Something that hasn't been mentioned yet - if you're facing hardship while waiting for stolen benefits to be replaced, you can request an expedited hardship replacement. In California, if you're experiencing an immediate food need, you can request emergency benefits while your theft claim is being processed. You'll need to submit a statement of hardship along with your theft claim form (CF 303). This doesn't work in every case, but it helped me get partial benefits while waiting for my full theft reimbursement.

I had no idea about this option! Nobody at the county office mentioned it, even when I told them I was struggling to buy food. Is there a specific form for the hardship request or just a written statement?

btw this is totally seprate from calfresh funds. its a tax thing not a benefit thing. different pots of money. thats why calfresh ppl had no idea what u were talking about when u called

Update: I called the number on the CA State Controller's website this morning and after 45 minutes on hold (ugh), they confirmed it's legit! It's from the CalEITC like many of you said. Thanks everyone for your help! Going to treat my kid to new shoes with part of it since his old ones are falling apart.

dont forget the extra payment wont count toward your income limit or IRT! my cousin panicked thinking she had to report it on her SAR7 but its a one-time benefit so it doesnt count as income

Thanks everyone for the helpful info! I checked my EBT account this morning (June 18th) and the extra $250 was loaded! The transaction shows as "CA INFLATION RELIEF PYMT" just like someone mentioned. This will help so much with my grocery budget this month. Really appreciate all the clarification about when to expect it and how it works!

btw sometimes u can get emergency food benefits while waiting for them to fix ur case just tell them u have no food for ur kids when u finally reach someone they HAVE to help u with emergency benefits within 3 days its the law!!!

Update: I just got through to someone using that Claimyr service (it actually worked!). The worker explained that any electronic transfers over $250/month automatically trigger a verification request, which was supposedly mailed but I never received it. They're reissuing the request but she said I can upload the documents now and they'll process them within 3 business days. She also said they can issue emergency benefits for my kids since we're almost out of food. Really relieved but still frustrated by the whole process. Thanks everyone for your help!

anyone know if we can get like a chip card instead??? seems crazy they still give us these magnetic stripe cards in 2025 when literally every other card has better security!!

UPDATE: I just got off the phone with my county office (finally!) and wanted to share what I learned in case it helps anyone else. They confirmed there's been a wave of EBT theft in our area even with changed PINs. Good news: I'm getting emergency replacement benefits within 3 business days! Had to fill out the CF 303T form and provide my police report number. Also requested the new chip card that someone mentioned here. They suggested I: 1. Get a completely new card (not just PIN change) 2. Only use the card inside major grocery stores (no gas stations/ATMs) 3. Cover the keypad when entering PIN 4. Set up transaction alerts on BenefitsCal Thanks everyone for your help! This community saved me so much stress.

Good news! Yes, reporting your after-school care costs of $250/month could potentially increase your CalFresh benefits. Child care expenses are an important deduction in the CalFresh calculation. You should call your county office and report this change as soon as possible. You can say you need to report a "change in household circumstances" - specifically additional dependent care costs that you forgot to include in your initial application. Be prepared with documentation if they request it (receipts or a letter from the provider). Once processed, if you're eligible for increased benefits, they may also provide retroactive benefits back to your application date. Don't delay in reporting this!

also FYI the benefit amount changes based on inflation every october. last year most households saw like a 3% increase. so ur $400 might go up a little bit in october automatically

I thought P-EBT was done after the pandemic?? We haven't received anything on my kids cards for months and I assumed the program ended. Now I'm confused about whether we should be getting something or not. They're at a school where everyone gets free lunch.

UPDATE: I called the P-EBT hotline (took forever to get through) and they confirmed what you all said. The $175 is a combined payment for the first quarter of the school year, and the next payment won't come until December. The representative said they sent notices about this change in July but many people didn't receive them due to a mailing error. Thanks everyone for your help!

just wondering... do ur parents claim u as a dependent on there taxes? because if they do then ur supposed to be on there calfresh not ur own application. thats another thing that might cause problems.

After reading all the comments, here's what you should do: 1. Call your county office tomorrow and report the dividend income you forgot to mention. Explain it was an honest mistake. 2. Ask specifically about BBCE (Broad-Based Categorical Eligibility) and whether your stocks are exempt under those rules given your income level. 3. If they say you're over the resource limit, ask if there are any exemptions that might apply to your situation or if there's a way to restructure your assets. 4. Request written notice of any decision they make about your eligibility. 5. If they determine you've received an overpayment, you can request a repayment plan. The good news is that if you self-report, they generally don't pursue fraud charges for honest mistakes. But don't delay - the longer you wait, the more complex the situation becomes.

This system is DESIGNED to fail us. They make everything so complicated that people give up. I had benefits stolen TWICE last year and the second time they accused ME of fraud for a while! Meanwhile my kids were hungry and we almost got evicted too. The whole "wait patiently" thing is BS when rent is due and kids need to eat. The county workers sit comfortably in their offices while we struggle. I'm so angry for you.

Following up on my earlier comment - I want to add a critical detail about eviction prevention. When you go to request the Homeless Assistance payment, make sure to specifically ask for the "Permanent Housing Assistance" option, not just temporary. This can provide: - Up to two months of back rent ($3,000 maximum) - Security deposit coverage for new housing if needed - Utility deposit assistance You need to bring: - Your eviction notice - Rental agreement - Proof of the CalWORKs theft report - Statement from landlord of exact amount owed One final tip: If the county office is slow-walking your theft claim, immediately ask to speak with a supervisor and use the phrase "expedited fair hearing request" - this triggers a faster review process under California Department of Social Services regulations.

btw once u get calfresh theres other cool benefits that come with it!! like discount amazon prime, cheap internet, free museum passes, and farmers market match programs where they double ur benefits when u buy fresh fruits and veggies!!

Just a warning - make sure you're actually eligible before applying. There's a 5-year waiting period for most immigrants to get CalFresh unless you have refugee/asylee status or have children who are US citizens. The rules are super complicated and depending on your status, applying too early could potentially cause immigration issues later. Not trying to scare you, but a lot of people don't know this!