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This whole thread has been a huge wake-up call for me! I've been using CalFresh for about 6 months and never knew that multiple card swipes could cause this kind of lockout. Just last week I had trouble with a card reader at Target and probably swiped 4-5 times before giving up - now I'm realizing how close I might have come to triggering this same security flag! It's really frustrating that they don't explain these potential issues when you first get your EBT card. The materials they give you are so basic and don't cover any of these real-world scenarios that can happen. Daniel's experience sounds absolutely terrifying - especially with kids depending on you for food. I'm definitely bookmarking that Claimyr service info. I've had to call my county office a few times and it's always been a nightmare trying to get through. Spending 20 minutes instead of hours on hold could be a total game-changer when you're dealing with benefit issues. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and solutions here. This community knowledge is honestly more valuable than any official handbook I've received. I'll be much more careful at checkout from now on and know exactly what to do if this ever happens to me!
I'm so glad you found this thread before experiencing the same issue! It's crazy how close you came to that lockout situation at Target. This whole discussion has really opened my eyes to how many hidden pitfalls there are in the EBT system that nobody tells you about upfront. I just got my CalFresh benefits approved a few weeks ago and I'm honestly shocked that something as simple as a malfunctioning card reader could potentially cut off access to food assistance. Reading Daniel's original post made me realize how unprepared I would be if this happened to me. The panic of not being able to feed your family because of a "security feature" that gets triggered by normal behavior is just awful. I'm definitely going to be super cautious at checkout now and only try swiping once or twice max. And like everyone else, I'm saving that Claimyr service info - it sounds like it could be a lifesaver when dealing with county office phone systems. Thanks to this whole community for sharing such valuable real-world advice!
Drake
This thread has been absolutely eye-opening! I'm fairly new to CalFresh (got approved about 2 months ago) and had zero clue that multiple card swipes could trigger this kind of security lockout. Reading Daniel's original story literally gave me anxiety - the thought of being at the store with groceries for my family and suddenly having my card flagged as "stolen" when I never reported anything is my worst nightmare. What really gets me is how this seems like a design flaw disguised as a security feature. Card readers fail constantly, especially at older stores, so of course people are going to try swiping multiple times! It feels like the system punishes you for trying to actually USE your benefits when technology doesn't cooperate. I'm so grateful everyone shared practical solutions though - that Claimyr service sounds like a game changer for actually getting through to county offices. I've already tried calling mine twice for other questions and spent forever on hold before getting disconnected both times. And knowing about emergency food vouchers could be crucial if this ever happens to me. Thank you Daniel for updating us with the resolution! It's reassuring that they could reactivate your same card quickly once you reached the right person. Definitely saving all this advice - this community has been more helpful than any official materials I received with my card!
I completely relate to that anxiety about being stuck at the store! I'm even newer to CalFresh than you (just got my first card 2 weeks ago) and this whole discussion has been both terrifying and incredibly helpful. The idea that trying to use your food benefits could actually lock you OUT of your food benefits is just mind-boggling. It really does feel like the system is working against us sometimes. I had no idea about any of these potential card issues when I got my welcome packet - they really need to do a better job explaining how things can go wrong and what to do about it. I'm definitely going to be super cautious at checkout now and ask cashiers if their card reader is working properly before I even try swiping. And I'm so grateful for everyone sharing that Claimyr service - having a way to actually reach county workers when there's a problem could be a total lifesaver. Thanks to this whole community for looking out for each other with real, practical advice!
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Dylan Cooper
Just want to echo what everyone else has said - the homemade route is definitely the way to go! I've been in your exact situation before and ended up making my own ice cream cake. One tip that worked really well for me: buy a pre-made pound cake or angel food cake from the bakery section (totally covered by EBT), slice it in half horizontally, then layer softened ice cream in between and on top. Way easier than starting from scratch and it gives you that nice cake-and-ice-cream combo your son is looking for. You can even drizzle some chocolate syrup between layers to make it extra fancy. The basketball decorations from the dollar store will make it look amazing! Your kiddo is going to be over the moon that his parent made something so special just for him.
LongPeri
•That's such a brilliant shortcut using the pre-made cake! I never would have thought of that - much easier than making everything from scratch. The pound cake idea sounds perfect and the chocolate syrup layers will definitely make it look fancy. I'm feeling so much more confident about this whole thing now. It's amazing how this community turned what felt like a disappointing limitation into something that might end up being even better. My son is going to be so surprised when he sees his custom homemade basketball ice cream cake! Thank you everyone for all the creative solutions and encouragement.
This thread is so wholesome! As a newcomer to this community, I'm really impressed by how everyone rallied to help Paolo find a solution. I'm also on CalFresh benefits and have definitely felt that frustration when you want to do something special for your kids but run into these confusing restrictions. The homemade ice cream cake suggestions are genius - and honestly, your son will probably treasure the fact that you made it yourself even more than if you'd bought it from BR. Kids remember when their parents go the extra mile like that. Plus you can make it exactly how he wants with all those basketball decorations! Hope his birthday is absolutely perfect and thanks to everyone for sharing such helpful tips. This is exactly the kind of supportive community I was hoping to find!
