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I work at a community legal aid office, and we've seen dozens of these cases recently. While waiting for your claim to be processed, you might qualify for emergency CalFresh benefits. If you have less than $150 in monthly income and less than $100 in resources, you can receive expedited benefits within 3 days. Ask specifically about this when you go to the county office. Also, if they deny your claim or only reimburse part of the stolen amount, you have the right to appeal the decision within 90 days. Don't just accept a partial reimbursement!
Just a thought but did u use ur card at a sketchy gas station or ATM recently? my cousin got her benefits stolen and they found out that gas station had a skimming device.
UPDATE: My sister just went through this process last month and said there's now an online option to report theft through BenefitsCal.com too. You still need the police report, but you can upload everything through the portal instead of going in person if that's easier for you. Just make sure you follow up with a phone call to confirm they received everything.
did u get one of those EBT fraud text alerts? my cousin got one but thought it was a scam so she ignored it and then lost all her benefits too
No, I never got any alert! That's part of what makes me so angry. I thought they were supposed to notify us about suspicious activity, but I didn't find out until I tried to buy groceries and my card was declined. Then I checked the balance on the app and saw all these weird transactions from the other side of town.
once u get a new card dont store the card number on any websites or apps. also dont use the ebt card at small random stores. stick to major chains with better security on their machines
This is good advice. Additionally, when you get your new EBT card: 1. Register it immediately on the EBT portal to monitor transactions 2. Opt-in for text/email alerts for all transactions 3. Consider changing your PIN monthly as a precaution 4. Never use your card at ATMs in non-bank locations 5. Check your balance frequently to catch unauthorized use early These steps significantly reduce your risk of repeat theft.
Update on P-EBT fraud for 2025: The CDSS has actually implemented a new process for handling P-EBT theft cases specifically because of the increase in these incidents. When you contact them, ask about the "P-EBT Benefit Replacement Protocol" that was implemented in February 2025. Under this protocol, they can replace benefits if you file both a police report and a signed affidavit (which they will provide) attesting that you never received or used the card. The new process requires two forms of identity verification and proof of address, but can result in full benefit replacement within 30 days if approved. This is fairly new so some representatives might not be familiar with it - ask to speak with a supervisor if needed.
Did you eventually get this resolved? I'd be interested to know which approach worked for you, as I'm currently helping several families with similar P-EBT theft issues.
Yes! It took persistence but following the advice here really helped. Filed police report first, then got through to the county office (used that Claimyr service someone mentioned when I couldn't get through after 5 attempts). Asked specifically for the P-EBT Benefit Replacement Protocol and mentioned Administrative Remedy. Had to submit the police report, proof of address, and sign an affidavit. They replaced about 90% of the benefits after 6 weeks. The key was definitely the police report and being specific about the replacement protocol when talking to the county workers.
Lucas Lindsey
my kids school sent home a flyer about pebt but it was so confusingggg!!! said something about summer ebt being different? anyone know if thats the same card or different??
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Emma Olsen
•Summer EBT and P-EBT are related but distinct programs. Summer EBT is specifically for the summer months when school is out, while regular P-EBT covers the school year. In California for 2025, they're using the same card for both programs, so any Summer EBT benefits (usually distributed in June) will load onto the same P-EBT card your children already have. The Summer EBT amount is typically around $120 per eligible child for the summer period.
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Christian Bierman
Thank you all so much for the helpful information! I've set up the online account at connectebt.com to track her benefits and marked the calendar for mid-May for the next potential deposit. It's a relief to understand how this works now. One last question - does she need to be enrolled in free/reduced lunch at school for this to continue, or is it automatic for all kids in California public schools this year?
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Sophie Duck
•For the 2024-2025 school year in California, P-EBT 3.0 eligibility is primarily based on free/reduced lunch status OR attending a Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) school where all students receive free meals. If your daughter's school provides universal free meals (many CA schools do now), she'll continue receiving P-EBT automatically. If not, she needs to be individually eligible for free/reduced lunch. You can check your school's status by calling the district office. The good news is that once approved, you don't need to reapply during the school year.
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