CalFresh benefits stolen from my EBT card - transactions in Fresno & New York! Will I get reimbursed?

omg thats terrible!! the same thing happened to my cousin last year but only like $300 was taken. she got it back eventually but took like 2 months i think

2 MONTHS?? We can't wait that long! Did she have to fill out special forms or something?

I work with benefit recipients and unfortunately EBT skimming has become a major problem nationwide. Here's what you need to do:\n\n1. File a police report immediately (this is required for the claim)\n2. When you call Fresno County on Monday, specifically ask for an \

Thank you so much for this detailed information! I'll get a police report filed today and have the EBT-2259 form ready to submit first thing Monday. Do you know if Fresno County specifically has been good about reimbursing these claims?

THIS IS SO COMMON NOW!!! The county workers act like it's our fault too! When mine got skimmed last year they kept asking if I shared my PIN with anyone or if I lost my card. NO AND NO! These thieves have devices that copy card info when you swipe at stores.\n\nTHE WORST PART: Fresno County took 45 days to investigate and initially DENIED my claim saying I must have been \

That's exactly what I'm afraid of! I've never shared my PIN with anyone. My card has always been in my possession. So frustrating that they blame the victims instead of fixing their security issues!

I'm sorry this happened to you. I had a similar experience last year with my CalFresh benefits being stolen from my EBT card. What really helped me was using Claimyr to connect with an actual person at the Fresno County CalFresh office instead of being stuck in the phone queue for hours.\n\nYou can check them out at claimyr.com - they basically call the county office for you and then connect you once they get a real person on the line. Saved me from constantly getting disconnected or waiting for hours. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8\n\nOnce I got through to a real person, they expedited my claim. I got my stolen benefits back in about 3 weeks instead of the 2+ months others were experiencing.

Thank you for the tip! I've been worried about getting stuck in phone limbo on Monday. I'll definitely check out that service. Did you have to do anything special to get them to expedite your claim?

Having worked through this issue with several clients, I want to add some important points:\n\n1. California implemented enhanced security measures for EBT cards in 2024, but many counties are still rolling them out\n\n2. For Fresno County specifically, make sure to use the term \

This is incredibly helpful. I'll make sure to use the exact terminology you suggested and keep detailed records of everyone I speak with. I didn't know about emergency benefits while waiting - that could be a lifesaver for us.

did u use the tap feature on ur card? thats how they got mine. now i ALWAYS insert my card and never use tap. also check if ur card has any tiny scratches or weird stickers - sometimes they put skimmer things on the machines at stores that copy ur card. fresno has a big ring doing this rn

I usually insert my card too, but there was one time at a grocery store where the chip reader wasn't working, and they had me swipe instead. That must be how they got my info. I'll definitely be more careful going forward.

I'm so sorry this is happening to you. Not to make things worse, but there's actually a difference between having your CARD stolen (physical theft) and having your BENEFITS stolen (electronic theft). Make absolutely sure when talking to the county that they understand it's BENEFIT theft as the processes are different.\n\nAlso, don't let anyone rush you off the phone until you get a confirmation number or case number for your theft claim. I learned this the hard way when my first report wasn't actually processed. And keep calling for status updates every 3-4 days!

yes this!!! my cousin thought they were handling her case but when she finally got thru to check 3 weeks later they said they had no record of her theft report!! always get everything in writing

Quick follow-up: If you're struggling while waiting for the claim to be processed, please also consider:\n\n1. Contacting local food banks (Fresno has several good ones)\n2. Applying for emergency CalFresh benefits (separate from your theft claim)\n3. Checking with Fresno EOC for their emergency food assistance program\n\nDon't wait until you're in a food crisis - these resources can bridge the gap while your theft claim is being processed.

I appreciate the resources. We're okay for this week, but I'll definitely look into these options if the claim process drags on. I've never used a food bank before - is there anything specific I need to bring?

UPDATE??? Did u get thru to the county??? plz let us know what happened!!!

Just got off the phone with them! Used that Claimyr service someone suggested and got through in about 20 minutes instead of hours. Filed the claim and they said because the transactions were so obviously fraudulent (NY while I'm in CA), I should hear back within 10-15 business days. Fingers crossed! Also filled out the police report online and got a confirmation number to add to my claim.