I'm so sorry this happened to you! This is actually a really common issue with EBT processing at Target - their payment terminals seem to have ongoing problems with properly canceling transactions when they freeze up. Here's what I'd recommend based on what others have shared: 1. Call the EBT customer service line at 1-877-328-9677 first thing in the morning when wait times are shorter. When the automated system asks why you're calling, say "dispute transaction" to get routed directly to the fraud department. 2. Ask specifically about provisional credits - this is super important! They can usually put the disputed $48 back on your card within 24-48 hours while they investigate, which would be a huge help for your grocery budget this month. 3. Before going to Target, print out your complete EBT transaction history from the BenefitsCal app/website showing all 5 duplicate charges. Having this visual proof makes all the difference when talking to store managers. 4. At Target, ask for a store manager who specifically handles EBT transaction issues - not just regular customer service. Some employees are much more familiar with processing EBT refunds than others. Document everything - names, times, reference numbers. Don't let them send you back and forth between departments. This is clearly their system error and you have every right to get your benefits back quickly. You've got this! Please keep us updated on how it goes - your experience will definitely help others who face similar issues with Target's glitchy EBT system.

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this - what a nightmare situation! I went through something very similar at Walmart about 6 months ago where their card reader kept glitching and charged me multiple times for the same purchase. Here's what worked for me: Call the EBT customer service line (1-877-328-9677) ASAP and when the automated system asks why you're calling, say "dispute transaction" - this gets you to the right department much faster than going through general customer service. The most important thing to ask about is provisional credits. They can usually put the disputed amount back on your card within 24-48 hours while they investigate, which is a lifesaver when you need those benefits for groceries right away. I got my provisional credits within 2 days and it made all the difference. Also, before going back to Target, definitely print out your EBT transaction history from the BenefitsCal app showing all 5 charges. Having that visual proof is crucial when talking to store managers. Ask specifically for a manager who handles EBT issues - some employees are way more familiar with the refund process than others. Don't let them send you in circles between Target and EBT customer service. This is clearly their system error and you have every right to get your $48 back quickly. Stay persistent and document everything - names, times, what they promise to do. You'll get through this! Please update us on how it goes - your experience will definitely help others who face similar payment system glitches.

I'm so sorry you're going through this - your situation is unfortunately becoming way too common and it's absolutely unacceptable! A $85 benefit reduction on a $72 income increase violates basic math, let alone the 30% rule that's supposed to govern CalFresh calculations. Based on everything shared in this thread, it sounds like there are widespread calculation errors happening, particularly around medical expense deductions and utility allowances. The fact that you have $350+ in monthly medical expenses that should be fully deductible makes me think that's where the error is. Here's what I'd recommend based on everyone's experiences: 1. Use that Claimyr service to actually get through to someone quickly 2. Ask for a complete written breakdown of your benefit calculation 3. Specifically verify they're applying your $350+ medical expense deduction correctly 4. Make sure you're getting the Standard Utility Allowance (SUA) if you pay for heating/cooling 5. If the numbers still don't make sense, request a fair hearing immediately Document everything and don't let them brush you off with "that's how it works" - clearly it's NOT working correctly for you and many others here. You deserve accurate calculations and enough food assistance to survive, especially when grocery prices have increased so dramatically this year. The system should be helping you, not punishing you for a tiny disability payment increase! Keep us posted on what you find out - your experience could help others facing similar calculation errors get their benefits corrected too.

I'm dealing with almost the exact same situation and it's beyond frustrating! My disability benefits went up $59 last month and they slashed my CalFresh by $78 - which makes absolutely no mathematical sense under the 30% rule everyone keeps mentioning. What really gets me is that I've been reporting my medical expenses (about $280/month) for over a year, but now I'm wondering if they're actually being counted correctly. Reading through all these experiences, it seems like medical expense deductions and utility allowances are where most of the calculation errors happen. The timing couldn't be worse either - grocery prices in my area have gone up so much that I'm spending about $40 more per week than I was last year just for the same basic items. A benefit reduction right now feels like being punished for getting a tiny cost-of-living adjustment that doesn't even come close to covering actual inflation. I'm definitely going to try that Claimyr service that @Hassan Khoury mentioned and ask for a detailed breakdown of my calculation. It's ridiculous that we have to become benefits experts just to get the correct amount of food assistance, but this thread has given me the knowledge and confidence to fight back. Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences - knowing I'm not alone in this makes such a difference!

