EBT card stolen with unauthorized transactions - how to get my CalFresh benefits back?

You need to do two things immediately: 1) Report your card stolen to get it deactivated, and 2) File a claim for the unauthorized transactions. Call the EBT Customer Service line at 1-877-328-9677 first to report the card stolen - they're available 24/7 and can deactivate your card right away. Then contact your county CalFresh office to report the fraud and request a benefit replacement. You'll need to fill out the CF 303 form (Food Benefit Theft Report). The good news is that they should be able to replace those stolen benefits, but you have to report within 10 days of discovering the theft.

The SAME THING happened to me in January!!!!! I had 6 transactions I didn't make and it was my ENTIRE month's benefits gone in ONE DAY!!! The system is USELESS at protecting us. I filed a report and they kept telling me it was "under investigation" for WEEKS while my kids barely had food. They finally restored my benefits after almost A MONTH and I had to borrow money and go to food banks in the meantime. Make sure you DOCUMENT EVERYTHING and call EVERY SINGLE DAY to check on status. The squeaky wheel gets the grease with these people!!!!

sorry this happened to u. my cousin got her benefits stolen last year too. make sure u change ur pin number right away even with the new card. lots of scammers out there

I had a similar situation back in October and found a way to actually get through to a human at the county office instead of waiting on hold forever. I used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that held my place in line and had a worker call me back. Saved me like 2 hours of hold time and I got my case processed right away. They have a video showing how it works here: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 Definitely worth it when you're dealing with fraud issues since timing matters so much. The sooner you talk to an actual worker, the faster they can start the process to replace your benefits.

I work with a community organization that helps people with CalFresh issues, and unfortunately, EBT theft is becoming more common. Here's what you need to know: 1. California has specific protections for EBT theft victims under state regulations 2. You MUST file both the card replacement request AND the benefit theft report 3. The timeline for replacement is supposed to be within 10 days of completing the CF 303 form 4. During your interview, be very clear that you were not negligent with your PIN (like writing it on the card) as this could affect your claim 5. If you need emergency food assistance while waiting, ask about emergency food resources - the worker should be able to refer you For anyone reading this: NEVER use your birthday or simple number sequences as your PIN, change it regularly, and cover the keypad when entering it.

my card got stole 2 and they gave me my money back in like a week but i had to fill out a paper and sign it. they mail u a new card or u can go pick 1 up if ur in a hurry

Did you know that EBT cards don't have the same fraud protections as regular debit cards? I had to learn that the hard way when my roommate stole mine. I thought we'd get immediate provisional credit like with a bank card, but nope! Just sharing so others are aware that EBT cards need to be protected even more carefully than regular cards. I'm now super careful about keeping mine in a separate wallet section and checking my balance weekly.

Just wanted to follow up and mention that you should request an expedited replacement if you have very little or no food in your house. When you talk to your worker, specifically use the phrase "immediate need due to household emergency" - this triggers specific protocols that can get you emergency benefits within 3 business days instead of waiting for the full investigation to complete.

So glad you were able to get your card deactivated and a new one issued right away! That's exactly the right first step. Just wanted to add that while you're waiting for the CF 303 to be processed, you might also want to document everything - like take photos of your transaction history showing the fraudulent charges, keep copies of all forms you submit, and write down the names of any workers you speak with and when. This creates a paper trail that can really help speed things up if there are any issues with your claim. Also, some counties have special emergency food vouchers they can issue while fraud claims are being processed, so it's worth asking about that too. Hoping you get your benefits restored quickly!

I'm so sorry this happened to you - EBT card theft is unfortunately becoming way too common and it's especially stressful when you have kids to feed. I went through something similar last year and wanted to share a few additional tips that helped me: First, when you call to check on your CF 303 status, ask them to email you confirmation of when they received your form and what the expected processing timeline is - this gives you something in writing to reference. Second, if you haven't already, consider signing up for text alerts for your EBT balance so you'll know immediately if there are any suspicious transactions in the future. And finally, while you're waiting for the benefits to be restored, don't forget that many food banks don't require any paperwork or long waits - you can usually just show up and get emergency food assistance the same day. Wishing you the best and hoping your benefits get restored quickly!