EBT theft - DPSS saying no police report needed now for refund? Timeline changed?

yea i heard about this change. my cousin got her benefits stolen last month and they put it back in like 6 days without making her go to the police

Yes, this is accurate. California implemented new EBT theft reimbursement procedures in January 2025 to streamline the process. The key changes are: 1. Police reports are no longer required for standard EBT theft cases 2. Reimbursements should be processed within 10 business days (though sometimes faster) 3. You still need to complete the EBT-2259 Benefit Theft Report form 4. There's now a simplified verification process on their end This change happened after too many recipients were struggling with the police report requirement. Make sure you've completed all the steps they told you to follow, and call back after 10 business days if you haven't received your replacement benefits.

I HAD $840 STOLEN LAST MONTH AND THEY STILL MADE ME GET A POLICE REPORT!!!! Called THREE TIMES and each worker told me something different. First one said "oh we'll replace it right away" then second one said "no you need police report" and third one said I needed to wait 45 DAYS!!!! The system is BROKEN and they make up rules depending who answers the phone! I ended up driving to the station in person and waiting 2 hours just to get the stupid report.

I've gone through this twice in the past year and the process definitely changed recently. The first time (August 2024), I needed the police report and it took 5 weeks to get my money back. The second time (just last month), they only required the EBT-2259 form and verification of my identity. I got my benefits back in 8 days. Make sure you change your PIN immediately if you haven't already, and monitor your balance daily through the app. Also request a new card number - I learned the hard way that sometimes the thieves can still access your account even after you change the PIN if you keep the same card.

The policy did change, but there's something important you should know: while they don't require the police report upfront anymore, they still might ask for it during their investigation process if they flag your case for additional review. About 20% of cases get selected for additional verification. If you're worried about the timeline, I'd recommend using Claimyr to get through to an actual EBT theft specialist at the county office. I used their service last month when I couldn't get clear answers about my own theft situation. You can see how it works at claimyr.com or check their video demo: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 It helped me bypass the regular customer service and get to someone who could actually check the status of my case and confirm the exact timeline.

Does anyone know if theres a limit to how much they'll replace? My neighbor had almost $1,400 stolen (she was saving up for a big family event) and they only replaced $900 of it saying something about a maximum monthly benefit amount? So confused by all their rules

i think they r just saying this to get off the phone with u. i called 3 different times last week about my stolen benefits and got 3 different answers. 1st person said 3-5 days, 2nd person said 2-3 weeks, 3rd person said i had to submit additional verification forms that nobody mentioned before! definitely keep calling back and document EVERYTHING - get worker IDs and write down what they tell u each time

btw has anyone else noticed more theft happening lately? seems like every month someone i kno gets their benefits stolen

Update to my earlier comment: I just checked the official CDSS website, and they specify that while police reports aren't required initially, they reserve the right to request one during their investigation. The 2-10 day timeframe is accurate, but only applies to "standard" cases that don't require additional verification. My recommendation is to document everything related to the theft - where you last used the card, when you noticed the missing funds, any suspicious transactions. This will help if they do ask for additional information. Also, be aware that while they're processing faster now, the system can get backlogged near the end of the month when more theft reports come in.

I'm so sorry this happened to you! $675 is a huge chunk of your monthly benefits. I went through something similar about 6 weeks ago and can confirm the policy did change. I didn't need a police report and got my benefits back in 9 days. The key thing is making sure you fill out that EBT-2259 form completely and accurately - don't leave any fields blank even if they seem optional. Also, if you haven't already, call your card issuer (usually on the back of your EBT card) to report it stolen there too, not just to DPSS. Having it reported in both systems helps speed things up. Hang in there - your kids will be okay and the benefits should come through soon!