Can CalFresh replace food lost from broken refrigerator? Need emergency benefits ASAP

yes!! you can definitely get replacement benefits but you need to request them within 10 days of losing the food. call your county office ASAP and tell them you need \

Thank you so much! I'll call them first thing tomorrow morning. Do you know if they'll replace the full amount or just part of it? And will they want any kind of proof that my fridge broke?

You absolutely can get replacement benefits for food lost due to refrigerator failure. This falls under \

This is incredibly helpful, thank you! I didn't know about the CF 303 form. My landlord texted me about the fridge replacement, so I'll screenshot that as documentation. Does the 10 days include weekends? It happened last Thursday so I'm getting worried about the deadline.

happened to me once and they denied me becase i didnt report it in time. make sure u call RIGHT AWAY dont wait!! the 10 days goes by fast and then ur out of luck

Same! I waited too long when my power went out last year. So frustrating. They're really strict about that timeline.

Everyone is correct about the 10-day reporting requirement, but I want to add something important: you'll need to submit the CF 303 form, but many counties are backed up with processing these requests. If you're having trouble getting through on the phone, I highly recommend Claimyr (claimyr.com). They'll get you connected to a live person at the CalFresh office without the usual wait. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8\n\nI used it when I needed emergency benefits last year and it saved me hours of frustration. The replacement benefits process is time-sensitive, so getting through quickly really matters.

Thank you for the recommendation! I've been trying to call the county office all morning and just keep getting voicemail. I'll check out that service - I definitely can't afford to miss the deadline with how little food we have left.

THEY BARELY EVEN HELP WHEN IT'S THEIR OWN SYSTEM'S FAULT so don't get your hopes up!!! My EBT card got hacked last month and they took FOREVER to replace those benefits. The whole system is designed to make us jump through hoops. Be prepared to call MULTIPLE TIMES and have them transfer you around to 5 different workers before anyone helps. Make sure you document EVERYTHING and get worker numbers and names. They'll try to deny you if there's even one tiny mistake on the form!!!!

While I get your frustration, benefit replacement for food loss is actually a different process than EBT theft. The food loss replacements are usually processed faster since they're considered emergency benefits. They replaced mine within 3 days when we had that big power outage.

Something similar happened to a friend and they asked for receipts of the food bought. Do you still have them? Might help your case.

I think I still have the receipt in my wallet! That's a great idea, I didn't even think about that. It's from Grocery Outlet last Tuesday, so that should help prove when I bought everything.

Just a heads-up—the replacement amount will be for what you lost, not additional benefits on top of your regular allotment. And if you get approved, they'll probably put the replacement benefits on your EBT card within 2-3 business days after they approve your request. At least that's how it worked for me last year when our power was out for days during that winter storm.

That's correct. And to clarify for everyone: the replacement is specifically for the food that was lost, not your entire monthly benefit. Make sure you accurately estimate the value of what was spoiled. Being honest here is important because providing false information could lead to an overpayment claim later.

can u go to the salvation army or something while u wait? they sometimes have emergency food boxes that might help till calfresh comes thru

That's a good suggestion! There's a Salvation Army about 3 miles from me. I'll see if I can get there tomorrow. My neighbor also said the local church does a food distribution on Thursdays.

Update on my earlier comment: I checked the most recent CalFresh regulations, and in 2025 they actually simplified the replacement process. You can now submit the CF 303 form online through your BenefitsCal account under

Thank you so much for checking! I just logged into my BenefitsCal account and found the form under Report Changes. I've uploaded the receipt and the text from my landlord about the fridge. Fingers crossed they process it quickly!

I'm so glad you were able to submit the form online! That's much easier than trying to get through on the phone. Just wanted to add that if you need food right away while waiting for the replacement benefits, many WIC offices also have emergency food resources even if you're not enrolled in WIC. They sometimes have partnerships with local food banks that can provide fresh produce and dairy. Also, 211 (dial 2-1-1) is a great resource to find all the emergency food assistance in your area. Hope your replacement benefits come through quickly!

Just wanted to add another resource that might help while you're waiting - many county libraries have "Little Free Pantries" or partner with local food assistance programs. The librarians often know about emergency food resources that aren't widely advertised. Also, if you have a Nextdoor account, try posting in your neighborhood group - neighbors are often willing to help with groceries in emergency situations like this. I've seen people offer to share meals or even lend a mini fridge temporarily. Don't be afraid to reach out to your immediate community too - most people understand that appliance failures happen to anyone and are surprisingly willing to help!

I went through this exact same situation about 6 months ago when my fridge died during a heat wave! The good news is that CalFresh replacement benefits for appliance failure are actually pretty straightforward once you get the process started. Since you already submitted the CF 303 form online with your receipt and landlord's text, you're in great shape. In my experience, they processed mine in about 48 hours because it was clearly documented. One tip while you wait: if you have any neighbors with extra freezer space, ask if you can store a few essentials there temporarily. Also, those insulated grocery bags with ice packs can help you keep things like milk and eggs cool for a day or two. Dollar stores usually sell decent coolers for under $10 if you need something temporary. The replacement benefits should cover what you lost, so hang in there - you're doing everything right by acting quickly and getting all your documentation together!