CalFresh EBT fraud number keeps disconnecting - alternative way to report stolen benefits?

omg same thing happened to me last month!! i waited 1hr 45min and then CLICK - disconnected! tried again next day, same thing. its so frustrating when u already stressed about having no food money

I'm sorry you're experiencing this. The EBT Customer Service line is notoriously understaffed. You have a few options: 1. Call your county CalFresh office directly instead of the main EBT line. They can file the stolen benefits report for you. 2. You can also go in person to your county office and fill out the EBT-2259 form (Stolen Benefits Claim form). 3. In some counties, you can upload the form through BenefitsCal portal. Make sure you have documentation of when the unauthorized transactions occurred. They'll need dates, times, and amounts. The sooner you report it, the better your chances of recovering the funds. California has improved its EBT theft protection, but you still need to file the claim properly.

Screenshots from the EBT app showing the unauthorized transactions would be helpful, yes. Also bring your EBT card and ID. If you have your last benefit statement showing what you were supposed to receive, that can help too. The county worker will need to complete the EBT-2259 form with you, which requires specific information about the transactions. If you know roughly when your benefits were stolen, they can look up the exact transaction details in their system.

Theres actually a new automated system they got in 2025 where u can report it all online without calling. Go to benefitscal.com and theres a section for EBT card problems where u can submit everything. My neighbor did it last week

I had to deal with this exact issue in February. After getting disconnected multiple times, I found a service called Claimyr that really helped. They hold your place in line for the CalFresh customer service and call you back when a rep is available. Saved me from wasting hours on hold just to get disconnected. Check them out at claimyr.com - they have a video that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 For stolen benefits specifically, make sure you request to speak with a supervisor who can handle fraud claims when you get connected. Regular reps often transfer you, which can mean more waiting.

Is anyone else seeing a HUGE increase in EBT theft this year??? My sister got her benefits stolen in January, my coworker in March, and now me last week! I think something bigger is going on. The county offices should be taking this more seriously instead of making it so hard to report!!!

UPDATE: I finally got through! For anyone else dealing with this issue, here's what worked: I went to my county office in person this morning with my EBT card, ID, and screenshots of the transactions. The worker helped me fill out the EBT-2259 form and said I should receive provisional credits within 10 days while they investigate. She also mentioned they're now requiring police reports for claims over $500, so I'll need to file one online and send them the report number. Thank you everyone for your help! The in-person visit was definitely the way to go.