I'm new to this community but sadly not new to dealing with government benefit issues. Reading through everyone's experiences here is both validating and infuriating - it's clear that these old overpayment claims are happening to people all across California right now. What strikes me most is how many people mentioned they never received proper notification over the years, yet the county offices act like this is standard procedure. @Isaiah Sanders, your situation is particularly egregious - 10 years is just unconscionable, especially when you've moved multiple times and kept your address updated with other agencies. I wanted to add one thing I learned from my own experience with bureaucratic nightmares: always send any requests for documentation or appeals via certified mail with return receipt requested. That way you have proof of when you submitted everything and they can't claim they "never received" your paperwork. Also, if anyone is feeling overwhelmed by the legal aspects, many areas have legal aid societies that offer free consultations for low-income individuals dealing with government benefit issues. Don't let them intimidate you into just paying - you all have rights and it sounds like many of these cases have serious procedural problems that could work in your favor!

I'm new to this community but unfortunately not new to dealing with government benefit bureaucracy. Reading through everyone's experiences here is both eye-opening and deeply concerning - it seems like there's definitely a pattern of these old CalFresh overpayment claims suddenly appearing after years of silence. What really bothers me is how the system seems designed to overwhelm people into just paying without understanding their rights. @Isaiah Sanders, I'm really rooting for you in fighting this 10-year-old claim - it's absolutely ridiculous that they can come after you after so long, especially when you've been responsible about keeping your address updated with other agencies. I wanted to add something that might help everyone dealing with these situations: if you're having trouble getting through to county workers by phone, try showing up in person at your local office first thing in the morning. Sometimes face-to-face interactions get better results than endless phone tag. Also, bring a notebook and write down the name of every person you speak with, along with dates and what was discussed. Having that paper trail can be incredibly valuable if you need to escalate your case later. This community is such a valuable resource - thank you all for sharing your knowledge and experiences!

This thread is incredibly helpful! As someone who works at a Sacramento area grocery store, I see customers struggle with this exact situation pretty regularly. One thing I'd add is that if you're really desperate for groceries while waiting for your replacement card, some stores will let you set up a "layaway" type arrangement where they'll hold essential items (milk, bread, etc.) for a day or two if you explain your EBT situation. It's not official policy anywhere, but I've seen managers make exceptions for families with kids. Also, many of our regular customers don't realize that you can check your EBT balance and transaction history through the ConnectEBT app even without your physical card - at least you can see that your benefits are still there and safe while you wait for the replacement!

As someone who's been on CalFresh for a few years now, I wanted to share a few additional tips that might help others in this situation. First, if you're waiting for a replacement card and have kids, definitely contact your local school district - many have weekend food backpack programs or can connect you with emergency food resources. Second, don't forget that WIC offices (if you qualify) often have emergency food vouchers available even if you're primarily on CalFresh. Lastly, I've found that calling the EBT customer service line early in the morning (like right when they open at 6 AM) gets you through much faster than calling during peak hours. The wait times are brutal in the afternoon! Hope everyone gets their cards quickly - it's such a stressful situation when you can't access your benefits.

Update: I went to the Florin Road office this morning, explained our situation, and got a replacement card within an hour! They made me fill out a form explaining why I needed an emergency replacement, but having kids with no food at home qualified me. Thank you everyone for your help! Special thanks to the person who recommended the Florin Road office specifically - they were right!

That's awesome news! So glad you were able to get your card the same day. This is really useful information for other families in similar situations - it shows that Sacramento County does still offer emergency replacements when you have kids and no food. Thanks for updating us on how it went!

This whole thread has been incredibly educational! I'm currently in the middle of my CalFresh application process and honestly had no idea what to expect after approval. Reading about the 7-10 day wait time, the plain envelope issue, and especially the Claimyr service has been so valuable. It's really reassuring to know there are options like expedited pickup for urgent situations and backup resources like food pantries and emergency vouchers. The community knowledge sharing here is amazing - you've all covered details that definitely aren't in any of the official materials I received. Bookmarking this thread for future reference and really appreciate everyone taking the time to share their real-world experiences!

I just wanted to add that if anyone is in a similar urgent situation, some counties also have "emergency issuance" policies where they can provide temporary benefits through a different method while you wait for your regular EBT card. When I was between jobs last year, my caseworker mentioned they could do a one-time emergency authorization that works kind of like a temporary card for essential groceries. It's not available everywhere and you have to meet certain criteria (like having children or medical needs), but it's worth asking about when you call. The requirements vary by county but typically you need to demonstrate immediate food insecurity. Just another option to keep in your back pocket if you're really stuck waiting for that card to arrive!

Just want to add a safety tip - when you're setting up either app, make sure you're connected to a secure wifi network or using your phone's data, not public wifi. I work in IT and see people get their info compromised all the time on unsecured networks. Also, both apps will ask you to set up a PIN or use biometric login (fingerprint/face ID) - definitely do this for extra security! And if you ever get logged out unexpectedly or see transactions you didn't make, change your passwords immediately and call the fraud hotline on the back of your card.

This thread is so helpful! I just got approved for CalFresh too and was totally overwhelmed by all the different apps in the store. Based on what everyone's saying, it sounds like I should download both the official ConnectEBT app (for balance checks) and BenefitsCal app (for case management). Quick question though - do I need to create separate accounts for each app or do they use the same login? Also, has anyone had issues with the apps not working during the first few days of the month when benefits get loaded? I've heard the systems can get overloaded.