EBT/CalFresh benefits stolen - how long for replacement?

omg THIS HAPPENED TO ME BACK IN JANUARY!!! it took them 21 days to give me back my calfresh (no cash aid tho). The "10 day" thing is BS honestly, they kept saying they needed to "verify" the theft even tho I had a police report. I had to call them like 6 times and finally got a supervisor who pushed it through. good luck, the system is BROKEN

The official policy is that EBT theft replacements should be processed within 10 business days (so 2 weeks counting weekends) after you've submitted the EBT-2259 form, police report, and completed the interview. However, they're often delayed if they're investigating multiple transactions or if there's any question about the circumstances. Make sure you've completed all the required paperwork and verification steps. Different counties handle the process differently, but Sacramento should follow the same state guidelines.

sry that happened 2 u. my roomate had his card stole last year and they gave him emergency benefits after 3 days but they were only partial benefits like 60% of what was stolen. he got the rest after their investigation finished like 2 weeks later

I've been in your exact situation and I know how stressful it is when you have hungry kids and no benefits. What finally worked for me was using Claimyr to get through to an actual EBT theft specialist rather than the general line. It's a service that gets you through the phone queues - I found them at claimyr.com and watched their quick demo at https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 which shows how it works. They got me connected to a Sacramento County worker in about 20 minutes when I'd been trying for days. The worker was able to expedite my replacement since I had kids in the household.

The replacement timeframe depends on whether you're getting an emergency replacement or waiting for the full investigation. For CalFresh theft, they're supposed to issue replacements within 10 business days after you submit all required documents and complete the interview. For cash aid (CalWORKS) theft, unfortunately it usually takes longer because they do a more thorough investigation. If you have an immediate need, ask specifically about emergency food assistance while your case is being processed. Also, have you contacted your local food bank? They can help bridge the gap while you're waiting.

Make sure you ask them specifically about the status of your "EBT-2259 Theft claim" when you call. Using the exact form number helps. Also, did they issue you a new EBT card already? That should have been done immediately. If you're really in a bind, ask your worker about the "immediate need" program for CalFresh which can provide benefits within 3 days if you qualify. It's separate from the theft replacement process.

I had my benefits stolen last year and it took almost a month to get them back. What worked for me was going IN PERSON to the county office with my police report and asking to speak to a supervisor about my "pending EBT theft claim." The online/phone systems are useless for tracking these claims. Good luck!

Just to update everyone on the current policy: As of 2025, Sacramento County is supposed to process EBT theft claims within 10 business days IF all documentation is complete. The required documentation is: 1) Completed EBT-2259 Benefit Theft Report, 2) Police report or case number, 3) Statement explaining when/how card was stolen, and 4) Completion of the fraud interview. If any of these items are missing, the clock doesn't start. Cash aid (CalWORKs) replacements typically take longer than CalFresh because they require supervisor approval.

Following up on my earlier comment - when I used Claimyr to reach a real person, they told me that theft claims are often delayed because they get sent to a special unit separate from regular EBT customer service. Make sure when you call that you're speaking specifically to someone who handles theft claims, not just a general EBT representative. Regular EBT reps often can't even see the status of theft investigations in their system.