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This happened to me in December 2024, and here's what I learned through the process: 1. California passed new regulations effective January 2025 allowing more EBT theft claims to be processed by phone due to the huge increase in skimming fraud. 2. However, EVERY legitimate claim should receive: - A claim reference number - An approximate timeline for resolution - Information about what documentation might be needed - Instructions for checking claim status 3. The no police report thing CAN be legitimate for certain types of electronic theft, but only if they've documented the details thoroughly. I would definitely call back, but try to reach a different worker or ask for the EBT theft department specifically. My claim took 15 days to process, and I received retroactive benefits for what was stolen. While you're waiting, check with local food banks or ask about emergency assistance - your family shouldn't go hungry while this gets resolved.
Thank you for sharing your experience - this is really helpful! I'll definitely call back tomorrow and ask for the EBT theft department specifically. Did they send you any forms to fill out after your phone call? And great idea about the food banks - there's one near us that I can check out while waiting for this to be resolved.
My son lost his card 3 times last year (ugh teenagers!!) and it always took EXACTLY 7 business days. Not 6, not 8... always 7. So annoying how they can't rush it when people are literally unable to buy FOOD. The system is so broken!!!
I just wanted to follow up - were you able to get an emergency card from the county office? The process should be: 1. Call the Sacramento County office (916-874-3100) 2. Explain your situation and request emergency card issuance 3. Bring government-issued photo ID to your appointment 4. They will verify your identity and benefits status 5. You should receive a temporary card you can use immediately Let us know if this worked for you!
Hey everyone - just wanted to update that I actually went to my county CalFresh office in person yesterday and got written confirmation that CalFresh does NOT participate in estate recovery! No liens, no claims against my estate, nothing. The worker actually thanked me for coming in because she said this rumor keeps a lot of seniors from applying for benefits they desperately need.\n\nI'm keeping my benefits and my peace of mind. Thanks for all your help clearing this up!
update????? did your benefits show up?
Yes!!! They finally showed up this morning! Took exactly 6 days after activation. Thanks everyone for your help!
My friend had the same problem but she had to contact her worker because her benefits NEVER transferred. Turns out they had some kind of system glitch that affected people who got their cards the same week as the quarterly maintenance or something. Just mentioning this in case anyone else reading has waited more than 7 days - don't just assume it'll eventually work itself out!
This is an important point. While most transfers happen automatically, there was indeed a system issue during the January 12-14 maintenance window that affected some accounts. If anyone received their 3.0 card during that weekend and still doesn't see their balance transferred, they should definitely contact their county worker as they may need to manually reprocess your benefit transfer. Always keep documentation of your previous balance (screenshots of the app or previous receipts showing balance) just in case.
Quick question - does anyone know if the deposit days change if it falls on a weekend or holiday? Like if my normal day is the 10th but that's a Sunday, do I get it on Friday before or Monday after?
CalFresh benefits are deposited on your assigned day regardless of weekends or holidays. The EBT system is automated and runs 24/7, so if your deposit day is the 10th, you'll receive benefits on the 10th even if it's a Sunday or holiday. This is different from some other benefits that might adjust for non-business days.
Thank you all so much for the help! I checked my case number and it does end in 8, so now I know my benefits come on the 9th of each month. I'm setting up a calendar reminder and got those text alerts set up too. Sorry for such a basic question but this makes my life so much easier!
Also, just a heads up - if you recently reported your card lost/stolen and got a replacement, sometimes there's a 24-hour waiting period before you can set up the PIN on the new card. The system doesn't tell you this, but it's in the fine print somewhere. If option 2 doesn't work right away, try again tomorrow.
Did you know that EBT cards don't have the same fraud protections as regular debit cards? I had to learn that the hard way when my roommate stole mine. I thought we'd get immediate provisional credit like with a bank card, but nope! Just sharing so others are aware that EBT cards need to be protected even more carefully than regular cards. I'm now super careful about keeping mine in a separate wallet section and checking my balance weekly.
Just wanted to follow up and mention that you should request an expedited replacement if you have very little or no food in your house. When you talk to your worker, specifically use the phrase "immediate need due to household emergency" - this triggers specific protocols that can get you emergency benefits within 3 business days instead of waiting for the full investigation to complete.
