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?

This is such valuable information! I wish someone had told me about the hardship option when my benefits were stolen in January. I ended up having to rely on food banks for weeks while waiting for my claim to process. For anyone reading this who's dealing with theft - don't suffer in silence like I did. Ask specifically about emergency benefits while you wait. Also, one tip that helped me: when calling the county office, I found calling right when they open (usually 8 AM) gave me the best chance of actually reaching a human instead of being stuck in the phone queue forever.

This thread has been absolutely invaluable - thank you @Ana Rusula for bringing this critical issue to light! I've been using CalFresh for about a year and had no idea EBT theft was this rampant with online grocery services. I primarily use Safeway delivery about twice a month and now I'm genuinely terrified that my card information might be compromised. Reading everyone's experiences has been both shocking and incredibly helpful. The security measures you've all shared are going to be implemented immediately: - Card lock feature after every single transaction - Daily balance checks (I was only checking weekly before) - Never saving card info on any website - Switching to in-person shopping only until these vulnerabilities are fixed @Madison Allen and @ElectricDreamer thank you for sharing those emergency resource contacts - I'm writing down the 211 number and researching local food banks just in case. The tip about filing complaints directly with CDSS in addition to county offices could be a game-changer for faster resolution. It's absolutely infuriating that families are losing their food security because of these security flaws, but seeing how this community rallies together to share information and protect each other gives me hope. @Ana Rusula I'm so glad you got emergency benefits and I hope your full amount gets restored quickly. Thank you for turning your terrible experience into a resource that's helping countless others stay safe!

This thread is so incredibly important and has honestly opened my eyes to a problem I had no idea was this widespread! I've been using CalFresh for about 4 months now and was just starting to explore online grocery options because of my disability - I have mobility issues that make getting to the store really challenging some days. But after reading all these experiences, there's absolutely no way I'm risking my benefits on online purchases right now. @Ana Rusula I'm so sorry you and your kids had to go through this ordeal, but thank you for being brave enough to share your story. The fact that you had to wait 3 weeks just to get emergency help while your family went without food is completely unacceptable, but I'm so glad you finally got some assistance and that your persistence paid off. The practical advice everyone has shared here is invaluable: - I immediately enabled the card lock feature after reading about it - Setting up daily balance checks instead of just checking when I shop - The 211 resource and food bank emergency assistance options - Filing complaints with both county and state CDSS for faster resolution It's absolutely infuriating that we have to become cybersecurity experts just to buy groceries safely, but this community support is amazing. For those of us with disabilities or transportation challenges, I guess we'll have to get creative with alternatives - maybe asking friends/family for help with shopping trips or looking into store pickup options where you can still use the physical card reader. Thank you to everyone sharing resources and looking out for each other. This is exactly the kind of information that could save families from losing their food security. Stay safe everyone!

I'm going through something similar right now - my rent just went up $280 in Sacramento and I was totally confused about what I needed to report and when. This whole thread has been a lifesaver! It's crazy how the workers sometimes give different information about reporting requirements. I had one tell me I needed to report everything within 10 days, but now I understand it's really just about staying under your IRT for most changes. The tip about using BenefitsCal instead of calling is gold - I spent 3 hours on hold last week just to get disconnected. Definitely going to try the online route for my rent increase. Thanks everyone for sharing your real experiences, it makes such a difference when you're trying to figure out these systems!

As someone who just went through my first CalFresh application process a few months ago, this thread is incredibly valuable! I had no idea about the IRT rule or the difference between required vs voluntary reporting. My caseworker definitely didn't explain it this clearly during my interview. Reading about everyone's experiences with rent increases and the actual dollar amounts you received in additional benefits is really helpful for understanding how the system actually works. I'm saving this thread for future reference since I'm sure I'll have questions as I navigate this program. Thanks to everyone who took the time to share their real experiences - it makes such a difference for those of us who are new to this!

I'm really sorry this happened to you too! It's such a violation when someone steals money meant for feeding your family. I actually just went through this exact situation about 3 weeks ago - had $420 stolen from my EBT card. Here's my timeline: I reported it on a Tuesday, got my emergency benefits (about 60% of what was stolen) by that Friday, and then got the full reimbursement 13 days after I filed the initial claim. So hang in there! A few things that helped me during the wait: - Downloaded the EBT Edge mobile app to check my balance daily and catch any suspicious activity early - Set up account alerts so I get texted whenever there's a transaction - Started shopping at stores that let you check your balance at the register before swiping (some thieves will test small amounts first) Also, if you haven't already, ask them to expedite your new card delivery. They can usually get it to you in 2-3 business days instead of the standard week. The whole situation is so stressful but it sounds like you're doing all the right things. Keep us posted on how it goes!

I'm so sorry you're going through this! EBT theft is unfortunately becoming way too common. I had about $320 stolen from my card last summer and it was such a stressful experience. My timeline was about 11 days total to get everything back, but like others have mentioned, it really varies by county and how backed up they are. The emergency benefits option that @Abigail Spencer mentioned is definitely worth pursuing - I wish I had known about that when it happened to me. A few things I learned from my experience: - Keep calling to check status every few days (the squeaky wheel really does get the grease) - Take photos/screenshots of all your paperwork and confirmation numbers - If you shop at Walmart, they have a feature where you can lock your EBT card through their app when you're not actively shopping - Some food banks will let you come multiple times during the month if you explain your situation Also, once you get through this, consider shopping at stores that have chip readers for EBT (they're much more secure than the old magnetic stripe readers where most skimming happens). Target and many Safeways have upgraded to chip readers. Hang in there - it's incredibly frustrating but most people do get their full benefits restored. Your kids won't go hungry even if you have to rely on food assistance programs for a week or two. You've got this! 💪

This is exactly why I joined this community! @Amina Diallo I'm so relieved you got your benefits restored - what a stressful situation to deal with, especially with kids depending on you. The fact that 200 people were affected by the same system glitch really highlights how broken the technical infrastructure can be. I'm bookmarking that Claimyr service and all the other tips shared here (calling at 8am, the EBT customer service number, asking for expedited services). It's frustrating that we need these workarounds just to access our approved benefits, but I'm grateful this community exists to share these real solutions. Thanks everyone for turning a nightmare situation into a learning opportunity for all of us!

This entire thread is a perfect example of why community support is so essential when dealing with government benefits! @Amina Diallo I'm so glad you were able to get your benefits restored - what you went through sounds incredibly stressful, especially with children to feed. The fact that this was a system-wide glitch affecting 200+ people really shows how these technical issues can impact entire communities at once. I'm new to CalFresh myself and was dreading potential problems during my upcoming recertification, but reading everyone's solutions and workarounds has been incredibly valuable. Definitely saving that Claimyr service, the EBT customer service number (1-877-328-9677), and all the other tips about calling at 8am and asking for expedited services. It's unfortunate that we need these backup strategies just to access our approved benefits, but I'm grateful this community exists to share real-world solutions that you won't find on official websites. Thanks to everyone for being so helpful and supportive!