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When you do talk to someone, make sure to ask if your benefits can be backdated to fix the mistake! They should give you the difference for any months you received the incorrect amount. Don't let them tell you they can't fix past months - they absolutely can if it was their calculation error!
That's good to know! We've been getting the lower amount for 3 months now, so that would be a big help if they can backdate it.
Isaac Wright
I work for a nonprofit that helps families navigate CalFresh issues, and this sounds like a classic case of missing deductions. With your income and family size, you should definitely be getting more than $380. The childcare expense you mentioned ($850/month) is huge - that alone could increase your benefits significantly since it reduces your countable income. A few tips for when you call: 1. Have all your documents ready (pay stubs, rent receipts, childcare provider info) 2. Ask specifically for your "eligibility determination worksheet" - this shows exactly how they calculated your benefits 3. If the first worker can't help, ask to speak with a supervisor 4. Take notes on who you talk to and when Also, double-check that they have your household size correct (you + 3 kids = 4 people) and that they're applying the correct utility allowance for your area. These are common mistakes that can really impact your benefit amount.
This is exactly what I needed to hear from someone who works in this field! I'm definitely going to ask for that eligibility determination worksheet - I had no idea I could request that. And yes, it's me plus 3 kids so household of 4. I'm writing down all these tips so I don't forget anything when I call tomorrow. Thank you so much for taking the time to help!
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wait this is completely different from the Market Match program right? because i use that at farmers markets where they match like $10 of my ebt...
Yes, Market Match is a completely separate program! You can actually use BOTH programs together at participating farmers markets for maximum benefits. Market Match doubles your regular CalFresh dollars (usually up to $10), while California Fresh gives you a separate $50 specifically for produce. If your farmers market accepts both, you essentially get triple benefits!
Julia Hall
This thread has been so informative! I'm a single mom in Fresno County with a 7-year-old, and I had NO idea this California Fresh program existed. We get about $280 in CalFresh monthly, so it sounds like we might qualify. The extra $50 for produce would be a huge help - fresh fruits and vegetables are so expensive! I'm definitely going to call tomorrow and ask specifically for the "California Fresh Supplemental Benefit." Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences and tips!
You should definitely qualify in Fresno County! Just wanted to add that when you call, if they seem confused about the program, you can also mention it might be listed in their system as the "CalFresh Healthy Fruits and Vegetables Supplemental Benefit" - some offices still use the old name. Also, don't be discouraged if the first person you talk to doesn't know about it - ask to speak with a supervisor or someone who handles special programs. Good luck!
CosmosCaptain
This whole thread has been incredibly eye-opening! I'm also on CalFresh and had no clue about these transportation assistance programs. Like others mentioned, it's so frustrating that they don't automatically tell you about all the programs you might qualify for when you first apply. I'm definitely going to ask about the reduced transit passes - paying $85/month for a bus pass is killing my budget. And I had no idea about the medical transportation through Medi-Cal either. One thing I'm curious about - for those who've used these programs, do they check your income annually or do they just verify that you're still receiving CalFresh? I'm worried about the paperwork burden since I already have to recertify my CalFresh benefits every year. Thanks to everyone for sharing such practical advice. This is exactly the kind of insider knowledge that makes navigating these systems so much easier!
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Anna Stewart
•Great question about the paperwork! From my experience, most of these transportation programs just require proof that you're still receiving CalFresh rather than doing a separate income verification. So when you recertify for CalFresh annually, you can usually just bring a copy of your new award letter to the transit office to renew your reduced fare pass. It's way less paperwork than having to prove income separately for each program. Some counties even have systems where they automatically update your eligibility for connected programs when you recertify CalFresh, but that varies by location. Definitely worth asking when you apply so you know what to expect!
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Zainab Ibrahim
This thread is so helpful for understanding how CalFresh connects to other assistance programs! I'm currently on CalFresh and struggling with transportation costs too - spending about $200/month on rideshares and buses to get to work and appointments. Reading everyone's experiences, it's clear that while CalFresh benefits themselves can only be used for food, being eligible for CalFresh opens doors to other transportation assistance programs. I had no idea about the reduced transit passes or the medical transportation through Medi-Cal! I'm definitely going to try that Claimyr service since I've been having the same problem getting through to my county office - spent over 3 hours on hold last week just to get disconnected. It's so frustrating that we have to hunt down information about these programs ourselves instead of being told about them when we first apply for benefits. Thanks to everyone for sharing their real experiences and practical tips. This is exactly the kind of community support that makes navigating these confusing systems so much easier!
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Omar Fawaz
•I totally feel your frustration with the transportation costs! It's crazy how much we end up spending on getting around when our cars break down. I'm new to CalFresh myself but reading through everyone's experiences here has been such an eye-opener. The Claimyr service sounds like it could be a game-changer for actually getting through to someone at the county office. I've been putting off calling because I know it's going to be hours on hold, but if I can get a callback instead that would save so much time and stress. One thing I'm wondering - has anyone found any emergency assistance for when your transportation situation gets really desperate? Like if you have a job interview or urgent appointment and literally no way to get there? I'm hoping there might be some one-time emergency vouchers or something through local nonprofits. Thanks for sharing your situation - it helps to know we're not alone in dealing with these challenges!
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