does anyone know if we get this food benefit thing AND our regular calworks? or do they take it out of our regular amount?

Just wanted to add that if you're having trouble getting through to your county office, you can also try calling early in the morning right when they open - I've found the wait times are usually shorter then. Also, some counties have different phone numbers for different programs, so make sure you're calling the right line for Summer EBT questions. The main CalWORKs line sometimes transfers you around a lot. Hope this helps someone avoid the frustration of sitting on hold forever!

I'm really sorry you're going through this - benefit theft is unfortunately becoming more common and it's so stressful when you're already struggling financially. I haven't personally experienced this, but I wanted to share some additional resources that might help while you're waiting: - Many churches and community centers offer emergency food pantries that don't require paperwork or long waits - If you're behind on utilities, most companies have hardship programs where they'll work with you if you call and explain the situation - Your local Salvation Army or Catholic Charities might be able to help with emergency rent assistance Also, once you get your replacement card, consider setting up text alerts if your county offers them - that way you'll know immediately if there's any suspicious activity on your account. I hope your immediate need payment comes through quickly and that the full investigation gets resolved soon. Keep advocating for yourself and don't let them brush you off!

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this! I went through benefit theft about 8 months ago when someone got my card info at a sketchy ATM. The whole process is nerve-wracking, especially when you have bills due. From my experience, here's what you can expect: - CalWORKs cash benefits usually come back in 7-14 business days if your case is straightforward - CalFresh takes longer - typically 3-4 weeks - The "immediate need" payment you got is a lifesaver while waiting One thing that really helped me was keeping a detailed log of every interaction with the county office - dates, times, who I spoke with, and what they said. It made follow-up calls much easier and showed I was serious about tracking my case. Also, when you do get your benefits back, consider using your CalWORKs cash at ATMs inside banks rather than standalone ATMs - they're generally safer from skimmers. And definitely change your PIN to something completely different from what you had before. The waiting is the hardest part, but legitimate theft cases like yours do get resolved. Stay persistent but patient with the workers - they're processing a lot of these cases lately unfortunately.

@practical_solution They said they DID send a notice, but to my old address even though I'd already updated my address in the system 2 weeks ago! The worker said there's a delay between when you update in BenefitsCal and when their mailing system updates. So frustrating. But at least I have access to my money now.

This is such valuable information for everyone to know! I had no idea that updating your address could automatically trigger a card cancellation. It's ridiculous that they don't make this clear when you're updating your info in BenefitsCal. Thank you for sharing your experience and the solution - going in person really does seem to be the fastest way to resolve these emergency situations. I'm bookmarking this thread in case I ever run into something similar!

This exact same thing happened to me last year! When I applied for CalFresh, the worker automatically screened me for CalWORKs during my phone interview and approved me for both without really explaining it clearly. I only found out when the cash benefits showed up on my card a week later. Definitely call to confirm before spending it, but there's a good chance it's legitimate. Check your BenefitsCal account again in a day or two - sometimes it takes a while for the system to update and show both programs. Also look through any mail you might have missed because they should have sent you a Notice of Action explaining the approval and benefit amount. The cash part works just like everyone said - same EBT card, just select "Cash" instead of "Food" when you use it. You can also get cash back at stores or use ATMs. Just be careful about ATM fees if you go that route!

I work as a benefits eligibility worker and can confirm that this is becoming more common with the integrated application system. When you apply for CalFresh, we're required to screen for all potential benefits including CalWORKs, and if you meet the eligibility criteria, we can approve you for both programs during the same process. The $134 is likely your monthly CalWORKs grant amount based on your family size and income. You should have received (or will receive) a Notice of Action letter explaining this approval - check your mail carefully as these sometimes get mixed in with other documents. Before using the cash benefits, I'd still recommend calling to confirm, but if you were auto-enrolled during your CalFresh interview, the money is legitimately yours. Just remember that accepting CalWORKs comes with additional requirements like Welfare to Work participation (though your part-time job likely counts toward this) and different reporting rules than CalFresh alone. The good news is this means you're getting all the support you're entitled to for your family!

UPDATE: I just spoke with an EBT customer service supervisor who confirmed that benefit replacement for EBT theft is taking about 15-20 days right now due to high volume of cases. So definitely ask about emergency assistance while you wait.

I'm so sorry this happened to you! EBT fraud is unfortunately becoming more common. Here's what worked for me when my benefits were stolen: 1. Call EBT customer service immediately (1-877-328-9677) to report fraud and get a replacement card 2. File a police report - this is required for the county investigation 3. Contact your county CalWORKs office and request form EBT 2259 (Benefit Theft Report) 4. Submit the completed form along with your police report number The replacement process typically takes 2-3 weeks, but don't give up! In the meantime, ask your county about emergency assistance - they can sometimes provide immediate help for families with children who have no other resources. Also, when you call the county, explain that you have children and are facing immediate hardship. Sometimes this helps prioritize your case. Keep calling every few days for updates - persistence really does help move things along. Stay strong - you will get through this!