This thread has been absolutely eye-opening and honestly terrifying! I've been using EBT for about 8 months now and had no idea this theft issue was so widespread with online grocery shopping. I was literally planning to start using Walmart delivery next week because of my work schedule, but after reading all these experiences, there's no way I'm risking it. @Ana Rusula I'm so sorry this happened to you, but thank you for sharing your story - it's probably going to save countless people from going through the same nightmare. The fact that you had to wait 3 weeks just to get emergency benefits while your kids went without food is absolutely unacceptable. A few things that really stood out to me from this discussion: - The once-per-year replacement policy is shocking - I had no idea about that limitation - The card lock feature seems like a must-use safety measure for anyone still shopping online - The 211 resource and food bank assistance options are incredibly valuable to know about I'm definitely going to enable that card lock feature right now and start checking my balance daily like others suggested. It's so frustrating that we have to be this paranoid just to buy groceries, but losing a whole month's benefits would be devastating for my family. Thank you to everyone sharing resources and looking out for each other - this is exactly why community support is so important. Stay safe everyone!

This thread has been incredibly informative and honestly quite alarming! I've been using CalFresh for about 6 months and primarily shop at local stores in person, but I was considering trying grocery delivery services to save time. After reading everyone's experiences here, I'm definitely sticking with in-person shopping only. @Ana Rusula I'm so sorry you and your kids had to go through this ordeal, but thank you for sharing your experience and keeping us all updated. It's really helpful to see how you navigated the system and got emergency benefits while waiting for resolution. What really strikes me is how organized and knowledgeable this community is about protecting each other. The tips about: - Using the card lock feature between purchases - Daily balance checking - Filing complaints directly with CDSS - Utilizing 211 and food bank resources during investigations These are all things I never would have known without this discussion. I'm going to implement the security measures right away and research local emergency food resources just to be prepared. It's frustrating that we have to become cybersecurity experts just to buy groceries safely, but this thread proves how valuable community knowledge-sharing is. Thank you to everyone contributing resources and looking out for fellow CalFresh recipients!

This thread has been such an incredible resource and really shows what makes this community so special! I'm new here and was honestly pretty anxious about potential EBT issues since I just started receiving CalFresh benefits a couple months ago. Like so many others, I had no idea that same-day EBT card replacement was even possible - I always assumed you'd be stuck waiting weeks for everything to go through the mail. @Luca Romano, I'm so relieved you were able to get your card and feed your kids! The stress of being in that situation with three children depending on those benefits must have been overwhelming. Your detailed follow-up about the timing (arriving at 7:30am for 8am opening) and the 2-hour wait really helps set realistic expectations for anyone else who might face a similar emergency. @Carmen Lopez, your professional insights as a benefits counselor are absolutely invaluable - the information about emergency replacement forms, fee structure, and especially the authorization letter option for people who can't get to offices themselves could be life-changing for families in crisis situations. What really strikes me is how this thread highlights both the system challenges (broken card printers, budget cuts affecting service days, inconsistent information from different workers) and the power of community knowledge to navigate those obstacles. The way everyone jumped in with such practical, detailed advice shows what an amazing support network this community provides. I'm definitely saving this thread - hopefully I'll never need emergency EBT replacement, but knowing these options exist and having access to this kind of peer support gives me so much peace of mind. Thank you all for creating such a genuinely helpful space where people can get real solutions when they need them most!

This thread has been absolutely incredible to read as someone who just joined this community! I'm new to CalFresh (just got approved last month) and honestly had no idea that same-day EBT card replacement was even a possibility - like so many others here, I always assumed you'd be stuck waiting weeks for everything to go through the mail system. @Luca Romano, I'm so glad you were able to get your card replaced and feed your family! The panic you must have felt with three kids depending on those benefits is something I can't even imagine. Your follow-up with the specific details about arriving at 7:30am and still waiting 2 hours really helps set realistic expectations for anyone else who might need emergency replacement. @Carmen Lopez, thank you so much for sharing your professional expertise as a benefits counselor! The information about emergency replacement forms, the fee structure, and especially the authorization letter option for people who can't physically get to the office themselves is exactly the kind of insider knowledge that can be life-saving during a crisis. What really stands out to me is how this thread shows both the frustrating realities of the system (broken card printers, budget cuts, inconsistent worker knowledge) and the amazing power of community support to help navigate those challenges. The way everyone jumped in with such detailed, practical advice demonstrates what an invaluable resource this community is. I'm definitely bookmarking this thread - hopefully I'll never need emergency EBT replacement, but knowing these options exist and having access to this kind of peer support gives me so much confidence as I navigate the CalFresh system. Thank you all for creating such a genuinely helpful and supportive space!

