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If I could give 10 stars I would If I could give 10 stars I would Such an amazing service so needed during the times when EDD almost never picks up Claimyr gets me on the phone with EDD every time without fail faster. A much needed service without Claimyr I would have never received the payment I needed to support me during my postpartum recovery. Thank you so much Claimyr!
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- DO post questions about your issues.
- DO answer questions and support each other.
- DO post tips & tricks to help folks.
- DO NOT post call problems here - there is a support tab at the top for that :)
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BTW - another tip: when you're in the store and ready to check out, you can quickly unlock the card, check out, then lock it again right there in line. Takes like 10 seconds. I've been doing this for months and my cashiers don't even notice the tiny delay. BETTER SAFE THAN SORRY!! My friend had $1200 stolen and they only replaced half of it!!!
That's exactly what I'll do! Just set it up and the app seems pretty fast to unlock/lock. Thanks everyone for the help! Feeling much better about keeping our benefits safe.
Just wanted to add - if you're worried about remembering to lock/unlock, you can also set up a routine where you only unlock right before swiping and lock immediately after the transaction goes through. I've gotten into the habit of doing this and it's basically second nature now. Also, the app shows your last transaction time, so you can double-check that everything looks right. Really glad you're taking steps to protect your family's benefits - with three kids, you definitely can't afford to lose anything to these thieves!
That's such a smart routine! I'm definitely going to try that unlock-right-before-swiping approach. With all these horror stories about people losing hundreds or even thousands, I can't take any chances. Just knowing I can see the transaction history in real time makes me feel so much more in control. Really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences - this community is amazing for looking out for each other's families!
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So glad you got through and are getting help! This is exactly why I always tell people not to give up on the first try. The system is frustrating but California really has made improvements for EBT theft victims. One tip for everyone reading - also check if your local food banks have emergency food boxes while you're waiting for replacement benefits. Most don't require income verification for emergency situations like this. And definitely enable all the security features on the EBT app once you get your new card! Hope you get your benefits back soon Paolo! 🙏
Thank you so much Benjamin! I never even thought about food banks - that's really helpful to know while I'm waiting for the replacement benefits. I'm definitely going to enable all those security features once I get my new card. This whole experience has been so stressful but everyone's advice here has been a lifesaver. Really appreciate this community looking out for each other!
I'm so sorry this happened to you! EBT theft is unfortunately becoming more common. Here's what you need to do right away: 1. **Call the EBT customer service line immediately** at 1-877-328-9677 to report the theft and freeze your card 2. **File a police report** - this is required for benefit replacement and serves as proof of theft 3. **Contact your county CalFresh office** to report the theft and request form CF 303E (EBT Benefits Theft Report) The good news is California now has laws requiring them to replace stolen benefits! Under recent legislation, they must replace stolen EBT benefits once per year. Make sure to emphasize this is an EMERGENCY food situation when you call - this can help expedite the process. Also check your EBT transaction history in the app to document where/when the fraudulent purchases happened - this helps prove it wasn't you. Don't panic, most people do get their benefits back within 5-10 business days if you follow all the steps correctly. Hang in there!
This is such helpful and comprehensive advice Oliver! I had no idea California had passed laws requiring benefit replacement - that gives me so much hope. I'm going to call that EBT number right now and then head to the police station. Do you happen to know if I can file the police report online or does it need to be in person? I'm trying to get everything done as quickly as possible since my family depends on these benefits. Thank you for taking the time to write out all these steps!
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Welcome to California! Just wanted to add that if you're unsure about your eligibility, you can always contact an immigration attorney or a nonprofit legal aid organization before applying. Many counties also have CalFresh outreach coordinators who specialize in helping immigrant families navigate the eligibility requirements safely. In Orange County specifically, you might want to reach out to the Orange County Community Resources office - they have staff who are trained on the intersection of immigration status and benefits eligibility. They can do a confidential pre-screening to help you understand your options without filing an actual application first. Better to be cautious and get proper guidance than to worry about potential issues later!
This is such helpful advice! I wasn't even aware that pre-screening was an option. That sounds like exactly what we need - getting proper guidance before potentially making any mistakes. Do you happen to know if the Orange County Community Resources office offers services in languages other than English? My English is pretty good but for something this important I'd feel more comfortable discussing the details in our native language if possible. Thank you for pointing us in the right direction!
Yes, Orange County Community Resources does offer multilingual services! They have interpreters available for most major languages and can also provide translated materials. When you call to schedule your pre-screening appointment, just let them know what language you'd prefer and they'll arrange for an interpreter to be present. This is especially important for immigration-related benefit questions since the terminology can be very technical. You can reach them at (714) 480-2900. Good luck with everything - sounds like you're being very thoughtful about navigating this process safely!
