CalFresh EBT benefits stolen AFTER changing PIN - anyone else experiencing this in 2025?

omg yes!! this happened to me too in February!!! changed my pin thinking i was being careful and BOOM two days later everything gone 😭 filed police report and everything but stilll waiting for them to "investigate" whatever that means

This is getting ridiculous!!! the whole system is broken and nobody cares!! I've had my benefits stolen TWICE this year already and when I call the county they act like I'm the criminal. Been on hold for 3+ hours MULTIPLE TIMES trying to get help. They should be ashamed!!!!

I work at a local food bank and we're seeing this issue more and more. Here are some tips to protect your benefits: 1. Change your PIN at a physical office if possible, not online 2. Never use simple PINs like birthdates or sequential numbers 3. Check your EBT balance frequently through the app 4. Request a new card completely if you suspect skimming 5. Set up balance alerts through the BenefitsCal portal And yes, you CAN get replacement benefits! The theft replacement form is CF 303T as someone mentioned. You need to submit it within 30 days of the theft.

my cousin's neighbor had something similar but turns out her son was actually using her card without telling her lol might want to check if anyone in your house knows your pin

Hey, after dealing with similar issues twice last year, I finally got through to a helpful CalFresh worker who told me about this service called Claimyr. It basically holds your place in the phone queue so you don't have to sit on hold for hours. I was skeptical but tried it when my benefits got stolen again in January - got connected to a worker in about 20 minutes! They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 that shows how it works. Website is just claimyr.com - seriously made a huge difference in getting my theft replacement processed quickly.

There's been a major increase in EBT skimming recently. EBT cards don't have the same security features as regular credit/debit cards, making them easier targets. Here's what you need to know: 1. Changing your PIN is good but not sufficient protection if your card was skimmed 2. California now has a specific EBT theft replacement process (effective Jan 2025) 3. You're entitled to replacement benefits while the investigation occurs 4. Request the CF 303T form specifically 5. For fastest processing, provide the police report number, exact date of theft, and transaction details 6. Ask for expedited replacement under the Theft Victim Protection provision Important: Never use the EBT card at unsecured terminals or gas pumps - these are common skimming locations.

anyone know if we can get like a chip card instead??? seems crazy they still give us these magnetic stripe cards in 2025 when literally every other card has better security!!

UPDATE: I just got off the phone with my county office (finally!) and wanted to share what I learned in case it helps anyone else. They confirmed there's been a wave of EBT theft in our area even with changed PINs. Good news: I'm getting emergency replacement benefits within 3 business days! Had to fill out the CF 303T form and provide my police report number. Also requested the new chip card that someone mentioned here. They suggested I: 1. Get a completely new card (not just PIN change) 2. Only use the card inside major grocery stores (no gas stations/ATMs) 3. Cover the keypad when entering PIN 4. Set up transaction alerts on BenefitsCal Thanks everyone for your help! This community saved me so much stress.

So glad you got your replacement benefits sorted out! This whole thread has been incredibly helpful - I didn't even know about the CF 303T form or the new chip cards. I'm in a similar situation (benefits stolen last week despite changing my PIN) and was feeling totally lost until reading all these responses. Going to call my county office tomorrow armed with all this info. It's terrible that this is happening to so many people but at least we're helping each other navigate the system. Thanks for sharing your update!