Will CalFresh benefits still load if my EBT card is locked? Urgent question
So I had to lock my EBT card yesterday because I think someone might have tried to steal it from my mailbox. My monthly CalFresh deposit is supposed to happen tomorrow (around $430 for my household of 2). Will the benefits still be added to my account even though the card is locked? Or do I need to unlock it first for the deposit to go through? I'm worried if I unlock it too soon someone might try to use it, but I really can't afford to miss this month's food money. Has anyone dealt with this before?
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Amina Diallo
Yes, your benefits will still be loaded onto your account even if your card is locked. The lock only prevents the card from being used for purchases, it doesn't stop the benefit deposit. Your CalFresh benefits are tied to your case/account, not the physical card status. So your $430 will be there waiting when you're ready to unlock the card!
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Connor O'Brien
•Thank you so much! What a relief. I was freaking out thinking I'd have to choose between getting my benefits or keeping my card secure.
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GamerGirl99
Same happened 2 me last year! Benefits still load, locking just stops purchases. ur good 👍
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Hiroshi Nakamura
•omg this is so helpful to know!! i always worry about this stuff too. does anyone know how long benefits stay on the card? like if I don't use mine for a few months will i lose them???
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Isabella Costa
Just to add some additional information: locking your EBT card is a security feature that prevents transactions, but doesn't affect benefit deposits. Your CalFresh benefits will load on your regular issuance date regardless of whether your card is locked or unlocked. Benefits are tied to your case number in the system, not the card status. When you're ready to use your benefits, you can unlock your card through the EBT mobile app, the customer service phone number on the back of your card, or through the BenefitsCal website. It's actually smart that you locked your card if you suspected someone might try to take it. Benefits can't be replaced if someone uses them before you report the card stolen.
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Connor O'Brien
•That's really helpful, thank you! I didn't know about the EBT mobile app option for unlocking it. That's probably easier than calling the number. I'll just keep it locked until I'm actually at the store ready to use it.
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Malik Jenkins
This EXACT thing happened to me in January!!! I had my card locked because someone stole my wallet but I was scared my benefits wouldn't come through. They DID load correctly but then I had ANOTHER problem - when I tried to unlock the card through the phone system it kept disconnecting me!!! I tried for THREE DAYS and couldn't get through to anyone!!!! So frustrating when you need your food money!!!
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Freya Andersen
•I had the same issue trying to reach someone by phone! After getting disconnected multiple times, I finally used Claimyr to get through to a real person at the county. It's a service that holds your place in line and calls you back when a worker is available. Saved me hours of frustration. I watched their video demo first (https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8) to see how it works, then used their site claimyr.com. Got my card unlocked that same day after a week of trying on my own.
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Hiroshi Nakamura
I think u can also just order a new card if ur worried about the old one? Thats what my neighbor did and they just shut off the old one completely. but yea benefits still load every month no matter what
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Amina Diallo
•This is correct - you can request a replacement card through BenefitsCal or by calling the EBT customer service line. The old card will be deactivated when the new one is issued. Just note that it can take 7-10 days to receive the new card in the mail, so having the ability to lock/unlock your current card is helpful in the meantime.
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Eduardo Silva
jsut want to add that your calfresh benefits stay on your card for 9 months before they start to expire, so even if you keep it locked for a while youll still have access to those funds. ive had to lock mine a couple times when i lost it then found it again lol. also benefits are added at same time each month depends on your case number i think mine come on the 11th
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Connor O'Brien
•9 months? That's good to know! I was thinking they'd expire after just a month or two. Sometimes I don't use all my benefits right away so that's reassuring.
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Isabella Costa
Quick additional tip: If you're concerned about mail theft, you can also request to have your EBT card sent to your local county office for pickup instead of mailed to your home. You just need to call your caseworker and make this request. It adds a layer of security if you're concerned about mail theft in your area.
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Connor O'Brien
•I had no idea this was an option! That would definitely be better for me since our mailboxes aren't very secure in my apartment complex. I'll call my worker about this for sure. Thanks!
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GamerGirl99
wait I'm confused are we talking about calfresh or calworks? cuz I think those are different systems right???
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Amina Diallo
•The original question is specifically about CalFresh (food benefits), but both CalFresh and CalWORKs (cash aid) use the same EBT card system. The card locking feature works the same way for both programs - benefits will still deposit on schedule even if the card is locked. The difference is just what the benefits can be used for.
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Morita Montoya
Another thing to keep in mind - if you do suspect someone tried to steal your card from the mailbox, you might want to report it to your local post office too. Mail theft is a federal crime and they take it pretty seriously. I had issues with mail theft in my neighborhood last year and after I filed a report, they actually increased patrols in our area. It won't help with your immediate EBT situation but could prevent future issues for you and your neighbors.
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Savanna Franklin
•That's really smart advice! I hadn't thought about reporting it to the post office. I've been so focused on just protecting my EBT card that I didn't think about the bigger picture. If someone is stealing mail in my area, they're probably targeting other people too. I'll definitely file a report - thanks for mentioning this!
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