This is really concerning! I just started using CalFresh a few weeks ago and had no idea there even was a freeze feature until I saw this post. Reading about all the skimming incidents has me really worried - I've been using my card at different stores without thinking twice about security. I'm definitely going to change my PIN right now and start checking my balance every day like everyone's suggesting. It's frustrating that they removed a security feature without any warning, especially when fraud seems to be such a big problem. Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences and updates - this community is so helpful for staying informed when the official channels don't communicate properly!

I'm so glad I found this thread! I just got approved for CalFresh last month and honestly had no clue about any of these security features. Reading about everyone's experiences with card skimming is making me realize how naive I've been - I've been using my card everywhere without a second thought. The fact that they can just remove security features without telling anyone is really scary, especially for those of us who are new to the system and don't know what we're missing. I'm going to change my PIN today and start checking my balance daily like everyone's recommending. It's frustrating that we have to rely on community forums like this to get basic information about protecting our benefits. Thank you all for sharing your knowledge and looking out for each other - this is exactly the kind of support new recipients need!

I'm going through something similar with my 19-year-old who wants more independence but still lives at home. After reading all these responses, it sounds like the math rarely works out in your favor when you split households. The benefit formulas are designed to give larger households more per person than smaller ones. Have you considered maybe giving your daughter more control over meal planning and grocery shopping while keeping her on your case? Like let her pick out groceries for certain meals or give her responsibility for specific food categories? That way she gets some of the independence she's looking for without the financial hit to your family's total benefits. Also, with rent prices being so crazy right now, it makes sense that she's still living with you. Most young adults I know are in the same situation - working and going to school but can't afford their own place yet.

I actually went through this exact process with my county office last year when my 21-year-old wanted to apply separately. The caseworker explained that even though the rules technically allow separate households if you buy and prepare food separately, they really scrutinize these cases when family members live together. What surprised me was how much paperwork they wanted - not just receipts, but detailed explanations of kitchen schedules, separate food storage arrangements, and even statements from both of us confirming we don't share any meals. It felt like they were looking for reasons to deny the separation. In the end, we decided against it because the math just didn't work. My daughter would have qualified for about $194/month on her own (she works part-time retail), but removing her from my case dropped my benefits by $267. So we would have lost $73 total per month just for her to have her own EBT card. If your daughter really wants some independence with food choices, maybe try what we did - I gave her "her portion" of our monthly EBT (about $250) to spend however she wants, and she's responsible for buying her own lunches and snacks. She gets the autonomy she wanted without us losing benefits.

Just wanted to add that if your daughter is receiving any financial aid at all (not just CalGrant), she might qualify for the College Promise Program exemption. Many community colleges automatically enroll students in this program if they're getting any form of financial aid, but students don't always realize it. I'd suggest having her check with the financial aid office - they can tell her right away if she's in any qualifying programs. Also, about your summer income situation - definitely report that change ASAP! I made the same mistake for years and lost out on hundreds of dollars in benefits during summer months. The system is confusing but once you know how to work it, it can actually help a lot more than people realize.

I'm so sorry you're going through this - the student eligibility rules are really tough to navigate. One thing that might help immediately while you're figuring out your daughter's exemptions: have you considered applying for emergency food assistance through your local food bank? Many don't have the same strict student rules as CalFresh and can provide groceries while you work through this process. Also, since you mentioned your daughter's grades are slipping, check if her college has academic support services - some schools have programs that help students balance work and school if she does end up needing to work for the CalFresh exemption. The combination of tutoring support plus a small work-study job might be more manageable than a regular job. Hang in there - this community has given you some really solid leads to follow up on!

I'm experiencing the exact same issue! Started having login problems on Tuesday and have been so frustrated trying to figure out what was wrong. I kept double-checking my password and even tried resetting it multiple times thinking maybe I'd somehow changed it and forgotten. This thread has been incredibly helpful - it's such a relief to know this is a widespread system problem and not something I did wrong! I was getting really worried because my benefits are supposed to load next week and I wanted to make sure everything was on track. Thank you @Miguel Silva for the update from your county office confirming this should be fixed by Friday, and thanks to everyone else who shared those helpful phone numbers. I'm definitely going to try calling the EBT customer service line at 877-328-9677 tomorrow to check my balance. It's so reassuring to have this community support when these systems fail us!

Just wanted to add my voice to this thread - I'm also dealing with the same login issues since Sunday! Was starting to think I was going crazy with my own password. This community has been so helpful in confirming it's a widespread system problem. I tried that EBT customer service line at 877-328-9677 that several people mentioned and it worked great for checking my balance without needing to access the website. Really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences and solutions here. It's frustrating when these systems fail right when we need them, but knowing we're not alone in this makes such a difference. Hoping this gets resolved by Friday like the county office told @Miguel Silva!

Update for everyone: I just called the CalFresh policy line to confirm this. Raw turkeys are 100% eligible for CalFresh/EBT purchase at ANY retailer that accepts EBT. This includes all varieties (frozen, fresh, with seasoning packets, brand name or store brand). The only exceptions would be: 1. Pre-cooked/hot prepared turkeys 2. Turkey meals that are ready-to-eat If your EBT is denied for a raw turkey, ask for a manager immediately and have them check the item's classification in their system. Some stores mistakenly code seasonal items incorrectly. If the manager can't resolve it, you can file a report with your county office and they can reach out to the retailer to correct their system.

I work at a grocery store and see this happen sometimes - it's usually because the turkey got scanned wrong in our system or the cashier hit the wrong button. Raw turkeys are definitely EBT eligible! Next time this happens, ask them to manually enter the PLU code or scan it again. If that doesn't work, ask for customer service - they can override it if needed. Don't let one bad experience ruin your Thanksgiving! Most stores will work with you to fix these kinds of mistakes.