Just checking back - were you able to get through to your county office? Make sure to ask specifically for the "expedited replacement" process. Under California regulations, if you report theft within 4 calendar days, the county must make a determination within 10 days, not 30. Having a police report significantly improves your chances. You can also contact your nearest CalFresh outreach partner (like a community action agency) as they sometimes have emergency food resources while you wait. If you have school-age children, talk to their school about emergency meal programs as well.

dont forget 2 also check ur bank accounts if u have any!! these skimmer things can steal regular debit cards 2. my cousins entire checking account got emptied after using a gas station ATM

anybody else notice how the rich ppl banks got chip cards like 8yrs ago but somehow its "too hard" to protect our benfits?? Makes me so mad!! They said identity theft is a "high priority" but we still waiting YEARS for basic protection??

I'm still tracking your case - any updates? Were you able to reach your county worker or get emergency benefits issued? The fraud investigation will still take time, but you should be able to get at least partial replacement benefits while waiting.

Update: I called my county office this morning and finally got through! The representative confirmed that my daughter IS eligible for P-EBT since we're already on CalFresh. They're sending cards for our county starting next week, and we should receive it within 10-15 business days. Thanks everyone for your help clearing up my confusion!

Just to give everyone the most current information: The 2025 P-EBT benefit amount in California is $138 per eligible child per month. This is slightly higher than last year due to inflation adjustments. The benefits are typically loaded retroactively, so when you receive your card, you may get several months' worth of benefits at once. The distribution schedule by county is available on the CDSS website, though they don't provide exact mailing dates. If your card doesn't arrive within the expected timeframe for your county, you can request a replacement through the P-EBT helpline at 877-328-9677, but be prepared for long wait times.

I just went through this whole process because our school opted out too. So frustrating! If your child has Medi-Cal, you should get it automatically, but there have been system matching issues. I had to call FOUR TIMES before getting through to a person who could help me. The cards are definitely going out in batches, but they're behind schedule. The income limits depend on household size - for a family of 4 it's about $59,000 annual income. If you're close to the threshold, apply anyway! Sometimes they don't count certain income or there are deductions that help you qualify. Also, check if your child gets any other benefits that might qualify them automatically. Even certain reduced fee programs through the county can sometimes help establish eligibility.

did u call the sun bucks number yet? i had to call 3 times before gettin anyone but they fixed it right away when i finally got thru

Just curious - did you end up getting through to anyone at the county? Did they offer any help?

UPDATE: I finally got through to the county Housing Support Program! Called right when they opened using that Claimyr service someone mentioned (which actually worked!). The case worker said I qualify for their deposit assistance program even though I'm not on CalWORKs! They can cover my full security deposit but I need to come up with first month's rent. My sister is going to loan me $1000 and I'm putting the rest on my credit card. It's not ideal but at least I won't lose the apartment! THANK YOU everyone for all the advice!!!