my worker told me theres a huge increase in EBT fraud right now!!! they're using skimmers and cameras to get card numbers and PINs. always cover the keypad when typing PIN and check for weird card readers that wiggle or look off. also some scammers call pretending to be EBT and ask for ur card info NEVER give that!!

I used to work for CalFresh, and I'd recommend two things: 1) Report the fraud immediately to EBT customer service, 2) Contact your county office directly and speak with an eligibility worker to file an official claim. You'll need to sign an affidavit stating which transactions weren't yours. The county can expedite replacement benefits in hardship cases while the fraud investigation proceeds. Make sure to mention your aunt is elderly and has no other food resources - this can qualify as a hardship case. Also request a new card with a different number immediately.

Following up on my earlier comment - I want to clarify something important. P-EBT 3.0 is not directly connected to your regular CalFresh benefits. While it's administered through the same agencies, the databases and eligibility systems are separate. If your children are enrolled in a school that participates in free/reduced lunch programs and they were doing virtual learning during the qualifying period, they should be eligible regardless of your household income or regular CalFresh status. One thing to check: are all your children listed under the same primary guardian in the school system? Sometimes when kids have different primary contacts listed in school records (like one parent for some kids, another for others), this can cause processing issues in the P-EBT system.

update on my situation - i filled out the appeal form 2 weeks ago and just got an email yesterday saying my missing kid was approved! card should come in 7-10 days they said. so the appeal form DOES work but takes time

i just wanted to add that my cousin works for the food bank and she said lots more people coming in since those emergency food stamps ended. if ur family needs extra food u should check out the food banks. they dont ask many questions and u can go even if u get calfresh. they have produce and meat sometimes too not just canned stuff. just google LA food bank locations and they will tell u where to go based on ur zip code

One more thing to note - while the regular emergency allotments have ended, LA County does occasionally issue one-time supplements during specific circumstances. For example, during the extended power outages last summer, some CalFresh recipients received replacement benefits for food lost due to refrigeration issues. Also, if you experience a major household change that significantly decreases your income (job loss, reduction in hours, someone leaving the household), report it immediately rather than waiting for your next SAR7. LA County is required to process these changes within 10 days and adjust your benefits accordingly. This isn't "extra" benefits, but it does ensure you're receiving the maximum amount you're eligible for based on your current situation.

I had this exact same problem last month! I tried with Chase and Wells Fargo and both refused. Ended up going to my local credit union (Golden 1) and they were super helpful. Not only did they sign the direct deposit form, but the customer service rep actually called my county worker WITH ME to verify all the information was correct. My direct deposit for CalWORKs started on the very next payment cycle. I also learned you can check the status of your direct deposit change by logging into BenefitsCal and looking under "Payment Information" once you're logged in. It will show if your account is pending verification or active.

Update: I went to Bank of America today and they signed my form no problem! The banker even helped me fill out some parts I wasn't sure about. I'm submitting it to the county office tomorrow. Thanks everyone for your help! And special thanks for clarifying that this is for my CalWORKs, not CalFresh. Still learning all the terminology lol.

For my rental search documentation, I created a simple spreadsheet with columns for: Date, Property Address, Rent Amount, Contact Name, Contact Method (phone/email/in-person), Response, and Notes. I attached all supporting evidence (emails, screenshots, etc.) after organizing them by date. My worker actually complimented me on how organized it was, and it made the approval process go much faster. It took some time to put together but was worth it to get approved without delays.

my social worker told me i had to prove contact with at least 10 different properties before they would approve my next step in THAP+14. but then another worker told someone else they needed 15!!! the requirements seem to change depending who u talk to!!!!