This has been such an incredibly helpful thread! As someone who's been putting off setting up a regular PIN change routine because it seemed complicated, reading everyone's step-by-step experiences has finally motivated me to actually do it. Just called the automated system (877-328-9677) and wow - you all weren't kidding about how easy it is! The whole process took under 3 minutes and the prompts were super clear. I was actually surprised at how user-friendly it was compared to most government phone systems. I'm going to follow the advice about setting a monthly phone reminder - thinking the 15th will work well for my schedule. Also definitely switching to only using my EBT card at major grocery stores from now on. The gas station near my work always seemed sketchy anyway, and after reading about the skimming risks, I'm not taking any chances with my food security. Thank you everyone for sharing your real experiences and practical tips! This community really shows how much we can help each other stay safe and informed. It's frustrating that we have to worry about scammers targeting our benefits, but having solid strategies like these makes me feel so much more confident about protecting what I depend on.

This thread has been absolutely incredible! I can't believe how much practical, actionable advice everyone has shared. As someone who's been worried about EBT skimming but didn't know where to start, reading through all these real experiences has been a game-changer. I just called the automated line (877-328-9677) that everyone keeps mentioning and it really was that simple! Had my card ready, followed the prompts, and changed my PIN in about 3 minutes. The system is way more user-friendly than I expected from a government service. Setting up a monthly reminder on my phone right now for the 25th - that'll be my new PIN change day. And I'm definitely taking everyone's advice about sticking to major grocery stores. The corner shop near me might be convenient, but my food security is way too important to risk on potentially compromised card readers. Thank you all for creating such a supportive space where we can share real strategies for protecting ourselves. It's frustrating that we have to deal with scammers targeting our benefits, but knowing this community has practical solutions and everyone's looking out for each other makes me feel so much more confident about staying safe!

I just went through this same verification process a few weeks ago! My mother-in-law watches my twin toddlers and I pay her $700/month in cash. When my CalFresh worker asked for documentation, I was really worried because I had no receipts or formal agreements. What worked for me was creating a simple childcare statement that included: - My mother-in-law's full name, phone number, and address - My twins' names and birthdates - Care schedule (Monday-Friday, 6:30am-5:00pm) - Monthly payment amount ($700, paid weekly in cash) - A note explaining it's an informal family arrangement - Both our signatures and the date I submitted it by fax (got a confirmation receipt) and they accepted it within 3 business days. The childcare deduction increased my monthly benefits from $234 to $342, which made a huge difference for my family. The key thing is making sure all the information matches exactly what you told them in your interview. Since you said $650/month, stick with that exact amount on your statement. Don't overthink it - family childcare arrangements are super common and they understand not everyone has formal daycare receipts. You've got this!

I just went through this exact situation during my CalFresh recertification in February! My sister-in-law watches my 3-year-old son and I pay her $580/month in cash. When the worker asked for childcare verification, I was panicking because I had no formal receipts. What saved me was creating a simple signed statement that included: - My sister-in-law's full name, phone number, and address - My son's name and birthdate - Care schedule (Monday-Thursday, 7:30am-4:30pm) - Monthly payment amount ($580, paid bi-weekly in cash) - Brief note that it's an informal family childcare arrangement - Both our signatures and the current date I submitted it in person and got a receipt. They processed it within a week and applied the childcare deduction, which increased my monthly benefits from $189 to $267. The worker told me that family arrangements are completely normal and they just need some form of verification to confirm it's a legitimate expense. Since you already reported $650/month in your interview, make sure your statement matches that exact amount. The consistency is what they're looking for. Don't stress - informal childcare with family members is super common and a signed statement is perfectly acceptable verification!