This thread is incredibly thorough and has answered so many questions I didn't even know I had! I'm about 8 months into my first CalFresh certification period and have been dreading my upcoming recertification because I wasn't sure what to expect. From everyone's explanations, it sounds like the annual recertification is much more comprehensive than the SAR7 - they review everything (income, expenses, household composition, etc.) rather than just that one month of income. Is there anything specific I should start gathering now to make the recertification process smoother? I work two part-time jobs (one retail, one food service) and my hours fluctuate seasonally, so I'm worried about how to present my income in a way that accurately reflects my situation. Based on what everyone's shared about including explanatory notes, it seems like being proactive about explaining my circumstances is key. Also, does anyone know roughly how long the recertification process typically takes? I'm hoping to avoid any gaps in benefits if possible. Thanks again to everyone who's shared their experiences - this community is amazing!

This entire thread has been so incredibly helpful! I'm currently going through my first CalFresh experience and was completely lost about the timeline and documentation requirements. Just wanted to add one thing I learned from my eligibility worker - if you submit your SAR7 or recertification documents and don't hear back within a reasonable time, don't assume everything is fine. I submitted my SAR7 two months ago and when I didn't hear anything, I figured no news was good news. Turns out there was an issue with one of my pay stubs being unclear and they had sent a request for additional info to an old address. I only found out when I called to check on the status. Now I always follow up a week or two after submitting anything important. Better to be annoying than to have your benefits interrupted because of a communication mix-up! Also echoing what others said about keeping copies - I scan everything to my phone now and email copies to myself as backup. Has saved me multiple times when they've asked me to resubmit something. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences. It really makes navigating this whole system feel less overwhelming when you hear from people who've actually been through it!

Hey Zoe! I just went through this exact same situation a couple months ago - got my card, checked the balance, and panicked when it showed $0! But everyone here has given you great advice. Since your approval letter says May 2025, you're all set to receive your first deposit on May 1st (just a few days away now!). One thing I wish someone had told me is to activate your card by making a small purchase or balance inquiry at an ATM before your benefits load, just to make sure everything is working properly. That way if there are any issues with the card itself, you can get them sorted out before you actually need to use it for groceries. Also, when you do get your first $275 loaded, I'd suggest starting with a smaller shopping trip to get familiar with how the EBT card works at checkout before doing a big grocery haul. The process is super simple (just swipe and enter your PIN like a debit card), but it can feel a bit nerve-wracking the first time. Welcome to CalFresh and this amazing community - everyone here has been so helpful during my first few months too!

Hi Zoe! Welcome to the community! I just wanted to add one more helpful resource that saved me a lot of stress when I first started with CalFresh. The California Department of Social Services has a really good CalFresh handbook (PDF) on their website that explains all the ins and outs of the program - everything from what you can and can't buy to how recertification works. It's way more detailed than the basic pamphlets they give you at the office. You can find it by googling "CalFresh recipient handbook California" or going directly to the CDSS website. I keep it bookmarked on my phone for quick reference when I have questions. It would have answered a lot of the timing questions you had about when benefits load! Also, once you start shopping, don't be afraid to ask the cashier if you're unsure about whether something is EBT-eligible - they deal with it all the time and are usually super helpful. Looking forward to hearing about your first shopping experience once May 1st rolls around!

As someone who's been on CalFresh for about two years, I just wanted to add that this community has been such a lifesaver for understanding all the confusing rules! Reading through this thread has been incredibly educational - I had absolutely no idea that gifts over $1000 needed to be reported either. It seems like such an easy thing to miss, especially since most people think of gifts as separate from "income." @LunarEclipse your situation sounds really stressful, but honestly based on everyone's responses here, it seems like you're handling it exactly right. The fact that you're being proactive about trying to reach your worker and that you have a clear explanation (birthday gift used for necessary car repairs) should work in your favor. One thing I learned from my own CalFresh journey is that the workers really do see a difference between people who are trying to follow the rules but made an honest mistake versus people who are intentionally trying to game the system. Your genuine concern and effort to fix this will likely be obvious to them. I'm definitely going to be more careful about checking what needs to be reported going forward - this thread has been a real wake-up call about how detailed the reporting requirements actually are. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences, especially the advocates who explained the IHE vs IPV distinction. This kind of real-world knowledge is so much more helpful than trying to figure out the official forms and letters on your own!

I'm new to this community but wanted to share my experience since I went through almost exactly the same thing last year. I received a $1,300 inheritance check from my grandmother and completely forgot to report it on my SAR7 because I was grieving and honestly didn't even think about it being "income." When I got the scary letter from the county, I was terrified they'd cut off my benefits completely. But after reading through forums like this one, I called immediately and was completely honest - I told them I was dealing with a family loss and genuinely didn't realize inheritance money needed to be reported. The worker was actually really understanding and classified it as an Inadvertent Household Error. I ended up with a $240 overpayment that I'm paying back at $20/month, and my benefits were only reduced for one month. The key was being upfront about the mistake and showing I wasn't trying to hide anything. @LunarEclipse your situation with the birthday gift sounds very similar, and the fact that you used it for necessary car repairs shows you weren't being frivolous with it. Keep trying to reach your worker and emphasize that this was a genuine misunderstanding about the reporting rules. Based on everyone's advice here and my own experience, you're likely looking at a manageable overpayment rather than losing benefits entirely. Hang in there!