So glad you got it sorted out! Address issues are super common with EBT cards - happened to my mom too when she moved apartments in the same complex. For anyone else reading this thread, it's worth calling to verify your address is correct BEFORE you need a replacement card. Also, if you're ever in a real emergency situation and can't wait for the mail, some food banks can help bridge the gap while you're waiting for your new card to arrive. The address mix-up explains why it was taking so long - your card was probably being delivered to the wrong apartment this whole time!

As someone who's been on CalFresh for about 6 months now, I really appreciate this detailed discussion! I haven't had to deal with a replacement card yet, but reading through everyone's experiences has given me a great roadmap for what to do if it happens. The most valuable takeaway for me is definitely the importance of verifying your address is correct in BOTH the CalFresh system AND the EBT card system - I had no idea these were separate! I'm going to call tomorrow just to double-check mine are synced up correctly. Also bookmarking that Claimyr service @Liam Fitzgerald mentioned in case I ever need to get through to a human quickly. Thanks to everyone for sharing such practical advice - this is exactly the kind of community support that makes navigating government programs so much easier!

Just wanted to follow up - did you get this resolved? I'm curious because my mom is applying for CalFresh soon and I want to know what issues to watch out for.

So glad you got it resolved! This is exactly why I always recommend people keep detailed records of their CalFresh applications. The system has so many glitches and communication issues. For anyone reading this thread - always save copies of everything you submit, keep track of who you spoke with and when, and don't be afraid to escalate if you're not getting responses. The county workers are often overloaded but there are good ones who will help if you can reach them. Thanks for sharing the update!

I'm so sorry this is happening to you, especially on a holiday weekend when you need the food most! I've been on CalFresh for about 3 years and unfortunately this kind of thing does happen more often around holidays. Since you have your approval letter stating benefits should be available on the 1st and it's clearly documented, I'd suggest a few things for the weekend: 1. Definitely call 211 like Yara mentioned - they can connect you with emergency food pantries that might be open during the holiday 2. Check if your local churches or community centers have weekend food distributions 3. If you have any friends/family on social media, don't be afraid to ask for help - people are usually understanding about CalFresh delays For Tuesday, I'd recommend calling the county office right when they open (usually 8am) and have your approval letter in hand with all the dates and case numbers. Sometimes being the first caller of the day gets you through faster. If you can't get through by phone, definitely consider going in person even if it means taking time off work - your benefits are worth it. This really shouldn't be happening with a valid approval letter. Hang in there - you'll get this resolved!

I'm new to CalFresh and this is exactly the kind of situation I'm terrified of! Reading through everyone's responses is really eye-opening - I had no idea that holiday processing delays were so common or that there were services like Claimyr to help get through to county offices. @Julia Hall - I really hope you're able to get this resolved quickly on Tuesday. It sounds like you have all the right documentation with your approval letter, so this definitely seems like a system issue rather than anything you did wrong. One question for the more experienced folks here - is there any way to set up alerts or notifications to know if there might be processing delays ahead of time? It seems like this happens regularly enough that there should be some way for the county to warn people, especially since it usually hits right when people need the benefits most (like before a long weekend when grocery shopping is planned). Thanks to everyone for sharing such detailed advice - I'm definitely bookmarking this thread in case I ever run into similar issues!

UPDATE FOR EVERYONE: California just implemented new EBT theft protection measures this year. Every county should now have an "EBT Theft Resolution Team." When you call your county office, specifically ask for this team. Also, as of March 2025, all EBT cards now have chip technology to reduce skimming fraud, so make sure you request the newest card version when getting your replacement. For those struggling with the police report requirement, you can now submit an affidavit of theft (Form EBT-1325) instead in many counties if getting to a police station is a hardship.

I'm so sorry this happened to you! EBT theft is unfortunately becoming way too common. I went through this exact situation about 6 months ago and it was a nightmare. Here's what finally worked for me: I had to be really persistent and document EVERYTHING. Keep a log of every phone call - date, time, who you spoke with, and what they told you. When I kept getting different answers, I started asking for supervisor names and reference numbers for each call. Also, if you're in LA County, try calling their dedicated EBT fraud line directly at (877) 481-1044 - it's supposed to be faster than the general DPSS line. The whole process took me about 3 weeks but I did get all my benefits back. Don't give up! And definitely look into local food banks while you're waiting - LA has some good ones that don't require a lot of paperwork.

I've been through this exact same situation! One thing that helped me was making sure I was using the right website - sometimes people get confused between the different CalFresh portals. Also, if you're still having trouble after the 24-hour lockout period, try clearing your browser cache and cookies before attempting the reset again. Sometimes old session data can interfere with the reset process. And definitely keep your case number handy when you call - it speeds up the verification process a lot. Good luck with your recertification next month!

I had this same issue a few weeks ago and it was so frustrating! What finally worked for me was realizing I needed to distinguish between the EBT card portal (for checking balance) and the BenefitsCal portal (for case management). I was trying to reset the wrong one initially. After waiting out the 24-hour lockout period, I went to benefitscal.com and used the "Forgot Password" link with my case number rather than trying to remember my email. The reset went through smoothly after that. In the meantime, I was able to check my card balance by calling the number on the back of my EBT card with just my card number and PIN - no online password needed. Don't panic about your recertification timing, you should have plenty of time to get back in and check everything. The key is just being patient with that initial 24-hour wait period and making sure you're on the correct portal when you try to reset!