EBT skimming stole my CalFresh benefits - diabetic & now can't afford food

omg that happened to me last year!! its the WORST feeling ever. did u call the EBT customer service number on the back of ur card yet? u need to report it there too not just police

I'm so sorry this happened to you. Unfortunately, EBT skimming has become increasingly common in California. Here's what you need to do right away: 1. If you haven't already, call the EBT Customer Service (1-877-328-9677) to report the theft and request a replacement card with a new account number 2. File a CalFresh benefit theft claim with your county office - this is separate from the police report 3. Ask specifically for an "expedited replacement" due to your medical condition According to regulations updated in 2025, counties can replace stolen electronic benefits in certain circumstances. The process can take 5-10 business days, but mentioning you're diabetic might help expedite it. Also, contact local food banks for emergency assistance while waiting.

This is why i ALWAYS transfer my benefits to my regular bank account as soon as they hit my EBT card!!! The skimming is out of control and the county doesn't do enough to protect us!!! Been saying this for YEARS!!

The same exact thing happened to me in February! I called and called my county office for DAYS and couldn't get through to anyone. Finally I found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to a live CalFresh worker in about 20 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 The county worker was able to start the benefit replacement process right away, and I explained my situation was urgent. They replaced about 80% of what was stolen within 3 days. Definitely worth trying since you need this resolved quickly for your health!

I work at a community resource center and we're seeing SO many cases of EBT theft lately. It's a serious problem. While you're waiting for your benefits to be replaced, please check with local food banks - many have special programs for people with health conditions like diabetes. Also, if you're in a real emergency situation, ask your county worker about emergency CalFresh supplements. They CAN issue emergency benefits in cases like yours while the investigation is pending.

This happened to my neighbor and she had to wait almost 3 weeks to get her benefits back!! The system is so broken. She ended up having to borrow money from family just to eat. I hope you have some support or emergency funds to help you through this. Really unfair that they make it so hard to get YOUR benefits back when it's their fault the system isn't secure.

PROTECT YOUR EBT CARDS PEOPLE!!!! Here's some tips I learned after this happened to me: - NEVER use your EBT card at sketchy stores or gas stations - Cover the keypad when entering your PIN!!! - Check your balance FREQUENTLY (you can do it online) - Get a new card AND pin every few months even if nothing happened - Don't keep all your benefits on the card - use some early in the month The county did eventually replace my stolen benefits but it took almost 2 weeks and MULTIPLE calls. So frustrating!!! Good luck OP!

have you tried calling 211? they might be able to help you find emergency food resources while you wait. also if you have a doctor they might be able to write a letter saying you need the benefits replaced urgently because of your health condition. just a thought.

Update: I was able to reach my county worker today using that Claimyr service I mentioned. Explained my diabetes and urgent need for food. They're expediting my claim and should have emergency benefits loaded to my new card within 48 hours! They said they're dealing with a huge increase in skimming cases right now, and recommended changing my PIN monthly. Just wanted to update everyone in case it helps!

hey, did u ever get this resolved?? im curious what happened

I'm so glad to hear you got your benefits replaced! This is exactly why we need to spread awareness about EBT skimming - it's happening way too often. For anyone else reading this thread, another tip I learned from my county worker: if you shop at the same stores regularly, ask the manager about their card reader security. Some stores are better than others at updating their systems to prevent skimming devices. Also, if you see anything suspicious about a card reader (loose parts, different colors, etc.) don't use it and report it to the store immediately. Thanks for sharing your experience and keeping everyone informed!