EBT card skimmed at ATM - $700 CalFresh benefits stolen! How to recover funds?

omg this happened to me last summer!! its the WORST. took me almost 3 weeks to get my money back n i had to fill out all these fraud forms. make sure u file a police report right away, they wont even start investigating without it. also call ur county office not just the ebt customer service, they can sometimes issue emergency benefits if u have kids

I'm so sorry this happened to you. Unfortunately, EBT card skimming has become incredibly common. Here's what you need to do: 1. File a police report immediately (can be done online in most counties) 2. Fill out the EBT-2259 form (Benefit Theft Report) - download it from the CDSS website or get it from your county office 3. Submit the completed form to your county office ASAP along with the police report number 4. Request emergency replacement benefits - with children in the household, you qualify for expedited assistance The replacement process typically takes 10-14 business days, but emergency benefits can be issued within 3 days. By law, they must replace benefits stolen through electronic theft if you report it within 90 days. In the meantime, contact local food banks - many have special programs for families experiencing benefit theft. The California Food Bank Network has a text line (text FOOD to 304-304) that will direct you to immediate food assistance.

Been there, it's awful! This skimming thing is getting worse every month. where did u last use ur card? some stores have skimmers installed right on their card readers! happened to my sister at a liquor store in oakland. definitely download the ebtEDGE app like they said and ALWAYS keep your card frozen when not using it. wish someone told me that before i lost $500 😑

Just wanna add that I HAAAAATE the ebtEDGE app!!! Freezes constantly, logs me out randomly, and sometimes shows wrong balance information. Like why can't they make technology that actually works?? When my grandma was on food stamps they just had the actual stamps and nobody could steal those electronically!

I work at a nonprofit that assists with CalFresh issues, and unfortunately we're seeing skimming cases almost daily now. Here's what you need to know: - California actually has a stronger theft replacement policy than many states - You MUST file both a police report AND the EBT-2259 form - The county has 10 days to process your claim once all documentation is received - For expedited emergency benefits (3-day processing), specifically mention you have "no income or resources currently available to purchase food" when speaking with your county worker The most challenging part is actually reaching a county worker to explain your situation. When everyone is calling about recertifications and SAR7s, the theft cases can get lost in the queue. I recommend using Claimyr.com to get through to an actual human at the county office without waiting hours on hold. They have a system that waits on hold for you and calls you back when a real person answers. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 that shows how it works. Many of our clients have had success with it, especially for urgent situations like benefit theft.

this is y i always take all my money out as soon as it hits my account!!! cant trust the system these days

OMG I am dealing with the EXACT same thing right now!!! They took $643 from my account two days ago and I'm still waiting on the replacement card. The whole process is SO frustrating. Did they tell you how long until you get the replacement card? They told me 5-7 business days which is FOREVER when you have nothing to eat. I filled out that theft form and brought it to the county office in person yesterday. The worker there said I should get emergency replacement benefits by Monday, but I'm not holding my breath with how slow everything moves. Have you found any food banks that can help in the meantime?

One more tip about preventing future skimming: Always check card readers before inserting your EBT card. Look for loose parts, unusual colors/materials, or anything sticking out. Cover the keypad with your hand when entering your PIN, as thieves often use tiny cameras to capture PINs. Also, the new ebtEDGE app now lets you set up purchase alerts so you're notified immediately of any transactions. That way, you can freeze your card and report suspicious activity before your entire balance is drained.

just updating - my friend had this happen last month and she got her benefits back in like 6 days! way faster than when it happened to me last year. i think theyre getting better at handling these cases since its happening so much. just stay on them and keep calling!!