I'm really sorry you're dealing with this - EBT card fraud is so stressful, especially when you have kids depending on you. I went through something very similar about 2 months ago when $220 disappeared from my card at a store I'd never even heard of, 40 miles away from me! The good news is I got my benefits back in 12 days instead of the full 20 they warned me about. Here's what I think helped: **Stay persistent but polite:** I called every 3 days and always asked "Has my case been assigned to an investigator yet, and is there anything additional I can provide?" This seemed to keep my case visible in their system. **Document everything:** I kept a simple log of every call - date, time, rep name, and what they told me. I also took photos of my work schedule proving I was at my job when the fraud happened and emailed those to the fraud department. **Ask about emergency assistance:** This was huge - my county provided $70 in emergency replacement benefits when I explained I had children and we were facing food insecurity. Don't be shy about asking for this help while you wait! **Use the evidence:** Every call I mentioned that I still had my physical card AND emphasized the 40-mile distance. Geographic impossibility is apparently strong evidence that speeds up approval. The waiting period is absolutely terrifying when you're watching your food supply shrink, but based on what everyone's sharing here about San Bernardino County, you should hopefully see resolution in 10-14 days. Keep advocating for your family - you're doing everything right! 💙

I went through this exact situation about 5 months ago - $163 stolen from my EBT card at a store 45 miles away that I'd never been to. The stress of not knowing when you'll get your benefits back while watching your kids eat smaller meals is just awful. Here's what helped me get my benefits restored in 10 days instead of the full 20: **Strategic calling approach:** - Called every 2-3 days and asked "Has my case been assigned to an investigator, and what's the current status?" - Always mentioned I had children and we were facing immediate food insecurity - Emphasized the geographic distance and that I still had my physical card **Documentation that helped:** - Gathered my work timesheet showing I was clocked in when the fraud occurred - Kept notes of every call (date, rep name, case updates) - Sent a brief follow-up email after each call summarizing what was discussed **Emergency assistance while waiting:** - My county approved $65 in emergency replacement benefits when I explained the situation with kids - Connected with local food pantries through 211 - Asked my kids' school about weekend food programs The 30-mile distance in your case is actually really strong evidence - make sure to mention that in every single call. Most fraud investigators told me that geographic impossibility cases get prioritized because they're easier to prove. Don't hesitate to ask for emergency food assistance while you wait. Counties have discretionary funds for exactly these situations, especially when children are involved. You're advocating perfectly for your family - stay persistent and you'll get through this! 💙

I'm in the same boat as many of you - just found out about this ending and I'm honestly overwhelmed trying to figure out next steps. Reading through everyone's suggestions has been really helpful though. I'm going to try that Claimyr service to actually get through to someone at my county office, and I had no idea about being able to submit a voluntary mid-period report to add expenses. Does anyone know if things like laundromat costs count as utilities? We don't have washer/dryer in our apartment and spend about $60/month at the laundromat. Also planning to hit up some food banks - never thought I'd need to but here we are. Thanks everyone for sharing info and resources during such a stressful time.

I'm really sorry to hear everyone is going through this stress. I just wanted to share that I've been meal planning more strategically since I heard about the emergency allotments ending. Things like buying rice, beans, and lentils in bulk have helped stretch my food budget way further than I expected. Also, I discovered that some grocery stores mark down meat and produce that's close to expiration - I've been checking those sections first and then planning meals around what's discounted. It's not ideal having to shop this way, but every little bit helps when you're trying to make the regular benefit amount work. I also started a small container garden on my apartment balcony with herbs and lettuce - even that saves a few dollars each month. We shouldn't have to do all this extra work just to eat, but I figure we might as well share strategies to help each other get through this.

So glad you got your benefits sorted out! This is actually a really helpful thread for anyone else who might experience this. I went through the same thing a few months ago and was panicking because I didn't understand what "authorized" meant. It's frustrating that the EBT system doesn't explain these statuses better - a simple note saying "funds will be available within 1-2 business days" would save so much stress. Thanks for sharing your experience and the update!

This thread is so helpful! I'm relatively new to CalFresh and had this exact same panic last month when I saw "authorized" for the first time. Like others mentioned, it's really frustrating that the system doesn't clearly explain what these different statuses mean. I ended up calling my county office (took forever to get through) and the worker explained that "authorized" basically means your benefits have been approved and processed, but there's always a delay before they actually hit your card. She said it's like when you deposit a check - the bank processes it but there's a clearing period. Now I know to expect this every month and not stress about it. Really glad your benefits came through @Liam O'Donnell and thanks for posting the update!