EBT benefits theft nightmare - CalFresh showed up on cash side after months of fighting
So frustrated right now! Back in November someone stole my CalFresh benefits (the FOOD part). I reported it immediately to the EBT customer service line and they told me to file a police report, but honestly I was so overwhelmed with everything else going on I never got around to it. Big mistake apparently! For THREE MONTHS I've been calling, visiting the office, sending messages through BenefitsCal - basically had to become a professional stalker to get any movement on my case. Finally checked my card yesterday and they replaced my benefits (about $275) but they put it on the CASH side of my EBT instead of the food side! Has this happened to anyone else? Can I even use that money for food now? Does it have different restrictions? The worker I finally reached wasn't clear about whether this was normal procedure or if they made a mistake. What should I do now - just use it and be thankful or try to get it fixed?
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AaliyahAli
This happened to me last year! Same exact thing - benefits stolen, then after fighting for weeks they replaced it on the cash side. I was told by my worker that it's actually BETTER this way because cash benefits have fewer restrictions. You can use it at more places and even withdraw actual cash from ATMs if you want. The only downside is you can't get the extra fruit and vegetable discounts at some farmers markets that you get with regular CalFresh. I'd just keep it and be happy they replaced it at all - some people never get their stolen benefits back.
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Theodore Nelson
•Really? That's good to know. I was worried there was some kind of catch. So I can still buy groceries with it? I'm just relieved to have something after 3 months of waiting, but I was confused why they did it this way.
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Ellie Simpson
Omg they put my stolen calfresh on the cash side too and I freaked out!!! I think it's their policy when replacing stolen benefits. MAKE SURE TO SAVE RECEIPTS if you buy food with it because some people are getting letters later asking to prove they spent it on food! I didn't know and now they're saying I have to pay some back even though I really did use it for food... ugh this system is a nightmare
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Arjun Kurti
•That's not right, they shouldn't make you prove anything if they gave it to you on the cash side. The whole point of cash benefits is that they don't have the same restrictions. Maybe your worker is confused? It sounds like they're treating it like an overpayment or something.
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Raúl Mora
The reason they put stolen benefits on the cash side is because of how the EBT system is set up. When benefits are stolen, the county has to process a "cash replacement" rather than reissuing CalFresh because they can't technically issue backdated food benefits through the normal channels. It's actually standard procedure in most counties now. The good news: Cash benefits can be used for food just like regular CalFresh, plus you have more flexibility (you can buy household necessities too). The bad news: Unlike regular CalFresh, these replacements are considered income for future eligibility determinations if you don't spend them within a certain timeframe. My advice: Use the cash benefits within the next 30 days, and yes, keep your receipts showing you used them for food. Not all counties audit this, but some do, especially if there's been multiple theft claims.
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Margot Quinn
•wait so if u dont spend the cash benefits fast enuff they can count it as income later and reduce ur regular calfresh?? thats messsd up i never heard that before
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Raúl Mora
•It depends on how your county interprets the regulations, but yes, technically cash assistance that remains in your account past the benefit month can be counted as a resource for CalFresh eligibility. To be safe, I recommend using replacement benefits within the same benefit month they were issued.
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Evelyn Kim
The EBT theft thing is so common now its ridiculous!!! My neighbor and 2 ppl at my work all had there benefits stolen in december. CAlFRESH system is SO behind on security. in 2025 and they still haven't figured out how to protect our benefits?? smh
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AaliyahAli
•For real! They need to add two-factor authentication or something for purchases. I started freezing my EBT card through the app when I'm not actively shopping. It's annoying to have to unfreeze it every time, but better than having everything stolen.
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Ellie Simpson
•WHAT?? You can freeze your EBT card? How do you do that? Nobody ever told me about this feature!
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Diego Fisher
I had exactly this situation last year and spent over 20 hours on the phone trying to get help. The EBT customer service line just kept transferring me around in circles, and half the time I'd get disconnected after waiting on hold for an hour. I finally got through to someone who could actually help by using Claimyr. It lets you skip the hold times when calling CalFresh/county offices. You just enter your phone number on their website (claimyr.com) and they call you back when a real person is on the line. Saved me hours of frustration. Here's a video that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 When I finally got through, I confirmed that putting replacement benefits on the cash side is standard procedure. The worker explained that it's actually a benefit to us because it gives more flexibility in how you can use it. You absolutely can use it for food, and there's no special tracking of how you spend it (despite what some people say). Just make sure you update your PIN if you haven't already to prevent future theft.
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Theodore Nelson
•Thank you! I'll check out that service if I need to call again. I spent so much time on hold these past few months I could have learned a new language or something. And good to know about the PIN - I did change it immediately after the theft but maybe I should change it again just to be safe.
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Margot Quinn
this happened to my cousin to! but they only gave her like half of what got stolen!! did they give u the full amount or did they take some off the top??
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Theodore Nelson
•They gave me the full amount that was stolen ($275). I had to provide screenshots from the EBT app showing the transaction that wasn't mine though. Maybe your cousin didn't have proof of exactly how much was taken?
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Arjun Kurti
I don't understand why they're replacing benefits on the cash side. That doesn't seem right to me. CalFresh and CalWORKs are totally different programs with different funding sources. Are you sure you weren't already getting cash benefits and just didn't realize it? You might want to double-check your eligibility letter to make sure you understand what benefits you're approved for. Also, not filing a police report was definitely a mistake. They usually require that for any theft claims. You got lucky they replaced it at all without one.
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Raúl Mora
•This is actually standard procedure in California. When CalFresh benefits are stolen and need to be replaced, counties often issue the replacement as a cash benefit because of limitations in the EBT system for backdating food benefits. It's an administrative workaround that most counties use, not an indication that OP is on CalWORKs. You're right that they technically should require a police report, but many counties have been waiving that requirement due to the dramatic increase in EBT theft over the past couple years.
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AaliyahAli
Hey, just wanted to follow up - were you able to use the cash benefits okay? Did anyone give you trouble at the store? I'm curious because my mom just had the same thing happen and she's worried stores won't accept it.
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