Can CalFresh replace stolen EBT food benefits? County won't help with theft
I'm freaking out right now. Someone stole my EBT card last weekend and when I checked my balance yesterday, ALL my food benefits were gone ($837)! I immediately reported my card stolen and got a new one, but when I called the county worker about replacing the stolen food benefits, they said they can't help with that. They told me they only replace cash benefits (CalWORKs), not CalFresh food benefits. Is this right?? My kids and I literally have nothing to eat for the rest of the month. Does anyone know if there's a way to get stolen CalFresh benefits replaced or if the county worker gave me wrong information? I've had CalFresh for 3 years and never dealt with this before.
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Finnegan Gunn
sorry to hear this happened to u. sadly the worker is right - california doesn't replace stolen calfresh benefits from ur EBT card. only the cash side (calworks) can get replaced. its so unfair!!! when my purse got snatched last year i lost everything too and they wouldnt help at all with the food part. try calling 211 they might know emergency food banks in ur area.
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Alina Rosenthal
•Omg this is so messed up. How are my kids supposed to eat?? I don't understand why they protect cash benefits but not food benefits. Makes no sense. Thanks for the 211 suggestion, I'll call them today.
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Miguel Harvey
Unfortunately, the worker is correct. Federal regulations don't allow for replacement of CalFresh benefits that were stolen electronically from your EBT card. This is different from physical food that was purchased with CalFresh and then destroyed in a disaster (which can sometimes be replaced). Here are some emergency resources you should contact immediately: 1. Local food banks (call 211 as suggested) 2. Ask your county worker about expedited emergency CalFresh (different from replacement) 3. Check if your children's schools have free meal programs you can access 4. Some counties have special emergency food voucher programs through community organizations Also, make sure you've taken all security steps with your new card - create a PIN that's hard to guess and change it regularly. Never share your PIN with anyone.
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Ashley Simian
•not to be that person but why would anyone even steal food stamps?? like you cant get cash for them right? maybe someone in your house took it?
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Oliver Cheng
THIS IS NOT TRUE!!! I had mine stolen in February and got it replaced! You have to fill out a specific form and submit a police report within 10 days of when you noticed the theft. The county workers don't advertise this option because they don't want to pay! Call and specifically ask for the "EBT benefit theft claim form" (I think that's what it's called) and INSIST they let you submit it!!!
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Miguel Harvey
•I believe you might be confusing CalWORKs (cash aid) replacement with CalFresh replacement. Federal rules specifically prohibit replacing stolen CalFresh benefits, while state rules do allow for cash benefit replacement. The form you're referring to is likely the "EBT Cash Benefit Theft Claim Form CW 50" which only applies to the cash side of the EBT card, not the food benefits side. This distinction is frustrating but important - the county isn't hiding options, they're following different rules for the two types of benefits.
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Taylor To
Have you tried calling the EBT customer service number directly instead of your county worker? Sometimes the county workers aren't trained on all the policies. I think the number is 877-328-9677 for the CA EBT customer service. They might have better info about theft reporting. Also, try contacting Claimyr (claimyr.com) - they helped me actually get through to a real CalFresh supervisor when I had a similar emergency situation. Their service calls the county for you and gets you connected to a real person who can help. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8. Saved me hours of waiting and getting disconnected.
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Alina Rosenthal
•Thanks for the suggestion. I'll try the EBT customer service first thing tomorrow. If they can't help, I might try that Claimyr service - at this point I just need to talk to someone who can actually give me a straight answer instead of transferring me around.
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Ella Cofer
I work with a community resource center, and unfortunately, this is one of those frustrating policies that doesn't make sense to most people. Federal regulations (7 CFR 274.6) specifically prohibit replacing CalFresh benefits that were stolen electronically. This policy was established to prevent fraud, but it obviously hurts legitimate victims. Your best immediate option is emergency food assistance. In addition to calling 211: 1. Contact your local school district about weekend backpack programs 2. Visit local churches - many have food pantries that don't require registration 3. Check if you qualify for WIC (if you have children under 5) 4. Ask your county worker about the Food Assistance Program Also, file a police report anyway. While it won't get your benefits back, it documents the crime pattern which can help authorities track EBT theft rings that target vulnerable populations.
