Has anyone heard of class action lawsuit?? I'm seeing this happen to SO MANY people now with EBT cards and the state isn't doing enough to protect us! These cards don't even have chip technology! My friend who works at a bank said they have WAY better fraud protection on regular debit cards than we get on EBT. It's discrimination against poor people if you ask me!!! We deserve the same protection as everyone else!!!

FINAL UPDATE: It took almost 4 weeks, but I finally got my benefits back today! They refunded the full $785 after completing their investigation. The worker said they confirmed it was fraud based on the transaction location and the fact that multiple other people had their cards compromised at the same store. For anyone else this happens to - keep calling and checking the status of your claim weekly. I had to submit the police report and a written statement about where I was when the transactions happened. So relieved this is finally resolved. Thank you all for your help and support through this nightmare!

I worked for a county office before retiring last year, and it's unfortunately common for workers not to explain the dual process. This happens because county workers handle eligibility and benefits, but EBT card issues are managed by a separate contracted company. One thing I always told my clients: when you file a theft claim, ask for "expedited processing" specifically using those words, and cite "hardship due to household with children." This terminology triggers specific protocols that can speed up your claim. Also, submit a written statement to your worker (email works) stating that you were not properly informed of the complete process for reporting EBT theft. This creates a record that may help if there are delays in processing your claim.

UPDATE: I called the EBT fraud line this morning using all the advice from this thread. Got a much nicer person who helped me file the claim properly. They gave me a claim number starting with CA-2530. Called my worker right after and gave her the number. She said they can issue emergency benefits for my kids within 3 business days while the full claim is processed! THANK YOU everyone for your help! I was ready to give up yesterday.

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.

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.