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CalFresh EBT card drained - can't reach caseworker after 5 attempts. What's your quickest way to contact them?
So frustrated right now! Someone somehow got my EBT card info and drained my entire CalFresh balance ($532) three days ago. I reported it to the EBT customer service immediately and they said my county worker needs to help with the claim process for stolen benefits. I've called my caseworker's direct line FIVE TIMES since Monday, left detailed voicemails twice, and even sent a message through BenefitsCal portal. Radio silence. Meanwhile my kids and I have literally nothing for groceries this month. Does anyone actually have a responsive worker? Or is this the standard treatment we all get? I know they have huge caseloads but this is an emergency situation - we have no food! How long did it take your worker to get back to you? Any tricks to actually reaching a human being at the county office?
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CalFresh benefits affected by outdated direct deposit information - help!
So I'm in a tricky spot with my CalFresh benefits. When I initially applied back in 2023, my benefits were set up to be direct deposited onto my old Bank of America card. I've since closed that account and switched to Wells Fargo about 8 months ago. Just got my recertification approval letter saying my benefits are continuing (yay!), but I just realized they're probably still going to try sending the funds to that closed BOA account! My next benefit amount ($375) is supposed to be deposited next week. What happens to my benefits if they try to deposit to a closed account? Will I get a paper notice or something? Do I need to submit a form to change my deposit info, or can I just call my case worker? Really stressed about this because my kids and I are counting on that food money...
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why doesn't anyone talk about how the county workers NEVER answer their phones???? the whole system is broken!!!
County offices are definitely understaffed, especially since 2025 budget cuts. The average caseworker has 300+ cases to manage. Try calling right when they open (usually 8:00 AM) or during lunch (12:30-1:30 PM) when many people aren't calling. Also, Wednesdays tend to be less busy than Mondays or the beginning of the month.
UPDATE: I went to the county office in person today instead of calling. Had to wait almost 3 hours but finally spoke with someone. They said my CalWORKs payment had already been processed to my old bank account yesterday but will bounce back. They've noted my file to issue a paper check once that happens, AND I completed a form to get future payments on my EBT card instead of direct deposit. They said the paper check should come in about 10 days. Thanks everyone for your help!
Great job taking initiative and going in person! That was definitely the right move. Getting future payments on your EBT card will simplify things considerably. Make sure you keep checking your mail for that paper check - sometimes they come in plain envelopes that can look like junk mail.
6-month wait for CalFresh appointment in Kern County - is this normal?
I'm at my wit's end with the Kern County CalFresh office! I applied online 2 months ago and finally called to check my status. They told me the earliest appointment for my required interview is FOUR MONTHS from now - that's a total 6-month wait! I couldn't believe it, so I drove to the office in Bakersfield yesterday hoping someone could help me in person. The worker just shrugged and said they're "extremely backed up" and there's nothing they can do. How is this legal?? My family's struggling NOW, not 6 months from now. Has anyone else in Kern County dealt with this ridiculous wait time? Did you find any workarounds? I have two kids and our SNAP benefits from our previous state expired last month when we moved here.
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did u try the online chat through benefitscal.com? sometimes u can get help faster that way than on the phone
I didn't! I tried calling and going in person but never thought about the online chat. I'll definitely try that route too. Thanks for the suggestion!
I wanted to check back - were you able to get this resolved? If you mentioned expedited service and the 30-day processing requirement, you should have received a much quicker appointment. If not, please consider contacting your local legal aid office as well, as this is a clear violation of CalFresh regulations.
Yes! I used that Claimyr service someone mentioned and finally got through to a supervisor. When I specifically asked about expedited service and mentioned the 30-day requirement, their tone completely changed. They scheduled me for an interview tomorrow morning and said they'd process it as expedited. The supervisor claimed there was a "system error" that caused my application to be misfiled. I'm so relieved and grateful for everyone's help here!
CalFresh Emergency Allotment missing since October despite numerous calls - county helpline keeps giving me runaround
I'm at my breaking point with this CalFresh situation! I've been trying since OCTOBER to get my Emergency Allotment benefits that never showed up on my EBT card. Five months of getting absolutely nowhere! I've called the county helpline at least 7 times, and each time they act like they understand the problem and tell me they're 'reviewing my case' but nothing ever happens! Today I finally drove to my local office (wasted half a tank of gas) because I was desperate, and the worker there just told me it's 'not their issue' and that I need to call the number on my EBT card because it's a USDA problem. So I call that number and waste another 45 minutes just to be told they ONLY handle card issues, not missing benefits! So here I am, back on hold with the county helpline (1 hour and 15 minutes so far), listening to the same awful music, probably just to get the same empty promises. My family is struggling and $235 in missing EA would make a huge difference for us right now. Does anyone know who ACTUALLY handles Emergency Allotment issues? Is there a supervisor number I can call directly? I'm so frustrated I could scream!
