CalFresh benefits being stolen from my EBT card - want to start class action lawsuit against California

omg same thing happened to me! January and March my benefits got taken. never got any of it back. county says 'too bad so sad' basically. asked about a lawyer but couldn't find one who'd take the case without $$$$ upfront. someone at the food pantry told me they think its hackers using card skimmers at atms and stores. been using my card inside the store not at the checkout now

Exactly!!! They act like we're lying about it or something. Did you file police reports? I've filed one every time but nothing comes of it. How many people do you know this happened to? I'm trying to get an idea of how big this problem really is.

My aunt has this problem too! She had her entier CalWorks money stolen not just CalFresh. But the county office said they can replace CalWorks funds sometimes but not CalFresh. Its so unfair like why the difference???? She thinks its someone at the actual EBT office who can see all the card numbers. Be careful who you talk to on the phone they could be writing down your info!!

Just to clarify - CalWorks and CalFresh have different replacement policies because they're funded differently. CalWorks (cash aid) can sometimes be replaced under certain conditions, but federal regulations (7 CFR 274.6) specifically prohibit replacement of SNAP (CalFresh) benefits after they've been issued to your EBT card. This has become a nationwide problem, not just California. The issue isn't usually workers stealing info but rather skimming devices at stores or data breaches.

I work with a legal aid organization, and while I understand your frustration, class action lawsuits in this area are challenging because federal law (7 USC 2016(f)) actually prohibits replacement of stolen electronic benefits. However, California recently passed Assembly Bill 3117 which established a limited benefit theft replacement program starting in 2025. You should contact your State Assembly representative to support strengthening this program.\n\nIn the meantime, protect yourself by:\n1. Changing your PIN immediately and regularly\n2. Checking your EBT account frequently for unauthorized transactions\n3. Never sharing your PIN or card information\n4. Using the BenefitsCal app to freeze/unfreeze your card between uses\n5. Always cover the keypad when entering your PIN\n\nFile theft reports with both the EBT customer service (1-877-328-9677) and local police each time it happens - documentation is critical.

Thanks for the info about AB3117! I hadn't heard about that. Do you know when in 2025 it's supposed to start? And what does 'limited' replacement mean exactly? Will they only replace certain amounts or is there some other restriction? I've already done all those security steps you mentioned but somehow they're STILL getting my benefits. It's like they can clone the cards or something!

this happened to my cousin in san diego she had her benefits stolen THREE MONTHS IN A ROW and the county said they couldnt do anything about it!!!! she had to go to a food bank with 4 kids its ridiculous!!! the ebt cards dont even have chip readers its like they WANT our benefits to get stolen!!!!

I've been helping several clients with this exact issue. While a class action suit might not be successful due to federal regulations, there are other effective actions you can take:\n\n1. File a detailed police report each time (critical for documentation)\n2. Contact your county supervisor's office - they can sometimes intervene\n3. Request an administrative hearing specifically about the county's handling of your theft reports\n4. Document every conversation with CalFresh (names, dates, reference numbers)\n5. Contact California Department of Social Services directly at (916) 651-8848\n\nThe new benefit replacement program starting in July 2025 will allow for limited replacements, but has strict reporting timelines. Make sure you report any theft within 4 days of discovery to qualify once the program starts.\n\nIf you're having trouble reaching someone at the county office about this issue, I've had clients use Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to a CalFresh worker quickly instead of waiting on hold for hours. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8. Until the replacement program starts, documenting everything is your best strategy.

Thank you for all this information! I never thought about contacting my county supervisor - that's a great idea. And I've definitely been having trouble reaching anyone useful at the county office. Those hold times are RIDICULOUS. I'll check out that Claimyr thing - anything that saves me from spending 3 hours on hold is worth trying at this point. Does the administrative hearing request have to be filed within a certain timeframe after the theft?

I'm so sorry this happened to you!!! The same thing happened to me last year and it was DEVASTATING. I couldn't feed my family for almost two weeks. The theft problem is getting worse because the magnetic strip technology on EBT cards is outdated. One thing that helped me was freezing my EBT card through the BenefitsCal app whenever I'm not actively using it, then unfreezing it only when I'm at the store about to pay. It's annoying but it's prevented any more thefts for me. I also joined a Facebook group called

I didnt know about freezing the card!!!! How do you do that? I looked in the app but cant find it anywhere. Is it under settings or somewhere else???

