Money disappeared from P-EBT card - getting CalFresh benefits refunded?

same thing happened to me last month!! they took $280 and i had to fight to get it back. call them ASAP

This is actually a common issue with P-EBT cards in 2025. There are a few possibilities for what happened: 1. System error - sometimes the EBT system shows an "Adjustment" when they're updating benefit information 2. Fraud - someone may have skimmed your card or used your information 3. Expiration of benefits - P-EBT benefits expire after 274 days of inactivity 4. Administrative recoupment - if there was an overpayment previously First, check if your P-EBT benefits might have expired. If not, you need to report this to the EBT Customer Service AND file a fraud report if you didn't authorize any transactions. Request a case number when you call. You have 90 days to dispute unauthorized transactions, and they should give you provisional credit while they investigate.

Omg I went through the EXACT same thing in February!!!!! They took $395 from my daughter's P-EBT and when I finally got through to someone they said it was a "system adjustment" because they had apparently issued too many benefits the month before. But I had already spent some of that money on groceries so it wasn't fair!!! I was LIVID. Did you get any kind of notice in the mail before they took the money??

check ur mail. they always send notices. u probably missed it.

I had a similar issue with benefits being removed as an "adjustment" from my P-EBT card last year. After calling for days, I finally gave up on the regular customer service line and tried Claimyr.com to get through to an actual human at the CalFresh office. Their service connected me directly to a worker in about 15 minutes instead of waiting hours. I showed them my transaction history and they confirmed it was an error. Took about 5 days, but I got all my benefits back. They have a video showing how it works here: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 - definitely worth it when you're dealing with missing benefits and can't get through the regular way.

I work as a benefits advocate, and I can tell you this happens more than it should with P-EBT cards. Here's the correct process to follow: 1. First, call the EBT Customer Service and specifically request a "Benefit Adjustment Review" - use those exact words 2. Get a confirmation number for your dispute 3. Ask them to issue a provisional credit while they investigate 4. If they refuse or you can't get through, contact your county CalFresh office directly and ask to speak with a supervisor about an "unauthorized P-EBT adjustment" 5. Document everything: dates, times, names of representatives By law, they have to investigate and make a determination within 10 business days. If the money was removed in error, they must restore the full amount. If they determined there was an overpayment, they should have sent you a Notice of Action at least 10 days before taking the money. P-EBT is administered differently than regular CalFresh, which causes a lot of confusion. But you have rights, and unauthorized adjustments must be corrected.

This happened to me except it wasn't P-EBT it was my regular CalFresh. They took out $300 saying I didn't report income change on my last SAR7 but I DID report it they just lost the paperwork! I had to send them copies of everything again and it took almost 3 weeks to get my benefits back. The system is completely broken. Make sure you keep calling until you get someone who will actually help. Some workers are nice and others just don't care at all.

Quick update on P-EBT rules for 2025: If you determine this was truly an error and not benefits expiring, you can also file a formal "fair hearing request" if the regular customer service route doesn't work. You have 90 days from the date of the adjustment to request this hearing. While waiting for the hearing, also contact your local legal aid office - many have special units that handle EBT and P-EBT issues at no cost. The California Department of Social Services has a special P-EBT helpline at 877-328-9677 that's separate from the regular EBT customer service line and sometimes more helpful for these specific issues.

UPDATE: I finally got through to someone! Apparently they did an "account reconciliation" and found that they had issued an extra payment back in January that I wasn't eligible for. The frustrating part is they never notified me before taking the money back. The representative said I should have received a Notice of Action but admitted they've been having problems with their mailing system. They're supposed to send notices 10 days before taking any action! They said I can request a fair hearing to dispute it, but since it was technically an overpayment, they probably won't return the money. I'm still going to try because I budgeted based on what was showing on my card. This is so frustrating!