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.

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.

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.

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.

I went thru this same confusion last year! Called my worker and they explained P-EBT was only for specific timeframes during the pandemic. Frustrating because the info online isn't always clear. But on the bright side, when I called, my worker reviewed my case and found I wasn't getting credit for my full rent payment which actually increased my regular CalFresh amount by $67/month! So sometimes these questions lead to finding other benefits you're missing out on.

ACTUALLY my kids just got P-EBT cards in the mail like 2 weeks ago!!! But its money from like 2021-2022 that was super delayed. The worker told me they're still sending out old benefits but not approving new ones. So confusing!!!

To answer your question about the specific form - it's called the "EBT-2259 - Statement of Facts for EBT Theft Claim." You can download it from the CDSS website or get it from your county office. Make sure to include as much detail as possible about where you last used your card and when you noticed the benefits were missing. Regarding store safety, there are a few things to watch for: - Inspect card readers for any loose components or anything that looks like it was attached - Cover the keypad when entering your PIN - Avoid stores that have had multiple reports of skimming (you can actually check this on the CDSS website) - Use the EBT Mobile app to freeze/unfreeze your card when not in use (new feature added in 2024) And yes, the new cards will be a standard blue design similar to bank debit cards, without the obvious California imagery or "EBT" displayed prominently. They'll still identify as "California SNAP" on the back in small print as required by federal regulations.

Thanks everyone for all this helpful information! I've learned so much from this thread. I downloaded the EBT Mobile app mentioned above and found the freeze feature - super easy to use. I'm going to start freezing my card between shopping trips. Also bookmarked the EBT-2259 form just in case. Still think it's ridiculous we have to wait until 2026 for basic security features that regular bank cards have had for years, but at least it's finally happening. Fingers crossed none of us have to deal with theft again before then!