I'm so sorry this happened to you! EBT theft is absolutely terrifying and frustrating, especially when you're counting on that money for basic needs like rent. I haven't personally experienced this, but I've been following this thread and want to say how helpful everyone's advice has been. It sounds like the key things are: 1. Go to your county office in person ASAP (tomorrow morning!) with all your documentation 2. Specifically ask for "emergency replacement benefits" - don't wait for them to offer 3. Make sure you have ALL the required paperwork submitted at once to avoid delays 4. File that police report online if possible to save time The fact that multiple people here got their money back within 10-14 days (and emergency aid within a week) is really encouraging. It sounds like California has genuinely improved this process compared to the horror stories from a few years ago. Change your PIN immediately and definitely consider withdrawing your cash benefits the day they deposit from now on. It's frustrating we have to take these extra precautions, but clearly EBT cards don't have the same fraud protection as regular bank cards. You've got a solid plan based on everyone's advice here. Stay persistent and you WILL get through this! Please keep us updated on how it goes - I think a lot of people would benefit from hearing about your experience.

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this - EBT theft is incredibly stressful and the timing couldn't be worse with rent due next week. Reading through all these responses, it's clear that going to your county office in person tomorrow morning is your best bet for getting emergency replacement benefits quickly while the full investigation processes. I haven't experienced this personally, but I wanted to add one thing I noticed from working in community services - when you go to the office, try to get there right when they open. The workers tend to have more time and energy to help with complex cases early in the day before they get overwhelmed with walk-ins. Also, if you run into any roadblocks with getting emergency aid approved, ask to speak with a supervisor. Sometimes the frontline workers don't have full authority to approve emergency replacement benefits, but their supervisors do. The fact that multiple people here got their full amounts back within 10-14 days (with emergency aid within a week) shows that California really has improved this process. You're going in prepared with all the right information thanks to everyone's advice here. Stay strong and keep us posted on how it goes! This community is rooting for you. 💙

I'm new to this community but going through the exact same thing right now! My grandmother has been watching my 4-year-old for about 5 weeks while I'm in the WTW program and we haven't seen a single payment yet. Reading all these responses is eye-opening - my worker never mentioned TrustLine at all, and now I'm wondering if that's what's holding everything up. I called three times this week and keep getting told "it's processing" with no real timeline. It's putting so much stress on my grandma because she's been buying snacks and supplies for my daughter out of her own pocket. I'm definitely going to try calling the Alternative Payment Program office directly tomorrow and ask specifically about TrustLine status and the provider number. Thank you all for sharing your experiences - it helps to know I'm not alone in dealing with this mess of a system!

I'm going through something very similar with my sister as our childcare provider! She's been watching my 6-year-old for about 8 weeks now and we're still waiting for the first payment. After reading all these responses, I realize there are so many things my CalWORKs worker never explained to us. I had no idea about TrustLine requirements or provider numbers - they just said to submit the paperwork and wait. My sister is getting frustrated because she's been covering all the costs for meals and activities out of her own pocket. I'm definitely going to call the Alternative Payment Program office directly tomorrow instead of going through my regular worker. It sounds like that's the key to actually getting answers. This whole thread has been so helpful - at least now I know what specific questions to ask and what to look out for. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences! It really helps to know other people have dealt with this same nightmare and gotten it resolved eventually.

I'm so sorry you're going through this frustrating situation! Reading through all the amazing advice everyone has shared, I wanted to add one more thing that helped me when I was dealing with a similar CalWORKs denial. When you do get through to someone (whether through that Claimyr service or by going in person), ask them to email you a summary of what was discussed. Many workers can send a quick email with the key points - what documents they need, what the next steps are, etc. Having it in writing prevents miscommunication and gives you something to reference later. Also, I noticed you mentioned your kids - make sure to emphasize to the workers that you have minor children in the household when you're discussing your case. Sometimes this helps prioritize your case or qualifies you for expedited processing, especially if you're facing homelessness. The fact that your CalFresh got approved really is a good sign that your basic eligibility is solid. CalWORKs just has those additional hoops to jump through. You're doing everything right by not giving up and exploring all these options. One last thought - if you do end up needing to reapply while also pursuing the hearing, make sure to mention on the new application that you have a pending appeal for a previous denial. This helps them understand the timeline and might prevent duplicate processing issues. You've got this! Your determination and all the knowledge you've gained from this thread puts you in a much stronger position than when you started. Keep us updated on your progress!

