This thread has been such a lifesaver to read through! I'm new to CalFresh and honestly had no idea about most of these workarounds. When I got my EBT card a few weeks ago, all they included was a basic pamphlet about eligible foods - nothing about the MyEBT app, running transactions as credit, or any of these other helpful tips. It's really eye-opening to see how much practical knowledge exists in this community that just isn't shared officially. I'm definitely downloading the MyEBT app today and writing down all these backup options. The stress of potentially not being able to access your benefits when you need groceries is so real, especially when you're already dealing with food insecurity. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences - this is exactly why community support is so important!

This thread is absolutely incredible - I wish I had found it when I first started receiving CalFresh benefits six months ago! Reading through everyone's experiences and all these practical solutions has been so enlightening. I had no idea about the MyEBT app, running EBT as credit, or asking stores to do test transactions. When I got my card, they literally just handed it to me at the county office with a pamphlet about eligible foods and that was it. No mention of any of these backup options that could save you when things go wrong! It's really frustrating that they don't provide comprehensive guidance upfront, but I'm so grateful for this community where people share their real-world knowledge. I'm downloading the MyEBT app right now and saving all these tips. The collective wisdom here is amazing - from bypassing phone menus to understanding that replacement cards keep the same PIN. Thank you to everyone who took the time to help others navigate these challenges. This is exactly what community support should look like!

This is such valuable information - thank you everyone for sharing your experiences! I'm new to this community and haven't had to deal with stolen benefits before, but reading through all these responses makes me feel much more prepared in case it ever happens to me. A couple questions based on what I've read: When you withdraw the cash benefits from an ATM, are there any fees like with regular bank withdrawals? And does anyone know if you can use the cash benefits portion to pay bills online or does it only work for in-person purchases and ATM withdrawals? Also wanted to say how helpful it is that people mentioned specific details like listening to the full automated message and the 90-day expiration rule - those are the kinds of important details that caseworkers sometimes forget to mention but can make a huge difference!

I'm so sorry this happened to you! I went through the exact same thing about 6 months ago and it's such a frustrating experience. Everyone here has given you excellent advice, but I wanted to add one more thing that really helped me. When you do get your cash benefits back, I'd recommend taking a screenshot or photo of your balance right away showing both the food and cash amounts. I did this and it saved me later when there was a discrepancy in my account - having that proof made it much easier to resolve with customer service. Also, just to give you some peace of mind: in my experience, the reimbursement usually shows up faster than they tell you. My caseworker said it could take up to 10 business days but mine appeared after only 5 days. Keep checking your balance every couple of days! The whole system is definitely confusing (why they make stolen benefit replacements work differently than regular CalFresh is beyond me), but at least California does reimburse stolen benefits which not all states do. Hang in there - you should have your money back soon!

I'm new to this community and to CalFresh (just got approved last week), and this thread has been incredibly eye-opening! Reading Connor's experience gave me chills because I can totally see myself making the same mistake with my PIN and panicking when I can't access my benefits. I had no idea there was a separate EBT customer service line - I literally thought you had to go through the county office for everything! I'm so grateful everyone shared their real experiences and solutions instead of just empty sympathy. I've already saved that 1-877-328-9677 number in my phone and screenshotted all the verification tips. It's scary how something as simple as entering your PIN wrong can become such a crisis when those benefits are what's keeping you fed. Connor, I'm so relieved you got it sorted out quickly! Thank you to everyone who took the time to share practical advice - this is exactly the kind of community support that makes navigating these overwhelming government systems so much less terrifying for people like me who are just starting out.

This entire thread has been such a lifesaver to read! I'm brand new to both this community and CalFresh (literally just got my card yesterday), and Connor's situation was exactly what I was worried about happening to me. I had no idea there was a separate EBT customer service number - I thought you had to go through the county office for absolutely everything! Reading everyone's real experiences and practical solutions has been so much more helpful than any official government website. I'm definitely saving that 1-877-328-9677 number and all the identity verification tips right now. It's terrifying how something as simple as forgetting your PIN can turn into a food crisis when you're relying on these benefits. Connor, I'm so glad you got everything sorted out quickly! Thank you to everyone who shared their knowledge and experiences - this is exactly the kind of community support that makes these overwhelming government systems feel less scary for newcomers like me. I feel so much more prepared now knowing what to do if I ever run into EBT issues!

For anyone still showing pending status: I just received confirmation from the state CalFresh office that all remaining pending cases should be resolved by tomorrow morning. The technical issue affected approximately 30% of cases statewide, primarily those with case numbers ending in specific digits. If your benefits aren't available by tomorrow afternoon, you should contact your county office directly as your case might have a different issue requiring individual attention.

This thread has been so helpful! I'm a newcomer here but dealing with the same issue - my benefits have been pending since Monday. It's really reassuring to see that it's a widespread system problem and not something wrong with my case. I was starting to panic thinking I'd somehow messed up my recertification or something. Really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences and especially @Gianna Scott for the official updates from the state office. It's frustrating that we have to rely on community forums to get real information instead of getting clear communication from the county offices directly. Fingers crossed mine updates tomorrow morning like they're saying!

As someone who just went through a similar situation last year, I want to emphasize something that saved me: don't wait for the perfect solution to come through before exploring backup options. While you're applying for Rapid Rehousing and other programs, also look into extended stay motels that offer weekly rates - some accept vouchers from emergency assistance programs. It's not ideal, but it kept my family together and gave us a stable address while waiting for housing programs to process. Also, if you're in a larger county, check if they have a family navigation center - these are different from regular shelters and specifically designed to keep families together while connecting them to permanent housing. The waiting can be agonizing, but having multiple irons in the fire really helps your chances of avoiding homelessness altogether.

I'm new to this community but wanted to share something that might help - if you're working part-time, check if your employer participates in any emergency assistance programs. Some larger employers (even retail/service jobs) have employee assistance funds specifically for housing crises that people don't know about. Also, when you contact Catholic Charities and other faith-based organizations, ask about their "utility assistance" programs too - sometimes they can help with security deposits by paying your utilities for the first few months instead of direct rent assistance, which might make you more attractive to landlords. I know it feels overwhelming dealing with so many different programs, but the fact that you're starting this process with 60 days notice instead of waiting until the last minute puts you in a much better position than most people facing housing loss.