CalFresh EBT theft report taking forever - was told I'd get emergency replacement after 10 days?!

I'm really sorry you're dealing with this. The 10-day rule does exist, but there's some nuance to it. After a theft report is filed with all required documentation, the county has 10 calendar days to make a determination. If they don't make a determination within that timeframe, they should issue replacement benefits. However, the tricky part is when the 10-day countdown starts. It sounds like they're claiming the clock started later than you think. Do you have any confirmation or receipt showing exactly when all your documentation was submitted? That's going to be key in proving your timeline.

Omg this is like exactly what happened to me last year!!! They kept saying different things about when the count started and I was STARVING. What finally worked for me was using that Claimyr service (claimyr.com) to get through to an actual supervisor instead of the frontline workers who just repeat what their screen says. They got me connected right away and the supervisor confirmed I was past the 10 days and processed my replacement that day. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 Frontline workers don't always know the policies well but supervisors do. Don't give up!

the county workers always lie about this stuff lol. theyre supposed to make a determination w/in 10 days of recieving ur police report + affidavit. not 10 days from whenever they feel like looking at it. ask for a supervisor next time

I work with CalFresh recipients in my job, and here's the actual policy: once you've submitted all required documentation for an EBT theft claim (police report, signed affidavit, transaction details), the county has 10 calendar days to make a determination. If they don't, they should issue a replacement. However, there's a crucial detail - the 10 days technically starts when all documentation is "received and processed" by the EBT theft unit, not just when you drop it off. Sometimes there's a lag between when you submit documents and when they're scanned into their system and assigned to the theft unit. I suggest: 1. Ask specifically for the date your documents were received by the EBT theft unit 2. Request to speak with a supervisor (not just another worker) 3. If they refuse, say you want to file for a state hearing 4. Document everything - who you spoke with and when The replacement should be the full amount stolen ($875) as long as you reported within 10 days of the theft.

same thing happened with me but i waited almost a MONTH before getting my benefits back. the system is broken af they just hope u give up fightng

Unfortunately, there's a lot of confusion about EBT theft replacements, even among county workers. According to California Department of Social Services (CDSS) regulations updated for 2025, the county has 10 calendar days from when ALL required documentation is received by the EBT theft specialist to issue a determination. If no determination is made within that timeframe, they should issue the replacement benefits. Key things to remember: 1. The clock doesn't start when you first report the theft 2. The clock doesn't start when you drop off documents at the county office 3. The clock starts when the EBT theft unit confirms they have all required documentation Ask specifically: "When did the EBT theft unit confirm they received all my documentation?" and then count 10 calendar days from that date. If you're beyond that, request to speak with a supervisor immediately and cite the CDSS Manual of Policies and Procedures (MPP) Section 16-705.1 regarding the 10-day timeframe for EBT theft determinations. Best of luck - I know how stressful this situation is.

Not to make things more confusing but I thought there was a difference between EBT CARD theft (physical card stolen) vs BENEFIT theft (someone somehow accessed your benefits without your card). The rules and timeframes are different for each! Which one happened to you? If it was benefit theft, they might be using different rules.

Update us on what happens! I've been through this before and eventually got my benefits replaced, but it took persistence. Remember to stay calm when talking to workers (even though it's SUPER frustrating) because they're more likely to help if you're not yelling. Bring all your documentation with you again just in case they claim to be missing something.

have you checked the BenefitsCal portal? sometimes they update the status there before they call you. might say if they're still waiting on something