CalFresh EBT fraud claim denied - stuck in 'Fico system' limbo?

omg same thing happened to me in june!! they drained my whole card at some walmart in another state!! the denial letter is SO scary, i freaked out too. but yes there is def a 2nd review. hang tight it DOES get fixed eventually

The process your caseworker described is correct. When EBT fraud occurs, there's a two-tier review process, but they don't explain this very well in their communications. The initial automated review through the EBT processor often denies claims quickly, then a more thorough manual investigation happens through what's sometimes called the "FICO" process (though technically it's now handled by FIS, the financial services provider). This secondary review typically takes 30-45 days from your initial filing date. The important thing is that you've already done everything correctly - you reported it promptly and spoke with your caseworker to confirm your claim is still active. During this waiting period, you should: 1. Document all communication about your case 2. Request emergency replacement benefits if you're struggling to feed your family 3. Ask your caseworker for the specific timeline for your county Don't file an appeal yet - wait until the secondary review is complete or you reach the 45-day mark.

I went through this exact nightmare scenario last year. The two-stage process is real, but most caseworkers don't explain it well. The second review (yes, they call it FICO) takes 30-45 days in most counties. Here's what's missing from what your caseworker told you: you need to be proactive about checking on your claim status. Many counties won't automatically notify you when the second review is complete. I had to call repeatedly to find out my status. But calling the county is nearly impossible these days. After waiting on hold for hours multiple times, I found this service called Claimyr. It holds your place in line and calls you back when a real person answers. Saved me hours of hold time. Their site is claimyr.com and they have a demo video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 Whatever method you use, definitely follow up around the 30-day mark. Don't just wait indefinitely.

Yes, it's legitimate. I was skeptical at first but it worked well for me. I used it three times during my fraud claim process because I kept getting different answers and needed to follow up. Way better than sitting on hold for hours.

I don't think I'd wait if I were you. The system is designed to make you give up. I've been on CalFresh for 5 years and let me tell you, NOTHING happens automatically the way they say it will. When they stole from you (yes, a denial is them stealing from you), you need to FIGHT BACK. File the appeal NOW. It doesn't hurt anything to have the appeal process started while their precious "Fico system" does whatever it does. If they approve you later, you can always withdraw the appeal. But if they deny you again, you'll be weeks ahead in the appeal process. DON'T TRUST THE SYSTEM to work as designed. It's not designed to help us!!

my sister had her ebt card stolen last year and they denied her claim at first but then she got all her money back like 6 weeks later. they dont make it easy thats for sure

I want to clarify something important about the emergency replacement benefits I mentioned earlier. This is separate from your fraud claim. While waiting for your fraud claim to process, you can request emergency replacement benefits due to household emergency/hardship. This is specifically for families experiencing immediate food insecurity. The replacement is typically a percentage of your monthly benefit, not the full amount that was stolen. To request this: 1. Contact your caseworker directly (not the EBT customer service) 2. Explain that you have no food for your children due to the theft 3. Ask specifically for "emergency replacement benefits" or "expedited replacement benefits" 4. Be prepared to complete a short affidavit Regarding whether to file an appeal - I slightly disagree with the advice to appeal immediately. While being proactive is good, filing an appeal before the second review is complete can sometimes cause confusion in the system. The best approach is to: 1. Wait until the 30-day mark from your initial filing 2. Call your county office for a status update at that point 3. If you can't get information or the second review has also denied your claim, then file the appeal immediately This gives the process time to work while not leaving you without recourse if it fails.

Forgot to answer your question! Yes I did get my money back but it took like 7 weeks total. The worst part was the waiting with no updates. Definitely call your worker if its been past the 30 days like others said

Ive been thru this this whole process is bullsh*t tbh... they make it SO COMPLICATED when its THEIR SYSTEM that got hacked!! why should we have to wait and struggle when they failed to keep our benefits secure?? my advice - call your county supervisor's office. not your worker, go ABOVE them. I did this and suddenly my "review" got finished in 3 days when they'd been dragging it out for weeks. funny how that works when someone important starts asking questions!!

sry ur going thru this... i had something similar but they took $300 not as much as urs. took like 6 weeks but i did get it back. the letters are super scary and confusing tho, they should really explain the process better

Update: I called my caseworker this morning and requested emergency replacement benefits like someone suggested here. She's processing a partial replacement (40% of my August benefits) that should be available within 3 days! That will help us get through until the full fraud claim gets resolved. She also confirmed my fraud claim is still under review in the "second stage" and should be decided by September 10th. Thank you all for the advice and support! I feel much better knowing this is a normal process, even if it's frustrating. I'll update again when I hear about my full claim.