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If I could give 10 stars I would If I could give 10 stars I would Such an amazing service so needed during the times when EDD almost never picks up Claimyr gets me on the phone with EDD every time without fail faster. A much needed service without Claimyr I would have never received the payment I needed to support me during my postpartum recovery. Thank you so much Claimyr!
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Adding more people to ur household is ussually good for CalFresh benefits but sometimes it can mess things up if those people have income. My cousin added her boyfriend to her case and her benefits went DOWN even tho they had another mouth to feed!! Make sure u understand how the income is gonna affect ur benefits before u make any changes!!!
One more thing to consider - when you report this change, you'll need to provide verification documents. Typically for adding household members, you'll need: 1) Identification for the new members, 2) Proof of residence (showing they live with you), 3) Income verification for your sister-in-law, and 4) Citizenship/immigration status documentation. Having these ready when you submit your SAR7 will prevent delays in processing the change.
Thank you! I have her ID and can get a paystub. For proof of residence, would a signed statement from me as the lease holder work? She doesn't have any bills in her name yet.
A landlord statement can work, but it's better to have something official. You could add her name to a utility bill, or she could change her address on her ID, bank statement, or vehicle registration. Some counties also accept mail addressed to her at your address (like medical correspondence or school documents for the kids). Different counties have different requirements, so it's best to check with your specific county office.
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this happened to my neighbor and they got their benefits back in like 3 weeks. make sure u dont use the same pin as before when u get ur new card! those thieves sometimes hit the same person twice
3 weeks sounds like forever when you have no food money :( But I'm glad to hear they eventually got it back. I'll definitely use a completely different PIN. Thanks for the tip!
Just to follow up on this thread with some important information: As of January 2025, California has enhanced protections for CalFresh recipients who experience benefit theft. The state now requires county offices to process theft claims within 7 business days. Additionally, if you're experiencing a food emergency while waiting, you can request an immediate emergency allotment (typically 25% of your monthly benefit) to help bridge the gap. Also, there's a new option to freeze/unfreeze your EBT card through the BenefitsCal app or website, which can help prevent unauthorized transactions when you're not actively using your card. If you believe your information was compromised at a specific retailer, include that in your police report as it helps with the broader investigation into skimming rings.
Thank you for this update! I just downloaded the BenefitsCal app and found the freeze option. That's going to be so helpful. I'm going to the county office tomorrow morning with all my paperwork to request the emergency allotment too. I really appreciate everyone's help - this community has been amazing during such a stressful time.
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That's great news that you got through and they're expediting your case! Make sure to complete every single field on the CF-303 form accurately. The most common reason for delays is incomplete information. If possible, I'd recommend both uploading the completed form to your BenefitsCal account AND emailing it to the worker who's assisting you (get their direct email if possible). This creates two records of your submission, which can be helpful if there are any issues later. Wishing you luck, and please do keep us updated!
UPDATE: I got my benefits replaced today - just 3 days after submitting all the paperwork! They replaced the full amount that was stolen. For anyone else dealing with EBT theft, here's what worked for me: 1. Called EBT customer service first (got a reference number) 2. Filed police report online (got a case number) 3. Called county office and specifically asked for "Expedited Replacement Due to Theft with Hardship" 4. Completed CF-303 form + included police report number and EBT dispute number 5. Uploaded everything to BenefitsCal AND emailed copies to my worker 6. Called to follow up the next day to confirm they received everything Thank you everyone for your help and advice during this stressful time! I'm so relieved and can finally buy groceries for my family again.
This is fantastic news! I'm so glad they processed it quickly for you. Thank you for coming back to update us - this information will be really helpful for others facing similar situations.
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To clarify for everyone in this thread: the CFAP supplement is being distributed to eligible households in phases: - Phase 1 (March 15): Households with children under 18 - Phase 2 (March 25): Households with seniors (60+) or disabled members - Phase 3 (April 1): All other eligible households The current participating counties are: Alameda, Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco, and Santa Clara. More counties will be added in the coming months. To check eligibility, look for a notice titled "CFAP Supplement Eligibility Notice" in your BenefitsCal account or mail. The amount varies based on household size. This is separate from your regular CalFresh benefits.
THANK YOU for actually explaining it clearly!! Why couldn't my worker just say this?? So I should see something on March 15th since I have kids. FINALLY some straight information!
Update for everyone: I just checked my mail more carefully and found the notice about the CFAP supplement! I'm in Sacramento County with 3 kids, so looks like I should expect it on March 15th. The letter says it's a one-time supplemental payment to help with rising food costs. Thanks everyone for helping me figure this out! I was looking for it today because I misunderstood the date.
Thanks for the update! Just found my letter too. Glad we sorted this out!
Eloise Kendrick
Thanks everyone for all this information! I'm definitely going to check out the Saturday market this weekend. One more question - does anyone know if the Market Match tokens expire? Like if I don't use them all in one visit can I save them for next time?
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LongPeri
•Great question about the tokens. At most markets, the Market Match tokens or vouchers are valid for that market day only, but some markets allow you to use them throughout the current market season. It varies by location, so definitely ask the market manager when you get them. Also, since you're new to CalFresh, remember you can use your regular EBT benefits at farmers markets too (not just the Market Match part). Some vendors sell bread, honey, plant starts for growing your own food, and even meat and eggs that you can buy with your regular CalFresh benefits.
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Oscar O'Neil
lol everyone saying farmers market but nobody mentioned the ONE grocery store that does it... smart and final on march lane does a produce match on wednesdays only. its not as good as market match (only $5 match) but its something if u cant do weekends
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Eloise Kendrick
•THANK YOU!! I had no idea Smart & Final did this! That's actually much closer to me than the farmers market and I shop there sometimes anyway. Do you know if you need to sign up for it somehow or do they just automatically give the match when you use your EBT card on produce?
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