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Alina Rosenthal
•Thank you for such detailed information. I'll definitely follow up on all these resources. I already filed a police report when I discovered the theft, but the officer seemed pretty uninterested and said these cases rarely get solved. It just feels so unfair that there's protection for cash but not for food benefits when my family literally needs to eat.
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Kevin Bell
THIS HAPPENED TO ME LAST YEAR!!! i was told the same thing BUT after weeks of fighting i found out theres actually a federal waiver program california joined in 2024 for limited theft replacement!!! you have to ask SPECIFICALLY for the "federal demonstration project for calfresh skimming theft replacement" and file within 30 days. The worker prob doesnt even know about it bc its new. max replacement is $750 i think and you can only get it once a year. DONT GIVE UP!!
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Alina Rosenthal
•OMG THANK YOU!!! I'm going to call back right now and ask about this specific program. I really hope this works. Did you have to provide any special documentation or just the police report?
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Miguel Harvey
•This information is partially correct. California did join a federal demonstration project for limited EBT theft replacement in early 2025, but it has specific requirements: 1. You must have evidence of "skimming" theft specifically (where criminals place devices on EBT machines to steal card information) 2. A police report is required 3. You must file within 30 days of discovering the theft 4. There's a once-per-year limit and a cap on replacement amount It's worth asking about, but this program doesn't cover all types of EBT theft, just specific skimming cases.
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Ashley Simian
soooo this is why i always transfer my benefits to my bank account the SECOND they hit my ebt card... cant steal whats not there lol
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Miguel Harvey
•Just to clarify for others reading - this comment refers to CalWORKs cash benefits, which can be transferred to a bank account. CalFresh food benefits cannot be transferred to a bank account and must remain on the EBT card until used at approved retailers for food purchases. This is an important distinction that many recipients need to understand.
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Ashley Simian
•oh ya sorry i only get cash benefits not food stamps my bad
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Finnegan Gunn
btw has anyone noticed the HUGE increase in ebt theft lately??? my cousin and 2 ppl from my building all had their benefits stolen in the last couple months. someone said theres these new skimmer things thieves put on store card readers that can copy ur card when u swipe. now i only use my ebt at the big safeway near me cuz i dont trust the corner stores anymore!!
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Ella Cofer
•You're absolutely right about the increase in EBT skimming theft. It's becoming a major problem across California. To protect yourself: 1. Inspect the card reader before inserting your card - look for loose parts or anything unusual 2. When possible, use the chip reader rather than swiping 3. Check your EBT balance regularly through the app or by calling 4. Consider using your benefits at major retailers who tend to have better security measures 5. If possible, use your benefits in smaller amounts throughout the month rather than leaving a large balance vulnerable The state is working on improving EBT card security, but until then, these precautions can help.
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Jessica Suarez
I'm so sorry this happened to you! This is absolutely heartbreaking and unfortunately way too common. While the federal rules around CalFresh theft replacement are frustrating, definitely follow up on what Kevin mentioned about the new federal demonstration project - it's worth a shot even if it only covers certain types of theft. In the meantime, here are some immediate resources that might help: - Many churches and community centers have emergency food boxes that don't require paperwork - Check if your local library has information about mobile food pantries in your area - Some grocery stores participate in programs that provide emergency food vouchers through nonprofits - If you have young kids, contact Head Start programs - they often know about family emergency resources Also, when you call about the federal program, ask to speak with a supervisor if the first worker doesn't know about it. Sometimes the frontline workers haven't been trained on newer programs yet. Document everything - dates, times, who you spoke with. Hang in there, and I hope you can get some help soon. No family should have to go through this.
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