I used to work in cyber security and this is a HUGE problem now. These scammers target benefit programs specifically because they know the system is slow to respond and many families can't wait. One trick I learned is to transfer benefits to a separate EBT account if your county allows it - keep minimal funds on your main card and move money over as needed.

btw has anyone heard about that bill they were trying to pass to make EBT skimming reimbursement faster? whatever happened with that?

I want to address something important: If your income is changing with this new job in Kern County, you need to report that as well. If the change puts you over the Income Reporting Threshold (IRT), you must report it within 10 days of the change. This is separate from the address change/county transfer. For a household of 3 in 2025, the IRT is approximately $3,750/month gross income. Be sure to check your last recertification notice for your specific IRT amount. Failing to report income changes can result in an overpayment that you'd have to pay back.

One more thing that nobody mentioned - make sure your mailing address is updated everywhere! When I transferred counties, I missed a crucial letter because it went to my old address even though I had updated my physical address. Set up mail forwarding with USPS too, just to be safe.

anyone know if the pbt is a one time payment or do they reload the card again next month??

Just to clarify about the P-EBT amount that several people have mentioned - the $230 per child is specifically for the fall semester period. It's calculated based on a daily rate multiplied by the number of eligible school days. If you're struggling with food costs beyond what P-EBT and CalFresh provide, here are some additional resources in LA County: 1. WIC (if you have children under 5) 2. Food banks - LA Regional Food Bank has distribution sites throughout the county 3. School-based pantries - many LAUSD and other district schools now have food pantries for families 4. Summer meal programs will be starting soon where kids can get free meals during summer break Also, if your income has decreased recently or your expenses have increased significantly, you can report these changes to potentially increase your regular CalFresh benefits, even if it's not your regular reporting month.

my neighbor said the government can track everything u buy with ebt and thats how they catch people selling their benefits which is a FELONY just fyi be careful who u talk to about ur card

I just changed my PIN and set up text alerts for transactions! The worker at my county office finally called me back and confirmed there was a skimming operation they busted at several stores around town. She said they're working with the local police department and the USDA to investigate. She also mentioned they're planning to replace the affected clients' benefits but it could take 30-45 days for the funds to be restored. I'm checking my balance every morning now just to be safe. Thanks everyone for all the helpful advice!

my niece had the same thing happen and it turned out her birthday made her switch categories or something?? like once they turn 2 they count differently than the babies or something. did your kid have a birthday recently?

Update: I finally got through to someone at P-EBT! The daycare had actually reported him absent for the whole month of April because of a system error on their end (even though he only missed that one week). The P-EBT worker put in a correction and said benefits for both missing months should be loaded within 10 business days. They're also sending me a letter confirming everything. Thanks everyone for your help!