CalFresh EBT card skimmed - replacement benefits $15 short? Anyone know why?

same thing hapnd to me last month!! they took like $22 from what should have been put back. when i called they said something about only replacing benefits stlen within a certain timeframe?? didnt really understand what they meant tbh

This is actually a common issue with skimming cases. What likely happened is that the $15 was spent before the skimming occurred. When theft replacement happens, they look at the transaction history and only replace unauthorized transactions. The county worker might have identified a $15 purchase that they determined was legitimate (made by you before the card was compromised). You should definitely call your county office to get clarification. Ask them to review the transaction specifically and explain exactly which purchases they determined were legitimate vs. fraudulent. If they made a mistake, they can issue the additional $15. Bring a copy of your transaction history when you call so you can reference specific dates and amounts.

THEY DO THIS ALL THE TIME!!! the ebt office is STEALING from us poor folks!! this happened to my cousin and they "accidentally" shorted her $50 and when she complained they said the system doesnt make mistakes!! good luck getting ur money back

I went through the exact same thing in March. My card was skimmed at a sketchy ATM and I lost $430. When they reissued benefits, I was short $27.50. Turns out they don't replace any transactions that happened more than 10 days before you reported the card stolen. Check your transaction history carefully - maybe there was a small purchase from 11+ days ago that fell outside their replacement window? The county workers can explain exactly which transactions weren't covered and why. If you're having trouble getting through to your county office (I was on hold for 3+ hours), try Claimyr.com - it's a service that holds your place in the phone queue and calls you back when a worker is available. Saved me so much time and frustration. There's a quick demo video here: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8

I manage CalFresh cases, and there's actually a specific reason this happens. When replacing skimmed benefits, the system looks at your transaction history and analyzes each purchase. Sometimes certain transactions get flagged as "potentially legitimate" based on your typical shopping patterns. If you regularly shop at a particular store and there's a transaction there around your usual shopping time, their system might have flagged it as potentially made by you. Call your county worker and specifically ask for a "detailed transaction review" for benefit replacement. Mention that you need an itemized explanation of which transactions were replaced and which were deemed legitimate. They should be able to provide this breakdown and correct any errors. Also, make sure to enable PIN protection on your EBT account through the BenefitsCal portal for the future. It adds an extra security step that most skimmers can't bypass.

this happened 2 me 2!!! i got skimmed 4 like $250 and they only gave me back like $220 something. i called and they said it was bcuz of transaction fees from the ATM that they dont replace. did u withdraw any cash from ur ebt? they dont replace those fees

Have you checked if your county has a specific form for contesting replacement amounts? In Sacramento County, we have a "Benefit Replacement Dispute Form" that you can submit if you think the replacement amount was calculated incorrectly. Most counties have something similar. The form typically asks for your transaction history and requires you to mark which specific transactions you're disputing. It's usually processed within 3-5 business days rather than waiting for a regular case review which can take weeks. Also, for anyone dealing with card skimming: immediately change your PIN through the BenefitsCal portal rather than waiting for the new card. Sometimes thieves will continue attempting transactions even after you've reported the card stolen.