anyone know if they'll give backpay for the missed month? i'm in the same boat and even if i get it fixed i already had to borrow money for groceries this month

I'm dealing with the exact same issue! My benefits were supposed to load on the 15th but my EBT card is still showing $0. I've been a CalFresh recipient for about 8 months and this has never happened before. Reading through these comments is both reassuring and terrifying - it sounds like this is happening to a lot of people but the reasons vary so much. I'm going to try that Claimyr service that people mentioned since I can't get through the regular phone lines either. Has anyone had luck just showing up at the county office in person? I'm wondering if that might be faster than waiting for a callback.

UPDATE: Finally got it working! Ended up having to call the county (used that Claimyr service someone mentioned and it actually got me through in about 25 minutes). The worker said my account was locked because of too many login attempts with the wrong password. She unlocked it and helped me set up a new password WITHOUT special characters. Reinstalled the app again and now it's working! Thanks everyone for your help. FYI my benefits did post correctly - the problem was just accessing them.

This is such a helpful thread! I'm bookmarking this for future reference since it sounds like these app issues are pretty common. Quick question - when you called using Claimyr, did they charge you anything for the service? I'm always skeptical of third-party services but if it actually works and gets you through faster, it might be worth it for situations like this where you really need access quickly.

i tried doing this with my pin but forgot what i changed it to 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️ had to go to the office in person to reset it and missed work so lost money anyway lol. maybe write it down somewhere safe if ur forgetful like me!!!

This is such valuable advice! I've been working with families affected by EBT theft in my volunteer role, and the PIN timing strategy you've shared is one of the most practical solutions I've heard. One additional tip I'd add: if you shop at the same stores regularly, try to vary your shopping locations and times after changing your PIN. Thieves sometimes target specific store locations where they've successfully installed skimmers. Also, for anyone who has been a victim of EBT theft - document EVERYTHING. Take photos of your transaction history, keep records of when you reported it, and save all correspondence with the county. While California isn't currently replacing stolen CalFresh benefits, there's ongoing litigation and policy pressure that might change this. Having documentation could be crucial if replacement policies change in the future. Stay strong everyone - this shouldn't be something we have to deal with, but sharing strategies like this helps protect our community! 💪

I want to share some updated information about benefit theft replacement since there seems to be confusion: 1. As of January 2025, California's updated EBT theft reimbursement program covers up to two months of stolen benefits within a federal fiscal year 2. The process requires: - Filing a police report (online is fine in most counties) - Completing form EBT-2259 (Benefit Theft Report) - Submitting a signed affidavit declaring the theft - Providing transaction records showing the unauthorized purchases 3. For emergency assistance while waiting: - Ask your county worker specifically for "expedited theft replacement" - Visit a local food bank (they have special programs for victims of benefit theft) - Check if you qualify for emergency CalFresh supplemental benefits If you're having trouble reaching someone at the county office to process this faster, you can either escalate to a supervisor by clearly stating it's an emergency food situation affecting children, or visit the office in person where they can't put you on hold.

I'm so sorry you're going through this - having benefits stolen twice is absolutely devastating, especially when you have kids depending on those funds. Beyond what others have mentioned, here are a few additional protective steps: 1. Consider using your EBT card only at larger chain stores with better security monitoring rather than smaller independent markets 2. Always inspect the card reader before inserting - look for anything loose, misaligned, or that seems "off" 3. If possible, use the chip reader instead of swiping when available 4. Keep a record of every transaction with photos of receipts to catch unauthorized use faster For immediate food assistance while waiting for replacement benefits, contact 211 (dial 2-1-1) - they can connect you to local food pantries and emergency food programs specifically for families affected by benefit theft. Many have special expedited services for EBT theft victims. Also, if that 3rd Street Market keeps coming up in theft reports, definitely report it to both local police and the USDA fraud hotline. Sometimes coordinated reporting from multiple victims is what finally gets these compromised terminals shut down. Hang in there - you're not alone in this and there are people working to help you get through this crisis.

I've heard of IHSS but wasn't sure if we'd qualify. That would be amazing if I could get paid for some of the care hours. And I didn't know about expedited service - that would be incredibly helpful since we're really struggling right now. Thank you!

I'm sorry you're going through this - the system really isn't set up well for gig workers! One thing that helped me when I was doing Uber Eats was keeping a simple spreadsheet tracking my daily earnings and expenses. I'd log miles driven, gas costs, and any delivery-related expenses each day. For your son's situation, definitely look into the Dependent Care Deduction when you reapply. If you have any childcare costs related to his autism (like respite care, therapeutic services, or even babysitting so you can work), those can be deducted from your income calculation. Also, medical expenses over $35/month for your son can be deducted too. Since you're planning to quit to care for him, make sure to mention that this is due to lack of suitable childcare for his special needs - this can help establish that your income reduction is legitimate and necessary. The county should understand that caring for a child with autism is essentially a full-time job in itself. Hang in there - once you get the right worker who understands these situations, things should go much smoother.