Weird 'Sunbucks' letter T from CalFresh in Lancaster/LA area - legit or scam?

omg i got the same thing last week! mine had like a gold sun logo thing on it right? i just threw it away cuz i thought it was junk mail lol

I work at a nonprofit that helps with CalFresh applications, and I haven't heard of any legitimate "Sunbucks letter T" communications from LA County DPSS. This sounds very suspicious. CalFresh/DPSS communications typically come in official county envelopes with clear DPSS or CalFresh branding, not with made-up terms like "Sunbucks." Did the letter ask for your personal information like SSN, EBT card number, or PIN? If so, this is almost certainly a scam. The county already has your information and wouldn't ask for it this way. For your recertification, you should receive an official recertification packet about 45 days before your certification period ends. You can also check your recertification status on BenefitsCal.com or by calling the DPSS Customer Service Center at 866-613-3777.

OMG PLEASE BE CAREFUL!!! There's been a huge increase in CalFresh scams lately - especially in LA County. My cousin got her benefits stolen last month after responding to something that sounded exactly like this!!! They're getting really good at making the envelopes look official. DPSS will NEVER ask you to verify personal info through anything called "Sunbucks" - that's 100% a scam!!! Call the FRAUD department at DPSS right away to report it: 800-349-9970. They can also tell you if there are any legitimate communications you need to respond to.

So theres actually a thing called SNAP-Ed (the nutrition education part of calfresh) that sometimes does send out materials with different names and might be doing some kind of promotion with healthy eating incentives? BUT I've never heard of "Sunbucks" specifically and they wouldnt ask for your SSN or anything like that. Usually its just cooking tips and healthy recipes and stuff. Does sound sketchy tho

I had to deal with something similar last year when I got a fishy letter about my CalFresh benefits. Calling the regular number was useless - waited 2+ hours and then got disconnected! I found this service called Claimyr that actually got me through to a real person at the DPSS fraud department in like 15 minutes. You might want to check them out (claimyr.com) if you're trying to report this scam. They have a video showing how it works here: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 The fraud department told me they're seeing tons of these scams targeting CalFresh recipients in LA County. Better to report it so they can investigate.

I got one 2!!! Mine said something about extra benefits if I filled out a survey?? Is this the same thing?? I was about to fill it out but now im scared

This is definitely a scam targeting CalFresh recipients. There's been an increase in these fraudulent mailings since the beginning of 2025. The legitimate communications you should expect from LA County DPSS regarding your CalFresh benefits are: 1. Your SAR7 Semiannual Report (every 6 months) 2. Your annual recertification packet (RE form) 3. Any Notice of Action (NOA) regarding changes to your benefits All legitimate communications will have official LA County DPSS letterhead, your case number, and clear CalFresh/SNAP branding. They will never use terms like "Sunbucks" or other promotional-sounding names. If you're due for recertification next month, you should have already received your recertification packet or will very soon. Make sure to complete that on time to avoid any interruption in benefits. You can submit it through BenefitsCal.com, by mail, or in person at your local DPSS office. I recommend reporting this scam to both LA County DPSS Fraud Prevention (800-349-9970) and the FTC's Identity Theft website (IdentityTheft.gov).

wait does anyone else think its weird that we all got this in Lancaster specifically?? like are they targeting our area for some reason??

This is really concerning that so many people in the Lancaster area are getting these fake "Sunbucks" letters! I haven't received one yet but I'm definitely going to be on the lookout now. For anyone who's worried about their legitimate CalFresh communications, you can also sign up for text alerts through your BenefitsCal account - that way you'll get notified about real deadlines and requirements. Stay safe everyone and thanks for sharing this warning!