase your base benefit amount. Don't wait until your next SAR7 or recertification to report these changes if they'll help your benefit calculation.
Has anyone received an official letter from CalFresh about the exact date in March when the emergency allotments will be issued? Some counties seem to be doing it early March, others late March. I need to plan my budget very carefully with this change.
I got a letter last week that said mine would be issued on March 18th in Riverside County. But my sister in LA County was told March 25th. I think it depends on your case number and county. You should check your BenefitsCal account - sometimes they post notifications there before sending letters.
Good point! San Bernardino County has several Community Based Organizations (CBOs) that offer free application assistance. Community Action Partnership of San Bernardino County is one of them - they help with applications and understanding what deductions you qualify for. Their website has locations and contact info. These helpers know all the rules and exceptions that most of us wouldn't think to ask about.
I'll look them up right now! Sounds like it would be worth talking to them before submitting my application. I definitely want to make sure I'm getting all the deductions we qualify for. Thanks for the suggestion!
Ruby Knight
I'd like to clarify some information based on the updated California Department of Social Services protocols implemented in 2025: 1. CalFresh benefits CAN still be replaced when stolen electronically, contrary to what some recipients have been told 2. The official replacement process now requires: - Form EBT-2259 ("Request for Benefit Replacement Due to Electronic Theft") - Police report filed within 5 days of discovery - Statement detailing when/where you last used the card - Copy of your EBT transaction history (available on the app) 3. The county has 10 business days to make a determination 4. If denied, you have appeal rights through the state hearing process For prevention, the new enhanced security features include: - Card lock/unlock feature in the EBT mobile app - Biometric verification option (fingerprint/face ID) - Geographic transaction limitations you can set - Purchase amount alerts - Category blocking (prevent ATM withdrawals entirely) I'd recommend setting up all these security features before your benefits arrive. They're all available in the CalFresh EBT app under "Security Settings.
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Maya Diaz
•This is SO helpful, thank you! I just checked the app and found all these security features. I had no idea they existed! I've turned everything on and feel a lot better about tomorrow's deposit now.
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Nina Chan
my caseworker told me to just spend all the benefits on the first day which is what i do every month now. bulk shopping at costco then no worries about theft!!!
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Tami Morgan
•That's actually not ideal advice from a nutrition standpoint. CalFresh is designed to last a full month, and studies show households that spend all benefits at once often experience food insecurity in the final week of the month. Better to use the security features and shop throughout the month to ensure consistent access to fresh foods.
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