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This thread has been incredibly helpful - thank you @Ana Rusula for sharing your experience and bringing this issue to light! I had no idea EBT theft was this widespread with online grocery orders. I've been using various delivery services for over a year without problems, but after reading everyone's experiences, I'm definitely switching to in-person shopping only. The risk is just too high. For anyone dealing with this situation, I wanted to share that my cousin went through something similar in February (lost $520 through Amazon Fresh). What helped speed up her case was filing a complaint with the California Department of Social Services directly in addition to her county office. She found the online complaint form on the CDSS website and referenced her local case number. They followed up within 5 days and her benefits were restored in about 2 weeks total. Also, @Madison Allen thank you so much for mentioning the food bank resources - I work at a community center and we regularly refer people to local food assistance programs, but I didn't know many specifically helped EBT theft victims. This is such important information to have. Everyone please stay safe out there! It's awful that we have to be so cautious just to buy groceries, but protecting our benefits is crucial. @ElectricDreamer the 211 tip is fantastic too - I'm going to share that resource with others in my community.
Thank you for sharing that tip about filing directly with CDSS @Lucas Adams! That's really valuable information - I had no idea you could file complaints directly with the state department in addition to your county office. Two weeks is so much faster than the typical 30-45 day timeline people have been mentioning. I'm definitely going to suggest this approach to anyone I know dealing with EBT theft. It's great that your cousin was able to get her benefits restored relatively quickly. This whole thread has been such an education for me as someone new to CalFresh - I really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences and resources. The fact that we even have to deal with this is frustrating, but at least we're all looking out for each other and sharing solutions. @Ana Rusula hoping your full benefits get restored soon too!
This thread has been absolutely eye-opening and honestly terrifying! I've been using EBT for about 8 months now and had no idea this theft issue was so widespread with online grocery shopping. I was literally planning to start using Walmart delivery next week because of my work schedule, but after reading all these experiences, there's no way I'm risking it. @Ana Rusula I'm so sorry this happened to you, but thank you for sharing your story - it's probably going to save countless people from going through the same nightmare. The fact that you had to wait 3 weeks just to get emergency benefits while your kids went without food is absolutely unacceptable. A few things that really stood out to me from this discussion: - The once-per-year replacement policy is shocking - I had no idea about that limitation - The card lock feature seems like a must-use safety measure for anyone still shopping online - The 211 resource and food bank assistance options are incredibly valuable to know about I'm definitely going to enable that card lock feature right now and start checking my balance daily like others suggested. It's so frustrating that we have to be this paranoid just to buy groceries, but losing a whole month's benefits would be devastating for my family. Thank you to everyone sharing resources and looking out for each other - this is exactly why community support is so important. Stay safe everyone!
@Madison King you re'absolutely right to be cautious! I m'fairly new to this community too and this thread has been such a reality check. The once-per-year replacement policy really caught me off guard as well - it seems so unfair since these thefts aren t'our fault. I immediately went and enabled the card lock feature after reading @Fiona Gallagher s suggestion'and I m definitely'going to start checking my balance daily now. It s crazy'that we have to take all these precautions just to protect our food assistance, but like you said, losing benefits would be devastating. @Ana Rusula thank you again for bringing this to everyone s attention -'your experience is helping so many of us stay safe. This community really shows how we can look out for each other during tough times. I m sticking to'in-person shopping only from now on!
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This thread is such a perfect example of why communities like this are so vital! I just joined recently and I'm amazed at how everyone rallied around @Luca Romano's emergency situation with such detailed, actionable advice. As someone who's been on CalFresh for about a year, I honestly had no clue that same-day EBT card replacement was even an option - I always thought you were stuck waiting for mail delivery like most government services. The professional insights from @Carmen Lopez about emergency forms and authorization letters are exactly the kind of insider knowledge that can be life-saving when you're in crisis mode with kids to feed. What really impressed me was how @Luca Romano followed up with their successful experience, including those crucial timing details about arriving at 7:30am for an 8am opening. That kind of real-world feedback helps set realistic expectations for others who might face similar emergencies. This thread is definitely going in my saved posts - the combination of community experiences and official guidance makes it an invaluable resource. It's both reassuring and frustrating to learn about the system challenges (broken printers, budget cuts, inconsistent worker knowledge) but knowing there are workarounds and this supportive network makes all the difference. Thanks everyone for creating such a genuinely helpful space!
