My neighbor swears someone at the grocery store stole her benefits but turns out her teenage son was using her card without telling her lol. Make sure it's actually theft before reporting it!

To answer your follow-up question about replacement benefits, here's what I've seen working with clients who've experienced theft: - The new process (as of January 2025) is significantly better than before - Most legitimate claims are being processed in 3-4 weeks now (compared to 3-6 months previously) - You'll need to submit form CF 303 (EBT Benefit Theft Report) - Include the police report number and any evidence (skimmer photos, unusual transaction locations) - Be very specific about when you last used the card and when you discovered the theft The process still requires persistence. Document every call, email, and interaction with your county worker during the claim process. Keep copies of everything you submit.

I work with CalFresh recipients through a community organization, and there's definitely some confusion happening. The state legislature approved the CalFresh Plus supplemental program to start in April 2025, providing quarterly supplements based on household size. For a household with children, it will be approximately $150 extra every three months, but the first payment won't be until April. Some counties started sending informational notices about it in January, which might explain why your caseworker mentioned it. The notices weren't supposed to go out until March to avoid exactly this type of confusion.

It sounds like the caseworker was referring to the new CalFresh Plus program but got the start date wrong. As others have mentioned, it begins in April. If you need emergency food assistance in the meantime, consider contacting local food banks or calling 211 to find resources in your area. Many schools also have after-school snack programs that might help with your kids' immediate needs.

my neighbor got hers early on the 23rd so idk maybe its different for each person?? the whole system is so confusing

I just confirmed with my county office - the transition supplement will be issued on the 26th for all case numbers except those ending in 1-3 (which was yesterday, the 25th). The amount is based on a percentage of your regular benefit, so it varies by household. They also mentioned that if you don't see it by the 27th, you should contact your worker because some cases weren't eligible for the final supplement if they had recent income increases or household changes.

If you're having issues resolving this or any other CalFresh questions, I'd recommend using Claimyr to get through to an actual county eligibility worker. I was confused about what I could buy with my benefits and spent days trying to get through on the regular line without success. With Claimyr, I got through to a Fresno County worker in about 10 minutes who explained exactly what supplement products qualify. You can see how it works at https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 or just go to claimyr.com. It saved me so much frustration!

Update: I went to the Aldi on Blackstone today and found two different protein powders. The Earth Grown plant protein had a Nutrition Facts label and worked with EBT! The other one (some fitness brand with a guy flexing on it) had a Supplement Facts label and didn't work. Thanks everyone for your help! For anyone wondering the same thing - check the label!

I just remembered something!!! When you call make sure you choose option 2 then 1 then 4 in their stupid phone tree. That's the fastest way to get to someone who handles EBT issues. At least it was back in January when I was dealing with my theft claim. The whole system is RIDICULOUS!!! Why don't they just have a direct line for theft claims when so many people are getting their benefits stolen???!!

One thing no one's mentioned yet is that if your claim has been pending more than 30 days, you can request an expedited review. My neighbor had success by specifically saying "I'm requesting an expedited review under MPP regulation 16-705.32" which requires them to make a determination within 3 business days. You have to be persistent though.