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If I could give 10 stars I would If I could give 10 stars I would Such an amazing service so needed during the times when EDD almost never picks up Claimyr gets me on the phone with EDD every time without fail faster. A much needed service without Claimyr I would have never received the payment I needed to support me during my postpartum recovery. Thank you so much Claimyr!
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Update: I finally got through to someone at the county after THREE HOURS on hold. They confirmed there's been a huge spike in EBT theft across California this month. The worker said they're looking into a possible data breach at certain retailers but wouldn't tell me which ones. Here's what I learned about the process: 1. They're issuing me a new card that will arrive in 5-7 business days 2. I had to file the CF 303 form for stolen benefits 3. Since I have minor children and less than $100 available, I qualify for emergency replacement benefits that should be available within 3 days on my new card 4. They'll investigate the fraudulent transaction which could take up to 30 days In the meantime, they gave me the locations of three food banks near me for emergency assistance. This whole situation is so stressful!
This is really helpful information, thanks for sharing. I'm glad they're processing your emergency replacement benefits. One additional tip: when you get your new card, immediately create a unique PIN that you don't use for anything else. Also, most counties now offer "card locking" features through the EBT Edge app - you can lock your card between uses so even if your data is compromised, thieves can't access your benefits.
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This is so scary! I just got approved and now I'm paranoid about my card. Does anyone know if you can pick up your EBT card in person instead of having it mailed? I don't trust the mail system after reading this!
Yes, you can request to pick up your card in person at your county CalFresh office. Call your caseworker and ask specifically for "in-person EBT card issuance" instead of mail delivery. Some counties will do this automatically if you ask during your application process, but you can still request it even after approval.
Just wanted to follow up - were you able to get any help with this? The situation you described is absolutely considered Administrative Error since you never received the card. Under California code regulations (MPP Section 63-602.6), you should be eligible for replacement benefits in this scenario. If you're still struggling, I'd recommend contacting your local Legal Aid office. They often have specialists who handle CalFresh issues and can advocate on your behalf at no cost. They know exactly which regulations apply and can sometimes resolve these issues with a single call that would take you weeks of frustration.
Thank you for following up! I filed a police report yesterday and was finally able to reach a supervisor at my county office this morning after trying for hours. They're sending me a form to fill out for "Administrative Error Replacement" like you mentioned! They said it might take up to 10 days to process, but they're also looking into emergency benefits since my kids and I literally have no food. I'll update once I know more, but it sounds promising! I'm so grateful for everyone's advice here - I was ready to give up after that first call.
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be carful some markets say they do the program but then the machines are broke or the person doesn't know how to use it. happened to me twice now and i got all the way there with my kids just to be told "sorry not today". frustrating!!!
This! I got to the market once and they ran out of tokens. Now I always go early in the day. Most programs have limited funding.
Just wanted to add some important details: The official name is California's CalFresh Healthy Nutrition Incentive Program (HNIP), which includes several initiatives like Market Match, California Nutrition Incentive Program (CNIP), and GusNIP. For 2025, the program has expanded to more retailers and the match amount has increased in some locations to $15-20. The key is that you need to use your EBT card to make eligible purchases, and the additional benefits are provided immediately during that transaction. These incentives don't count against your regular monthly CalFresh benefit amount and don't need to be reported as income on your SAR7 or recertification.
This is exactly what I needed to know! Especially that it doesn't affect my regular benefits or count as income. I'll try it out this weekend at the farmers market.
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I work with a nonprofit that helps families access benefits. P-EBT 4.0 distribution for middle school students is scheduled April 20-May 15. If nothing arrives by May 20th, I'd recommend reaching out to your school district's nutrition services office first, as they can confirm if your child's eligibility information was correctly submitted. The state hotline is overwhelmed right now with so many families calling about the new distribution.
This is super helpful! I'll wait until May 20th before really worrying. Good tip about contacting the school district's nutrition services instead of the general P-EBT line.
I just checked the P-EBT website and they posted an update yesterday - there's apparently a processing delay specifically affecting 7th and 8th graders in some districts due to a data transfer issue. They say benefits will still be issued but may be delayed until late May for affected students. Might explain what's happening with your kid's benefits.
Thank you so much for sharing this! I couldn't find this update on the website. Really appreciate you letting us know about the data transfer issue. That makes me feel much better knowing it's a known problem they're working on.
Jamal Wilson
anybody else notice that the theft always happens right after benefits are deposited?? like they know exactly when our money comes in. makes me think it's an inside job tbh. too much coincidence.
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QuantumQuasar
•OMG YES!!! mine always disappears within 24hrs of deposit!! never thought about it being inside job but ur right, how they know exactly when to steal it?? scary to think about
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Zoe Papanikolaou
I work with CalFresh recipients daily, and here's what I'm telling everyone: 1. Request a new EBT card even if yours hasn't been compromised yet 2. When you receive the new card, IMMEDIATELY change the PIN 3. Call the EBT customer service line and request the "card freeze" feature be activated 4. Only unfreeze your card immediately before shopping, then freeze it again after 5. Check your balance through the official app DAILY The latest skimming devices can capture both your card data and PIN in seconds. The thieves are targeting certain stores and specific days of the month when benefits are typically distributed. Paper food stamps aren't coming back, but many counties are piloting direct deposit options for CalFresh similar to how they handle CalWORKs. Ask your worker if your county is part of the pilot program.
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Carmen Lopez
•This is incredibly helpful. I didn't realize I could proactively request a new card. I'm going to do that right away and set up all these security measures. I asked about the direct deposit option and my worker said Sacramento County isn't in the pilot yet, but they're supposed to join later this year. Fingers crossed!
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