CalFresh benefits stolen from EBT card today - how long for reimbursement?

omg this happened to my cousin last year!! took almost 6 weeks to get the money back...ridiculous how they expect people to just not eat for that long 😡

I'm sorry this happened to your son. For most EBT theft claims in California, they're supposed to replace benefits within 10 business days of filing the claim, but the process can vary depending on the county. Make sure he received a claim reference number and was clear that this is a theft, not a card loss. Also, he should have filled out a specific form for stolen benefits - if the hotline didn't mention this, he might need to follow up. Has he already submitted a police report? This can sometimes speed up the verification process. Also, suggest that he contact his county CalFresh office directly rather than just the EBT customer service line, as they might be able to expedite the process or provide emergency assistance.

tell ur son to call 211 they might be able to help with emergency food assistance while he waits for his benefits to be restored. also food banks!!!

When this happened to me in January, I called my CalFresh caseworker directly and explained I had no food. They were able to issue emergency benefits to me in 3 days while my theft claim was being processed. The key is getting through to an actual person at your county office though, which can be nearly impossible these days. The regular EBT hotline people aren't very helpful with expediting anything.

I've dealt with this exact situation and the frustration of trying to reach someone at the county office. After wasting hours on hold and getting disconnected, I found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me through to a CalFresh worker in about 10 minutes. They basically wait on hold for you and call you once someone answers. Saved me so much stress during an already stressful situation. There's a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 My theft claim was processed much faster once I actually spoke to a real person who could notate my account about the emergency situation.

To directly answer your question about timeframes: By California law, EBT theft claims must be processed within 10 business days if filed within 10 days of the theft, and the rules were updated in 2022-2023 to improve the process. Most counties are processing them in 5-10 business days now, but if your son is in urgent need, he needs to specifically request emergency replacement benefits due to hardship. This is a separate process from the theft claim. He should also change his PIN immediately if he hasn't already, and set calendar alerts to check his EBT account regularly in the future. Unfortunately, EBT skimming has become incredibly common, and many victims don't notice until all benefits are gone. Worth noting: some counties have agreements with certain food banks to provide immediate assistance to victims of EBT theft while claims are being processed. He should ask about this when he speaks with his caseworker.

tell him to check his email too! sometimes they send the form there n if u dont fill it out in 10 days u have to start over!!!

Quick update on timeframes: I just checked the most recent CDSS guidance, and as of 2025, counties are required to process EBT theft claims within 5 business days for households that indicate a hardship. Make sure your son explicitly states he has no other resources for food when filing the claim. If it's been more than 5 business days with no resolution, he should contact his county's CalFresh supervisor directly.

btw tell him to NEVER use his ebt card at any sketchy looking atms or card readers!!! thats usually how they get skimmed. i only use mine inside major grocery stores now