wait i thought if someone in the house gets ssi nobody can get snap?? when did that change?

Just want to add - when you apply, make sure you bring documentation of your boyfriend's SSI award letter. Even though he's excluded from your CalWORKs case, they'll still need to verify his SSI status to process your application correctly. Also, if you're having trouble getting through to your county office by phone, try going in person early in the morning or checking if they have online appointment scheduling. Some counties let you upload documents online too which can speed things up. The whole process took about 3 weeks for me from application to first payment, so hang in there!

this happend to me back in january, total nightmare!!! make sure u check ur mail EVERY day after u report it cuz they sent me a form I had to send back in 10 days but i didnt see it till too late and had to start the whole process over again!!!!

I'm so sorry this happened to you! This is absolutely terrifying and I can't imagine how stressed you must be. I went through something similar about 6 months ago - not as much money stolen but still devastating. A few things that helped me: 1. When you go to your appointment tomorrow, bring a written statement explaining your immediate needs (rent due date, kids' food needs, etc.) - sometimes having it in writing helps them process it faster 2. If you have any text messages or emails from your landlord about rent, bring those too 3. Ask about getting a rushed replacement card - mine took 3 days instead of the usual 7-10 when I emphasized it was theft-related Also, I know this sounds crazy but start keeping a small notebook to write down every person you talk to, their name, the date/time, and what they told you. It helped me so much when I had to follow up because I could reference exactly who said what. You're doing all the right things and I really hope they help you tomorrow. Keep us updated - we're all rooting for you! 💙

Just wanted to update everyone - I finally got through to someone at the county office (took forever) and requested immediate need like you all suggested. They're processing it and said I should get emergency funds by Friday! They also helped me complete the homeless assistance application since I'm behind on rent. Thank you all SO MUCH for the advice. I'm still nervous about getting my regular benefits restored but at least this buys me some time with my landlord.

So glad you were able to get through and get help! This whole thread is super helpful - I'm saving it in case I ever miss my SAR7 deadline (which hopefully never happens but you never know). It's crazy how they don't tell you about these emergency options unless you specifically ask for them. Thanks for updating us on what happened, and I hope your regular benefits get restored soon without any issues!

Just following up - were you able to get this sorted out? Did you reupload the documents or get through to your worker?

That's such great news! I'm so glad you got it resolved and can breathe easy now. It's always nerve-wracking when you think you might have messed something up with your benefits. Thanks for updating us - it's really helpful to know how these situations actually turn out. Stories like yours give the rest of us hope that the workers are more understanding than we sometimes expect them to be.

Update: I called my worker this morning and she said it should take 10 business days for processing, and then the next payment after that should go to direct deposit. So basically like 3 weeks total if everything goes smoothly. I'm going to just avoid using my EBT card completely until then. Thanks everyone for the advice!

Good luck with the direct deposit switch! I went through the same thing last year after my benefits got stolen. One thing I learned is to keep checking both your EBT balance AND your bank account during the transition period because sometimes they don't switch over exactly when they say they will. Also, even after you get direct deposit working, keep your EBT card somewhere safe - don't throw it away. Sometimes the county will randomly revert back to the card for certain payments (like emergency aid) and you'll need it. The whole system is confusing but direct deposit is definitely safer once it's working properly.