Just wanted to chime in that if this happens again, food banks can help bridge the gap. 211 can connect you with local resources. No one should go hungry waiting for EBT systems to update!

One more tip - if you're worried about this happening in the future, you can sign up for text or email alerts on the EBT Edge website. They sometimes (not always) send notifications about system maintenance or deposit delays. Has saved me some stress a couple times.

did u activate the card yourself or did someone else do it for u? sometimes they steal them from mailboxes before we even get them 😡

Since you've confirmed the fraudulent transactions, here's what to expect with the P-EBT fraud process: 1. They'll conduct an initial review (2-3 business days) 2. You'll receive a fraud packet to complete (either electronically or by mail) 3. There will be a formal investigation (10-15 business days typically) 4. If approved, benefit replacement usually happens within 3-5 business days after approval For your case specifically, since it's out-of-state fraud with clear evidence, I'd expect them to approve the claim. While waiting, ask if you qualify for emergency food assistance through your local county office. Also, document any financial hardship this is causing (had to borrow money for food, etc.) as this can sometimes help expedite the process. Keep following up every 3-4 days for status updates. If it goes beyond their stated timeframe, ask to speak with a supervisor.

guys i just checked again and now mine updated!!! was $593 last month and now shows $650 for october! maybe they're just updating in batches?

As a follow-up, I want to mention that if anyone needs to verify their new benefit amount after the COLA increase, you can: 1. Check your BenefitsCal account (may take a few days to update) 2. Call the EBT customer service line at 1-877-328-9677 (often faster than the county office) 3. Check the MyBenefits CalFresh mobile app 4. Wait for your next notice of action letter, which should explain the new amount Remember that any income or household changes can affect your benefit amount beyond just the COLA increase, so the percentage increase might not be exactly 9.4% for everyone.

does ne1 know if u can get emergency food stamps while waiting for stolen benefits to be returned? like can they give u emergency funds till the investigation is done??

Update: I FINALLY got through to someone today! Used the emergency benefits option like someone suggested, still waited 35 minutes but actually spoke to a person. She apologized for the delay and said there's been hundreds of theft claims this month alone. Mine was approved but stuck in the system. She manually pushed it through and said I should see the replacement benefits on my card within 24-48 hours! Will update again when/if they actually show up. Thanks for all the help everyone!

P-EBT isnt the same as calfresh tho. maybe try asking in a p-ebt forum instead? not trying to be rude just saying this is mostly about calfresh ebt not the pandemic school stuff

Update! I finally got through to someone today and got some answers. They said our school district is in the second batch of P-EBT issuances scheduled for May 10-15. The representative explained that they had to implement new federal guidelines this year which caused verification delays. For anyone still waiting, they recommended checking the portal at ca.p-ebt.org for your specific date once it's confirmed. She also mentioned that all eligible households will receive a notification letter about 7-10 days before funds are loaded.