How to get a replacement CalFresh EBT card fast? Mine is lost!

You can get a replacement card without going to the county office. Call the EBT Customer Service number at 1-877-328-9677. They can cancel your old card (so nobody can use it) and mail you a new one. Usually takes 3-5 business days to arrive in 2025, not the 7-10 days it used to take. Just make sure the address they have on file is current!

Thank you! Called them right away. The automated system was a mess but I finally got through. They're sending a new card but said 5-7 business days 😞 Guess I'll have to figure something out until then.

this happened 2 me last month!! so frustrating. check if ur county has emergency pickup for ebt cards. mine does but only at the main office not the satellite ones

I didn't even think of that! I'll call my county office tomorrow morning. Thanks for the tip!

Most counties allow you to request a replacement EBT card through your BenefitsCal account online too. Just log in, go to the EBT Card section, and there's an option to report it lost/stolen and request a replacement. The system will immediately deactivate your old card to protect your benefits. You'll still have to wait for mail delivery though unless your county has emergency pickup as someone mentioned.

I tried this last month and the BenefitsCal system was glitching out on me! Kept saying \

If you're desperate and can't wait for the card to arrive, you might want to try using Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to an actual CalFresh worker faster. I was in a similar situation and kept getting stuck in automated phone hell. Claimyr got me through to a live person in 5 minutes who was able to arrange an emergency card pickup at my local office. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8

does that really work?? the hold times are always like 2+ hours whenever i call my county

It worked for me! The service basically calls for you and navigates the phone tree, then calls you when a real person answers. Saved me hours of frustration.

NOBODY MENTIONED THE MOST IMPORTANT THING!! When you get the new card you have to set up a new PIN! The replacement card doesn't keep your old PIN. I found this out the hard way standing at checkout with a cart full of food and kids melting down. So embarassing!!

Omg thank you for telling me this! That would have been a nightmare scenario for sure. I'll make sure to set up the PIN immediately when I get the card.

One more tip - if you have the BenefitsCal mobile app, you can see your CalFresh balance even without the physical card. Doesn't help with shopping, but at least you can check that your benefits are still there and haven't been stolen if someone found your card.

Just checked the app and thankfully all my benefits are still there! Such a relief. Now I just need to figure out how to feed my family until the new card comes.

You might qualify for expedited replacement. I lost my card right before a holiday weekend and explained I had no food for my kids. They gave me a temporary card at the office that worked until my permanent one arrived. Bring ID and know your case number if possible!

UPDATE: Good news everyone! I called my county office this morning and explained my situation. They said I could come in for emergency card replacement! I'll be picking it up this afternoon. Thanks for all your help!

That's awesome news! So glad your county office was able to help with emergency replacement. For anyone else reading this thread in the future - definitely worth calling your county office directly and explaining if you have kids or are in a food emergency situation. Many counties have provisions for same-day or next-day emergency card pickup, but they don't always advertise it. You just have to ask and explain your circumstances. Hope your grocery shopping goes smoothly!

Pro tip for everyone - if you're waiting for your replacement card and need food immediately, some food banks and churches don't require EBT and can help bridge the gap. Also, many grocery stores will let you write down your EBT card number if you have it memorized (it's on your BenefitsCal app too) and can show ID, though this varies by location. Worth asking the manager if you're desperate! And definitely save your EBT card number in your phone contacts for situations like this.

Another option if you're really stuck waiting for the replacement card - check if your area has any community fridges or "little free pantries." These are usually stocked by neighbors and don't require any paperwork or cards. You can find them on apps like "Blessing Box" or just search "community fridge near me" on Google Maps. Also, if you have any friends or family who shop at Costco/Sam's Club, they can buy you groceries and you can Venmo/PayPal them back once your card arrives. Not ideal but it's gotten me through tough spots before. Hang in there!

Just went through this exact situation 2 weeks ago! One thing I'd add - if you do end up getting emergency pickup, call ahead to confirm what documents you need to bring. My county required photo ID AND either my case number or the last 4 digits of my SSN. Also, they only did emergency pickup during certain hours (like 9am-2pm), not all day. Would have saved me a trip if I'd known! Really glad to see this thread helping so many people - losing your EBT card when you have kids to feed is honestly one of the most stressful things ever.

This entire thread has been so helpful! As someone who works at a local food pantry, I wanted to add that many pantries have emergency provisions specifically for situations like lost EBT cards. Don't be embarrassed to call and explain your situation - we've heard it all before and that's exactly what we're here for! Most pantries will let you come more than once during your emergency period too. Also, if you have young children, WIC offices often have emergency food vouchers available even if you're not currently on WIC. And one more thing - screenshot or write down the EBT customer service number (1-877-328-9677) and your case number somewhere safe so you have it ready if this happens again. You never know when you might need it!

Wow, this thread has been incredibly comprehensive! I'm new to CalFresh and honestly had no idea there were so many options available when you lose your EBT card. The emergency pickup option alone could be a lifesaver - I always assumed you just had to wait for mail delivery. The tip about saving your EBT card number in your phone is brilliant, and I never would have thought about community fridges or asking grocery store managers about using just the card number. It's amazing how much this community knows and shares to help each other out. Definitely bookmarking this entire conversation for future reference. Thanks to everyone who contributed - this is way more helpful than any official resource I've found!