Just wanted to share some additional resources that might help as you navigate this! Since you're in Irvine, the Irvine Community Services Department also has a CalFresh outreach program - they often have bilingual staff and can help walk you through the application process. They're located at the Irvine Civic Center. Also, many libraries in Orange County (including Irvine's) have computers you can use to apply online if you need help with the technology side of things, and librarians are usually great at helping people navigate government websites. The University Park Library branch is really close to many of the newer immigrant communities in Irvine. One more tip - if you do end up applying for CalFresh, try to submit your application early in the month. Benefits are processed faster at the beginning of each month, and if approved, you'll get your benefits prorated from your application date. Welcome to the community, and don't hesitate to ask more questions - we're all here to help each other!
This is incredibly helpful - thank you so much for taking the time to share all these local resources! I had no idea the library could help with the application process. That's actually perfect since we're still getting familiar with navigating government websites. The University Park Library is walking distance from our apartment, so I'll definitely check that out. And good tip about applying early in the month - I wouldn't have thought of that timing aspect. Everyone in this community has been so welcoming and helpful. Really appreciate all the guidance as we figure out how everything works here!
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Welcome to CalFresh, Justin! I see you've gotten some great advice already. Just wanted to add that many gas stations with convenience stores (like Shell, Chevron with their markets) also accept EBT for their packaged cold foods - think pre-made sandwiches, salads, yogurt parfaits, etc. This can be super convenient when you're on the road between shifts. Also, if you download the USDA's SNAP Retailer Locator app, it shows you every store in your area that accepts EBT, which helped me find some smaller markets I didn't even know about that had great prepared food sections. One last tip - many grocery stores have "grab and go" sections now specifically for busy people like us. They're usually near the deli counter and have things like protein boxes, wraps, and meal kits that just need minimal assembly. All EBT eligible and way more nutritious than fast food would be anyway!
Thanks Freya! That SNAP Retailer Locator app sounds really useful - I had no idea that existed. I'll definitely download it to see what options are around me. The gas station tip is smart too, especially since I'm always stopping for gas anyway between my double shifts. I really appreciate everyone being so helpful and welcoming - this community has been amazing for getting real-world advice that actually works for people in our situations!
Just wanted to jump in here since I'm also pretty new to CalFresh (got approved about 3 months ago). One thing that really helped me with the time crunch was discovering that many grocery stores have apps where you can add items to your cart throughout the week, then just do a quick pickup after work. Saves tons of time wandering the aisles when you're exhausted. Also, if you're working double shifts regularly, you might want to look into whether you qualify for expedited CalFresh processing for any future changes to your case. The income from those long hours might actually help you in some ways, but it's good to stay on top of reporting requirements. Another quick tip - Dollar Tree accepts EBT and has surprisingly decent frozen meals and pantry staples that can help stretch your benefits between grocery runs. Not gourmet, but when you're working crazy hours, sometimes you just need something fast and filling! Welcome to the program, and don't feel bad about the restaurant confusion - I think we've all been there at some point! 😊
Zane Hernandez
So happy to hear you got your benefits back! This thread is really helpful for anyone dealing with EBT theft. I'm saving the info about Claimyr - seems like that service could be a game changer when you can't get through the regular phone lines. Also good to know about the 5-day reporting rule and that business days vs calendar days makes such a difference in processing time. Hope they get those new chip cards rolled out soon to prevent more of these thefts!
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Mei Wong
•This whole thread has been really eye-opening! I had no idea about the 5-day rule or that business days vs calendar days could make such a difference. The Claimyr service sounds like a lifesaver - I'm definitely bookmarking that for future reference. It's crazy that there's such a huge skimming operation going on right now. Really glad Oliver got his benefits back, especially with three kids depending on him. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and tips!
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Sofia Martinez
This is such valuable information for anyone dealing with EBT theft! I'm bookmarking this thread because unfortunately these thefts seem to be happening more and more. Really glad to see Oliver got his full benefits back - that must have been such a relief with three kids to feed. The tip about Claimyr is genius - I never knew services like that existed to help you get through government phone lines. And wow, I had no idea about the 5-day reporting rule or that they count business days instead of calendar days. These are the kinds of details that really matter when you're in crisis mode and need your benefits back ASAP. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and tips!
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StarSurfer
•This thread really shows how broken the system is but also how helpful this community can be! I'm new here but dealing with a similar situation - my benefits were stolen last week and I had no idea about any of these rules or resources. The Claimyr service sounds amazing, and I'm definitely going to try it since I keep getting disconnected too. It's scary how common EBT theft has become. Really appreciate everyone sharing their real experiences instead of just the official government runaround. Oliver, so glad you got your money back - gives me hope that I'll get mine too!
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