When will May's stolen CalFresh benefits be reissued on EBT cards? Still waiting for replacement

same thing here! they took $1,250 from us on May 6th, reported it immediately, and still nothing. The caseworker just keeps saying 'we're working on it' but we're starving too.

OMG this EBT theft is CRAZY right now!!! My mom got hit too in May (about $750) and they're making her wait 30-45 DAYS for replacement!!! Like wtf are ppl supposed to EAT while waiting?? The system is totally broken and nobody cares about us. When I called the regular EBT customer service they said they can't do ANYTHING about theft and we have to wait for the county to process it. I'm so angry about this whole situation!!!!!

I work with a nonprofit that assists CalFresh recipients, and unfortunately, the May theft situation is unprecedented in scale. Based on what we're seeing, counties are taking 3-4 weeks to process replacement benefits for most people. The state has actually authorized emergency replacements, but many county offices are struggling with the volume. Here's what I recommend: 1. Make sure your theft claim specifically uses the term "EBT skimming theft" in any documentation 2. Request an "expedited replacement due to hardship" - this is a specific classification they can use 3. Ask if you qualify for the emergency food box program specifically created for May theft victims 4. Document every communication with your worker (dates, names, what was promised) The good news is that replacements ARE happening, just slowly. The state has guaranteed all valid claims will be honored.

i got mine back yesterday finally! took exactly 22 days from when i reported it. they didnt call or anything just suddenly the money appeared back on my card. i had $945 stolen on may 2nd reported it may 3rd and got it back may 25th. hang in there its coming

I'm dealing with the same issue for my brother who had his benefits stolen. After calling the main CalFresh number for three days straight and never getting through, I found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that actually connects you to a real person at the county office. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 Using that, we got through to someone who told us they're processing May theft claims in batches by date reported, and they're currently working on claims from May 1-5. They said all valid claims will be processed but estimated 25-30 days total wait time. At least we got an actual answer instead of being stuck on hold forever.

Just wanted to add - make sure you're checking your actual EBT account daily, not just the card. My mother-in-law had her benefits stolen too ($625), and they actually replaced them but never notified her. She only found out when she logged into the EBT account online and saw the deposit. The county is so overwhelmed they're not calling people when replacements happen.

Has anyone tried going to their local office in person about this? I'm wondering if showing up might get faster results than calling.

Just wanted to provide an update - I've now heard from several clients that replacements for benefits stolen between May 1-10 are being processed this week and next. If your benefits were stolen after May 10th, you're looking at early June for replacement. The state has actually allocated additional staff to help counties process these claims faster, but there were over 40,000 theft reports in May alone across California, which is why it's taking so long. The good news is they are absolutely replacing the benefits - it's just a matter of when. I'd recommend checking your EBT account online every morning as replacements are often being loaded overnight with no notification.