I'm so glad I found this thread! I've been dealing with benefit issues myself and seeing all the incredible support and advice everyone has shared here gives me so much hope. One thing I wanted to add that might help with your immediate situation - many food banks and churches have emergency assistance programs that can help with rent or utilities while you're fighting the CalWORKs denial. These are often completely separate from government programs and sometimes can provide help within 24-48 hours. Call 211 like others mentioned, but also try searching online for "[your city] emergency rent assistance" or contacting local churches directly even if you're not a member. Also, I've heard that some counties have "expedited processing" for families with children facing homelessness. When you call tomorrow, use the phrase "expedited processing due to imminent homelessness with minor children" - the specific language seems to matter a lot with these systems. Your persistence is really inspiring. As a parent myself, I know how scary it is when you're trying to keep your family stable while navigating these complicated systems. The fact that you haven't given up and are exploring every option shows what an amazing advocate you are for your kids. They're lucky to have someone fighting so hard for them. Keep us posted on how tomorrow goes! This whole community is rooting for you and your family.

I'm a new CalWORKs recipient and just got my first SAR7 notice in the mail. Reading through everyone's responses here has been so helpful! I was also worried about needing bank statements since I don't have a printer and would have to go to the library to print them out. Based on what everyone is saying, it sounds like as long as I haven't had any income or household changes, I should be okay without them. My situation is pretty simple - I'm doing my WTW hours at the same placement, no one has moved in or out of my house, and my income is exactly the same as when I first applied. One question though - when you fill out the SAR7 form, do they ask for specific dollar amounts of your current income, or just whether anything changed? I want to make sure I'm prepared with the right information when I go in for my appointment next week.

I'm going through my first SAR7 review next month and this whole thread has been incredibly helpful! I was also panicking about bank statements because my printer is broken and I only have mobile banking. It's so reassuring to hear from multiple people who recently went through the process that bank statements typically aren't needed for the 6-month review when nothing has changed. I'm in a similar situation - same WTW placement, same income, same household composition. Based on everyone's experiences here, it sounds like I should be fine just reporting that nothing has changed and bringing my current paystub to verify my income amount. One thing I'm curious about - for those who've done multiple SAR7s, do they usually schedule these as in-person appointments or can you submit the form by mail/online? My county sent me a notice but it wasn't totally clear about whether I need to come in or if I can just mail the completed form back.

I just wanted to jump in as someone who's been navigating the CalWORKs and CalFresh system for about a year now. Reading through everyone's experiences here really takes me back to when I first applied - the confusion, the waiting, the stress of not knowing when help would come! @JaylinCharles I'm so relieved you were able to get your food benefits loaded quickly! That expedited CalFresh really is a lifeline when you need it most. For anyone else reading this thread, I can't stress enough how important it is to go pick up that temporary EBT card in person rather than waiting for mail. I made the mistake of waiting the first time and it added unnecessary stress to an already difficult situation. One thing I learned that might help future applicants: when you're gathering verification documents for CalWORKs, don't just submit the bare minimum they ask for. If they want 2 months of paystubs and you have 3, submit all 3. Having extra documentation upfront can prevent delays later. Also, if you rent a room or have an informal rental situation, a signed letter from your landlord with their contact info can work as proof of housing costs. The 30-day processing time for cash aid is real, but I've found that staying organized and responsive to any requests for additional information can sometimes speed things up. Keep copies of everything, follow up regularly, and don't be afraid to advocate for yourself - you deserve the help these programs are designed to provide!

I'm fairly new to this community but have been reading through everyone's experiences and wanted to share something that might help. When I applied for CalWORKs and CalFresh a few months back, I was in a similar situation where the food benefits got approved quickly but the cash aid took forever. One thing that really helped me was creating a simple folder (physical or digital) to keep track of everything - application dates, document submission dates, case worker contact info, confirmation numbers, etc. It sounds basic but when you're stressed and dealing with multiple programs, it's easy to lose track of important details. Also, if anyone is struggling with the BenefitsCal website for document uploads, I found it works better on a computer than on mobile. The mobile version kept timing out on me when I tried to upload larger files like multiple paystubs. And always, ALWAYS take a screenshot of that "successfully uploaded" confirmation page - saved me so much trouble when they claimed they didn't receive something. @JaylinCharles I hope your cash aid gets approved soon! Having that food assistance in place already is such a relief, and once the cash comes through you'll be in a much better position. The waiting is the hardest part but you're doing everything right by staying on top of it and asking questions here.