I'm really sorry this happened to you! I know how scary it is when you can't access your benefits, especially with kids to feed. I lost my EBT card about a year ago and here's what I wish someone had told me: Call 877-328-9677 right away to report it lost - they'll freeze your card immediately so no one can use your $340. When you call, definitely mention you have children and ask about expedited shipping. They were able to get my replacement to me in 2 days instead of the usual 5 when I explained it was a family emergency. While you're waiting, check if your county allows temporary authorized representatives - I was able to add my sister so she could buy groceries for us using my benefits until the new card arrived. You'd need to call your local CalFresh office for this option though. Also don't hesitate to reach out to local food banks or churches - many understand the CalFresh situation and can help bridge the gap without making you feel bad about it. Your benefits will absolutely still be there when you get the new card! The money doesn't disappear, just the access temporarily. Hang in there - you've got this and your kids won't go hungry!

I'm so glad to hear you were able to get through to EBT customer service and get your card deactivated! That 2-day expedited shipping is a lifesaver when you have kids to feed. I went through something similar last year and the panic is so real when you realize you can't access your benefits. One small tip for when your new card arrives - make sure you're available to sign for it or have someone trusted who can receive it, because they typically require a signature for replacement EBT cards. Also remember you'll need to set up a new PIN when you activate it. It sounds like you have a solid backup plan with the authorized representative option too. This community really is amazing for support during these stressful situations. Your kids are lucky to have such a proactive parent who knows how to ask for help when needed. Hang in there - Thursday will be here before you know it!

Oof, been there done that. It's a pain to get back on track but don't give up! Once you get through to someone, ask about expedited benefits if you're in a tough spot. Hang in there! 💪

Check if your county has a CalFresh hotline or chat feature on their website - sometimes those are faster than the main phone line. Also, when you do get through, ask them to note in your case that you never received the SAR 7 notice. Some counties have policies for "good cause" exceptions when notifications aren't received. Don't let them brush you off - you have rights as a recipient!

This whole thread is incredibly helpful! I'm relatively new to navigating the CalFresh system and had no idea about so many of these options. The temporary card same-day pickup is amazing information - I wish they made this more widely known instead of just telling people to wait 7-10 days. It's also really helpful to know about resources like 211 and Claimyr for when you can't get through the regular phone lines. @Astrid Bergström so glad you got it resolved and can have a proper Thanksgiving! This community is such a lifesaver for figuring out how things actually work in the real world.

This is such a perfect example of why community knowledge is so much more valuable than official channels! I've been on CalFresh for about 6 months now and learned more from this one thread than from all my interactions with customer service combined. The fact that same-day emergency cards are available but not widely advertised is honestly infuriating - how many families have gone hungry waiting for replacements when they could have gotten help immediately? @Astrid Bergström I'm so relieved you got sorted out in time for Thanksgiving! And huge thanks to everyone who shared practical solutions like Claimyr and 211. Saving all of this info because you never know when you'll need it. This is exactly why we need spaces like this where people share real experiences and actual working solutions! 🙏

I don't have WIC (no kids) but good to know about the Friday market in Old Oakland! Thanks for clarifying the different program names too.

Hey Jacob! I'm new to CalFresh and just moved to the Bay Area too (from LA). This thread has been SO helpful - I had no idea about Market Match at all! I'm in San Francisco and wondering if anyone knows which farmers markets here participate? I saw mentions of Oakland and Berkeley markets but nothing about SF specifically. Also, does anyone know if the Castro Farmers Market or the one at UN Plaza do the matching program? My caseworker never mentioned any of this when I applied. It's frustrating how these programs seem like such well-kept secrets when they could really help people like us stretch our food budgets!

I'm dealing with this exact same problem and I'm honestly shocked at how many people are experiencing benefit reductions that are higher than their income increases - that should be mathematically impossible under the 30% rule! Reading through all these comments, it's clear there are widespread calculation errors happening. What really stands out to me is that almost everyone here is mentioning medical expenses and utility deductions that might not be properly applied. It seems like the county workers either don't know how to calculate these correctly or they're using outdated information. For everyone dealing with this: document EVERYTHING. Take screenshots of your benefit notices, keep records of all your reported expenses, and don't accept "that's just how it works" as an answer when the math clearly doesn't add up. The fact that multiple people here have gotten their benefits corrected after pushing back proves that these aren't isolated cases. Also, I want to echo what others have said about food banks and 211 for immediate help while you're fighting these calculation errors. And definitely look into legal aid - many of us don't realize we have free legal resources available for exactly these situations. This system is supposed to help people meet their basic need for food, but it seems like it's designed to trip people up with complex calculations and inadequate customer service. Don't give up - you all deserve accurate benefit calculations and enough food assistance to actually survive!

I'm so sorry you're going through this - it's incredibly frustrating and you're definitely not alone! I just started receiving CalFresh a few months ago and had no idea about most of these deductions and calculation rules until reading this thread. What really caught my attention is how many people are experiencing reductions that seem way higher than the 30% rule would suggest. That $85 drop on a $72 income increase definitely doesn't sound right mathematically. I'm taking notes on all the great advice here about asking for detailed calculation breakdowns and making sure medical expenses and utility allowances are properly applied. I also wanted to mention that some community colleges have student legal services that help with benefits issues - I found this out when a classmate had CalFresh problems. They might be another resource to consider alongside the legal aid offices people have mentioned. The whole situation really highlights how broken this system is. People are already struggling financially and then they have to become experts on complex benefit calculations just to get what they're legally entitled to. It shouldn't be this hard to access basic food assistance! I really hope you get this resolved quickly and get your benefits restored to the correct amount.