Can I get a replacement EBT card same day at the CalFresh office if lost/stolen?

Yes, you can get a replacement card the same day if you go in person to your county office. But make sure you call the EBT customer service line (866-328-9677) FIRST to report it lost/stolen before you go. This immediately deactivates the old card so nobody can use your benefits. When you go to the office, bring your ID and they'll print a new card right there. I had to do this twice last year.

i got mine same day like 3 weeks ago but u have to go EARLY!!!! i waited 4 hrs cuz it was packed. dont forget ur id

Be careful because not ALL county offices can print the cards on site!!!! I went to my local office in February and they told me they didn't have the equipment to print new EBT cards there. I had to go to the MAIN county office instead which was like 45 minutes away. So frustrating!!! Call ahead and CHECK before you waste your time going to an office that can't help. The whole system is designed to make it harder for us to access our benefits IMO. 😤

When I lost my card last time I couldn't get thru to anybody on the regular line. It was so frustrating! I finally tried this service called Claimyr where they got me connected to a real person at CalFresh without the wait. They called and stayed on hold for me then connected me when a worker was available. Saved me hours of frustration. You might try it if you're still having trouble getting through to report the card lost - https://claimyr.com. There's a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8

YES your benefits will still be there! The money stays in your account even when your card is replaced. When they deactivate your old card and give you a new one, all your benefits transfer automatically. The ONLY thing that would change is if someone already used some of your benefits before you reported the card lost/stolen. That money can't be replaced unfortunately. That's why it's super important to report it ASAP when you notice it's missing.

make sure u bring ur case# also they asked me for that and i didnt have it took forever to look it up

Just wanted to add that if you're unable to get to a county office for some reason, and HAVE to wait for a card in the mail, you can request EXPEDITED mailing. Most people don't know this! They can send it 2-day priority instead of regular mail which takes 7-10 days. You have to specifically ask for this though, they won't offer it. Also, the automated phone system is absolutely USELESS for most things, but I found out you CAN report a card lost through the automated system without talking to a person. Just another option if needed.

Please update us after you get your new card! I'm curious how long the process took at your specific county office. Times have really varied for me - once I was in and out in 30 minutes, another time it took half the day. Experiences with different county offices would be helpful for others to know about.

I'm sorry this happened to you! I know how stressful it is, especially when you have kids to feed. One time my card was stolen from my mailbox when I had just gotten recertified. The WORST timing. I think someone in my building took it. Anyway, glad you got it sorted out! 👍