CalFresh EBT card benefits stolen - landlord eviction risk with 5 kids including disabled child

Yes, this has been happening A LOT lately. EBT skimming is getting really bad in California. You need to report it right away to both the EBT customer service (877-328-9677) and your county office. They should be able to replace the benefits, but it might take 7-10 business days for the investigation and replacement. Make sure to file a police report too - they need that for your claim.\n\nFor your immediate rent situation, call 211 right away and ask about emergency rental assistance. Explain that your benefits were stolen and you have children including one with disabilities. They can often connect you with agencies that provide emergency funds.

Thank you so much. I've been on hold with EBT customer service for so long today but I'll keep trying. Do you know if they can expedite because of my disabled child? I called 211 but its just an automated system asking me to wait and I'm getting desperate 😭

omg this happened to me last month!!!! its these skimmers they put on the card readers at stores. i lost $687 and had to fight to get it back. my landlord was NOT understanding at all and charged me late fees. you should go to your county office in person WITH YOUR KIDS so they can see how serious it is.

That's what I'm afraid of with my landlord. He's already mad from the last time I was late. Did you eventually get your benefits back? How long did it take? I'm thinking about bringing the kids to the office tomorrow but it's an hour bus ride each way.

I'm sorry you're dealing with this. Unfortunately, skimming and theft from EBT cards has increased dramatically in 2025. Here's what you need to know:\n\n1. CalFresh WILL replace stolen benefits if you report within 10 days\n2. You need to file both a police report AND an EBT theft report\n3. Replacement can take up to 10 business days\n4. The county can expedite in emergencies, especially with children\n\nFor the landlord situation, California has tenant protections. They can't immediately evict you - the process takes at least 30-60 days. Contact Legal Aid in your county immediately for assistance with both the benefits replacement and tenant rights. Bring documentation of your theft report to show your landlord.

is this true about replacment? my cousin said they dont replace stolen benefits only lost cards. are u sure about this?

Yes, it's absolutely true. In 2023, California passed legislation specifically to address the skimming epidemic. They WILL replace stolen benefits under the EBT Theft Victim Compensation program. Your cousin might be thinking of the old policy. Make sure you follow the exact reporting procedure though - police report + EBT customer service report + county notification.

This is probably not what happened to you but I thought my benefits were

I just checked my BenefitsCal account and it still shows I should have the full balance. It was definitely theft because I checked my balance last night before bed and it was all there. This morning at 4:32am there were 3 transactions at stores in a different city that drained everything. 😞

I've helped several families through this exact situation recently. The EBT theft problem is completely out of control right now. Here's what you need to do immediately:\n\n1. Call EBT customer service and request a replacement card with a NEW number\n2. File the police report TODAY - many departments let you do this online\n3. Submit the EBT-2259 form for benefit replacement\n4. Request expedited handling due to your child's disability\n\nThe frustrating part is reaching someone at the county office. Have you tried Claimyr? I found it at claimyr.com and it literally saved me when my benefits were cut off incorrectly. It gets you through to a live person at CalFresh without the endless hold times. There's a video showing how it works here: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8\n\nFor your landlord situation, get documentation of your theft report. California tenant protection laws require a formal eviction process - they can't just lock you out. Explain the situation and show them you're actively working to resolve it.

THANK YOU! I just looked at the Claimyr site and I'm going to try it right now because I NEED to talk to someone today. I didn't know about the EBT-2259 form either. Do I need to download that or can I fill it out at the office?

You can download the EBT-2259 form from the CDSS website, fill it out beforehand, and bring it with you. That saves a lot of time. And yes, definitely try Claimyr - it worked for me when nothing else did. The callback feature saved me hours of holding. Let us know how it goes!

This happened to my neighbor last month!!! The thieves are putting SKIMMERS on the card readers at certain stores!! Police told her they've seen hundreds of cases. What you NEED to do is get a new card ASAP and set up a PIN that's not obvious (don't use birthdays or 1234).\n\nCall CalFresh and tell them it's an EMERGENCY REPLACEMENT due to theft with children in the household. They're supposed to process those faster. Also, check the back of your EBT card - there should be a form number to report theft specifically.\n\nFor your landlord - print out the theft report and show it to them! They legally have to give you notice before eviction and that buys you some time. Also check with local churches - many have emergency rent funds specifically for families with kids.

YES!! this is sooo important!!! i found out they stole my benefits by putting a skimmer at the Food 4 Less by my house!! never use ur EBT at sketchy stores anymore!!!

DSSS WONT HELP U, they never do!!! my sister had same problem they said she had to wait for \

This isn't entirely accurate. While the investigation does take time, CalFresh is legally required to replace stolen benefits now. The EBT Theft Victim Compensation program was specifically created for this. It's not immediate, but they do replace the benefits after verification. I work with families in this situation regularly, and while it's frustrating, replacement does happen in most verified cases.

maybe now they do but my sister got NOTHING back and ended up in shelter with her kids for 2 months so dont tell me what happened to MY FAMILY

UPDATE FOR EVERYONE: The California Department of Social Services just announced new expedited procedures for EBT theft as of March 2025. They now have a 3-day emergency replacement process when children or disabled household members are involved. The replacement is temporary pending investigation, but it helps bridge the gap. You MUST file both the police report and EBT-2259 form to qualify.\n\nOP, make sure to specifically mention this new policy when you speak with your county worker. Many workers may not have been trained on it yet. The policy memo number is ACL 25-32 if they need to look it up in their system.

I cannot thank you enough for this information!!!! I finally got through using that Claimyr service someone mentioned above, and when I referenced the policy memo number, the worker actually put me on hold to look it up. When she came back she confirmed I qualify for emergency replacement! They're processing it today and said funds should be available within 48 hours. I'm going to show my landlord the case number and hopefully that buys me enough time. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH!!!