Just to update everyone on the current policy: As of 2025, Sacramento County is supposed to process EBT theft claims within 10 business days IF all documentation is complete. The required documentation is: 1) Completed EBT-2259 Benefit Theft Report, 2) Police report or case number, 3) Statement explaining when/how card was stolen, and 4) Completion of the fraud interview. If any of these items are missing, the clock doesn't start. Cash aid (CalWORKs) replacements typically take longer than CalFresh because they require supervisor approval.

Following up on my earlier comment - when I used Claimyr to reach a real person, they told me that theft claims are often delayed because they get sent to a special unit separate from regular EBT customer service. Make sure when you call that you're speaking specifically to someone who handles theft claims, not just a general EBT representative. Regular EBT reps often can't even see the status of theft investigations in their system.

Update: My neighbor checked her text again and it's definitely from the official P-EBT number she's gotten messages from before. Thanks everyone for the help! She's going to call the hotline tomorrow to verify her kids' eligibility. This community is always so helpful!

does anyone know if the p-ebt card works the same as the regular ebt card?? can she use it at farmers markets and get the extra match?

wait is p-ebt the same as pandemic ebt? i thought that ended years ago when covid benefits stopped??? are we still getting those????

You know what I just remembered - my sister (she lives in Folsom but still Sacramento County) had this issue last year with her kid Jackson. The card never showed up and she had to report it missing. Turned out they had his school registration address which was our old address from when they stayed with us. Maybe double check that the school has your correct address on file?

btw i called my post office supervisor and they said mail theft is up like 200% in alameda county right now so def report it if u think its stolen

Good news - I just checked the P-EBT website and they've posted an alert about mailing delays in several counties including Alameda. They're saying to wait up to 15 business days after seeing it in Informed Delivery before reporting it missing. They're also extending the benefit redemption period by 30 days to account for these delays. To answer the question about card security - yes, P-EBT cards require activation and PIN setup, so a stolen card can't be used without the activation information that's sent separately. Still, report any suspected lost or stolen cards right away.

the people stealing these cards should be ASHAMED of themselves. taking food from children!!! what is wrong with people these days. back in my day we would never dream of stealing from neighbors especially not FOOD MONEY. society is going downhill fast. hope they catch whoever did this to you.

One important update for everyone in this thread: If you're experiencing P-EBT theft, you should be documenting the incident with BOTH the local police AND the USPS Postal Inspector if it was stolen from your mailbox. The Postal Inspector report can carry more weight in your CalFresh fraud investigation because it establishes federal mail theft, which is taken very seriously. You can file a report online at https://www.uspis.gov/report. Also, once your benefits are restored, I strongly recommend setting up online account access immediately so you can monitor for any suspicious activity. You can also request that your replacement card be sent to your local CalFresh office for pickup rather than mailed to your home if mail theft is common in your area.