How quickly does CalFresh replace stolen EBT benefits after filing theft report?

sorry to hear about ur stolen benefits, that happened to me last yr too. took about 3 weeks to get mine back but my cousin got hers in like 10 days so i think it depends on ur county maybe?? its super frustrating tho

I'm a volunteer at a local food assistance program, and unfortunately EBT theft has become really common. After you file the theft report, the county has to conduct an investigation which typically takes 10 business days (so about 2 weeks total). They need to verify the transactions were fraudulent and that you weren't involved. A few important things to know: 1. Make sure you get a case number for your theft report 2. They should replace benefits stolen within the last 90 days 3. The county is required to issue replacement benefits within 10 business days of receiving your signed statement 4. Change your PIN immediately if you haven't already While you're waiting, I'd recommend checking with local food banks for emergency assistance.

I had $380 stolen back in January and after reporting it, they replaced my benefits in exactly 10 calendar days (not business days). But I think it varies by county. I'm in Los Angeles County and they were actually pretty efficient with it. Make sure you've changed your PIN right away and check if your contact information is updated in the system so they can reach you if they need additional information.

When this happened to me I had to call my worker EVERY SINGLE DAY for updates. They "lost" my paperwork twice and kept telling me different timelines. First it was 5 days, then 10 business days, then suddenly it was "up to 30 days for investigation." The system is completely broken!!! I finally got my benefits back after 17 days but only because I kept calling and escalating to supervisors. Don't just wait for them to handle it - be proactive and keep calling! They don't care if your family is hungry.

If you're having trouble reaching an actual person at CalFresh, I'd recommend trying Claimyr. It helped me get through to a real person when my benefits were stolen last year. They basically wait on hold for you and call you back when a real person answers. I was skeptical but their video demo convinced me: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 Regarding your question - in my experience, the 10-day timeline is accurate for most counties, but it's 10 business days from when your signed statement is processed, not from when you first report it. That distinction made a big difference in my case.

DID ANYONE TELL U TO FILE A POLICE REPORT??? when my ebt got stolen the county wouldnt process my claim until i had an actual police report number!!! waste of 5 days before someone told me this!! go to local police asap and get a report number then give THAT to ur worker!!!!

Just to clarify, the official CalFresh policy does vary slightly by county. Most counties require: 1. Form EBT-4 (Statement of Stolen Benefits) 2. Some counties also want a police report but it's not required by state law 3. The 10 business day countdown starts when they receive your signed EBT-4 form While waiting, ask your worker about emergency replacement benefits - some counties will issue partial emergency benefits while your claim is being processed, especially for households with children.

One important thing I forgot to mention - when you get your benefits back, they should include any benefits that were stolen since your last report. I recommend switching to the EBT online app so you can freeze your card between uses. I've started only keeping my card active when I'm literally at the checkout. It's annoying but better than having everything stolen again.

my friend had her benefits stolen twice last year and the second time they accused her of being in on it and denied her claim!! be careful and save any evidence that shows you weren't near where the fraudulent purchases happened

I'm so sorry this happened to you and your family! EBT theft is unfortunately becoming way too common. From what I've seen in my community, the timeline really does vary by county but most people get their benefits back within 10-14 business days once the paperwork is properly submitted. A few things that might help speed up the process: - Make sure you have your case number from the theft report - Keep records of all your communications with your worker - Consider reaching out to your local food bank for emergency assistance while you wait - Some counties have emergency food assistance programs specifically for EBT theft victims Also, once you get your benefits back, definitely look into the card freezing feature others mentioned - it's been a game changer for preventing future theft. Hang in there, and don't hesitate to follow up with your worker if you don't hear back within the timeframe they gave you.

I went through this exact same situation about 6 months ago - had $520 stolen from my EBT card. Here's what I learned that might help: The 10-day timeline your worker mentioned is typically 10 BUSINESS days from when they receive your signed EBT-4 form, not from when you first reported it. In my case (Orange County), it took exactly 12 business days to get my benefits restored. A few things that helped me: - I called every 3-4 days for updates (not daily like some suggest, but regularly enough to stay on their radar) - I kept a written log of every conversation including dates, times, and who I spoke with - When I finally got through to someone, I asked for the specific date my EBT-4 was processed - that's when the clock officially starts ticking Also, definitely check with local food pantries while you wait. Many have special emergency boxes for families dealing with EBT theft. The Salvation Army and local churches often have resources too. Hang in there - it's incredibly stressful but most people do get their benefits back within the timeframe. The system is slow but it usually works eventually.

