I work with a legal aid organization that helps with benefit issues. Here's what you need to know about EBT theft: 1. California passed a law (AB 1168) that requires counties to reissue stolen benefits, but the implementation has been spotty 2. You have 90 days from the theft to report it 3. You can request what's called a "hardship waiver" of the 10-day investigation period if you're facing eviction or utility shutoff 4. If denied replacement, you have the right to appeal through a state hearing One thing not everyone knows: if your regular worker isn't helping, ask to speak with the county's EBT Coordinator specifically. They handle theft cases and can often expedite the process. Don't let them dismiss your claim - this is happening to many CalWORKs recipients and is a recognized problem the state is trying to address.

I'm so sorry this is happening to you - EBT theft is becoming a huge problem and it's devastating for families. A few things that might help while you're waiting for your replacement benefits: 1. Contact your local food bank immediately - they don't require paperwork and can help bridge the gap 2. Call 211 and ask about emergency rental assistance programs in your county - many have funds specifically for people waiting on benefit replacements 3. If you have kids under 5, WIC offices sometimes have emergency formula/baby food even if you're not enrolled For preventing future theft, I've started taking a photo of every ATM card reader before I use it - if something looks different or loose, I don't use that machine. Also, some people I know withdraw their entire benefit amount the second it hits (like 12:01 AM) and then immediately pay bills or buy money orders. The system absolutely should protect us better. You're not doing anything wrong - these criminals are getting more sophisticated and targeting people who can least afford the loss. Keep pushing your worker for that expedited review and don't let them make you feel like this is your fault.

Glad to hear payments are coming through! For future reference, if your CalWORKs payment is ever more than 5 business days late, you can request an Emergency Payment at your local office. You'll need to show proof of an urgent need (like an eviction notice or utility shut-off). Also, it's good practice to save the EBT customer service number (877-328-9677) and your county office number in your phone for situations like this. The automated system can often tell you if a payment has been authorized even before it shows as pending.

So glad everyone's payments are coming through! This whole thread was super helpful - I'm new to CalWORKs (just got approved last month) and was freaking out when my first payment didn't show up on schedule. Reading everyone's experiences really helped me understand this stuff happens sometimes. Definitely saving those phone numbers and gonna keep an eye out for any official mail. Thanks to everyone who shared info and resources!

I just wanted to follow up and ask if your money showed up yet? I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you!

So glad to hear your money finally showed up! This gives me hope for others dealing with the same situation. It's really helpful that you shared the exact label it appeared under ("REPL BENEFITS") - I'll remember that for future reference. The 3 business day timeline after approval seems to be pretty consistent based on what others have shared here. Thanks for updating us with the resolution!

I see you mentioned you're going to call them. When you do, ask specifically for an "Income Computation Worksheet" - this is a form that shows exactly how they calculated your grant amount. Also request a hearing immediately if there's an error - you only have 90 days from the Notice of Action date to appeal. Let us know what you find out!

That overpayment recovery can be really brutal when you're not expecting it! Just FYI - you have the right to request a lower repayment amount if 10% is causing hardship. They can sometimes reduce it to 5% or even pause collections temporarily if you can show it's creating a financial emergency. Also make sure to keep all the paperwork they send you about the overpayment - if their math is wrong or they can't prove when/why it happened, you can dispute it. Good luck with everything!

did u get a confirmation number when u applied online? make sure u save that! i lost mine and they said they couldnt find my application and i had to start all over again!!

Just wanted to update and see if you've had any luck reaching your county office. If you qualified for expedited processing, you should have heard something by now. If not, I'd recommend going in person to the office if possible. Sometimes that's the fastest way to get answers. Also, make sure to document everything - when you call, who you speak with, what they tell you. This can be helpful if you need to file for a fair hearing later.