EBT card benefits stolen - who to call for CalFresh theft immediately?

OMG this JUST happened to me last month! You need to call EBT Customer Service at 1-877-328-9677 right away to report it stolen. They'll deactivate your card. Then you ALSO need to contact your county CalFresh office directly to report the theft and request benefit replacement. Fair warning - it took me over 2 weeks to get mine replaced and I had to keep calling!

sorry this happened to u. make sure u change ur pin immediately even if u get a new card. my cousin had her benefits stolen twice b4 she realized the thieves somehow got her pin too

You need to act quickly here. First, call EBT Customer Service (1-877-328-9677) to report the theft and get your card deactivated immediately. Then, contact your county CalFresh office and request form CF 303 - "Request for Replacement of EBT Cash/CalFresh Benefits Due to Theft." California passed a law in 2022 that allows replacement of electronically stolen benefits, but you must report within 10 days of discovering the theft. You'll need to provide details about when you discovered the theft, approximately when it might have occurred, and which stores the fraudulent transactions happened at. The county should be able to see all transaction history. Request an emergency replacement if you have no food - they can expedite benefits in hardship situations. Keep documentation of all calls and correspondence. If the county office is giving you the runaround, ask to speak to a supervisor specifically about EBT theft replacement benefits.

man this sucks!! those thieves are the worst. happened to my neighbor and they spent all $900 at some liquor store in a completely different city! smh

I had this exact problem last year. The county office phone lines are completely backed up and you'll likely get disconnected multiple times. I discovered Claimyr (claimyr.com) which got me through to a real person at the CalFresh office after trying for days on my own. They have a service that waits on hold for you and calls you back when a real person answers. Saved me from losing my mind! Here's their demo video: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 For the actual theft - make sure you mention these magic words: "electronic benefit theft replacement" specifically. Some workers aren't familiar with the newer laws. Ask for emergency replacement benefits while your claim is being processed. And get the name/ID of everyone you speak with.

This is happening EVERYWHERE right now!!! The county offices are completely USELESS and will make you jump through 50 hoops. I had $765 stolen in February and I'm STILL fighting to get it back. They keep saying 'investigation in progress' but meanwhile my kids are hungry! The system is BROKEN and nobody cares about us. I've called every day for 3 weeks and get a different answer every time. Good luck but don't hold your breath on getting your benefits back anytime soon.

i think they need to see ur id and stuff to verify u before they can process a theft. my friend had this happen and they made her go down to the office with id and fill out paperwork. might save time if u just go in person with all ur docs ready

Just to clarify some information here: California has strengthened protections for EBT theft victims in recent years. Under current regulations, you have the right to benefit replacement for electronically stolen benefits if you report within 10 days of discovery. The county MUST provide you with the CF 303 form and should process emergency benefits if you have no food. If you're having trouble getting through by phone, and since this is an emergency situation, I highly recommend: 1. Document all the fraudulent transactions (screenshot or write down dates, times, amounts, and locations) 2. Go to your county office in person first thing tomorrow morning 3. Explain it's an emergency food situation with children involved 4. Specifically request "expedited replacement benefits" due to EBT theft 5. If anyone gives you trouble, ask to speak with an EBT theft specialist or supervisor The law is on your side here, but navigating the bureaucracy can be challenging. Don't leave the office without at least filling out the CF 303 form and getting some confirmation of emergency benefits.

Also make sure to ask them about the "mass EBT theft protection program" they started implementing. They're supposed to be adding extra security features to cards now because of all the skimming happening. My new card has some chip or something the old one didn't have.

I'm so sorry this happened to you! This is incredibly stressful, especially with kids to feed. I went through something similar last year and want to share what worked for me. First, you're doing the right thing by acting quickly - that 10-day reporting window is crucial. When I had my benefits stolen, I found that going to the county office in person was WAY more effective than calling. The phone system is a nightmare, but face-to-face they can't ignore you as easily. Here's what I'd suggest for tomorrow: - Bring all your ID documents, EBT card, and those transaction screenshots - Go right when they open (they're usually less busy early morning) - Tell them immediately it's an emergency food situation with children - Ask specifically for the CF 303 form and emergency replacement benefits The good news is that California law requires them to replace electronically stolen benefits. Don't let them tell you otherwise! I ended up getting my full amount back, it just took persistence. In the meantime, if you have any local food banks or churches nearby, they might be able to help bridge the gap until your benefits get replaced. Some schools also have weekend backpack programs if your kids are school-aged. Hang in there - this will get resolved, but I know how scary it is right now. 💙