EBT theft in San Diego - how long for CalFresh benefit replacement?

I'm sorry this happened to you. Unfortunately EBT theft has gotten really common in San Diego lately. I work as a benefits counselor and see this weekly now. The good news is that you did everything right by reporting it immediately. For San Diego County specifically, the reimbursement process typically takes 7-10 business days from when they receive your completed 303 form. Make sure you provided all requested documentation - receipts showing the fraudulent transactions and the police report number if you filed one (though it's not always required). One important thing to note: under current CalFresh regulations, you should receive 100% of what was stolen as long as you reported it within 10 days of discovery. The county might issue an emergency replacement before the full investigation is complete if you explain your household has no food.

this happened to me in february and it took nearly 3 WEEKS to get my money back!!! i kept calling and calling and they just kept saying "its in process" every single time. finally i got transferred to a supervisor who expedited it. but my kids had to eat ramen for two weeks straight. the system is broken!!!

The exact same thing happened to my sister last month. Someone used her entire CalFresh balance at a store in National City while she was at work in Mira Mesa! She submitted the 303 form and had to wait 8 business days for reimbursement. The tricky part was getting through to someone at San Diego County to check on the status. She tried for days and kept getting disconnected or waiting for hours. She eventually used this service called Claimyr that gets you through to an actual CalFresh worker without the wait. It basically holds your place in line and calls you back when a worker is available. Totally saved her from having to sit on hold for hours. Here's their site: claimyr.com and there's a video demo of how it works: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 Once she got through to a worker, they were able to tell her exactly when the replacement benefits would be loaded.

Hate to be that person, but check if someone in your household knows your PIN. Most EBT theft is actually from people who have access to your card or PIN. Happened to my cousin - turned out her boyfriend was taking her card while she slept. Not saying that's your situation, but the county might ask about this too. For replacement timeframes, San Diego is pretty backed up right now. The official policy is 10 calendar days (not business days), but many offices are taking longer because of the huge spike in EBT theft cases. You might qualify for expedited emergency benefits if you have less than $100 available and meet other criteria, but you need to specifically ask for this when you call.

The same thing happened to me in El Cajon around 3 months ago. SD County replaced my benefits but it took exactly 9 calendar days. I think they have a different process than other counties maybe? Something important: they reissued my benefits AND gave me a new card with a new number. Make sure you ask for a new card because if you don't, the scammers might do it again since they already have your card information. Also change your PIN to something totally different. Don't use birthdates or anything obvious. Oh, and while you're waiting, call 211 San Diego - they can connect you with food banks and emergency food assistance. That's what helped my family get through the waiting period.

is it possible to get reimbursed if its been over a month since the theft? i had $220 stolen in april but didnt report it cuz i thought nothing would happen

I had this happen in February. The county told me 10 days, but it only took 6 days to get my benefits back. I think it depends on how busy they are? Make sure u check ur balance daily until it shows up - they didn't notify me when they replaced it, it just appeared one day. Also, be warned they might make u do an interview about what happened. I had to explain exactly when I last used my card, where i kept it, who knew my PIN, etc. They're trying to rule out family members taking it I guess. Good luck! The waiting part is super stressful when u have kids to feed :

Since you're in immediate need while waiting for the claim to be processed, contact these local emergency food resources in San Diego: 1. San Diego Food Bank - They have emergency food distribution sites across the county 2. Feeding San Diego - Call (858) 452-3663 for their emergency assistance 3. Your local WIC office if you have children under 5 Also, when you call the county office tomorrow, explicitly state that you have children with no food and need emergency replacement benefits. Use those exact words. Under CalFresh regulations, they have options for expediting replacement in hardship situations, but you need to make it clear that this is an emergency situation.