Urgent: Replacing lost EBT card in Fresno - Do they issue new cards at welfare office same day?

u can call the EBT customer service # on the back of ur card... oh wait lol. its 877-328-9677. they'll cancel the old one right away so nobody can use it and mail u a new one but it takes like a week

As someone who works with CalFresh recipients regularly, I can confirm that in Fresno County, you CAN get a replacement EBT card same-day if you go to the welfare office in person. Bring your ID and know your case information. They'll deactivate the old card and issue you a new one while you wait. The office on E. Shields Ave is usually less crowded in the mornings. Just be prepared to possibly wait 1-2 hours depending on how busy they are.

When my purse got stolen with my EBT card, I panicked too! I first called the EBT customer service line (took forever to get through) to cancel the old card so nobody could use my benefits. Then I had to wait almost 10 days for a new one to arrive in the mail. Wish I had known I could get one at the office! The whole time I was worried someone was using my benefits even though they said it was canceled. Does anyone know if the welfare office is open on Saturdays? I always have trouble getting time off work during the week...

Something that might help others who face this situation in the future - you can now use the BenefitsCal mobile app to manage some aspects of your EBT card, including reporting it lost/stolen. You still can't get an instant replacement through the app, but at least you can quickly deactivate the lost card to protect your benefits. For the fastest replacement in Fresno: 1. Go in person to the Department of Social Services office (there's one on E. Shields and another on N. Fulton) 2. Bring government-issued photo ID 3. Know your case number if possible 4. Be prepared to verify identity They can typically issue a new card on the spot, and your existing benefits will transfer to the new card automatically.

I had to replace my card last month and tried calling the EBT customer service number. I spent almost 2 hours on hold and then got disconnected! I was so mad. I ended up using Claimyr.com to get through to an actual person at the Fresno County office. They have this service where they wait on hold for you and call you back when someone picks up. Saved me so much frustration! They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 The county worker I spoke with confirmed I could come in for a same-day replacement card. Went in that afternoon and had my new card within 30 minutes. Much better than waiting for mail delivery!

BTW dont forget when u get the new card u gotta make a new PIN too. my cousin got a replacement and forgot that part and couldnt use her card at the store, super embarrassing

The Shields Ave office has been CRAZY busy lately!! I went last Tuesday and waited 3.5 hours just for a simple question about my semi-annual report. If you're going tomorrow, get there BEFORE they open at 8am to get in line. Seriously. Otherwise, you might be there all day.

One more important tip: While you're at the office getting your replacement card, ask them to print out your recent benefit history. That way, if there were any unauthorized transactions before you reported the card lost, you can dispute them right away. You have 90 days from the date of a questionable transaction to dispute it and potentially get those benefits back.

Does anyone know if they charge for replacement cards in Fresno County? In Los Angeles they started charging $5 after your second replacement in a year... hoping Fresno doesn't do that because I'm already on my 3rd replacement this year 😬 (kids keep playing with my wallet

Just want to add that if you're going to the Shields office tomorrow morning, bring a snack and something to drink! The vending machines there are usually broken and there's no food nearby. Also, make sure your phone is charged - you'll probably be waiting a while even if you get there early. I've been there several times and the staff is actually pretty helpful once you get to the front, they just have way too many people to serve each day. Good luck getting your replacement card! At least you'll have access to your benefits right away instead of waiting for mail delivery.

Just went through this exact situation last month! The Shields Ave office definitely does same-day replacements, but here's a pro tip - if the line is too crazy there, try the North Fulton Street office instead. It's a bit further out but usually has shorter wait times. I got my replacement card there in about 45 minutes on a Wednesday morning. Also, if you have any old paperwork with your case number on it (like approval letters or recertification forms), bring that too - it speeds up the process even more. Hope you get sorted out quickly!

Quick update for anyone else who might face this situation - I just went through this exact process last week in Fresno! Got to the Shields office at 7:45am and was about 6th in line. Whole process took about 1 hour 15 minutes from when I got there to walking out with my new card. Staff was really helpful and the new card worked immediately at the grocery store. Just make sure to bring your ID and any paperwork you have with your case info. The PIN setup only takes like 2 minutes at the kiosk they have there. Don't stress too much @Andre Lefebvre - you'll get it sorted tomorrow!

If you're really desperate and can't make it to the office tomorrow for some reason, there's actually one more emergency option - some of the larger grocery stores in Fresno (like the WinCo on Shaw or Food 4 Less on Blackstone) have customer service desks that can help you get emergency food assistance while you wait for your replacement card. You'd need to call 211 first to get set up, but they can sometimes provide a temporary voucher for essential groceries. It's not ideal and has limitations, but it's better than going hungry if the office visit doesn't work out. But honestly, based on what everyone's saying, going to the welfare office in person sounds like your best bet for getting sorted quickly!