Suspended CalFresh EBT card - trying to get benefits while waiting for replacement

the same exact thing happened to me last month!!! i think theres some kind of security breach or something bc a bunch of ppl are getting this. you DONT need to file a new application, but you DO need to go through identity verification again. when you get the new card the benefits will still be there including any that got added during this waiting period. BUT the 2 week wait is ridiculous when u have hungry kids!!!!

You should be able to go to the county office without an appointment for emergency situations. My sister just went through something similar and they helped her same-day. Just bring ALL your ID documents - photo ID, social security cards for everyone, proof of address, etc. Be prepared to wait several hours though.

Hi there - I work as a community resource specialist, and this is actually a known issue affecting several counties. Here's what you need to know: 1. Your benefits are secure - this is just a card access issue, not an eligibility problem 2. You CAN request an emergency replacement card under California regulations 3. The county is required to provide emergency services for hardship cases Call your county office directly (not the EBT customer service line) and specifically request to speak with a supervisor about an "emergency replacement due to hardship circumstances with minor children." This specific language triggers certain requirements they must follow. Also, document every call - date, time, who you spoke with, and what they said. This helps if you need to escalate later.

I had to get through to my caseworker for a similar issue and was getting nowhere with the regular phone lines. I discovered a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that actually got me through to a real person at my county office within 25 minutes when I'd been trying for days. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 Might be worth trying since you have an urgent situation with kids. Once I got through to my worker, they were able to issue a replacement card that I picked up the next day.

just go to the local food bank while u wait!!! thats what there there for situations like this. my church also does emergency food boxes for families no questions asked. dont let ur kids go hungry waiting on the county!!!

You might be eligible for expedited services in this situation. Under CalFresh regulations, households facing emergencies can qualify for expedited processing. Call and specifically mention 'expedited services' due to having minor children and no access to food benefits. They should process this within 3 calendar days. Also, check if your county has implemented the CalFresh Disaster or Emergency protocols recently - if so, there are additional options available. Be persistent and document every contact with the county. If denied emergency assistance, ask for that denial in writing, as you have appeal rights.

this is y i always keep some of my benefits as cash just in case... they can freeze ur ebt but they cant take cash u already got out... just sayin for next time

UPDATE: I wanted to let everyone know what worked! I used that Claimyr service to get through to an actual person at my county office yesterday. Got connected in about 30 minutes when I'd been trying for days with no luck. The worker was able to verify my identity over the phone and marked my case as emergency hardship. Just got back from picking up a temporary card at the office and all my benefits are there! Thank you all SO MUCH for your help - my kids will eat well tonight!

So glad you got this resolved! This thread is incredibly helpful for anyone dealing with similar issues. Just wanted to add that if anyone else runs into this problem, it's worth knowing that you can also contact your local county supervisor's office if you're getting stonewalled by the regular channels. They often have staff who can help navigate these emergency situations and sometimes have more direct access to county services. I've seen them help cut through red tape when families are facing food insecurity. Also, for future reference, keeping a copy of your case number and worker contact info saved somewhere accessible can really speed things up when these emergencies happen.

This is such valuable information for anyone dealing with EBT issues! I'm really glad to see how this community came together to help. Just wanted to add that if you ever face this situation again, you can also request a "hardship exemption" which allows for same-day card replacement in emergency situations involving minor children. The county is required by state regulations to have a process for this, though they don't always advertise it. Also, if you have elderly household members (60+) or anyone with disabilities, that can also qualify for expedited emergency services. Keep all this info saved somewhere safe - you never know when you might need it again or be able to help someone else going through the same thing!