I'm so sorry this happened to you! As someone who's been through this nightmare twice, here's what I learned the hard way: First - YES, get a completely new card with new numbers immediately. Don't just change your PIN. Call your county office and specifically say "I need a REPLACEMENT card due to suspected fraud, not just a PIN change." Second - if you haven't already, download your county's EBT app and check your balance EVERY DAY. I caught my second theft within hours because I was checking obsessively. Third - about the investigation timeline: push back if they're making you wait too long. Document everything - dates, who you spoke to, what they said. Some counties are better than others at expediting replacements. The fact that they only replaced 60% of your stolen benefits is unacceptable. You should file an appeal on that decision. The whole amount should be restored unless they have concrete proof you authorized those transactions. Stay strong mama - I know how scary this is when you're trying to feed your kids. You're doing everything right by being proactive about it! 💙

I work at a nonprofit that helps families navigate benefit programs, and I see EBT theft cases weekly. Here's what I tell everyone: The most important thing is getting a NEW CARD with different numbers - changing your PIN alone won't help if they cloned your magnetic stripe. When you call, use the exact phrase "I need an emergency replacement due to fraudulent transactions" - this triggers faster processing. For your appeal on the partial replacement: gather ANY documentation showing your normal shopping patterns (old receipts, bank statements if you ever used cash). The burden should be on THEM to prove you made those large transactions, not on you to prove you didn't. One red flag - if the county didn't automatically offer you emergency food assistance while waiting for the investigation, that's another violation. You should have been offered expedited CalFresh or emergency food vouchers within 7 days of reporting theft. Also document EVERYTHING from here forward: dates, times, names of workers you speak to, reference numbers. If this happens again, having that paper trail will help tremendously. I know this feels overwhelming when you're already stressed about feeding your family, but don't let them brush you off. You have rights as a victim here! 💪

That's great news! Gives me hope ours will be here soon. Thanks for the update!

I'm in a similar situation with my daughter Rachel - we're in Pasadena area and still haven't received hers either. It's reassuring to see from everyone's updates that the R names are finally starting to go out this week. I've been checking our mail obsessively! Thanks for asking this question because I was starting to think we were the only ones still waiting. Going to keep an eye out for that plain white envelope with the state logo that others mentioned.

I'm so sorry this is happening to you! I'm new to this community but have been dealing with CalFresh issues for a while now. Since you found that missing rent verification notice in your BenefitsCal account, you're actually in a really good position to get this resolved quickly. One thing I learned the hard way - always screenshot those BenefitsCal notices as soon as you see them because sometimes they disappear from the system. Also, when you call tomorrow, if the first person you talk to can't help or seems dismissive, politely ask to speak with a supervisor. Sometimes the front-line workers don't have the authority to reinstate benefits immediately but supervisors do. Also wanted to mention - if you're really worried about food this week, most food banks don't require any paperwork or proof of need. The Food Bank of the Redwoods has locations throughout Humboldt County and they're really helpful. You can find their locations and hours online. It's not a permanent solution but it can help bridge the gap while you get your benefits restored. Hang in there - it sounds like this should be fixable once you provide that rent receipt!

This is exactly why I always tell people to check their BenefitsCal account weekly, even if you're not expecting anything! The notification system is absolutely broken - I've missed so many important notices because they never send emails or texts, just quietly post them online. For future reference, you can also set up your own reminder to check the portal every Friday or something. I put it in my phone calendar after missing a crucial verification request last year. Also, when you call tomorrow with that rent receipt ready, ask them to make a note in your file about the notification failure. It won't help you right now, but if it happens again you'll have documentation that this is an ongoing system issue. Some counties are finally starting to acknowledge these problems and making policy changes, but only when people document the failures. Good luck getting this resolved! Sounds like you have all the right info now to get your benefits restored quickly.

One more important point - when you go to the office, make sure they give you a written receipt showing you submitted the EBT 2259 form. Some offices are claiming they never received forms when they get backed up. This receipt is your proof you submitted within the 10-day window, which is legally required for replacement. Also, ask if they can issue emergency food vouchers while you wait for the replacement. Some counties offer this for families with children who have had benefits stolen. It's not guaranteed but worth asking about.

I'm so sorry this happened to you! EBT theft is unfortunately becoming more common. Just wanted to add one thing that helped me when my benefits were stolen last year - if you have any food banks or pantries in your area, don't hesitate to use them while you wait for the replacement. I was embarrassed at first, but they were so understanding and it really helped bridge the gap. Many churches and community centers also have emergency food programs specifically for situations like this. You're doing everything right by going in person tomorrow - stay strong and keep advocating for your family!

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!

I'm new to CalFresh and this thread has been SO helpful! I just got approved last month and didn't even know about the CNAP supplement until reading this. I've been wondering why I got an extra $75 on my card and thought it was a mistake. Now I know it's actually supposed to be there! Question for everyone - when you're on regular CalFresh (not TFS), does the CNAP supplement always come on the 15th? And is there anywhere I can sign up for notifications about delays like this so I don't panic when payments are late? I'm a single mom and every dollar counts for groceries. Thanks to everyone who explained the difference between TFS and CNAP - the county worker who helped me didn't mention any of this stuff! 🙏