CalFresh EBT card benefits stolen before I even got the card - $420 gone at out-of-state Sam's Club

OMG that's AWFUL!!!! Something similar happened to my cousin last year but it was only like $75 of her benefits, not the whole amount! The EBT customer service is USELESS, they told her the same thing. Did you try calling your actual county caseworker instead of just the EBT hotline? Sometimes they have more power to help.

Unfortunately, this is happening more and more with skimming devices and other fraud. But there IS something you can do! First, you absolutely need to file a police report. Then contact your county CalFresh office (not just the EBT customer service) and ask to speak directly with a supervisor. Reference California state regulations that protect victims of benefit theft. Bring up specifically that you never received the card, which means this is a case of theft during delivery or internal processing - not your negligence. Ask them about emergency replacement benefits while your case is being investigated. Also, request an appeal hearing in writing - you have 90 days to request this. Don't take no for an answer. The customer service reps are often misinformed about replacement benefits for fraud cases.

So sorry this happened to you! EBT fraud is a huge problem in 2025 and getting worse every month. I've helped several clients through this exact situation when I was a community advocate. Here's what you need to know: 1. File a police report immediately 2. Contact your county office and request to speak with a CalFresh supervisor 3. Specifically request "expedited replacement benefits due to theft without card possession" 4. Send a formal appeal request in writing (keep a copy) 5. Contact your local legal aid office - they often help with these cases for free The key is documenting that you never had possession of the card when the benefits were used. This is different from regular EBT theft cases where they might claim you were careless with your card. Don't give up - the system is designed to wear you down with initial rejections, but replacement is possible in cases like yours.

this happened to my mom she gave up trying after 2 weeks cause nobody would help her. the whole systems a scam tbh they prob stealing the cards themselves

I had this exact nightmare scenario last winter. Called and called the regular EBT number and got nowhere for WEEKS. Was about to give up when someone told me about Claimyr - it's a service that helps you actually get through to a real CalFresh worker instead of the useless call center people. I used it to connect with my county office and finally got to a supervisor who could actually help. Within 3 days I had emergency replacement benefits while they investigated. Here's the website: claimyr.com and there's a video that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 Sometimes you just need to get to the right person who knows the actual rules and can override the system. The EBT customer service people aren't trained on handling fraud cases - only county workers can really help with that.

Please don't give up! I work at a community resource center and we see this issue more than you'd think. The EBT customer service reps are WRONG when they say nothing can be done. Here's why: In 2024, California expanded theft protection policies specifically to address the rising cases of benefits being stolen before card delivery. The policy is called "Administrative Error Replacement" and it's different from regular EBT theft. You need to specifically request to speak with a CalFresh program specialist or supervisor at your county office and use those exact words: "Administrative Error Replacement." Explain that the benefits were used before you received your card. Also, document everything - names of who you speak with, reference numbers, dates/times. If you hit a wall, contact your State Representative's office - they often have caseworkers who can intervene.

i just went thru this whole nightmare!!! filed police report, got nowhere for 2 weeks, then finally talked to a supervisor who fixed it. the regular CSRs don't know what theyre talking about half the time, you have to get to supervisor level. we got our benefits replaced after 3 weeks but it was a constant battle. keep calling everyday and document EVERYTHING. ask for names and ID numbers of everyone you talk to. oh and check if your county has an EBT app now? you can freeze your card immediately if this happens again (too late now obviously but for future

This is so scary! I just got approved and now I'm paranoid about my card. Does anyone know if you can pick up your EBT card in person instead of having it mailed? I don't trust the mail system after reading this!

Just wanted to follow up - were you able to get any help with this? The situation you described is absolutely considered Administrative Error since you never received the card. Under California code regulations (MPP Section 63-602.6), you should be eligible for replacement benefits in this scenario. If you're still struggling, I'd recommend contacting your local Legal Aid office. They often have specialists who handle CalFresh issues and can advocate on your behalf at no cost. They know exactly which regulations apply and can sometimes resolve these issues with a single call that would take you weeks of frustration.