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Anyone else notice how these EBT thefts keep happening right before holidays and rent due dates??? My cousin works for the county and she says they see TONS of "theft" reports at the end of every month. I'm not saying the OP is lying but they investigate these claims REALLY carefully now. If they think ur being dishonest they can terminate ur benefits completely so be 100% truthful about everything
I completely understand they need to investigate. I have nothing to hide - my benefits were legitimately stolen and I'm freaking out about how to feed my family. I still have my physical card, never shared my PIN, and have no idea how this happened.
OMG are u srsly suggesting OP is making this up?? That's so rude! EBT skimming is EVERYWHERE now. There were actual news reports about organized crime rings targeting EBT cards. Not cool to make someone feel worse when they're already stressed!
Quick update on the current replacement process: I just confirmed with our local CalFresh office that the rules changed in mid-2025. Now when benefits are stolen electronically (not from a lost/stolen physical card), they can replace up to two months of benefits per federal fiscal year. The process requires: - Police report (required) - EBT-28 form completed in full - Proof of identity - Statement explaining how you believe the theft occurred If your case is still with your previous county, they handle the replacement. If the transfer completed, then your new county handles it. The 10-day processing requirement only starts once ALL documentation is received, so submit everything as quickly as possible.
Thank you for this updated information! My old county worker finally called me back. They're sending me the EBT-28 form by email to complete. I explained my hardship situation and they said they'll try to process it within 5 business days once they receive everything. Keeping my fingers crossed.
Connor Murphy
Just want to add - make sure you're ready with your case number, ID, and your child's information when you call. For emergency issuances, they may need to verify your identity again since they're essentially creating a workaround in the system. And don't hesitate to mention the hardship this is causing - be specific about having a child without food, empty cabinets, etc. This helps prioritize your case.
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Isaac Wright
•Thank you! I'll make sure to have all my documents ready. Should I also bring up that I'm borrowing money for groceries right now? I'm wondering if mentioning that I've had to go into debt might help emphasize the urgency.
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Connor Murphy
•Yes, absolutely mention that. Financial hardship due to their administrative error is definitely relevant and helps establish the urgency of your situation. Also note any upcoming bills that you're concerned about because you've had to divert money to food that should have been covered by CalFresh.
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Isaac Wright
UPDATE: I called this morning using the advice here and it WORKED! I asked specifically for a supervisor and requested a "manual override emergency issuance" due to the system migration error. They verified my identity, confirmed my case was flagged as confidential due to former foster youth status, and processed an emergency benefits issuance that should be on my card within 24 hours! The supervisor also said they're working on fixing the system migration issue for all affected cases and mine should be fully resolved by next week. THANK YOU all for the advice - it truly saved me from having to borrow more money for groceries.
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Kaiya Rivera
•This is excellent news! So glad you got it resolved. Make sure to check your balance tomorrow to confirm the funds were actually loaded. Sometimes there can be a delay between when they say it's processed and when it actually appears.
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