EBT benefit theft with no claim number offered - anyone else experiencing this?

that doesnt sound right at all. i had benefits stolen 2 months ago (about $380) and yeah getting thru was a nightmare but once i did they gave me a claim # right away. maybe try calling again and getting a different rep? some of them just say whatever to get you off the phone tbh

This happened to me too!!! Called last week and they told me the same thing about being out of claim numbers. The system is so broken. I lost $625 and have 3 kids to feed. Been surviving on food banks for 2 weeks now.

I work for a community assistance program, and we've been hearing about this issue from several clients recently. What they're telling you about being "out of claim numbers" is not accurate - there's likely a system issue they're not explaining correctly. Here's what you should do: 1. Document everything - date/time of the fraudulent transactions, when you noticed them, who you spoke with 2. Contact your county CalFresh office directly instead of the EBT customer service line 3. File a police report - you'll need this for the claim anyway 4. Request an emergency replacement allotment due to hardship The county office can often help when the EBT customer service isn't resolving the issue properly. They should be able to process an emergency replacement for immediate needs while the theft claim is being investigated.

I think what's happening is they've hit their monthly limit for theft claims because fraud is through the roof right now. My cousin works for the county and said there's been a massive increase in EBT skimming in the last few months. But they absolutely CANNOT legally refuse to take your claim - that's definitely not right. If calling again doesn't work, you need to contact your county worker directly. They can issue emergency replacement benefits within 3 days if you're experiencing immediate food need while your claim is being processed. Make sure to use the specific phrase "immediate food need due to benefit theft" when you talk to them.

have u tried using claimyr.com to get through to ur county office? my friend told me about it after i spent DAYS trying to get thru to my worker about a similar issue. u can watch how it works here: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 basically they wait on hold for u and call u when a real person picks up. saved me like 2 hrs of hold time and i finally got my issue fixed

Just to clarify some misinformation I'm seeing here: They legally CANNOT be "out of claim numbers" - that's not how the system works. What's likely happening is they're experiencing a backlog in processing theft claims due to increased fraud, as another commenter mentioned. Per CDSS regulations, you have 90 days from the date of discovery to report EBT theft. They must take your report regardless of current volume. If the representative refuses, ask to speak with a supervisor immediately. Also important: in California, as of January 2025, there's a new state program that provides replacement benefits for stolen CalFresh even if the federal government denies your claim. The county office has more information about this than the EBT customer service line.

Just to give you some hope - I had benefits stolen last month ($875) and although it took almost 10 days to get the claim processed, they did eventually restore the full amount. The key was persistent follow-up and getting my county worker involved directly when the EBT customer service wasn't helping. The EBT card system really needs better security. Until then, remember to: 1. Change your PIN regularly 2. Check your balance frequently 3. Consider transferring benefits to your bank account if possible (though this has its own risks) 4. Never respond to texts/emails about your EBT benefits - they're all scams

update?? did u get thru to anyone yet??