EBT card skimming took $2,700 of my CalFresh benefits! No reimbursement policy?

omg this happened to me too!! lost $1,400 last month, same thing - they said the money's just gone. i was literally screaming at them on the phone like how is this legal??? we need that money to EAT!!! try calling 211, they hooked me up with a food bank that helped a little. but yeah the whole system is messed up, they should deff have withdrawal limits!!

I'm so sorry this happened to you. EBT card skimming has become a huge problem in California recently. While it's true that federal regulations have historically prevented reimbursement for stolen SNAP benefits, there's actually been a change. California passed a law (AB 1784) that allows for limited reimbursement of stolen benefits! It's not a perfect solution, but you can request reimbursement for up to one month of benefits that were stolen electronically. You need to file a claim within 90 days of the theft. Call your county office and specifically ask about the "EBT theft reimbursement program" - many workers aren't fully trained on this yet since it's relatively new. Also, definitely apply for expedited benefits as you mentioned. They should process those within 3 calendar days, not 7, if you qualify.

This skimming issue is exactly why I started using the BenefitsCal app to freeze my EBT card between uses. I only unfreeze it right before shopping. It's not perfect, but it helps. For immediate help, definitely contact local food banks - most don't have income requirements during emergencies. Catholic Charities and Salvation Army often have emergency food assistance too. For the expedited benefits, you absolutely should get them within 3 days if your income and resources are below the thresholds. Make sure to check the box for "expedited services" on your application and emphasize your emergency situation.

my sister works for the county and she says this happens ALL THE TIME!!! the thieves put skimmer devices on store machines and atms. u should ALWAYS wiggle the card reader before u put ur card in. if it feels loose don't use it!!!! also check your balance like every day on the app so u catch it faster next time. sorry this happened to u its totally unfair.

I had this EXACT situation in January. $2,100 gone overnight. I spent DAYS trying to reach someone at the county office who could actually help. Kept getting stuck in the automated system or disconnected after waiting for hours. FINALLY I found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me through to a real person at the CalFresh office in under 5 minutes! They have this demo video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 Once I got through, they helped me file both the theft claim AND expedited benefits application. Got emergency benefits in 2 days and eventually got about 80% of my stolen benefits back through that reimbursement program someone mentioned. Definitely worth trying!

To clarify some information here: California now offers reimbursement for electronically stolen CalFresh benefits under certain conditions. Here's what you need to know: 1. You can request reimbursement for up to one month of stolen benefits (subject to your regular monthly allotment amount) 2. You must report the theft within 90 days 3. You can only receive reimbursement once in a federal fiscal year (Oct 1-Sept 30) 4. For expedited CalFresh benefits, your household must meet one of these conditions: - Less than $150 in monthly gross income and $100 or less in liquid resources - Combined monthly gross income and liquid resources less than monthly rent/mortgage and utilities - Be a migrant or seasonal farmworker household with less than $100 in liquid resources If you qualify for expedited service, benefits must be available within 3 calendar days. Regarding security: Always shield your PIN, check card readers for tampering, and consider freezing your card through the EBT app or website when not in use.

i had someting similar happen but it was only $400 not as bad as yours... my county worker told me theres a statewide EBT app now that lets you lock your card when your not using it which i didnt know about before. also always use the machines inside the store never the atm's outside their easier for scammers to mess with. sorry this happened to you its so awful!!!!

Just to follow up - make sure when you go to your county office tomorrow that you specifically request both: 1. AB 1784 benefit theft reimbursement claim 2. Expedited CalFresh benefits application (CF 285) Bring as much documentation as you can: ID, any income verification, rent/utility bills, and information about the theft (dates, police report if you filed one, case number from your fraud call, etc.). Having everything organized will speed up the process significantly. For immediate food assistance, many school districts also offer emergency meal programs for families with children, separate from regular free/reduced lunch programs. Worth checking with your children's schools as well.