Lost my EBT and P-EBT cards plus ID - fastest way to get replacements?

For your regular EBT card, call the EBT Customer Service number (1-877-328-9677) right away if you haven't already. They'll deactivate your card so nobody can use your benefits and start the replacement process. For P-EBT, you'll need to call the P-EBT helpline at 877-328-9677 and follow the prompts specifically for P-EBT. Unfortunately, both replacement cards typically come by mail and yes, it usually takes 7-10 business days. The county office can't print EBT cards on-site anymore.

Ugh I feel ur pain!!! Had my purse stolen at the park last summer with ALL my cards too. For the EBT u HAVE TO call that 877 number, county workers cant help with EBT cards direclty. Make sure u report both cards stolen separately cuz theyre technicaly diffrent programs. took me like 9 days to get my new EBT but only 5 days for P-EBT weirdly.

While waiting for your replacement cards, you should contact your local food bank for emergency assistance. 211 can connect you with food pantries in your area. Also, when you call to report the cards stolen, ask specifically about an "emergency vault voucher" - some counties can issue emergency paper vouchers that can be used at certain stores while waiting for your replacement card, though this isn't available everywhere in California. You'll need to explain that you have no other resources for food. And don't forget to file a police report about your stolen wallet - it might be required for certain emergency assistance.

Same thing happened to me in december, what a nightmare!! the replacement process for both cards is different even though they look similar. for the regular EBT i waited 45 min on hold then gave up and tried again at like 6am and got through in 10 min. they canceled my old card and sent new one. for the P-EBT had to leave a voicemail and someone called back a day later. took about a week to get my EBT and almost 2 weeks for the p-ebt! make sure ur address is correct in the system!!!

Have you tried using Claimyr to get through to a CalFresh representative faster? I was in a similar situation last month (had my wallet stolen from my car!) and spent HOURS trying to get a person on the phone. A friend told me about claimyr.com and it saved me so much time - they got me through to a real person in about 10 minutes when I was previously waiting for hours. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8. Definitely helped me get my replacement process started way faster than I would have on my own.

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but the replacement timeframe is pretty much set in stone. The county offices have ZERO ability to give you a temporary card nowadays - they completely phased that out in 2022. Your benefits are still in your account, but you literally can't access them until that physical card arrives. It's a terrible system flaw. Call exactly at 8:00am when the customer service line opens for shortest wait times. And definitely call P-EBT separately - different database entirely despite using the same phone number.

ALSO! Very important - if whoever stole your wallet uses your EBT card before you report it stolen, those benefits are GONE. They will NOT replace stolen benefits, only the physical card. So if you haven't reported them stolen yet, do it IMMEDIATELY regardless of hold times.

Since you mentioned you have children, I want to make sure you know that while waiting for your replacement cards, you might qualify for emergency assistance through other programs. Contact your local WIC office if you have children under 5, as they can sometimes provide emergency food packages. Also, many school districts have emergency meal programs for families in crisis situations. Your children's school might be able to provide additional meals or weekend food packs while you're waiting for your benefit cards.

this is why i always keep my ebt separate from my regular wallet!! learned this the hard way 2 yrs ago. keep ur replacement in a different spot maybe?

Just to follow up - were you able to get emergency food assistance while waiting for your cards? The fastest way to get your new EBT card typically takes 5-7 business days, but your county worker can sometimes expedite the process if you explain your hardship situation. For the P-EBT cards, unfortunately there's less flexibility since they're managed at the state level rather than county level.

So glad to hear you got the emergency vault voucher! That's huge relief. For anyone else reading this who might be in similar situations, it's worth noting that you really have to push for a supervisor when asking about emergency assistance - the first person you talk to usually doesn't have authority to approve those vouchers. Also, when your new cards arrive, make sure to activate them right away and destroy the old ones if they somehow turn up. The system can get confused if both cards are active at the same time. Hope everything works out for you and your kids!

I'm so sorry this happened to you! I work at a county office and wanted to add a few things that might help. When you call for your EBT replacement, make sure to have your case number ready - it speeds up the process significantly. Also, if you're having trouble getting through on the main line, try calling your county's CalFresh office directly. While they can't print cards on-site anymore, they can sometimes help expedite the mailing process or connect you directly to the EBT vendor. Another tip: once you get your replacement cards, consider signing up for the ebtEDGE mobile app so you can check your balance and transaction history without needing the physical card. Stay strong - you'll get through this!

Just wanted to add that if you have any elderly neighbors or family members who might be willing to help temporarily, some grocery stores will allow you to use their EBT card with your presence and ID (if you still have another form of ID) - though this varies by store policy. Also, don't forget to check if your area has any mobile food pantries that come to different neighborhoods on rotating schedules. Many people don't know about these but they can be a lifesaver during situations like this. The 211 service mentioned earlier can tell you about mobile pantries too. Wishing you and your kids the best during this stressful time!

