EBT theft and incorrect income showing on BenefitsCal - impossible to get straight answers from caseworker!

I'm sorry you're dealing with this frustrating situation. For the EBT theft issue, your caseworker isn't actually the person who handles this - you need to call the EBT customer service line directly at 1-877-328-9677 to report the theft. They have a specific process for handling theft claims. For the income reporting error on BenefitsCal, that's definitely something your caseworker should help with. Take screenshots of the incorrect income information for documentation. Then call your county office again and specifically ask to speak with a supervisor about the income reporting error. Explain that this incorrect information could affect your benefit amount and needs immediate correction.

omg same thing happened to me with the income!! my benefitscal showed i was making like 4k a month when i was only working part time at target. took THREE MONTHS to fix and i almost lost my benefits. the whole time my worker acted like she didn't understand what i was showing her!

caseworkrs are SO OVERLOADEDED!! like the one i had last year literally had 300+ cases to handle. not saying its ok they dont help but they cant even remember who ur are from one call to the next

I've dealt with similar issues before. Here's what you need to do: 1. For the EBT theft: File a police report first, then call EBT customer service with the report number. They'll direct you to the right form (it's called the EBT-106 form in California). Your worker doesn't need to sign it - they might be confusing it with another process. 2. For the income error: Submit a formal correction request through BenefitsCal. Click on "Report a Change" and specifically note the income error. Upload any documentation showing you're not employed (like a separation letter from your last job). 3. Request an official benefit adjustment review. Use those exact words when you call the county office next time. This triggers a formal process they have to follow with specific timelines. The key is using the right terminology so they take appropriate action. Don't just say "there's a mistake" - be specific about needing an "income verification correction" and "benefit adjustment review.

i had something similar with the EBT theft last year. called and called and no one ever answered, always got disconnected after waiting on hold forever. finally i used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me through to an actual person at the county within like 20 minutes. they have this video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 they connected me directly to a supervisor who finally processed my theft claim. worth it cause i was getting nowhere on my own for weeks!!!

Let me clarify an important point about EBT theft that seems to be causing confusion here. As of 2025, California has streamlined the EBT theft reporting process. Step 1: Report to EBT Customer Service (1-877-328-9677) immediately Step 2: They'll issue you a claim number and send you form EBT-106 Step 3: Return the completed form within 10 days Step 4: Provide any documentation they request (receipts, police report if available) Your caseworker does NOT need to sign off on this form - that requirement was eliminated in late 2024. The confusion may be because your caseworker is thinking of the old process or confusing it with a different benefit adjustment. Regarding the income error - this is a known issue with the recent BenefitsCal system update. Your best course of action is to submit both an online correction AND mail in a signed statement (keep a copy) stating your current employment status. Reference your case number and specifically request an "income verification review" and "data correction adjustment.

THE SYSTEM IS BROKEN BY DESIGN!!! They WANT you to give up fighting so they can cancel benefits and save $$$$. My worker "lost" my documents THREE TIMES and then tried to discontinue me for "failure to provide verification" even though I had delivery confirmation!!!! They are NOT incompetent - they are DELIBERATLY making it hard to keep benefits!!!! DOCUMENT EVERYTHING and demand supervisors every time!!!!

hope u get it fixed soon! food is 2 important 2 mess around with

UPDATE: I followed the advice here and it's starting to work! Called EBT customer service with the right terminology and they immediately knew what to do about the theft claim. Then I used that Claimyr service someone mentioned to actually get through to a supervisor at my county office. The supervisor confirmed there was an error in my income reporting - apparently during my last recertification, they accidentally entered my previous employer's QUARTERLY tax reporting as my MONTHLY income! No wonder it was showing $3,700! She said she's correcting it right away and will process an underpayment claim since I've been receiving reduced benefits due to their error. Thank you everyone for the help!

So glad to see your update! This is exactly why I always tell people to escalate to supervisors - frontline workers often don't have the full picture or authority to make corrections. The quarterly vs monthly income mix-up is unfortunately super common, especially after recertifications. For anyone else reading this thread with similar issues: Dylan's experience shows why it's crucial to 1) use the specific terminology mentioned by QuantumQuasar, 2) escalate to supervisors when needed, and 3) don't give up! The system has problems but there are people who can and will help when you reach the right person. Dylan - definitely follow up on that underpayment claim timeline. In my experience, those can take 30-45 days to process, so don't panic if it doesn't show up immediately. Keep checking your EBT balance and BenefitsCal for updates!