How long to get stolen EBT benefits replaced? Just reported theft yesterday

I went through this exact situation back in October. It took about 14 days for me to get my benefits back after filing the paperwork. Make sure you've done these things: 1. Filed the official EBT-2259 form for benefit theft 2. Changed your PIN immediately 3. Asked them to send you a new physical card 4. Kept all receipts/documentation showing when the fraudulent transactions occurred One thing I highly recommend is calling your county CalFresh office directly (not just the EBT customer service line) to follow up on your claim. They can sometimes expedite things if you're in a hardship situation with children.

this happend to me last year and it took a MONTH to get my money back!!!!! they kept saying they were "investigating" but meanwhile my kids were hungry. i had to go to food banks 3 times. the system is broken.

I process EBT theft claims for our county, so I can give you the inside scoop. The official timeframe is 10 business days for processing, but right now we're seeing about 15-20 calendar days on average due to the huge increase in EBT theft cases. You can request emergency replacement benefits if this causes extreme hardship. You'll need to speak with an eligibility worker and explain your situation. The maximum emergency replacement is 60% of your stolen amount, but it can help tide you over. Make sure to follow up if you don't hear anything after 10 business days. Sometimes claims get stuck in the system.

I had $630 stolen in February and got it all back in exactly 18 days. The most frustrating part was trying to get through to someone to check on my claim status. I would call and sit on hold for 2+ hours only to get disconnected. Finally I found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that held my place in line and called me back when a worker was about to answer. Saved me hours of waiting and I was able to follow up on my claim properly. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 Definitely keep calling to check status - the squeaky wheel gets the grease with these claims!

my neighbrr had this happen n she got her money back in like a week but she went in person to the calfresh office not just called so maybe try that??

I'm so sorry this happened to you! These thieves are the worst kind of people, stealing food money from families. 😡 For me it took 12 days to get my stolen benefits back (this was in January), but I've heard it varies by county and how backed up they are. While you're waiting, definitely check out local food banks and call 211 to see what emergency food assistance is available. Many churches and community centers have emergency food programs too. One thing I learned: always transfer your benefits to a separate bank account as soon as they hit your EBT card! That way scammers can't get them. I now move mine to my checking account immediately on benefit day and haven't had any problems since.

Quick update on my earlier comment - starting January 2025, California implemented new EBT theft protection rules that are supposed to speed up the reimbursement process. The target is now 7 business days for processing claims under $1,000. Also, be aware that you need to report theft within 30 days of the fraudulent transaction to be eligible for reimbursement. Sounds like you reported immediately so you're good. For anyone reading this in the future: California recently added PIN-less transaction blocking as an option for your EBT account. Log into the BenefitsCal portal or EBT mobile app and enable this feature to prevent thieves from making transactions without your PIN.

my cousin works for calfresh and says they are like super backed up with theft claims right now becuz theres been a huge increase with those card skimmers at stores. she said average is like 17-21 days right now but if u tell them u have kids and no food they might do emergency benefits.

Just wanted to update everyone - I took several of your suggestions! I called and requested emergency replacement benefits, and they're giving me 50% of what was stolen while my claim processes. Also went to my county office in person yesterday and spoke with a worker who looked up my claim and said it looks like it should be processed by next Friday (so about 10 days total). Thanks for all your help and suggestions! I've also enabled that PIN-less blocking feature and will be changing my PIN regularly from now on.

I'm so sorry this happened to you! EBT theft is becoming such a huge problem and it's heartbreaking that people are stealing food money from families. I went through this about 6 months ago when $580 was stolen from my card. Here's what helped me get through the waiting period: 1. Contact your local food bank ASAP - most don't require any paperwork and can help immediately 2. Call 211 for a list of emergency food resources in your area 3. Many Sikh temples (gurdwaras) serve free meals to anyone, no questions asked 4. Some grocery stores have programs where they'll let you shop and pay later if you show them your theft claim paperwork My benefits were replaced in 16 days, but those two weeks felt like forever. The emergency benefits that others mentioned are definitely worth asking for - I didn't know about those when it happened to me. Stay strong and keep following up on your claim. The system is frustrating but most people do eventually get their money back. Sending good thoughts your way! 💙