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try calling ur local office instead of main number my cousin works at dpss and says nobody answers main line lol
Based on your situation, I'd recommend two things: 1. Since you have an approval letter showing your benefit amount and your BenefitsCal account shows active status, this is clearly a technical issue with benefit issuance, not an eligibility problem. 2. If you've tried calling during off-peak hours without success, you might need to visit your local DPSS office in person. Bring your approval letter, ID, and EBT card. They can often resolve benefit issuance problems on the spot. One last option - if you can't take time off work to visit an office, check if your local DPSS office has an email address for emergencies. Some counties have implemented this since 2024.
Dont trust them AT ALL!!! They did this to me too and then claimed I never submitted my docs even though I HAD PROOF i uploaded them!!! Take screenshots of EVERYTHING and write down the confirmation numbers when you upload. The system is designed to trip you up and cut benefits whenever possible.
To directly answer your questions: 1. You should definitely submit the verification documents they requested, even though you received the EBT card. CalFresh regulations allow counties to issue benefits based on your statements during the interview, but they still need verification documents to continue your benefits beyond the first month or two. 2. The best way to submit your paystubs is through BenefitsCal.com - log in to your account, go to "My Benefits" and then you should see an option to "Submit Verification" or something similar. Upload clear photos or scans of your paystubs. 3. About the UIB mention - this is simply informational. The CalFresh worker noticed your husband is unemployed and is letting you know he might qualify for Unemployment Insurance Benefits. This is handled through EDD (Employment Development Department), not CalFresh. He can apply at edd.ca.gov if he lost his job through no fault of his own. 4. Your benefit amount of $530 for a family of 3 with one income seems in the expected range for 2025, especially if you have significant housing costs or childcare expenses that were reported during your interview. Make sure you keep track of your Semi-Annual Report (SAR7) due date, which will be approximately 6 months from approval. This is absolutely critical to continue receiving benefits.
Thank you for breaking it down so clearly! I'll go submit everything through BenefitsCal right away. Do you know if there's a deadline for when these documents need to be submitted? The forms don't have any clear due date.
Generally, verification documents should be submitted within 10 days of the request. Since you already received benefits, I would submit them immediately to avoid any potential disruption. The county may have already set a deadline in their system that could result in a discontinuance notice if you don't submit soon. Better safe than sorry!
I'm curious how someone could steal from your EBT card if you still have it? Was your card skimmed maybe? There's been a lot of reports about skimming devices being placed on ATMs and card readers. Thieves can copy your card information and PIN that way. Make sure when you get your new card, you always check the card reader for anything suspicious before inserting your card.
UPDATE: As of March 2025, California has enhanced protection for EBT theft victims. Under the new rules, counties must process theft claims within 10 calendar days (not business days), and replacement benefits should be issued within 5 days of approval. You're entitled to get back any benefits stolen within the 90 days prior to your report. The county should issue emergency replacement benefits if the theft causes immediate food insecurity. Make sure to specifically mention food insecurity for your children when filing your claim.
I'm so confused about all of this. I thought the extra CalFresh benefits ended after COVID? Is this something different? My family of 4 gets regular CalFresh but I haven't heard anything about extra money. Should I be looking for something extra on my card too? We're in Inglewood area...
This is different from the pandemic emergency allotments that ended in 2023. This is specifically related to the recent wildfires in certain parts of LA County. If you're in Inglewood (90301-90312), you're not in the affected area for this particular disaster relief, so you wouldn't receive this additional benefit. The regular wildfire-related zip codes are primarily in the northeastern parts of LA County.
Daniel Rogers
weird that it was chicago. when my moms got hacked last year it was from florida. maybe they target california ebt cards specifically??
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Ella Russell
•You're onto something there. California CalFresh benefits are among the highest in the nation, making them an attractive target for organized fraud rings. These groups often operate in states far from California to reduce the chance of getting caught. The transactions typically appear from states like Illinois, Florida, or New York because that reduces the likelihood of immediate detection by California's fraud monitoring systems.
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Benjamin Johnson
UPDATE: Just got back from the welfare office. Took 3 hours but they helped me file the EBT-2259 form and said they'll expedite the investigation. They also gave me a referral to a local food bank to help us get through until the benefits are restored. Apparently this is happening A LOT right now - the worker said they're getting dozens of similar reports every week. They think scammers are using card skimmers at stores to steal card info and PINs. Everyone BE CAREFUL with your EBT cards!!
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Zara Perez
•So glad you got help! Did they give you any timeline on when your benefits might be restored? When this happened to me it took exactly 8 business days.
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Benjamin Johnson
•They said 7-10 business days for the investigation, but might be faster since it's such an obvious case (transactions in Chicago when I've never left California). Really hoping it's closer to 7 days because the food bank stuff won't last that long.
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