Unauthorized EBT transactions drained my account ($600 gone) - will CalFresh replace stolen benefits?

omg that happened to my cousin last month!!! they stole her whole balance at some store she never heard of. cal fresh made her fill out a form and do a police report. took like 3 weeks to get the money back but they did give it all back eventually. she had to call like crazy tho

You need to act quickly on this. EBT theft is unfortunately becoming more common with card skimming. Here's what you need to do: 1. Call the EBT customer service line (877-328-9677) IMMEDIATELY to report unauthorized transactions and have your card deactivated 2. Request a new EBT card 3. File a "Stolen Benefits Claim" form - get this from your county office 4. File a police report - most departments let you do this online now 5. Submit all documentation to your county worker Under California law, they can replace stolen benefits IF you report within 10 days of discovering the theft. The process typically takes 10-30 days but can sometimes be expedited in hardship situations. Be sure to mention if you have children in the household.

sorry this happened to u but why would u save up $600 on ur ebt? ur supposed to use it each month, thats why they give it monthly. they might think ur selling ur benefits if u save that much up

The exact same thing happened to me back in October!!! All my transactions showed up at stores in Oakland when I live in San Diego. I called right away and filed a police report. CalFresh replaced ALL my stolen benefits but it took 37 days exactly. I had to borrow money from family and use food banks while waiting. One tip: make sure you get a reference number every time you call. I got bounced around between departments and having those reference numbers saved me from starting over each time. Also, check if you're eligible for emergency food assistance while you wait. Some counties have programs specifically for EBT theft victims.

Unfortunately, EBT theft through skimming is becoming more common. I work as an advocate for benefit recipients, and here's what I recommend: 1. Since you've already reported it to the EBT hotline, your next step is filing form "CFD 303 - request for restoration of CalFresh benefits" with your county office 2. You MUST also file a police report (can be done online in most jurisdictions) 3. Contact your county office to request emergency replacement benefits due to household hardship For immediate food needs while waiting for replacement: - Visit your local food bank (find at cafoodbanks.org) - Check if your school district offers emergency meal programs - WIC office may have emergency provisions if you have young children California typically processes these claims within 10-30 days. Keep detailed records of every call and interaction!

this is y i always spend my benefits as soon as they hit my card. cant trust the system these days with all these scammers around. hope u get ur $ back!!

After dealing with something similar (my benefits were used in San Francisco when I live in Bakersfield), I found a service called Claimyr that helped me reach an actual CalFresh worker instead of waiting on hold forever. You can see how it works at https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 Basically they wait on hold with the county office for you and call you when a real person answers. Saved me hours of frustration when trying to get my stolen benefits case prioritized. I was able to speak directly with a supervisor who expedited my claim because I had children in the household. Much better than the automated system that kept disconnecting me!

Quick tip: When you call your worker, specifically ask for "expedited processing due to household hardship with minor children." That specific phrasing can bump your case up in priority. Also, call local food pantries ASAP - many will provide emergency 3-day supply boxes without any waiting period. And I know this is too late now, but for future reference, you can set up text/email alerts for EBT transactions on the ConnectEBT app. That way you'll know right away if something suspicious happens.

i heard they making everyone use the new chip ebt cards soon bc of all the skimming happening. did u have the old swipe card? my friend said the chip ones r safer

I'm so sorry this happened to you! EBT theft is absolutely devastating, especially when you're trying to budget and plan ahead like you were doing. I went through something similar last year - thieves hit my card at a gas station in Fresno while I was in Long Beach. Here's what worked for me: 1. You did the right thing calling immediately to freeze the card 2. When you file the police report, make sure to get a case number - you'll need it for the CalFresh claim 3. Ask your caseworker about "interim assistance" while waiting for the investigation - some counties can provide temporary emergency benefits 4. Document EVERYTHING with photos of your transaction history and keep all reference numbers The waiting period is brutal, but most people do get their benefits restored. In the meantime, check with local churches and community centers too - many have emergency food programs specifically for situations like this. Stay strong, and don't let anyone make you feel bad for having savings on your card. You were being responsible by planning ahead! 💙