CalFresh EBT cash benefits stolen twice in two months - what's going on?

omg that happened to my cousin twice last year!! she had to wait like 6 weeks both times to get it back

This is happening to so many people now. There's a huge problem with card skimming at ATMs and stores. When you report it the second time, make sure you're very clear about the different dates of the two thefts. Request a "Benefit Theft Affidavit" form specifically, not just a general fraud report. Also ask for a replacement EBT card with a new number immediately. The law changed in 2023 and in California they're required to replace stolen benefits as long as you report within 90 days. But yes, the second claim will get more scrutiny.

This happened to me 3 TIMES last year!!!! The county office is USELESS and made me wait 10 weeks the last time. They act like we're all criminals. I filed a police report which helped speed things up. And I ONLY use my card at the bank ATM now, nowhere else.

I went through this exact situation last fall. The second time I called, I was on hold for 4+ hours trying to reach someone who could actually help. After getting disconnected twice, I found a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that held my place in line and called me back when an actual person was on the line. Saved me literally hours of waiting and stress. They have a video that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 For the theft issue itself - I recommend also contacting your County Supervisor's office (not just the regular CalFresh office). My case got expedited after I did that.

have you checked if your calfresh isnt being reduced because ur CalWorks increased? sometimes they balance out and it looks like money is missing but its actually just differently distributed

I had this same problem end of last year... turns out someone installed a skimmer on the ATM at my regular grocery store. What I learned after going through this twice: 1. ALWAYS wiggle the card slot before inserting your card (skimmers will often come loose) 2. Only use bank ATMs if possible (they have better security cameras and are checked more often) 3. Change your PIN each month right after benefits are loaded 4. Check your balance daily so you catch it immediately 5. Keep all receipts from legitimate transactions For getting it back, I found that providing a detailed timeline of everywhere I'd used my card in the 7 days before the theft helped my case a lot. Good luck!

my freind says get ur benifits early in the AM on the day they load and take ALL the cash out right away dont leave anything on the card

The WHOLE SYSTEM is broken!!! My neighbor had hers stolen THREE times and the third time they basically accused her of lying and denied the claim. She had to get legal aid involved to get her money back. DOCUMENT EVERYTHING and don't let them push you around!!