Update: I called the EBT customer service line and got my card deactivated. Then I went to the county office in person with my ID and they issued me a new card on the spot. I also filed the CF 303 form for the stolen benefits. The worker said it could take 7-10 days to get the stolen amount back but recommended I check with local food banks in the meantime. Thanks everyone for the advice! I'll update when/if I get my benefits back.
If someone has already given out their card information, they should: 1. Immediately call EBT customer service (1-877-328-9677) 2. Report the card as compromised 3. Request an immediate hold on the account 4. Ask for a new card to be issued 5. File a benefit theft claim if any funds were taken 6. Get a case number for the report 7. File a police report for identity theft For all CalFresh recipients: Set up EBT text alerts so you get notified instantly of any transactions. This allows you to catch unauthorized use immediately.
Thanks! I'll tell her to do this right now. Didn't know about the text alerts - that's super helpful.
UPDATE: Just checked and my benefits are still there! 😅 The new card should arrive in 7-10 business days. The EBT customer service rep was super helpful and said they've had a lot of these scam calls lately. She also suggested I set up text alerts for any transactions so I can catch anything suspicious right away. Thanks everyone for the quick advice - really saved me from possibly losing my food money for the month!
I want to clarify something important: If you were affected by this fraud, you are entitled to retroactive benefits under federal SNAP regulations (7 CFR 273.17). The county MUST restore any benefits stolen through no fault of your own, going back up to 12 months. Be prepared that they might initially deny knowledge or responsibility. Document everything: - Take screenshots of your EBT transaction history - Note any transactions you don't recognize - Keep copies of all communication with the county - Get the name and ID of every worker you speak with If they refuse to help, contact Legal Aid of Fresno County or the Western Center on Law and Poverty. This is a serious violation of program integrity requirements.
This is SO helpful, thank you! Just to be clear, even if the fraud happened months ago, they still have to reimburse us as long as we report it within 12 months of discovering it? And should we be asking for interest on the stolen benefits since we've had to use our own money for food in the meantime?
Update: I just called the number on the back of my EBT card and checked my transaction history. There were THREE transactions at a store in Madera that I've never even been to! They were for $86, $112, and $205 over the past 4 months. I'm literally shaking right now. That's over $400 of food money for my kids that someone STOLE. What do I do now? Do I call the police? The fraud department? I'm so upset I can barely think straight.
First, take a deep breath. This is fixable, but will require some patience. Don't call the police - this is a county administrative issue. Call the CalFresh customer service line and specifically request to file a "benefits theft claim" related to the publicized fraud case. Mention you have unauthorized transactions and need to speak with a fraud specialist. If they try to brush you off, ask to speak with a supervisor and mention the news article. Be prepared for a long hold time, unfortunately.
NebulaKnight
This whole CalFresh system is COMPLETELY BROKEN! This is the THIRD time this year they've messed up payments without warning. I have four kids and we DEPEND on this food money. They update their "systems" but can't be bothered to UPDATE THE PEOPLE WHO NEED FOOD! This is why I'm always telling people to keep emergency food in their pantry because CalFresh will ALWAYS let you down eventually!!!
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Mei Chen
•so true!!! and then they expect us to spend hours on hold to fix THEIR mistakes
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Giovanni Gallo
•While I understand the frustration, this is actually a rare occurrence. The CNAP supplement has been consistently issued on the 15th since it started in 2024. This is the first delay they've had, and they did post a notice about it on BenefitsCal on the 10th. Not ideal communication for sure, but they did try to inform recipients.
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Jamal Thompson
UPDATE: Just wanted to let everyone know my extra payment came through today (the 18th) just like you all said it would! Thank you all for the helpful information - especially about the difference between TFS and CNAP. I'm still learning all these CalFresh terms and programs. Now I need to focus on my recertification next month so there's no gap in benefits!
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CosmicCadet
•Glad to hear it! Good luck with your recertification. Remember to submit it at least 15 days before your TFS period ends. The online system through BenefitsCal is much faster than paper applications.
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NebulaKnight
•Mine came too but they should've WARNED EVERYONE properly. Lucky I had some emergency ramen packets or my kids would've gone hungry!!!
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