In the BenefitsCal app, go to

While everyone's sharing experiences, I want to make sure accurate information is being presented about the new law. AB3117 creates a limited replacement program that starts July 1, 2025. Key points:\n\n- You must report the theft within 4 calendar days of discovering it\n- Maximum replacement is 2 months of benefits per federal fiscal year\n- Your EBT card must be in your possession when the theft occurred\n- You must file a police report\n- Skimming/electronic theft qualifies, but not sharing your PIN or card\n\nThe regulations are still being developed, but these are the basics from the bill text. In the meantime, besides freezing your card between uses, consider transferring benefits to a separate EBT account when they arrive (if you have multiple household members eligible for their own cards). This creates a backup if one card is compromised.

This is super helpful info, thanks! I didn't know about the 4-day reporting requirement - that's really strict. Does anyone know if the 2-month maximum is based on calendar months or benefit amounts? Like if I usually get $700/month, would that mean I could get up to $1,400 replaced in a year? Or is it literally just 2 instances of theft regardless of amount?

i saw on tiktok that thieves are using special machines to copy card info from just standing near you!!! its called somethign like radio skimming. you need to get a special wallet that blocks the signals!!! my friend got one on amazon for $20

This is partially correct but also potentially misleading. EBT cards use magnetic stripe technology, not RFID (radio frequency) technology. The special blocking wallets (Faraday cages) you're referring to protect RFID-enabled cards like some credit cards with tap-to-pay functions. They won't help with EBT card skimming, which typically happens when physical skimming devices are placed over card readers at stores or ATMs. The best protection is vigilance when using your card and freezing/unfreezing as others have mentioned.

Has anyone tried calling the state representatives? i heard they sometimes can help when county wont. My cousins friend got help from assembly member office when her benefits got stolen but that was for calworks not calfresh. The whole system is messed up. They should just send us checks in the mail instead of these stupid cards that keep getting hacked!!!!

I tried calling the EBT customer service line about 20 times when my benefits were stolen. TWENTY TIMES. Either got disconnected, put on eternal hold, or told they couldn't help. Finally I used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to an actual county worker who filed a proper incident report. They couldn't replace my benefits because of the federal rules, but at least I got it documented officially which might help with this new replacement program when it starts. The video on their site explains how it works: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8. I know it's frustrating, but documenting everything properly now might help you get replacement when the new program starts.

I'm definitely going to try this. I've easily spent 15+ hours on hold with EBT customer service over these three incidents. It's like they make it hard on purpose so people will just give up! I'll check out that Claimyr thing - anything is better than more hold music driving me insane.

To answer your question about the administrative hearing - yes, you need to request it within 90 days of when the county denied replacing your stolen benefits. Just say you want to \

do you know if the new law counts thefts that happened before july 2025? like if my benefits get stolen in june 2025 can i get them replaced when the law starts next month or is it only for new thefts after july?

Great question. Based on the bill text, the program will only apply to thefts that occur on or after July 1, 2025. Unfortunately, thefts that happen before that date won't be eligible for replacement under this program, even if you report them after July 1st. The date of the theft is what matters, not when you report it.

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this - benefit theft is incredibly frustrating and scary when you have a family to feed. I've been following this issue closely and wanted to add a few things that might help while you're waiting for the new replacement program to start. First, I'd recommend contacting your local food banks and pantries immediately - most don't require any paperwork and can help bridge the gap when your benefits are stolen. 211 (just dial 2-1-1) can connect you to emergency food resources in your area. Second, while class action lawsuits face legal hurdles due to federal regulations, there's growing momentum for legislative solutions. Consider reaching out to anti-hunger advocacy groups like California Association of Food Banks or Western Center on Law & Poverty - they're actively working on this issue and your story could help push for stronger protections. Finally, document EVERYTHING with photos and screenshots - not just for potential future replacement, but because this data is crucial for advocates pushing for better EBT security. The more documented cases we have, the stronger the argument for upgrading to chip technology and other security improvements. You're not alone in this fight, and your frustration is completely valid. Keep pushing for accountability!