I'm so sorry you're going through this - having your wallet stolen is stressful enough without worrying about feeding your family! I went through something similar last year when my purse was stolen from my car. A few additional tips that helped me: First, when you call the EBT customer service line, press 1 for English, then 2 for "report lost/stolen card" - this gets you to the right department faster. Second, ask them to put a rush on your replacement card due to hardship with children - sometimes they can expedite it to 3-5 days instead of the full 7-10. Third, many churches have emergency food pantries that don't require any paperwork or waiting - just call around to local churches even if you're not a member. Finally, if you have any friends or family with Costco or Sam's Club memberships, they often have generous return policies and might be able to help you get some bulk basics. You've got this, and it sounds like you're already getting great help from this community!

I'm so sorry this happened to you! What a nightmare situation. I just want to echo what others have said about calling exactly at 8am - that's when I had the most success getting through quickly. Also, when you do get your replacement cards, there's one thing I learned the hard way: write down the card numbers and keep them somewhere safe separate from the physical cards. That way if this ever happens again, you'll have the card numbers ready when you call to report them stolen, which speeds up the whole process. The representatives can locate your account much faster with the card number than just your name and address. I keep mine written in a notebook at home now. Hope your new cards arrive quickly and that the emergency assistance gets you through until then!

I just want to say how heartwarming it is to see this community come together to help you through such a stressful situation! Reading through all these responses, I'm learning so much about resources I never knew existed. The fact that you were able to get that emergency vault voucher is amazing - I had no idea those were even possible. For anyone else who might face this situation in the future, this whole thread is like a masterclass in navigating the EBT replacement process. Alexis, I hope your new cards arrive quickly and that you and your kids are doing okay. It sounds like you've got a great support network here, and your positive attitude through all this stress is really admirable. Keeping my fingers crossed that everything works out smoothly for you!

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm new to the community and fortunately haven't had to deal with stolen cards yet, but reading through everyone's experiences has taught me so much about what to do if this ever happens. A few things I'm taking away: always keep EBT cards separate from other cards, write down card numbers somewhere safe at home, call exactly at 8am for shorter wait times, and ask specifically for a supervisor when requesting emergency assistance. The fact that emergency vault vouchers exist at all is news to me - I had no idea counties could still provide temporary assistance in extreme situations. Thanks to everyone for sharing their real-world experiences and tips. This is exactly the kind of practical, community-driven advice that makes such a difference when people are facing crisis situations!

I'm so glad to see this thread and how everyone came together to help you, Alexis! As someone who's been in this community for a while, I wanted to add one more resource that hasn't been mentioned yet - if you have young children, many pediatrician offices keep emergency food supplies or can connect you with family resource centers that provide immediate assistance. Also, your local library often has information about community resources and some even host mobile food pantries or have partnerships with local food banks. The librarians are usually very knowledgeable about what's available in the area. It sounds like you've already gotten great help, but I wanted to make sure these options were mentioned for anyone else who might face this situation. The community response here has been absolutely wonderful to read - it's exactly what makes this forum so valuable for families navigating these systems!

What an incredible thread to read through! As someone new to both this community and the CalFresh system, I'm amazed at how much practical knowledge everyone has shared here. Alexis, I'm so sorry you had to go through this stressful situation, but it's wonderful to see how the community rallied around you with real, actionable advice. The fact that you were able to secure an emergency vault voucher shows how important it is to advocate for yourself and ask to speak with supervisors when facing genuine hardship. I'm definitely taking notes on all the tips shared here - from the 8am calling strategy to keeping card numbers written down separately at home. This thread should honestly be required reading for anyone new to using EBT benefits. The combination of official processes (like calling the customer service line) and community resources (food banks, churches, libraries) really shows how many safety nets exist when you know where to look. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences - this kind of peer-to-peer knowledge sharing is invaluable for families navigating these systems!

As someone who's been navigating the California benefits system for a few years now, I wanted to add a couple more resources that might help in situations like this. First, many community colleges have emergency food pantries that are open to community members, not just students - they often have more supplies than campus pantries at universities. Second, if you're in a rural area where food banks might be far away, check if your area has a "Little Free Pantry" network - these are small community-stocked food boxes that you can access 24/7. You can find them through Facebook community groups or by searching "Little Free Pantry" plus your city name. Also, Alexis, I'm so glad you were persistent in asking for that emergency vault voucher - it really shows other people that these options exist if you keep pushing and ask for supervisors. Your experience is going to help so many other families who find themselves in similar situations. Thanks for sharing your story and creating such a valuable resource thread for this community!