This is absolutely infuriating! I'm so sorry you and your kids are going through this. The fact that benefits can be stolen so easily and then families have to wait WEEKS for help is just broken. I went through something similar last year and here's what finally worked for me: I called my county supervisor's office (not CalFresh directly) and explained that my children had no food due to EBT theft. The supervisor's office put pressure on the county CalFresh office and I got a callback within 2 days instead of waiting weeks. Sometimes you have to go above the regular workers to get action. Also, while you're fighting this, see if your kids qualify for free school meals if they're not already getting them. At least that covers breakfast and lunch during school days. Some schools even have weekend backpack programs with food to take home. Keep pushing and don't let them brush you off. You shouldn't have to choose between feeding your kids and waiting for the bureaucracy to do its job!

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this nightmare! As someone who works with families facing food insecurity, I wanted to add a few more resources that might help while you're waiting for your benefits to be restored: 1. Contact your local WIC office even if you don't normally qualify - they sometimes have emergency food vouchers for families with young children facing crisis situations like benefit theft. 2. Check if your area has a "Mobile Food Pantry" program - these are different from regular food pantries and often provide much larger quantities of fresh food. You can find locations at feedingamerica.org. 3. Many churches and community centers offer free community meals (not just food to take home) - this can help stretch whatever food you do have. 4. If your kids are under 5, look into local Head Start programs which often provide meals and snacks even during enrollment processes. The fact that this is happening to so many families is absolutely unacceptable. The state needs to fix these security vulnerabilities ASAP instead of making victims wait weeks for help. Keep advocating for yourself and your children - you're doing everything right in a completely broken system.

This is absolutely infuriating but I'm so glad you finally got your money back! I've been dealing with EBT theft for months now and it's like the system is designed to make us give up. My benefits were stolen twice in February - $520 the first time and $340 the second time. Filed reports immediately but kept getting the runaround from the county office. What really gets me is that they have all this technology to detect "suspicious" purchases when we're actually using our own benefits, but somehow can't stop thieves from draining our accounts? The whole system needs an overhaul. I'm definitely going to try bringing documentation of financial hardship like you did. My utilities are about to be shut off and I've been living off food bank donations while waiting for reimbursement. It's beyond cruel to make families wait weeks or months when we're already struggling to survive. Thank you for sharing your experience - it gives me hope that there might be light at the end of this nightmare!

This whole situation is absolutely heartbreaking and infuriating! I can't believe families are being put through this when they're already struggling just to put food on the table. The fact that you had to bring an eviction notice to get action is completely unacceptable - no one should have to be on the verge of homelessness before getting help with stolen benefits. I'm dealing with something similar right now - had $385 stolen two weeks ago and I'm still waiting for any response on my claim. Reading everyone's experiences here is both terrifying (37-46 days?!) and helpful. I had no idea about setting up EBT alerts or that phrase "immediate financial hardship" that someone mentioned. What really bothers me is how the state keeps talking about "improving security" but families are suffering RIGHT NOW while they slowly roll out chip cards. Meanwhile thieves are getting more sophisticated and we're left holding the bag (literally) when our grocery money disappears. I'm so relieved you finally got your money back, but the stress you went through to get there is unacceptable. Thank you for sharing your story - it's helping others like me know what to expect and how to fight for what's rightfully ours.

The WHOLE SYSTEM is broken!!! My neighbor had hers stolen THREE times and the third time they basically accused her of lying and denied the claim. She had to get legal aid involved to get her money back. DOCUMENT EVERYTHING and don't let them push you around!!

This is such a widespread problem and I'm so sorry you're dealing with this again! I work with families navigating benefits and here are some additional steps that might help: 1. When you call to report, specifically ask to speak with a "Benefits Security Specialist" - they handle theft cases and know the process better than regular intake workers 2. Request they put a "fraud alert" on your account immediately while processing your claim 3. Ask for written confirmation of your claim number and expected processing timeline 4. If you have a smartphone, take photos of any ATM before using it - this can serve as evidence that you weren't at suspicious locations Also, California has a new pilot program starting this year that provides immediate emergency food assistance (up to $200) while theft claims are being processed. Ask specifically about "Emergency Food Assistance for Theft Victims" when you call. The suspicious attitude from workers is unfortunately common, but remember - you have legal rights here. Don't let them make you feel like you're doing anything wrong. Keep pushing and document every interaction!

To clarify for anyone reading this thread later - the official CalFresh policy is that benefits are available at midnight on your assigned day (based on the last digit of your case number), but due to system processing, there can sometimes be delays. If you're in an emergency situation, you can request expedited services (3-day processing) when you apply, or if you're already a recipient, contact your county office about emergency food resources.

Glad you got your benefits figured out! Just wanted to add for anyone else reading this - if you're ever unsure about your specific benefit date, you can also check the EBT Edge mobile app or call the customer service number on the back of your EBT card. They'll tell you exactly when your benefits are scheduled to be loaded. Also, some grocery stores will let you check your EBT balance at the customer service counter without having to make a purchase, which can save you the embarrassment of a declined transaction at checkout.

I work at a Sam's Club in Sacramento and can confirm what others have said - we definitely cannot add EBT cards to the app or use them for online orders. The system just isn't set up for it due to federal regulations. However, I wanted to share a few tips that might help make your in-store experience smoother: 1) Our customer service desk can pre-approve your EBT card before you shop, which sometimes helps avoid issues at checkout, 2) If you're buying in bulk, consider splitting large quantities between EBT-eligible and non-eligible items BEFORE you get to checkout (like if you're buying 24 bottles of water, make sure they're not mixed with non-food items), and 3) We typically have at least one cashier per shift who's well-trained on EBT transactions - don't hesitate to ask for them specifically if the first cashier seems unsure. Hope this helps make your Sam's Club trips easier!

Just to add another perspective - I've been using EBT at Sam's Club for about 2 years now and while you definitely can't add it to the app, I've found a workaround that helps with planning. I use the Sam's Club app to browse and add items to my "favorites" list, then I screenshot the list and use a notes app to mark which items are EBT-eligible before I go shopping. This way I can still take advantage of the app's features like seeing current prices and special offers, but I'm prepared for checkout with my physical card. It's not as convenient as having everything integrated, but it's better than going in blind! Also, pro tip: the Sam's Club website has a search filter for "SNAP eligible" items which can help with meal planning even though you can't actually order online with EBT.