EBT card stolen today - what's the emergency replacement process for CalFresh benefits?

omg same thing happened to me last month at the farmers market!! so sorry this happened to u. i think u can go to the county office and get a replacement same day, thats what my cousin had to do

Yes, you can get a temporary EBT card at the Sacramento County Human Assistance office. Bring your ID and know your case number if possible (though they can look it up if needed). They can issue you a new card on the spot with your current benefits balance. Make sure to go early - lines can get long, especially early in the month. The office on Florin Road usually has shorter wait times than the downtown location. Once you get the new card, be sure to change your PIN immediately. Sometimes theft is part of a larger identity compromise.

I've been thru this twice sadly. The county CLAIMS they can give u emergency replacement cards but when i went there last time they made me wait 5 HOURS only to tell me their "system was down" and to "come back tomorrow"!! I had 2 hungry kids with me and NO FOOD at home. The system is DESIGNED to make us suffer!! Next day I went back and finally got the card but by then someone had spent $178 of my benefits before the card was deactivated. Took me 3 MONTHS and multiple appeals to get that money back.

tip: when u get ur new card, transfer ur benefits to walmart pay or a similar app that lets u pay with ebt. that way even if ur card gets stolen again u can still buy groceries while waiting for replacement

Sacramento County resident here who works with CalFresh clients. Here's the exact process: 1. Go to any Sacramento County Human Assistance Center with your ID. 2. Tell the receptionist you need an emergency EBT card replacement. 3. They'll expedite you through the system (you won't wait in the general line). 4. Bring your case number if you have it, though they can look it up with your ID. 5. If benefits were stolen, ask for the "Stolen Benefits Claim Form" - you have 10 days from discovery to file this. 6. A police report is helpful but NOT required for card replacement (though it is needed for benefit replacement). If you're having trouble reaching someone by phone to get questions answered about this process, I've had clients use Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through the phone system. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8. It's helped several people I know actually reach a real person instead of getting stuck in the automated system. The Florin Road office (2450 Florin Road) is definitely your best bet - they're usually most efficient with card replacements.

my buddy works at the welfare office, he says people come in for stolen cards all the time. if u say u have no food for ur kids they should help u right away

make sure u monitor ur credit reports too, if they stole ur ebt they might have other personal info

When this happened to me last year, I went to the county office for a replacement card but was told I needed to wait 3 days because of a "system flag" on my account. Apparently if you've had multiple replacements within a year (I had one other replacement due to a damaged card), they make you wait. Just a heads up that there might be additional hurdles depending on your specific situation. I was able to get emergency food from a local food bank while waiting. If you're really stuck, call 211 and they can direct you to emergency food resources in your area. The Sacramento Food Bank on Bell Avenue usually has same-day emergency boxes available.

dont 4get 2 change ur pin# on the new card!!!

UPDATE: Just got back from the Florin Road office. Got there 30 mins before opening and there was already a line, but they were super helpful once I got inside. Had my new card within an hour! They also helped me file a claim for the $87 that was spent before I reported the card stolen. Thank you everyone for your help!

So happy to hear you got it resolved quickly! This thread is going to be super helpful for others who go through the same thing. I had no idea about half the stuff people shared here - like the Walmart Pay option and the policy changes from the lawsuit. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences!

This whole thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm new to CalFresh and honestly had no idea there were emergency replacement options beyond just waiting for the mail. The fact that you can get a same-day replacement at the county office is huge - definitely something more people should know about. Also really appreciate everyone sharing the practical tips like getting there early, bringing your case number, and the policy changes from the lawsuit. Going to bookmark this thread in case I ever need it. Hope your benefit replacement claim goes smoothly @e48ca6365907!