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maybe try calling ur local assemblymembers office? my friend did that when her medi-cal got messed up and they fixed it in like 2 days after she was struggling for months
This is excellent advice. County welfare departments often respond quickly to legislative inquiries. Your state assemblymember or senator's office can submit a formal inquiry that typically gets routed to a specialized team that handles legislative cases. In my experience working with clients, these teams resolve issues much faster than the standard channels.
UPDATE: I finally got through to someone helpful! After trying again this morning (another 45min wait), I spoke with a worker named Melissa who actually took the time to look into my case properly. Turns out there WAS an approved supplemental payment from October, but it was coded incorrectly in their system as an "EA" (emergency allotment) when those no longer exist. It was actually an underpayment adjustment because they had calculated my rent wrong during my August recertification. She's processing it now and said I should see the $235 on my EBT card within 3-5 business days. She also gave me her direct extension to call if it doesn't show up. Thanks everyone for your advice and support through this frustrating process!
Great news! This is exactly why persistence pays off with CalFresh issues. Many workers don't fully understand the difference between various supplemental payments and use outdated terminology, causing confusion. I'm glad you finally got someone knowledgeable who could properly identify the issue.
good 4 u! make sure u write down melissa's info incase it doesnt show up and u have to call again.
EBT card stolen - CalFresh replacement taking forever after paperwork issues
So frustrated right now!! My EBT card was stolen on May 3rd and I reported it immediately. Filled out all the theft paperwork they gave me at the county office but apparently I 'did it wrong' and nobody bothered to tell me until I called to check status TWO WEEKS later! Now they're saying I have to redo everything and wait ANOTHER 10 business days for them to review. This is ridiculous! We have barely any food left and I'm supporting two kids. Has anyone dealt with EBT theft before? Do you actually get your benefits back after the 10 day review period or is that just another lie? I can't believe they're making me wait almost a month for money that was already issued to me!
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I'm sorry you're dealing with this frustrating situation. To directly answer your question: yes, you should receive your stolen benefits back after the review period, assuming your claim is approved. The 10 business days is the maximum timeframe for processing theft claims according to state regulations, and many counties try to process them faster. A few important points: 1. California has specific EBT theft protection policies. The benefits that were stolen should be replaced as long as you reported it promptly (which you did) and complete the paperwork correctly this time. 2. For your new submission, make sure you include: - Exact date and time you discovered the theft - Specific amount stolen (with dates of transactions if possible) - Any police report information if you filed one 3. The 10 business days means 10 county working days, not including weekends or holidays. 4. If you're experiencing a food emergency while waiting, ask about emergency food resources. Many counties can refer you to food banks or emergency assistance. Keep a copy of all paperwork you submit this time, and get a receipt or confirmation number when you submit it.
Thank you for this detailed information! I'll make sure I have all of those points covered in my new submission. Do you know if I need to provide proof of when I last used the card legitimately? I'm trying to gather all documentation before I go back.
Having your last legitimate transaction information is helpful but not always required. If you can access your EBT account online or through the app, take screenshots of your transaction history showing your normal purchase patterns. This can help demonstrate which transactions were yours versus which were fraudulent. If you have any receipts from your last legitimate purchases, bring those too.
UPDATE: Went to the county office in person today with all my documentation. The worker there was actually really helpful and said my case was pretty straightforward. She expedited my claim and said I should see my benefits replaced within 3-5 business days instead of 10! She said going in person definitely helped speed things up. Thanks everyone for the advice!
Christopher Morgan
ANOTHER THING - after you get this resolved, CHANGE YOUR PIN immediately!!! And change it regularly!!! These scammers are getting more sophisticated. My sister had her benefits stolen TWICE in 6 months. The second time she got NOTHING back because they said she should have been more careful after the first time. THE SYSTEM IS RIGGED AGAINST US!!!
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Zoey Bianchi
AuthorThat's terrifying! I'll definitely change my PIN as soon as this is resolved. Did your sister ever figure out how they got her information in the first place?
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Aurora St.Pierre
Just following up - were you able to get through to anyone yet? If you're still struggling, call the County CalFresh office and tell them this is an "immediate need" situation. Use those exact words. By regulation, they have to address immediate need cases within 3 days. Also, did you check with 211? They can refer you to emergency food resources in your area while you're waiting for the benefits replacement.
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Zoey Bianchi
AuthorI finally got through yesterday! Used the term "immediate need" like you suggested and they transferred me to a supervisor. They took my police report info and I completed the CF 303 form. They said I should have emergency replacement benefits within 3-5 business days. We're using the food bank until then. Thank you so much for your help!
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