How long after EBT skimming claim approval until replacement benefits are loaded?
My EBT card got skimmed last week and $680 was stolen from my CalFresh benefits. I filed a claim with BenefitsCal right away and got a call yesterday saying my claim was approved for replacement. The worker said my benefits would be replaced but didn't tell me WHEN they'd show up on my card. Has anyone gone through this skimming nightmare? How long did it take for your replacement benefits to actually appear after approval? My kids are hungry and I'm stressing out about grocery shopping this weekend.
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Ellie Simpson
It should be within 10 calendar days of your claim approval date according to the official guidelines, but in my experience, they usually load them faster. When my card was skimmed in February, I saw the replacement benefits show up exactly 3 business days after the approval call. Check your EBT balance through the app or phone system daily - they don't always notify you when it's loaded.
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AaliyahAli
•Thank you!! That's a relief to hear it might be sooner than 10 days. I'll keep checking my balance. Did you have to get a new EBT card too or did they just reload your existing one?
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Arjun Kurti
my mom got her benefits back in like 2 days but my cousin waited like 2 weeks so I guess it depends on your county maybe?? the whole system is broken imo
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Raúl Mora
•Yeah it totally depends on your county AND who processes your claim. When I got skimmed they told me 10 days but it showed up in 4. You should call and ask specifically because they can sometimes expedite if you have no food at home.
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Margot Quinn
This is sooooo frustrating! I had the SAME thing happen in March and waited 14 DAYS before I saw my money back!!!! The system is completely broken and they don't care that people are hungry. I ended up having to borrow money from family just to feed my kids.
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Evelyn Kim
•That's not right - the regulations clearly state they should replace benefits within 10 calendar days for approved claims. If it took 14 days, you should have filed a complaint with your county. They can actually get in trouble for delays beyond the 10-day requirement. Always document everything with CalFresh - dates, times, who you spoke with, etc.
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Diego Fisher
When my benefits were stolen, I had trouble getting through to anyone who could tell me exactly when they'd be replaced. After getting disconnected multiple times, I used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to a live person at my county office. It saved me hours of hold time and the representative was able to see that my benefits were scheduled to be loaded the next day. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 that shows how it works. Definitely worth it for peace of mind when you're waiting on food benefits.
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AaliyahAli
•That service sounds helpful. I've been calling the main line and getting nowhere. Do they actually get you through to a real worker who can check on your specific case?
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Diego Fisher
•Yes, they connected me directly to a worker who could access my case and see exactly when my replacement benefits were scheduled. Much better than the general EBT customer service who couldn't tell me anything specific about my case.
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Henrietta Beasley
I work with a community organization that helps people with CalFresh issues. The standard processing time for replacement benefits after approval is indeed 10 calendar days maximum, but most counties process them within 3-5 business days. A few important things to note: 1. Make sure you've reported the skimming to both CalFresh AND the police (file a police report) 2. If you didn't already, request a new EBT card and change your PIN 3. If it's been more than 5 business days, call your county worker directly (use your BenefitsCal account to find their direct contact) 4. If you're in a dire situation, ask about emergency replacement options Also, while waiting, check if you qualify for emergency food from local food banks. Many have special provisions for people waiting on benefit replacements.
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AaliyahAli
•Thank you for all this information! I did get a new card and changed my PIN immediately. I'll give it until Tuesday and then start calling if nothing shows up. I appreciate the food bank suggestion too - I didn't think of that.
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Arjun Kurti
dont they make u fill out a form and signe it when ur ebt gets skimmed? my friend said they need u to sign something saying u didnt spend the $ yourself
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Henrietta Beasley
•Yes, that's Form CF 303 - "EBT Benefits Theft Report". You have to sign under penalty of perjury that you didn't authorize the transactions. This is a standard part of the skimming claim process. The OP mentioned they already got approval, which means they likely already completed this form.
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Raúl Mora
This happened to me twice last year! The first time it took 7 days after approval, but the second time (different county) it only took 2 days. I think it really depends on your county's workload and how efficient their office is. Have you checked your balance today? Sometimes they load it without telling you.
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AaliyahAli
•Just checked again and nothing yet. It's only been 1 day since approval though, so maybe I'm being impatient. It's just stressful not knowing when we'll be able to get groceries again.
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Margot Quinn
Did anyone else notice their benefits got skimmed again after replacement??? This happened to my sister and she thinks it's an inside job!!! Be careful people!!!
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Ellie Simpson
•That's concerning, but unlikely to be an "inside job." More likely, she may not have identified how her card was compromised initially. Common issues include: 1. Skimmer devices still on ATMs/payment terminals she uses 2. Not getting a completely new card with new number 3. Using the same PIN again 4. Shopping at the same compromised retailers Always get a completely new card, use a different PIN, and avoid using EBT at suspicious terminals.
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AaliyahAli
UPDATE: My benefits just got loaded this morning! It took exactly 3 business days after approval. Thank you everyone for your help and advice. I'm so relieved to be able to get groceries for my kids today.
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Raúl Mora
•That's awesome! So glad to hear it worked out quickly for you. Make sure you're careful with that new card - I started only using mine at major grocery stores after my skimming incident.
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Henrietta Beasley
•Great news! For future reference (and anyone else reading this thread), I recommend setting up EBT text alerts through the ConnectEBT app or website so you get notified immediately when benefits are loaded or when transactions occur. This helps you catch unauthorized use quickly.
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Rhett Bowman
So happy to see your update! Three business days is pretty typical from what I've seen. For anyone else dealing with EBT skimming, here are some tips that helped me after my card got hit: 1. Always cover your PIN when entering it - skimmers sometimes have tiny cameras 2. Check your balance regularly through the app so you catch fraud early 3. Use your card at busy, well-lit locations when possible 4. If a card reader looks loose or different, don't use it The whole experience is so stressful when you have kids to feed. Glad you got through it quickly and can get groceries again!
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Yara Nassar
•Thanks for sharing those safety tips! I'm definitely going to be more careful about covering my PIN now. I never thought about the tiny cameras - that's terrifying. Do you know if there are certain stores or ATMs that are more likely to have skimmers? I want to avoid high-risk places if possible.
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