When you get your new card, I recommend having it sent to the actual county office for pickup instead of mailed to your home. Most counties offer this option for security reasons. Also, immediately create a PIN that's not obvious (not your birth year or 1234). And check your balance frequently through the BenefitsCal app. This happens way too often unfortunately.

I'm so sorry this happened to you! This is unfortunately super common in California, especially with the mail delivery issues we've been having. A few additional tips that helped me when I went through this: 1. When you file the police report, ask for a copy of the report number - the county office will need this for your claim 2. If you have any screenshots of the fraudulent transactions from BenefitsCal, save those as evidence 3. Consider signing up for Informed Delivery with USPS so you can track what mail is supposed to come to you 4. Ask the county worker about getting your replacement card expedited shipping (they sometimes offer this for theft victims) The good news is that California's replacement process has gotten better in recent years. Most legitimate theft claims get approved, especially when you have clear evidence like transactions in locations you've never been to. Hang in there - you should have emergency benefits soon and the full replacement within a few weeks!

Just to add some helpful information: if you're having trouble with your P-EBT cards and need to speak with someone, the best number to call is 877-328-9677. Unlike regular CalFresh, P-EBT is administered at the state level rather than county level. The customer service hours are 8am-8pm Monday-Friday. Be prepared with your case number (on your approval letter) and the card numbers when you call. They can help with activation issues, balance inquiries, PIN changes, and replacement cards.

This thread has been super helpful! I just got my daughter's P-EBT card yesterday and was totally confused about the activation process too. I kept waiting for it to ask me to set up a PIN and when it didn't, I thought maybe I had called the wrong number or something. It's reassuring to know this is normal for the 2025 cards. I'm definitely going to try using the last 4 of her social as the PIN when we go grocery shopping this weekend, and then call to change it to something more secure. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - it really helps to know we're not alone in this confusion!

Quick update for everyone: I just checked the BenefitsCal portal and there's actually a notice posted about the early issuance. It states: "Due to the Memorial Day holiday on Monday, May 27, 2025, CalFresh benefits normally issued from the 1st-3rd will be available beginning May 28th. Regular issuance schedule will resume in June." So this confirms what others have said - it's a planned early release due to the holiday.

Same thing happened to me! I'm usually a 3rd of the month person and was so confused when I saw the deposit this morning. I immediately thought something was wrong with my case or they were going to deduct it from next month. Thanks everyone for explaining about the holiday - I had no idea Memorial Day could affect the deposit schedule. This is actually really helpful info to know for future holidays. Does anyone know if they do this for other holidays too like Labor Day or New Year's?

Thanks for this advice. I'm definitely going to file a complaint. My kids had to eat ramen tonight because that's all I had left. They should at least send out a text alert when there are delays.

I'm so glad to see everyone's benefits finally came through! This whole situation really highlights how much we depend on these systems working properly. As a fellow parent, I totally understand the stress of not knowing if you'll be able to feed your kids tonight. For anyone dealing with similar delays in the future, I've found that some local churches and community centers keep emergency food boxes for exactly these situations - no paperwork required, just show up. It's not a long-term solution but can help bridge the gap when these system glitches happen. Also, filing those complaints James mentioned is super important - if we don't document these issues, nothing will change about their communication practices.

Just as an update for everyone - the state CalFresh website now has a banner indicating there's a system delay affecting benefit issuance. They expect all benefits to be deposited by tomorrow morning. If you're in an emergency situation and need food assistance immediately, you can contact your county office and request expedited assistance. They may be able to help with emergency food resources while waiting for the system issue to be resolved.

I'm so glad I found this thread! I was panicking this morning when my benefits didn't show up either (my case number ends in 1 so I usually get them on the 1st). I've been dealing with CalFresh for about 2 years now and this is the first time I've experienced a system-wide delay like this. It's such a relief to know it's not just me and that there's an official acknowledgment of the issue. The stress of not knowing whether your benefits are coming when you're depending on them for your family is just overwhelming. Thank you to everyone who shared updates and resources - this community is really helpful during times like these!