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I understand your frustration. For anyone facing extreme delays (8+ weeks) or issues with address changes, there is an escalation process. You can request your case be marked as
Is anyone else seeing a HUGE increase in EBT theft this year??? My sister got her benefits stolen in January, my coworker in March, and now me last week! I think something bigger is going on. The county offices should be taking this more seriously instead of making it so hard to report!!!
There has been a documented increase in EBT skimming theft in California. The state implemented new chip cards that started rolling out in late 2024, but not everyone has received them yet. If you haven't gotten a chip card, you can request one from your county office. In the meantime, check your balance frequently and transfer benefits to a separate account if your county offers that option.
UPDATE: I finally got through! For anyone else dealing with this issue, here's what worked: I went to my county office in person this morning with my EBT card, ID, and screenshots of the transactions. The worker helped me fill out the EBT-2259 form and said I should receive provisional credits within 10 days while they investigate. She also mentioned they're now requiring police reports for claims over $500, so I'll need to file one online and send them the report number. Thank you everyone for your help! The in-person visit was definitely the way to go.
awesome! glad u got it figured out. how long did u have to wait at the office?
My benefits only went down about $30/month after reporting the extra income. They let me deduct some of my craft supplies as business expenses, which helped. The worker said as long as I was reporting it now and hadn't gone over my IRT, they weren't concerned about the past months. Just be upfront at your recertification and you should be fine.
Thanks everyone for the advice! I feel much better about my upcoming recertification now. I'll be honest about the side income and bring documentation of when it started. And I'll try that Claimyr service if I can't get through on the phone tomorrow to ask any follow-up questions. Appreciate all the help!
This is kinda off topic but speaking of the BenefitsCal website... does anyone know why it always logs me out after like 2 minutes? I'll be in the middle of uploading verification docs and suddenly I'm logged out and have to start over. So frustrating!
It has a really short timeout period for security reasons. I think it's like 3-5 minutes of inactivity. What I do is prepare everything BEFORE I log in - have all my documents scanned and ready to upload, info written down, etc. Then I can quickly do what I need to before it times out.
@OP glad you got your font issue resolved! For anyone else experiencing display problems with BenefitsCal or other government websites, I recommend checking these settings: 1. Browser zoom (Ctrl+ or Ctrl- to adjust) 2. Font settings in your browser (usually in Settings > Appearance) 3. Extensions or add-ons that might modify web content 4. Windows/Mac accessibility settings that override website fonts 5. Check if your browser needs updating Also, the BenefitsCal mobile app sometimes works better than the website for basic tasks like checking your balance or uploading verification documents.
Connor O'Reilly
Just got an update from my son's school - they said if your child is on an IEP or has a documented disability, you might get a slightly higher P-EBT amount (around $240 instead of $195). Has anyone else heard this or received the higher amount?
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StardustSeeker
•That's partially accurate. Children who attended schools with summer programming specifically for students with disabilities might qualify for additional P-EBT days, which would increase the total benefit amount. However, simply having an IEP doesn't automatically qualify for a higher amount - it depends on the specific summer programs offered by your child's school. Contact your school district's nutrition services department for confirmation of your child's specific benefit amount.
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Zainab Yusuf
UPDATE: Just got our P-EBT card in the mail today! It really does look like junk mail so check your envelopes carefully. The benefit is $195 as others mentioned. For anyone still waiting, looks like they're moving faster than expected with the distribution.
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Yara Khoury
•still nothing for us ughhh 😤 checking mail everyday
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Paolo Marino
•congrats!! hope mine comes soon
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