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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.
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!
Does anyone remember how much the sun bucks actually were? I feel like my family got like an extra $400/month during covid but my friend says it was more like $200. I'm not good at keeping track of that stuff lol
The emergency allotments varied by household size and situation, but every household received at least $95 extra per month, with many receiving much more. The extra amount was calculated to bring your total benefits up to the maximum amount for your household size. So if your regular calculation already gave you $200 below the maximum, you'd get $200 extra. If you were only $50 below maximum, you'd still get $95 (the minimum emergency allotment). For a family of 4, the maximum monthly benefit during 2022 was around $835, so some families saw their benefits double during that period.
my neighbor works for the calfresh office and she said theres nothing coming back like the covid bonuses. i think your cousin might have heard about the regular cola increase thats always in october. my benefits went up $12 last october whoop-de-doo lol
Landon Morgan
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!
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Tasia Synder
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.
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Selena Bautista
•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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