Canceled my EBT 3.0 card that was 'lost' but it arrived today - what now for CalFresh benefits?

Once a card is canceled, it's deactivated in the system and won't work even if you physically have it. The replacement card typically takes 7-10 business days to arrive. Unfortunately, there's no way to 'un-cancel' a card once it's been reported - it's a security feature of the EBT system. Your benefits themselves are still safe in your account though! They'll be available once your new card arrives. If you're in an emergency situation, you could try calling the EBT customer service again and asking if they can expedite the replacement. Some counties offer emergency card pickup at the local office.

this happened to me last month lol! the canceled card definitely WONT work, i tried swiping mine at the store and got declined. the new one came in about a week for me. btw your benefits are still there just waiting for your new card dont worry

If u really need food right now while waiting for new card, try calling 211 they can tell u about food banks near u. My church also does emergency food boxes for families no questions asked. The system is so frustrating!!! When my card got stolen last year I had to wait 12 days for new one even tho they said 5-7 business days. And yes ur old card is completely dead now even tho u have it.

THEY ALWAYS SAY 7-10 DAYS BUT IT TOOK 14 DAYS FOR MINE!!! the system is designed to make us suffer i swear. and YES ur old card is completely DEAD now. the minute you reported it they killed it in the system. sorry :

Just to clarify some information here - your benefits themselves are still safe and will roll over to your new card. The EBT 3.0 cards are newer and have additional security features, which is why they're being sent out to replace older cards. For expedited service, here's what you can do: 1. Contact your specific county CalFresh office (not just the EBT customer service line) 2. Explain you have children and no access to your benefits 3. Ask specifically about "emergency card issuance" or "over-the-counter card services" Many counties can issue a temporary card same-day if you visit the office in person with proper identification. Bring your ID and your case number if you have it. The temporary card will give you immediate access to your benefits until your permanent replacement arrives.

UPDATE: I just got back from the county office! I took everyone's advice and went in person first thing this morning. Had to wait about an hour but they were able to issue me a temporary card right there! The lady said my permanent replacement will still arrive in the mail in 7-10 days, but this temp card works fine and has access to all my benefits. Thank you all so much for the help - we can have Thanksgiving dinner after all! For anyone else in this situation, definitely go to your county office in person if you can.

So happy to hear you got it sorted out! This is such valuable information for others who might face the same situation. I had no idea counties could issue temporary cards same-day - that's a game changer for families in emergency situations. Thanks for coming back to update us with the solution. Enjoy your Thanksgiving dinner! 🦃

This whole thread is incredibly helpful! I'm relatively new to navigating the CalFresh system and had no idea about so many of these options. The temporary card same-day pickup is amazing information - I wish they made this more widely known instead of just telling people to wait 7-10 days. It's also really helpful to know about resources like 211 and Claimyr for when you can't get through the regular phone lines. @Astrid Bergström so glad you got it resolved and can have a proper Thanksgiving! This community is such a lifesaver for figuring out how things actually work in the real world.

This is such a perfect example of why community knowledge is so much more valuable than official channels! I've been on CalFresh for about 6 months now and learned more from this one thread than from all my interactions with customer service combined. The fact that same-day emergency cards are available but not widely advertised is honestly infuriating - how many families have gone hungry waiting for replacements when they could have gotten help immediately? @Astrid Bergström I'm so relieved you got sorted out in time for Thanksgiving! And huge thanks to everyone who shared practical solutions like Claimyr and 211. Saving all of this info because you never know when you'll need it. This is exactly why we need spaces like this where people share real experiences and actual working solutions! 🙏