Welcome to the community! I'm also pretty new here and this thread has been such an eye-opening experience. Like you, I had absolutely no idea that same-day EBT replacement was possible - it really should be better advertised since so many families depend on these benefits for basic necessities. The way everyone came together to help @Luca Romano in such a stressful emergency situation really shows the power of community support. @Carmen Lopez s professional'insights about the emergency forms and authorization options are incredibly valuable, and @Luca Romano s detailed follow-up'about the actual experience including that 7:30am (arrival tip will definitely help) other families who might face similar crises. It s frustrating to'learn about all the system issues like broken printers and budget cuts, but having this kind of peer knowledge network makes navigating those challenges so much more manageable. This thread is definitely going in my bookmarks too - hopefully I ll never need'it, but it s such a'relief knowing these resources and this supportive community exist!
This thread has been such an incredible resource and really shows what makes this community so special! I'm new here and was honestly pretty anxious about potential EBT issues since I just started receiving CalFresh benefits a couple months ago. Like so many others, I had no idea that same-day EBT card replacement was even possible - I always assumed you'd be stuck waiting weeks for everything to go through the mail. @Luca Romano, I'm so relieved you were able to get your card and feed your kids! The stress of being in that situation with three children depending on those benefits must have been overwhelming. Your detailed follow-up about the timing (arriving at 7:30am for 8am opening) and the 2-hour wait really helps set realistic expectations for anyone else who might face a similar emergency. @Carmen Lopez, your professional insights as a benefits counselor are absolutely invaluable - the information about emergency replacement forms, fee structure, and especially the authorization letter option for people who can't get to offices themselves could be life-changing for families in crisis situations. What really strikes me is how this thread highlights both the system challenges (broken card printers, budget cuts affecting service days, inconsistent information from different workers) and the power of community knowledge to navigate those obstacles. The way everyone jumped in with such practical, detailed advice shows what an amazing support network this community provides. I'm definitely saving this thread - hopefully I'll never need emergency EBT replacement, but knowing these options exist and having access to this kind of peer support gives me so much peace of mind. Thank you all for creating such a genuinely helpful space where people can get real solutions when they need them most!
Welcome to the community! I'm also new here and this thread has been such an amazing introduction to how supportive and knowledgeable everyone is. Like you, I just started on CalFresh a few weeks ago and had been really worried about what would happen if my EBT card stopped working or got lost. Reading through all these experiences has been so educational - I had absolutely no clue that same-day replacement was even an option! I always thought you'd be stuck waiting forever through the regular mail system. The way everyone came together to help @Luca Romano in such a stressful emergency really shows what this community is all about. @Carmen Lopez s professional'insights about the emergency forms and authorization letters are exactly the kind of insider knowledge that can make all the difference when you re panicking'about feeding your family. And @Luca Romano s detailed follow-up'with the specific timing and process details will definitely help other parents who might face similar situations. It s both frustrating'and reassuring to learn about all the system challenges, but having this kind of peer support network makes navigating government benefits feel so much less overwhelming. This thread is definitely going in my saved posts too - thank you all for creating such a genuinely helpful space!
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btw once u activate, download the ebt fresh app too! it shows u which farmers markets accept ebt AND which ones do the market match program where they DOUBLE your benefits for fruits & vegetables!
Wait what?? You can double your benefits at farmers markets?? I had no idea! Definitely downloading that app - thank you so much for this tip!!
Welcome to the CalFresh community! Yes, you absolutely need to activate your EBT card before using it. Here's what you need to do: 1. Call the customer service number on the back of your card (usually 1-877-328-9677) 2. Have your card number, ZIP code, and date of birth ready 3. Follow the prompts to set up a 4-digit PIN that you'll use for purchases Your benefits should already be loaded on the card once it's activated - they get deposited automatically based on your case approval. You can check your balance by calling the same number after activation. One helpful tip: write down your PIN somewhere safe! If you forget it, resetting can be a hassle. Also, consider downloading the ebt fresh app that someone mentioned - it's great for finding farmers markets that accept EBT and offer matching programs. Don't worry about looking confused at the store - we've all been there! The cashiers are usually helpful if you need assistance with your first EBT purchase. Good luck with your shopping!
