CalFresh EBT theft in Bakersfield - how long did it take to get benefits replaced?

I'm in Fresno, not Bakersfield, but this happened to me in February. I had about $650 stolen through ATM withdrawals I never made. It took exactly 17 days to get the benefits replaced. The county worker I spoke with explained they have to verify the fraud claim with their investigation unit before they can replace the benefits. Make sure your sister keeps checking her BenefitsCal account daily for updates on her claim status and any requests for additional information - sometimes they need more documentation but don't tell you directly. Also, tell her to get a new EBT card ASAP if she hasn't already, and change her PIN to something not obvious (not birthdays or address numbers).

i had my benefits stole last year dont expect to get it back fast. took over a month for me and i had to keep calling over and over. they dont care if ur hungry im tellin u. my friend got hers back in 2 weeks tho so who knows its all random

I work with clients in Kern County who've experienced EBT theft. The county is required to replace stolen benefits within 30 days of receiving a completed claim form (EBT 2259), but processing times have been all over the place in 2025 due to the rise in skimming fraud. Here's what helps speed things up: 1. Make sure the police report number is included on the claim form 2. Submit bank statements showing the fraudulent transactions (if available) 3. Have her case number and EBT card number ready when calling 4. Ask specifically for the "EBT Theft Claims Department" when calling the county 5. Check if she qualifies for expedited emergency benefits while waiting for the theft claim Also, starting October 2024, California implemented new protections against EBT theft, so she should be able to get a PIN-protected card that's harder to skim. When she gets her benefits back, recommend she transfer funds to a separate account soon after they arrive each month.

Have your sister reach out to local food banks immediately! While waiting for the EBT theft claim to process, she can get emergency food assistance from: - Community Action Partnership of Kern (CAPK) Food Bank - The Mission at Kern County - Golden Empire Gleaners I volunteer at one of these, and we're seeing more theft cases lately. They don't need to wait for government benefits to be restored to get food aid from these organizations. Also, if her kids are school-age, have her contact their schools - many have emergency food backpack programs.

When I had my benefits stolen in Bakersfield (about $450), I tried calling the county for DAYS and couldn't get through. Always disconnected or on hold forever!!! I ended up using this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to a real person at the CalFresh office in like 10 minutes. You can see how it works in their video: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 Once I actually got to speak to someone, they expedited my claim and I got my benefits back in 8 days instead of the "30 days" they initially told me. Worth checking out if your sister is desperate and can't get through to anyone.

EVERYONE NEEDS TO KNOW THIS!!!! CalFresh theft is RAMPANT in Bakersfield right now!!! My neighbor, my cousin AND me all had our accounts drained within the past 2 months!!! The county is NOT telling people about it and they're SLOW to replace the money because they're overwhelmed with cases. I got my money back after 21 days, my cousin is still waiting after 6 weeks!!! THIS IS NOT RIGHT!!! Families are STARVING while they "process" these claims!!! 😡😡😡

For protecting her new card, here are some tips I received from the fraud department after my experience: 1. Never use the EBT card at ATMs in isolated locations or at night 2. Inspect card readers for skimming devices (wiggle the card insert slot) 3. Cover the PIN pad when entering your number 4. Change PIN regularly (at least monthly) 5. Check balance frequently through the EBT app or phone line 6. Consider transferring benefits to a separate bank account soon after they arrive (although this has its own risks) 7. Only use the card at major grocery stores, not small convenience stores or gas stations In Bakersfield specifically, there have been reports of skimming at several locations on the east side, so extra caution there.

I work with a community organization in Bakersfield, and we've seen many EBT theft cases recently. The timeline for replacement really varies depending on several factors: how quickly the theft was reported, whether proper documentation was provided, and honestly, which caseworker handles the claim. For immediate help while she waits, please have your sister contact: - 211 Kern County for referrals to emergency food assistance - WIC if she has children under 5 (separate from CalFresh) - Kern County Aging & Adult Services for emergency assistance The county can also provide emergency replacement benefits in some cases while the theft claim is being processed, but she needs to specifically request this and demonstrate urgent need.

tell ur sister dont waste time with the regular ebt customer service!!!!! call THE COUNTY OFFICE DIRECTLY!!!! thats how i finally got mine fixed they have different people who handle the fraud stuff but u gotta ask for them specifically

Has she checked if she's eligible for expedited benefits while waiting for the claim? If she has less than $150 income and less than $100 in resources she might qualify for emergency CalFresh that she could get within 3 days. Totally different process from the theft claim but might help with immediate food needs.

This is heartbreaking - I'm so sorry your sister is going through this. I had my CalFresh benefits stolen in Sacramento last month ($520 taken through fraudulent ATM withdrawals) and it took 19 days to get them back. Here's what I learned from the experience: definitely file the police report (which she did), but also make sure she has the report number written down for every call to the county. I found that mentioning I had already filed a police report seemed to move things along faster. Also, if she hasn't already, have her call the Kern County Human Services office directly at (661) 631-6000 and ask specifically for the "EBT fraud claims unit" - don't just use the general EBT customer service line. The county workers have more power to expedite things than the EBT customer service reps. Hang in there, and please keep us updated on how long it takes for her claim to be processed!

I'm so sorry to hear about your sister's situation - EBT theft is unfortunately becoming way too common. I'm in San Diego but went through something similar last year when $425 was stolen from my card. A few things that might help speed up the process: 1) Make sure she gets a case tracking number for her theft claim (different from the police report number) so she can reference it in every call, 2) Ask the county office if they can put an "urgent need" flag on her case since she has children with no food, and 3) Document every phone call she makes - date, time, who she spoke with, and what they said. This helped me when I had to escalate my case. It took me 16 days to get my benefits back, but I know others who got theirs in under a week when they were persistent about calling daily. Also, many churches in Bakersfield have emergency food pantries that don't require any paperwork - just show up. Hope this helps and that she gets her benefits restored soon!