I'm really sorry you're going through this - EBT theft is so stressful, especially when you have kids depending on those benefits. I haven't personally experienced this, but I wanted to share what I've heard from others in similar situations. From what I understand, the timeline can really vary depending on your county's workload and how quickly they process the paperwork. Some people get their benefits back in 10 days, others wait 2-3 weeks. The key seems to be making sure all your paperwork is submitted correctly and following up regularly without being too pushy. While you're waiting, I'd definitely recommend reaching out to local food banks and churches - many have emergency food boxes specifically for situations like this. You can also call 211 for information about emergency food assistance in your area. I hope you get your benefits restored quickly! It sounds like you've done everything right by reporting it immediately and filing the theft report. Hang in there!

I'm so sorry this happened to you and your family - $475 is a significant amount to lose, especially when you're counting on it for groceries! I went through something similar about 8 months ago when someone used my EBT card at stores I'd never been to. From my experience in Riverside County, it took about 2 weeks (10 business days) to get my benefits restored after I submitted the EBT-4 form. The key thing I learned is that the timeline starts from when they actually process your paperwork, not when you first report it. A couple of tips that helped me: - Ask your worker for confirmation that they received your signed EBT-4 form and get the date it was processed - If you haven't already, change your PIN immediately and consider using the EBT app to freeze/unfreeze your card between uses - Contact local food banks for emergency assistance - many have special programs for EBT theft victims The waiting is absolutely nerve-wracking when you have kids to feed, but hang in there. Most counties do follow through within their stated timeframes. Don't hesitate to call for updates if you don't hear anything after 10 business days from when your form was processed. Wishing you and your family the best during this stressful time!

I'm really sorry to hear about your EBT theft - it's such a violation and so stressful when you're depending on those benefits to feed your family. I haven't personally experienced this, but I wanted to share some information that might be helpful. From what I understand, California state law requires counties to replace stolen EBT benefits within 10 business days of receiving your completed EBT-4 form (the theft report). The key is making sure that form was properly received and processed - that's when the countdown officially begins, not when you first called to report it. A few suggestions while you wait: - Call your county office to confirm they received your EBT-4 and ask for the specific date it was processed - Keep a record of all your communications (dates, times, who you spoke with) - Contact your local food bank or call 211 for emergency food assistance while you wait - Consider downloading the EBT app to freeze your card between uses to prevent future theft San Bernardino County should follow the same state guidelines as other counties, so hopefully you'll see your benefits restored within that 10 business day timeframe. Don't hesitate to follow up if you don't hear anything by then - you have the right to know the status of your claim. Hang in there, and I hope you get your benefits back soon!

I'm so sorry this happened to you - EBT theft is becoming way too common and it's especially hard when you have kids counting on those benefits. I haven't experienced this personally, but I wanted to share what I've learned from helping others in our community navigate similar situations. The timeline really does seem to vary by county and how quickly they process your paperwork. From what I've seen, most people get their benefits back within 10-14 business days once the EBT-4 form is properly processed (not just submitted). The key thing is getting confirmation from your worker about when exactly your form was received and processed - that's when the official countdown begins. While you're waiting, definitely reach out to local food banks and community organizations. Many have emergency food boxes specifically for families dealing with EBT theft. You can also call 211 to get connected with emergency food resources in San Bernardino County. A few other things that might help: - Document everything (dates, times, who you spoke with) - Ask for your case number if you don't already have it - Don't be afraid to follow up every few days for status updates The waiting is the worst part, especially when you're worried about feeding your family. But from what I've seen in our community, most people do get their benefits restored within the timeframe. Hang in there, and don't hesitate to advocate for yourself if things drag on longer than expected!

I'm so sorry this happened to you and your family - having $475 stolen is devastating, especially when you're relying on those benefits to feed your kids. I went through this exact situation about a year ago in Fresno County, so I wanted to share what I learned. The timeline really does depend on when they actually process your EBT-4 form, not when you first reported it. In my case, it took 11 business days from when my form was processed to get my benefits back. The key is getting confirmation from your worker about the exact date your paperwork was received and processed - that's when the official 10 business day countdown starts. A few things that helped me during the wait: - I called every few days (not daily) to check status and show I was staying on top of it - I kept detailed notes of every conversation including dates and who I spoke with - I reached out to local food banks for emergency assistance - many have special programs for EBT theft victims Also, once you get your benefits back, definitely download the EBT app if you haven't already. Being able to freeze and unfreeze your card between shopping trips has been a game changer for preventing future theft. The waiting is absolutely nerve-wracking when you have kids to feed, but hang in there. Most counties do follow through within their stated timeframes. Don't hesitate to follow up if you don't hear anything after the 10 business days from your form processing date. Wishing you and your family the best - you've got this!