Make sure when you file the EBT-2259 form that you provide as much detail as possible. Include the police report number, the exact amount stolen, the date and time of the theft, and that you had possession of your physical card the whole time. Ask for emergency replacement benefits due to hardship while they investigate. By law, they're supposed to help expedite benefits when there are children in the household who have critical needs. Also, as soon as you can, go into BenefitsCal and change your PIN number, and request a brand new EBT card.

I'm so sorry you're going through this - it's absolutely terrifying when your benefits get stolen, especially when you have kids depending on that money. You're doing all the right things by filing the police report and calling EBT customer service. One thing that might help while you're waiting for the replacement benefits - contact local food banks or churches in your area. Many have emergency food assistance for families in crisis situations like this. Also, if you haven't already, make sure to tell the county worker that you have children and that this is creating a food emergency for your household. They're supposed to prioritize cases involving kids. Hang in there - I know it feels overwhelming right now but you're taking the right steps to get this resolved.

Any updates? Did your benefits come through today?

I'm so glad you got it resolved! That's such a frustrating situation - having your ex apply elsewhere and list your kids without telling you, then having the system flag YOUR account because of HIS application. It's crazy that these systems can't tell the difference or at least send you a notice explaining what's happening. I'm definitely bookmarking that Claimyr service for future reference. Hope your landlord situation works out okay now that you have your payment!

Just wanted to add one more thing - if you absolutely cannot wait until Tuesday and your payment doesn't appear tomorrow (Friday), you might want to ask about Emergency Assistance. If your case is already approved and you're facing potential eviction, there are sometimes expedited payment options available. Not all workers will mention this unless you specifically ask.

I went through something similar last year and it was terrifying! The good news is that if BenefitsCal shows "approved" that usually means your eligibility worker finished processing everything even after the call dropped. The payment processing and eligibility determination are actually separate steps in their system. Since you submitted the correct document while on the phone and the worker confirmed they received it, there's a really good chance your payment will show up on schedule. The fact that your case status changed to "approved" is honestly the hardest part - that means all your paperwork checked out. Try not to stress too much tonight (easier said than done, I know!). Check your EBT balance early tomorrow morning before you do anything else. In my experience, the money usually appears even when the website is being slow to update the details.

This kind of thing is why people get discouraged and stop trying to get the help they need. I'm a social worker (not with CalWORKs) and I can tell you that what happened to you was completely inappropriate and against professional standards of conduct. Here's what I recommend: 1. Call the CalWORKs office and ask to speak with that worker's direct supervisor (get their name first). 2. Explicitly state that you want to file a formal complaint about the worker's conduct, not just get your benefits reinstated. 3. Use the exact phrases "professional misconduct" and "failure to provide reasonable accommodations for a person with a disability" in your complaint. 4. Contact your county's Welfare Rights Organization - they exist specifically to help with these situations. 5. Request a retroactive payment for the benefits you missed due to their error. I'm so sorry this happened to you. No one deserves to be treated that way when asking for help they're legally entitled to.

I'm so sorry you're going through this - what that worker said to you was absolutely unacceptable and cruel. As someone who's dealt with similar issues, I want to echo what others have said about filing complaints, but also share a few immediate steps: 1. If you haven't already, go to your local food bank TODAY. Most don't require paperwork and can help while you fight this. 2. When you call for the state hearing (1-800-952-5253), emphasize that the worker ADMITTED the SAR7 was complete - that's huge for your case. 3. Document everything - write down the worker's name, date, time, and exactly what was said while it's fresh in your memory. The fact that they acknowledged their mistake but still won't fix it immediately is infuriating. You shouldn't have to "wait your turn" when THEY made the error. Keep pushing and don't let them wear you down - you deserve better treatment than this. Hang in there. This community has your back and many of us have fought similar battles and won.

Update: I finally got through on the phone today after using that Claimyr service someone mentioned. My worker confirmed the system is down until Monday morning. She said I can email my documents directly to her as an alternative (didn't even know that was possible!). For anyone else panicking about deadlines, definitely try to reach your worker directly instead of relying on the app right now.

I've been dealing with the same issue all week! What's really frustrating is that they don't send any notifications about these maintenance windows. I found out from a neighbor that if you have a smartphone, you can sometimes access the mobile version of the BenefitsCal website directly through your browser instead of the app - it might work even when the app is down. Also, if anyone needs to submit documents urgently, most county offices have drop boxes outside where you can leave sealed envelopes with your case number clearly marked. Just make sure to keep copies of everything you submit!