This is such a helpful summary! I'm also new to CalFresh and was wondering about the same things. One question - do you know if there's a limit to how many times you can check your balance? I tend to be pretty anxious about money and would probably check it frequently at first until I get used to the system.
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That's so great to hear about your success at the farmers market! I love seeing families discover this program. Just wanted to add a tip for anyone else reading this - if you're going to a farmers market for the first time, it's worth calling ahead or checking their website to confirm they participate in Market Match/HIP. Some smaller markets might not be set up for it yet. Also, many markets have seasonal hours or might be closed certain months, so double-checking the schedule can save you a trip. The program really does make such a difference for families trying to eat healthy on a budget!
This is such helpful advice about calling ahead! I learned this the hard way when I drove 30 minutes to a farmers market I found online only to discover they were closed for the winter season. Now I always check their Facebook page or website first. Also, some markets have different days they operate - like mine is only open Saturdays and Wednesdays, so definitely worth confirming the schedule. Thanks for sharing that tip!
This has been such a helpful thread! I'm also new to CalFresh (got approved 3 months ago) and had no idea about the Market Match program until I stumbled across this post. Reading everyone's experiences has been really eye-opening. I especially appreciate the tips about saving receipts and calling markets ahead of time to confirm they participate. One thing I wanted to add - I noticed some people mentioned concerns about the credits not showing up on time. Has anyone tried keeping a log or taking photos of their receipts? I do this for other important purchases and it's helped me track things better. Also wondering if anyone knows whether the program works year-round or if there are seasonal limitations at certain markets? Thanks to everyone for sharing their knowledge - this community is so supportive!
Great question about keeping logs! I actually started doing this after reading about Faith's experience with missing credits. I take photos of my receipts and keep a little notebook with the date, market name, amount spent, and expected credit amount. It's saved me twice when credits didn't show up - having that documentation made it much easier when I had to call the county office. As for seasonal limitations, most markets that participate in Market Match run the program year-round, but some smaller or seasonal markets might only operate certain months. The program itself doesn't have seasonal restrictions, it's more about individual market schedules. I'd definitely recommend calling ahead like others suggested! Also wanted to say welcome to CalFresh! This community has been such a lifesaver for learning about all these programs I never knew existed.
Kaitlyn Jenkins
I'm so glad you're getting help! Just wanted to add that when you call PG&E, ask specifically about their "Level Pay Plan" too - it averages your annual bill into 12 equal monthly payments so you don't get those shocking high bills in summer/winter. Also, since you mentioned you have little kids, check if your county has a "Keep Your Utilities On" or similar emergency fund - many counties set aside money specifically for families with children facing utility shutoffs. The waiting lists can be shorter than other programs since kids are prioritized. Hope everything works out for you and your family!
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Kyle Wallace
•Thank you so much for mentioning the Level Pay Plan! That would really help me budget better instead of getting these huge surprise bills. I had no idea that was even an option. I'll definitely ask about that when I call PG&E tomorrow, and I'll also look into the emergency fund for families with kids. You've all been so helpful - I was really panicking about this bill but now I have like 5 different options to try. Really appreciate this community!
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Madison Allen
I'm new to CalFresh and dealing with my first really high utility bill since getting benefits. Reading through all these responses is so helpful! I had no idea there were so many different programs that work alongside CalFresh. My caseworker literally just handed me my EBT card and said "this is for food only" - never mentioned CARE discounts, LIHEAP, 211, or any of these other resources. It's kind of overwhelming but also reassuring to know there's help out there. For anyone else reading this who's new to the system like me, it sounds like the key is to specifically ASK about what other programs you might qualify for rather than waiting for them to tell you. Thanks to everyone sharing their experiences and knowledge!
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Lilly Curtis
•Welcome to the CalFresh community! You're absolutely right that caseworkers often don't mention all the connected programs - I think it's partly because they're overwhelmed and partly because different programs have different funding sources and departments. One tip I wish someone had told me when I first got CalFresh: ask your caseworker to put you on any waiting lists for other assistance programs right away, even if you don't need them immediately. Some programs like weatherization assistance or emergency rent help can have long waiting periods, so getting on the list early means you're already in line if you need help later. Also keep your CalFresh approval letter handy - it's basically a golden ticket that shows you're pre-qualified for tons of other low-income programs!
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