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I'm so sorry you're dealing with this! EBT fraud has become such a huge problem and it's incredibly stressful when you're already counting on every dollar to feed your family. The 'ebtwm' charges are definitely fraudulent - I've unfortunately seen this happen to way too many people in our community lately. Everyone here has given you fantastic advice about reporting it immediately and filing the CF 303 form. I want to add that when you call your county office, it's really helpful to ask them upfront what their current processing time is for EBT theft replacement cases. Some counties are faster than others, and knowing the timeline can help you plan for food assistance in the meantime. Also, if you haven't already, consider reaching out to your local mutual aid groups on social media or neighborhood apps like Nextdoor. Many communities have informal networks that help families dealing with benefit theft by sharing groceries or meal prep while they wait for resolution. One more thing - when you get your new card, ask if your county offers any additional security features like transaction limits or geographic restrictions that might help prevent this from happening again. You're being such a strong advocate for your family by acting so quickly on this. The system for replacing stolen benefits does work, but it definitely requires persistence. Hang in there and keep pushing - you deserve to have your stolen benefits replaced!
Thank you so much for all this helpful advice! I really appreciate the tip about asking upfront what their current processing time is - that's such a practical thing I wouldn't have thought to ask but it would definitely help me plan better. I've actually found some great mutual aid groups through Nextdoor already and people have been so generous with sharing groceries and offering help. It's been really heartwarming to see how the community comes together when people are in need. I'm definitely going to ask about additional security features when I get my new card - I had no idea things like transaction limits or geographic restrictions might be available. This whole experience has taught me so much about protecting benefits that I wish I had known before. Everyone in this thread has been incredible with sharing their experiences and advice. It makes such a difference to not feel alone in dealing with this mess. I'll keep everyone posted on how my case goes!
I'm so sorry this happened to you and your family! EBT theft is becoming such a serious problem and it's incredibly unfair that families already struggling have to deal with this additional stress. The 'ebtwm' charges are definitely fraudulent - that stands for "EBT Withdrawal Money" and indicates someone has illegally accessed your card information. Everyone here has given you excellent advice about the immediate steps to take. I wanted to add something that helped my cousin when this happened to her: when you submit your CF 303 form, include a brief written statement explaining how the theft has impacted your family's ability to access food. Some counties take this into consideration when prioritizing cases for review. Also, keep calling the EBT customer service line every few days to check the status of your replacement card - sometimes they can expedite shipping if you explain you have children in the household and are experiencing food insecurity. While you're waiting, many local pantries and food rescue organizations specifically understand benefit theft situations and can provide extra assistance. Some even have "emergency boxes" with kid-friendly foods that require no preparation. The fact that you caught this so quickly and are taking all the right steps gives me confidence you'll get your benefits replaced. California's new theft replacement program does work, but it requires persistence. Keep detailed records of everything and don't let anyone discourage you from pursuing your case. You've got this!
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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.
So glad it worked for you! Yeah the no special characters thing is weird - they should tell people that somewhere! Glad you got it figured out before grocery shopping day.
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.
Great question! I was wondering the same thing about third-party calling services. It's good to be cautious about these things, especially when dealing with government benefits. @2d28c942809c since you mentioned using Claimyr, could you share if there were any costs involved? Also curious if they required any personal information beyond what you'd normally give to the county office. Always want to make sure these services are legitimate before recommending them to others who might be in desperate situations like this.
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This is such an incredibly helpful thread! As someone who just started receiving CalFresh benefits last month, I'm blown away by all the practical tips shared here. I had no idea about the MyEBT app, the credit transaction option, or even that you could ask stores to do test transactions. When I got my EBT card, they basically just handed it to me with a pamphlet about eligible foods - none of these crucial workarounds were mentioned! It's honestly frustrating that new recipients aren't given this kind of essential information upfront. Having your card not work when you need groceries is such a stressful situation, especially when you're already dealing with food insecurity. I'm definitely downloading the MyEBT app right now and bookmarking this entire discussion. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences - this is exactly the kind of community support that makes navigating these systems so much easier!
Welcome to the community! I'm also fairly new to CalFresh (about 6 months now) and completely agree with you about how little information they give you upfront. This thread has been eye-opening for me too - I wish I had known about these options when I started! The MyEBT app has been a game changer since I downloaded it after reading this discussion. It's so much easier than calling that customer service line. I've also found this community to be incredibly supportive and full of practical advice that you just can't get anywhere else. Don't hesitate to ask questions here - everyone is really helpful and understands the challenges of navigating these systems. It makes such a difference to have people who've been through similar situations sharing their real-world solutions!
This entire thread is such a goldmine of information! I just joined this community after struggling with my own EBT issues last week, and reading through everyone's experiences and solutions has been incredibly reassuring. I had no idea about so many of these options - especially the MyEBT app and being able to run transactions as credit. When I first got my CalFresh benefits, they literally just mailed me the card with a basic pamphlet about what you can buy, but nothing about all these practical workarounds that can save you when things go wrong. It's really disappointing that they don't provide better guidance upfront, but I'm so grateful for communities like this where people share their real experiences and solutions. I'm definitely bookmarking this discussion and downloading that app right now. Thank you to everyone who took the time to help - this kind of peer support makes all the difference when you're trying to navigate these systems!
Welcome to the community, Miguel! I'm also pretty new here and just went through my own EBT card issues a few weeks ago. This thread has been such a lifesaver - I had no idea about most of these backup options either! It's really frustrating how they just send you the card with minimal instructions and leave you to figure everything else out on your own. The MyEBT app that everyone mentioned has been amazing - I can check my balance, transaction history, and even find nearby stores that accept EBT. It's so much better than trying to navigate those phone menus! I'm glad you found this community too. Everyone here is super helpful and understands what it's like to deal with these systems. Don't hesitate to ask questions if you run into any issues!