This has been such an amazing thread to follow! As someone who's been on CalFresh for about 8 months now, I wish I had found information like this earlier. The Fresno Chaffee Zoo discount sounds incredible - $5 per person is such a manageable price compared to regular admission. My 6-year-old has been begging to go to the zoo and I kept having to say "maybe next month" because of our tight budget. I'm definitely going to call ahead like everyone suggests to confirm the current policy. The tip about asking at the membership desk if the regular ticket counter isn't familiar is so smart - I never would have thought of that! It's reassuring to hear from so many people that the staff are generally very understanding about these programs. The library pass idea has me really excited too. We're at our local library at least twice a week for books and activities, but I had no clue they might have museum passes or other resources available. I'm going to ask about that this week for sure! Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences so openly. It really helps normalize using these benefits and shows that we're all just trying to provide good opportunities for our kids within our means. This community is such a valuable resource!

This thread has been absolutely incredible! As a newcomer to CalFresh, I had no idea that EBT cards could be used for anything beyond grocery stores. The $5 admission at Fresno Chaffee Zoo sounds amazing - that's such a huge difference from regular prices! I'm definitely going to start keeping a list like others mentioned of all the places that offer these discounts. It's so encouraging to see how supportive everyone is about sharing their experiences and tips. Reading through all these comments has given me the confidence to actually start using these programs instead of feeling embarrassed about needing financial assistance. These benefits exist for a reason, and it sounds like the staff at most places are really understanding and helpful about processing the discounts. Thank you all for creating such a welcoming space to learn about these opportunities!

This thread has been absolutely amazing to read through! I'm in the exact same boat - expecting a tax refund of about $5,000 and was completely terrified about how it might affect our CalFresh benefits. We're a family of three and these benefits are crucial for us to put food on the table. I had been researching this for days and kept finding conflicting information online. Some sites said it counts as income, others said it doesn't, and I was getting more confused and stressed by the hour. Reading everyone's experiences here, especially learning about the 12-month exemption rule from the eligibility worker, has been such a huge relief! I also really appreciate all the practical advice - saving documentation, using Claimyr for phone calls, getting verification numbers. These are the real-world tips that make all the difference but you can never find on official websites. I'm definitely going to screenshot the official CalFresh pages about excluded resources like someone suggested. Sean, thank you so much for asking this question! It took courage to put yourself out there, but you've helped so many families who were dealing with the same anxiety. This community support is exactly what we need when trying to navigate these complicated systems while just trying to take care of our families.

This has been such an incredibly helpful thread to read through! I'm actually in a very similar situation - just received notice that my tax refund will be around $4,800 and I was absolutely panicking about how it might affect our CalFresh benefits. As a single mom with two kids, these benefits are essential for keeping food on our table. I've been researching this for over a week and kept finding completely different answers everywhere I looked. Some sources said tax refunds count as income, others said they don't, and I was getting more stressed and confused by the day. Reading through everyone's experiences here, especially having an actual eligibility worker explain the 12-month exemption rule, has been such a massive relief! What really stands out to me is how many families are dealing with this exact same anxiety right now. It shows how complicated these systems can be when you're just trying to do the right thing. The practical advice everyone has shared - keeping documentation, using Claimyr for those impossible phone waits, getting verification numbers - these are the real tips that actually matter but you never find on official websites. Sean, I can't thank you enough for having the courage to ask this question. You've created something that's helping so many families who were quietly dealing with the same fears. This community support is exactly what we need when navigating these complex benefit systems while just trying to take care of our kids!

This thread has been incredibly eye-opening! I'm a new CalFresh recipient (just got approved last month) and I had the exact same confusion when I saw someone using their EBT card at a local deli. I actually thought maybe there was some kind of fraud happening because I was told EBT only worked for groceries. Now I understand about the Restaurant Meals Program and how it's specifically for people who are elderly, disabled, or experiencing homelessness. It makes total sense that those populations would need different accommodations since they might not be able to cook at home easily. I'm grateful that I have stable housing and kitchen access so I don't need RMP, but it's really reassuring to know these programs exist for people who genuinely need them. The amount I've learned from reading everyone's experiences here is honestly more than what I got during my entire application process. It's clear the system needs much better education about all these different programs and eligibility categories from the start!

This has been such an informative thread! I'm a newer CalFresh recipient (about 2 months in) and honestly had no idea the Restaurant Meals Program even existed until reading through all these comments. Like so many others here, I was totally confused when I saw my elderly neighbor using her EBT card at a local Chinese restaurant and wondered if I was missing something. Now I understand she's probably eligible due to her age (she's definitely over 60). It's actually really well thought out that the program focuses on people who genuinely can't prepare meals easily at home rather than just being a general convenience option. I'm fortunate to have a working kitchen and don't qualify myself, but it's comforting to know these accommodations exist for people who really need them. The amount of practical information shared in this discussion has been way more helpful than anything I received during my application process. It's clear there's a huge gap in how these specialized programs get explained to new recipients. Thanks to everyone who took the time to share their experiences and knowledge!