EBT card arrived with previous owner's name - system says benefits loading on Sep 5th - is this a mistake?

this happened to me!!! my brothers card came to my house with my address but his name. turns out they had old info in system. u NEED to call right away bcuz if u use benefits that arent urs u could get in BIG trouble

This is definitely something you need to address immediately. The county database might have outdated household information linking your address with your daughter's case. When the system says benefits will load on September 5th, it's likely referring to your daughter's old case that somehow got reactivated or never properly closed. Calling the county office is the correct step. Explain exactly what happened, including that your daughter previously received benefits at your address but has since moved out. Ask them to check if there's an active case in her name and to update their records. Do NOT use any benefits that load onto this card - using benefits you're not entitled to, even by mistake, can result in an overpayment claim or potentially even fraud allegations.

CALL RIGHT NOW!!! I went thru something similar and ended up with a $2,800 overpayment that I had to pay back even though I didn't even know I was getting the benefits!! The CalFresh system is so broken, they'll punish YOU for THEIR mistakes!!!

I used to work for a county office (not in benefits eligibility, but adjacent department). This sounds like a system error where your daughter's case was either reopened or never fully closed out when she moved. Sometimes cases get automatically recertified if there's a glitch or if someone applied for a different benefit that triggered a review of all potential benefits. Here's what you should do: 1. Do not use any benefits that appear on the card 2. Call your county CalFresh office (the number should be on documentation that came with the card) 3. If you can't get through, try early morning (7:30-8:00am) when lines first open 4. Explain the situation and ask them to check her case status 5. Request written confirmation that you've reported the error Keep the card but don't use it until this is resolved. Document every call you make (date, time, who you spoke with).

I had to call the CalFresh office about something completely different last month and was on hold for TWO HOURS before getting disconnected. So frustrating!! I finally used this service called Claimyr where they wait on hold for you and call you back when a real person answers. Saved me so much stress! Their website is claimyr.com and they have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8

listen to what everyone is saying and call ASAP! better safe than sorry! if you wait until after benefits load it looks like you were trying to get free money

Just wanted to add - while you're sorting this out, if you actually DO need CalFresh benefits for your household, you should submit a separate application. The fact that your daughter previously received benefits doesn't disqualify you from applying for your current household situation. The income limits for 2025 are actually quite reasonable - for example, a household of 3 can qualify with gross monthly income around $3,400.

Once you call, make sure to get the worker's ID number or name. Also ask them to send you written confirmation that you've reported this issue. In my experience with CalFresh, documentation is everything. Without proof that you reported it promptly, they could later claim you knew about it and were trying to collect benefits fraudulently.

just fyi the ebt customer service number is different from the county office. u need 2 call the actual county calfresh office not just the ebt card number

I work at a legal aid office and see cases like this regularly. You're doing the right thing by not using the card and calling immediately. One thing I'd add - if you can't get through to your county office by phone, many counties also accept reports through their online portals or you can visit in person. Some counties even have secure email addresses for reporting benefit discrepancies. Also, keep that card in a safe place - don't destroy it even after this gets resolved, as they may need the card number for their investigation. Document everything with dates and times, and if possible, get a case number when you report this so you can reference it in future calls.