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I'm going through this exact same thing and it's so frustrating! My benefits started at $495 in January and have dropped to $310 now with absolutely no changes in my situation. Reading through all these comments has been both eye-opening and reassuring - I had no idea this was such a common issue. The advice about calling right at 8 AM seems to be the golden tip everyone swears by. I've tried calling in the afternoons before and gave up after being on hold for over an hour. @Nia Wilson's success story getting through in 15 minutes and actually getting real answers gives me hope that it's worth trying again. I had absolutely no clue about things like utility allowance adjustments or data matching affecting benefits. It's really frustrating that these changes happen without clear explanation - like @Lia Quinn said, it feels deliberately confusing sometimes! The tip about requesting a detailed benefit calculation breakdown is something I'm definitely going to do. Even if it's complex, at least I'll have something concrete to look at instead of just wondering why my grocery budget keeps shrinking every few months. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and practical advice. This thread has given me the confidence to finally call and advocate for myself instead of just accepting these mysterious decreases. I'll try calling tomorrow morning with my case number and all my benefit history written down!
This whole thread has been such an eye-opener! I'm new to CalFresh (just applied last week) and reading everyone's experiences is both helpful and a little nerve-wracking. It sounds like I should be prepared for potential changes to my benefits even if my situation stays stable. What really stands out to me is how many people were afraid to call and question changes because they worried about making things worse. But seeing success stories like @Nia Wilson getting answers in 15 minutes and @Alejandro Castro getting back benefits shows that advocating for ourselves is not only safe but necessary! The practical tips here are gold - calling at 8 AM, having case numbers ready, requesting detailed calculation breakdowns, and knowing about the 90-day rule for fair hearings. I m bookmarking'this thread as my go-to resource guide. Good luck with your call tomorrow @Max Knight! Based on everyone s experiences,'it sounds like you re well-prepared'with all your documentation ready. Please let us know how it goes - these follow-up stories are so valuable for others facing the same situation.
This thread has been incredibly informative! I'm new to CalFresh and currently going through my first recertification process. Reading everyone's experiences with unexplained benefit decreases is both concerning and reassuring - at least I know what to watch out for and that I'm not powerless if it happens to me. The consistency of advice here is remarkable - calling right at 8 AM, having documentation ready, requesting detailed benefit calculations, and not being afraid to ask questions. @Nia Wilson's success getting answers in 15 minutes and @Alejandro Castro's story about recovering $1200 in back benefits really shows the importance of self-advocacy. One thing I'm curious about - for those who successfully got explanations from their county workers, did they provide any tips on how to avoid future surprise changes? Like are there certain times of year when adjustments typically happen, or specific things we should keep an eye on? Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences. This thread should honestly be required reading for anyone new to CalFresh! It's given me so much more confidence about knowing my rights and speaking up if needed.
Great question about timing! From what I've learned through this whole experience, there are definitely certain times when changes are more likely to happen. October seems to be a big month for adjustments because that's when the federal cost-of-living changes typically take effect. Also, around the time of your annual recertification, they often do a complete recalculation that can result in changes. The worker I spoke with mentioned that utility allowances can change seasonally too, which I had no idea about. She suggested checking your Notice of Action letters carefully each month, even if the benefit amount looks the same, because sometimes they'll mention upcoming changes in the fine print. One tip she gave me was to report any changes promptly on your SAR7 forms, even small ones, because if they find discrepancies later through data matching it can cause bigger problems. It's better to be proactive about reporting than to have them discover changes on their own. You're smart to be learning about all this during your first recertification - I wish I had known about these things from the beginning! The fact that you're already thinking about self-advocacy puts you way ahead of where most of us started.
Denisse Tavares
Can i still recieve the ebt/snap discount if i go on a sunday ?
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Lia Quinn
•Yes, you should be able to use the EBT discount on Sundays! The Museums for All program doesn't typically have day-of-week restrictions - it's available whenever the zoo is open. The Fresno Chaffee Zoo discount of $5 per person (up to 4 people) with your EBT card should work any day they're operating. Just make sure to bring your physical EBT card and a matching photo ID like everyone mentioned earlier in the thread. If you want to be extra sure, you could always call ahead to confirm, but from what I understand these discounts are available during all regular operating hours regardless of what day of the week it is!
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Sofia Morales
I've been using EBT discounts at various places for about a year now and wanted to address your question about weekday vs weekend timing! In my experience, weekdays tend to be a bit smoother just because the staff is usually less rushed and has more time to process the discount properly. Weekend staff, especially at busier attractions, sometimes seem less familiar with the EBT programs - not because they don't want to help, but just because they might be newer or focused on moving long lines quickly. That said, I've never been turned away on a weekend, it just might take an extra minute or two to find someone who knows the process. The $5 zoo admission works any day they're open though! For smaller museums or attractions, I'd definitely recommend weekdays if you have flexibility - the staff often has more time to chat and might even give you extra tips about other discount programs. But don't let weekend timing stop you from going - these programs are designed to work whenever you can visit!
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Ethan Moore
•That's such helpful insight about the timing differences! I never thought about how busy weekend periods might affect staff familiarity with the discount programs. It makes total sense that weekday staff would have more time to walk through the process if needed. I really appreciate you sharing your year of experience with these programs - it gives me a lot more confidence knowing that even if there's a small hiccup on weekends, you've never actually been turned away. I think I'll try to plan our first zoo visit on a weekday if possible, just to have that smoother experience you mentioned. Thanks for taking the time to answer my question so thoroughly!
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