Can I still get a replacement EBT card in-person at CalFresh office or only by mail now?

They changed the policy back in 2023 so most counties don't do walk-in replacements anymore. I had to wait 5 days for mine to come in the mail and it SUUUUCKED! Supposedly its \

5 days?? That's what I'm afraid of. Did you call the EBT customer service number or your county office to request it?

In Sacramento County, you actually still have two options:\n\n1) Call the EBT Customer Service line (1-877-328-9677) to request a replacement by mail. This typically takes 3-5 business days, not including weekends.\n\n2) Visit the Sacramento County Human Assistance office on Florin Road. They can issue emergency replacement cards same-day if you're there before 3pm and can verify your identity. Bring your ID and any CalFresh paperwork you have.\n\nSome counties have stopped in-person card replacements, but Sacramento still offers them for emergency situations like yours. Just make sure to explain that you have no food for your children.

Thank you so much! I'll head to the Florin Road office first thing tomorrow. Really appreciate you sharing this info.

I'm actually dealing with this right now too! My card was stolen last week and I called the EBT customer service line to report it and get a new one. The automated system said 5-7 business days but it's already been 6 days and nothing yet. The frustrating part is there's no tracking number or any way to see if it's actually been mailed. I wish they would just give them at the office like they used to.

Same thing happened to me and I wound up getting TWO cards in the mail cuz I thought the first one got lost and ordered a second one. Make sure you activate whichever one comes first and destroy the other one!

If you're in a real emergency, don't forget you can also go to a food bank while waiting for your card. Sacramento Food Bank serves families regardless of their situation, so they can help bridge the gap. I volunteer there sometimes and we never turn away families in need, especially ones with children.

That's a good idea, thanks. I didn't think about the food bank. Do you know what documentation I need to bring?

For Sacramento Food Bank, you just need some form of ID and proof of address (utility bill works). For your kids, just knowing their birthdates is usually enough. They're pretty flexible, especially if it's an emergency situation.

Have you tried getting thru to your caseworker at the county office? I was in the exact same situation last month and spent FOREVER trying to reach someone at Sacramento County. Finally used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me through to a real person in like 15 minutes. You can see how it works in their video demo: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8\n\nMy worker was able to approve an emergency card pickup that same day even though it wasn't their normal policy. Apparently they can make exceptions if you have no food and have kids.

I'll check that out if I have trouble at the office tomorrow. Did they give you the card right away when you went in?

Yep, once my worker approved it in the system, I just went to the office with my ID and they printed a new card right there. Took maybe 30 minutes total once I was there.

Just to provide the official policy - Sacramento County does still provide same-day EBT card replacements for emergency situations, particularly for households with children. While the standard procedure moved to mail delivery in most cases, the county offices retain the ability to issue cards directly.\n\nWhen you visit, be sure to:\n1. Bring government-issued photo ID\n2. Know your Social Security Number\n3. Be prepared to explain your emergency situation\n4. Arrive at least 1 hour before closing time\n\nIf you can't get to the office, calling the EBT Customer Service line is still the standard procedure, and they typically mail cards within 3-5 business days.

This is really helpful, thank you! I'll make sure to have all these things ready when I go tomorrow. Hopefully they'll consider my situation an emergency since we're out of food.

just remmber to tell them ur kids have NO FOOD cuz otherwise theyll just tell u to wait for the mail one. thats what they did to my friend last month and she was PISSED. they can do emergency same day ones but only if u really need it like RIGHT NOW

Good point, I'll make sure to be clear about our situation.

have u tried the BenefitsCal app? i think u can report lost/damage cards there now too

The BenefitsCal app can report lost/stolen cards, but it still triggers the mail delivery process. It doesn't have an option for emergency in-person replacement - that requires either calling or visiting an office.

Update: I went to the Florin Road office this morning, explained our situation, and got a replacement card within an hour! They made me fill out a form explaining why I needed an emergency replacement, but having kids with no food at home qualified me. Thank you everyone for your help! Special thanks to the person who recommended the Florin Road office specifically - they were right!

That's awesome news! So glad you were able to get your card the same day. This is really useful information for other families in similar situations - it shows that Sacramento County does still offer emergency replacements when you have kids and no food. Thanks for updating us on how it went!