This happened to me after my last recertification. I ended up having to go to the county office and they printed me a temporary card right there. Bring your ID and know your Social Security number. They might ask security questions like your case number or verification of your address. The temporary card worked immediately, and then my permanent one came about a week later. Good luck! It's so stressful when you can't access your benefits.

Just wanted to follow up - were you able to get your replacement card? If you're still having trouble, one other thing to try is to ask if your county has an EBT liaison. Some counties have specific staff members who can troubleshoot EBT card issues more effectively than regular eligibility workers.

try calling ur local office instead of main number my cousin works at dpss and says nobody answers main line lol

Based on your situation, I'd recommend two things: 1. Since you have an approval letter showing your benefit amount and your BenefitsCal account shows active status, this is clearly a technical issue with benefit issuance, not an eligibility problem. 2. If you've tried calling during off-peak hours without success, you might need to visit your local DPSS office in person. Bring your approval letter, ID, and EBT card. They can often resolve benefit issuance problems on the spot. One last option - if you can't take time off work to visit an office, check if your local DPSS office has an email address for emergencies. Some counties have implemented this since 2024.

I just went through this exact situation. Called the county about my CalFresh application after waiting 3+ weeks and found out they needed verification documents they never told me about. I used the Claimyr service (claimyr.com) to get through quickly - they connected me directly to a caseworker in about 15 minutes instead of waiting on hold for hours. The worker told me that with a baby, we qualified for expedited CalFresh processing but the system hadn't flagged our application correctly. Got everything sorted in one call and had benefits within 3 days after waiting weeks. Definitely worth calling ASAP.

One additional note: Make sure when you follow up about your CalFresh application that you ask if you qualify for expedited services. With an infant and limited income, you might be eligible to receive benefits within 3 days instead of waiting up to 30 days for regular processing. You'll need to specifically ask about this as sometimes the expedited service eligibility isn't automatically checked. Also, request a benefit calculation breakdown so you understand exactly how your benefit amount is determined.

I'm curious how someone could steal from your EBT card if you still have it? Was your card skimmed maybe? There's been a lot of reports about skimming devices being placed on ATMs and card readers. Thieves can copy your card information and PIN that way. Make sure when you get your new card, you always check the card reader for anything suspicious before inserting your card.

UPDATE: As of March 2025, California has enhanced protection for EBT theft victims. Under the new rules, counties must process theft claims within 10 calendar days (not business days), and replacement benefits should be issued within 5 days of approval. You're entitled to get back any benefits stolen within the 90 days prior to your report. The county should issue emergency replacement benefits if the theft causes immediate food insecurity. Make sure to specifically mention food insecurity for your children when filing your claim.

weird that it was chicago. when my moms got hacked last year it was from florida. maybe they target california ebt cards specifically??

UPDATE: Just got back from the welfare office. Took 3 hours but they helped me file the EBT-2259 form and said they'll expedite the investigation. They also gave me a referral to a local food bank to help us get through until the benefits are restored. Apparently this is happening A LOT right now - the worker said they're getting dozens of similar reports every week. They think scammers are using card skimmers at stores to steal card info and PINs. Everyone BE CAREFUL with your EBT cards!!