This is absolutely infuriating but I'm so glad you finally got your money back! I've been dealing with EBT theft for months now and it's like the system is designed to make us give up. My benefits were stolen twice in February - $520 the first time and $340 the second time. Filed reports immediately but kept getting the runaround from the county office. What really gets me is that they have all this technology to detect "suspicious" purchases when we're actually using our own benefits, but somehow can't stop thieves from draining our accounts? The whole system needs an overhaul. I'm definitely going to try bringing documentation of financial hardship like you did. My utilities are about to be shut off and I've been living off food bank donations while waiting for reimbursement. It's beyond cruel to make families wait weeks or months when we're already struggling to survive. Thank you for sharing your experience - it gives me hope that there might be light at the end of this nightmare!

This whole situation is absolutely heartbreaking and infuriating! I can't believe families are being put through this when they're already struggling just to put food on the table. The fact that you had to bring an eviction notice to get action is completely unacceptable - no one should have to be on the verge of homelessness before getting help with stolen benefits. I'm dealing with something similar right now - had $385 stolen two weeks ago and I'm still waiting for any response on my claim. Reading everyone's experiences here is both terrifying (37-46 days?!) and helpful. I had no idea about setting up EBT alerts or that phrase "immediate financial hardship" that someone mentioned. What really bothers me is how the state keeps talking about "improving security" but families are suffering RIGHT NOW while they slowly roll out chip cards. Meanwhile thieves are getting more sophisticated and we're left holding the bag (literally) when our grocery money disappears. I'm so relieved you finally got your money back, but the stress you went through to get there is unacceptable. Thank you for sharing your story - it's helping others like me know what to expect and how to fight for what's rightfully ours.

So glad you got your card sorted out! I'm actually dealing with something similar right now - my card stopped working yesterday and I think the magnetic strip got damaged. Good to know about being able to go to any county office in California. I was dreading having to wait for a replacement in the mail. Going to call around tomorrow to find the closest office with a working card printer. Thanks for sharing your experience!

Just want to add that if you're in a real emergency situation with kids to feed, some local food banks or churches might be able to help with emergency food assistance while you're waiting for your replacement card. I know it's not ideal and you shouldn't have to rely on charity when your benefits are right there, but sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do for the kids. Also, if you have any neighbors or family who shop at stores that accept EBT online (like Amazon Fresh or Walmart grocery pickup), you might be able to ask them to order groceries for you and pay them back once your new card arrives. Just another option to consider!

Also want to mention that some LA County offices have walk-in hours specifically for emergency situations like yours. The Crenshaw office and the Willowbrook office both have same-day emergency appointments available if you get there early (usually before 8am). Bring everything - eviction notice, pay stubs, IDs for everyone, birth certificates, rent receipts if you have them. One thing that helped me was writing a brief letter explaining my situation and timeline before going in. It helped the worker understand the urgency right away instead of me trying to explain everything verbally while stressed. Also ask about the General Relief program as a backup - it's not as much money but can sometimes bridge the gap while CalWORKs processes. Don't give up if the first person you talk to seems unhelpful. Ask to speak with a supervisor and use the exact phrase "I need emergency homeless assistance due to imminent homelessness." The magic words matter in this system unfortunately.

I'm currently going through a similar situation and wanted to share what I've learned so far. Like others have said, you definitely need CalWORKs, not CalFresh. But here's something that might help with your timeline concerns - LA County has a "Housing and Homelessness Prevention" program that works alongside CalWORKs. When you apply, make sure to specifically mention that you have children and are facing "imminent homelessness" - this can qualify you for expedited processing. I was told by a case worker that families with minor children get priority for emergency assistance. Also, while you're waiting for CalWORKs to process, check if your area has any emergency rental assistance programs still running. Some still have COVID relief funds available. The LA County Development Authority website has a list of current programs. One more tip - if you have any documentation showing you've been a good tenant (like on-time rent payment history), bring that too. It can help when you're trying to secure new housing with the assistance. Good luck, and don't hesitate to be persistent with the county office!

I'm dealing with something similar right now - my benefits got cut off unexpectedly last week and I've been getting the runaround trying to figure out why. One thing that helped me was calling the fraud hotline (1-800-344-8477) instead of the regular customer service line. They have shorter wait times and can sometimes see what's happening with your case even if they can't fix it directly. They told me there was a "pending verification" flag on my account that I never got a notice about. At least now I know what documents to bring when I go in person. Also, if you have kids under 6, you might qualify for WIC as a backup food assistance program while you get this sorted out. Hang in there - the system is definitely broken but your family deserves these benefits.

I'm so sorry you're going through this - the phone system is absolutely awful and it's infuriating when you need help urgently. A few things that have helped me and others I know: 1. Try calling your county's main CalFresh line instead of the EBT customer service - they can actually help with benefit issues while the EBT line is just for card problems 2. Call right at 8:00 AM sharp on weekdays, preferably Monday or Tuesday 3. Have your case number, SSN, and SAR7 confirmation ready before you call 4. If you submitted your SAR7 on time but benefits stopped, there might be a verification request that got lost in the mail or sent to an old address Also check if there are any local food banks or emergency food assistance programs in your area while you're getting this resolved. Many don't require applications and can help bridge the gap. The 211 helpline (dial 2-1-1) can connect you with local emergency food resources. Don't give up - you and your kids deserve these benefits and there are people in the system who do want to help once you can reach them. The fraud hotline number someone mentioned above is also worth trying if the regular lines don't work.

FINAL UPDATE: My benefits were finally loaded this morning! Full amount, no reduction. For anyone else experiencing this issue, definitely try that special hotline number that was shared. I got through in about 15 minutes yesterday, and they confirmed my case was affected by the system update but was scheduled for processing last night. Sure enough, funds were there this morning. Thanks everyone for your help and suggestions!

So glad to see this resolved! I'm dealing with the same issue in Fresno County - benefits were supposed to load on the 12th and still nothing. Just tried that special hotline number and actually got through in about 8 minutes! The rep confirmed my case is in the queue and should process within 24-48 hours. She also mentioned they're prioritizing households with children and elderly members, so if that applies to anyone still waiting, definitely mention it when you call. Thanks for sharing all the updates throughout this thread - it really helped knowing I wasn't alone in this situation!