URGENT: EBT card drained at 6AM - CalFresh benefits stolen while at bank!

omg this happened to my cousin last month too!! she said someone skimmed her card at a store and then emptied it. did u swipe ur card anywhere sketchy lately?

This is definitely EBT theft, which unfortunately has become more common in California. Here's what you need to do immediately: 1. Call the EBT Customer Service (877-328-9677) and report the card as stolen - yes, even though you have the physical card, report it stolen so they deactivate it 2. Request a replacement card 3. File a benefit theft claim form (the customer service should email you the form) 4. Contact your county CalFresh office specifically asking for the "benefit replacement due to theft" procedure 5. File a police report - this is VERY important as it's required for the replacement claim Under California's EBT theft protection laws, you can get replacement benefits if you report within 10 days. Keep all documentation of when/where the unauthorized transactions occurred.

THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO ME LAST WEEK!!!! Except they took $430 from my account and I was at work when it happened. I called and called and FINALLY got through to someone at the county who said it could take up to 30 DAYS to investigate!!! What are we supposed to do for food in the meantime?? The system is BROKEN! They told me I might not even get the money back if they can't "verify" it was theft. How am I supposed to PROVE I wasn't in San Jose when my money disappeared??

I work with benefits advocacy and unfortunately EBT theft is increasing. A few important things to know: 1. California passed enhanced protections for EBT theft in 2023, so you ARE eligible for replacement benefits 2. You should change your PIN immediately if you haven't already 3. Request expedited emergency replacement benefits - specifically use these words 4. You can also apply for emergency food at local food banks while waiting The challenge is getting through to a CalFresh worker who can actually process your claim quickly. Many people have success using Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through the phone lines - they'll actually wait on hold for you and call you when they reach a real person. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 Most important: document everything! Write down all call reference numbers, worker names, and any case numbers they give you.

u should go to the food bank while waiting for replacement. i had to do that when my ebt got messed up last year. most don't need appointments anymore just bring ID

I don't mean to scare you but my sister's coworker had this happen and it took 45 days to get her money back! She had to ask for emergency CalFresh benefits (different from replacement) while waiting. You can apply for emergency benefits and get them within 3 days if you have less than $150 income and less than $100 cash on hand. Might be worth doing both - file for theft replacement AND apply for emergency benefits.

So sorry this happened to you! When my benefits were stolen last year, I found out thieves are using something called "skimmers" that they attach to store card readers to steal card info. After my replacement card came, I started only using it at the customer service desk inside stores where it seemed safer. Also started checking my balance every day on the EBT app. For getting through to CalFresh, I literally had to call right when they opened at 8:00am and kept redialing for 45 minutes. When I finally got through, ask to speak with a supervisor immediately - regular workers often can't approve the emergency replacements.

Quick update on the process: when you speak with CalFresh, make sure they provide form CF-303 (EBT Benefit Theft Replacement Request). This specific form is what you need. Also, the county has 10 days to make a determination after you submit this form and all required evidence. If they don't, contact Bay Area Legal Aid or your local legal services organization - they're helping many people with these cases right now.

did u try that claimyr thing someone mentioned? my friend used it for her medi-cal issue and said it actually worked. might be worth it if ur desperate to talk to someone

UPDATE: I wanted to let everyone know what happened. I took all your advice and it really helped! I called EBT customer service again and specifically asked for the CF-303 form. They emailed it to me and I filled it out right away. I also filed a police report online (they gave me a report number immediately). I couldn't get through to my county office by phone after trying for hours, so I used that Claimyr service someone recommended. It worked! They got me through to a actual person at the county in about 40 minutes. The worker told me they could process an emergency replacement request that would be reviewed within 48 hours because I had children in the household. I also went to the food bank this morning and they gave us enough to get by for a few days. Thank you all for your help during this nightmare!