i got my ebt stolen one time and i never got the money back but that was in 2021 maybe its better now

One important thing to mention - California passed a new law (AB 75) that improved benefit theft protections. The process is much better than it was in 2021-2022. Make sure that when you talk to your worker, you specifically mention you're filing under the new benefit theft replacement process. Some workers aren't fully trained on the updated procedures yet.

Honestly, I've seen so many people lose ALL their benefits by reporting changes improperly. The welfare system is designed to kick people off. If you and the father truly maintain separate food budgets, you should be fine, but be prepared for them to question this arrangement, especially once they know you're having a baby together. They might determine you're actually one household for benefit purposes despite how you handle your finances. But NOT reporting your pregnancy is also risky because that's an intentional program violation. If they find out later, you could face an overpayment and possibly be disqualified from benefits for a period of time.

I'd like to offer some reassurance here - while it's true that you need to be honest about your household composition, many couples do legitimately maintain separate food budgets, especially early in relationships or when they have different dietary needs/preferences. The key is consistency in what you report. If you're claiming separate food budgets, make sure that's actually how you live. Instead of worrying about losing benefits, focus on all the additional supports you can get during pregnancy. Besides increased CalFresh and eventual CalWORKs, look into: - WIC (provides food and formula) - Covered California/Medi-Cal for your prenatal care - Paid Family Leave when baby arrives - Childcare assistance programs you can apply for during pregnancy The resources available to you will actually increase, not decrease, with your pregnancy.

Just adding that when I moved from California to Texas, I had to provide proof of my move to close my CalWORKs case properly. They accepted my new lease agreement and a statement explaining my reason for moving. I also printed a confirmation page from my BenefitsCal account showing I reported the move, and thankfully I did because they later claimed they never received notification! Always keep documentation of EVERYTHING you submit to them.

Regarding your question about when to close the case - ideally you should report your move as soon as possible, but request that they close the case effective on your actual move date. This way you'll receive benefits up until you leave California, but not after. Be very clear about your move date when you talk to them. Also, in Colorado you can apply for multiple benefits through their PEAK system with one application - it covers their TANF program, SNAP (food assistance), Medicaid, and more. Definitely easier than California's system in my opinion.

btw did u sign up for the supportive services? they have money for car repairs and stuff that helps u get to work/school. my worker never told me about this until i was already sanctioned smh

One more important thing: if you do end up getting sanctioned, make sure you still submit your SAR7 forms and any other required paperwork on time. A sanction only affects the adult portion of the grant, but missing paperwork can cause you to lose the entire grant including your daughter's portion. Also, you can cure the sanction at any time by contacting your worker and agreeing to a compliance plan, which will restore your portion of the grant once completed.

The CalWORKs system is COMPLETELY BROKEN!! I've been dealing with this garbage for years. They expect us to be available exactly when they say, answer on the first ring, have every piece of paperwork perfect, meet every WTW requirement... but they can just not show up to appointments, lose our documents, take months to process changes, and disconnect us after hours on hold. And WE suffer the consequences of THEIR failures! Then they wonder why so many of us have anxiety and depression. It's because the system TRAUMATIZES us constantly!!

UPDATE: I want to share some good news. I just spoke with a CalWORKs supervisor about a similar situation. They confirmed that with the new policies implemented in 2025, counties are required to make THREE attempts to contact you for recertification before they can take negative action. If they miss the appointment, they must document their attempt and reschedule within 3 business days. Make sure you keep calling and specifically request to speak with a supervisor about a missed recertification appointment. Tell them you need it documented in the case notes that THEY missed the appointment, not you. If your benefits do get discontinued, you have the right to submit for "restoration of aid" without having to completely reapply if it's within 30 days of discontinuance.

Did you recently start working or report a change in income on your SAR7? Sometimes when your income goes up and they recalculate your benefits, the system treats that as a mid-year reassessment and it can reset your annual recertification date. This happened to me last year and my recert got pushed back by like 4 months.

Based on your comment about recently starting work, that's likely what happened. When you report a significant change on your SAR7 that requires recalculating your benefits, many counties will conduct what's called a "partial redetermination" that can reset your annual recertification timeline. Still, I strongly recommend calling your county office to confirm. You can also check your most recent Notice of Action letter - it should have information about your certification period at the bottom. If you can't reach your worker after multiple attempts, consider contacting the CalWORKs ombudsperson for your county or ask to speak with a supervisor.

Did anybody else notice that most of the theft happened on the 3rd of the month specifically? That's the day benefits get loaded for people with last names A-K in my county. I'm convinced it's an inside job tbh. same thing happened back in december and january... they target right when benefits drop

UPDATE: Just called using that specific language about "expedited processing due to imminent housing crisis" and finally got somewhere! The supervisor said they'll flag my case for priority review and I should see a resolution within 3-5 business days. They also referred me to a rental assistance program through a local nonprofit that might help in the meantime. Thanks everyone for the advice!

To answer the follow-up questions: @OP - Yes, you should receive a Notice of Action (NOA) confirming your discontinuance. This is important to keep as proof you requested termination. @commenter above - Yes, they can stop benefits mid-month if you specifically request immediate discontinuance. However, most workers will process it for the end of the month unless you're very clear about wanting it stopped immediately. And I agree with the last comment - reporting your new job (while stating you expect to be over the IRT) is often safer than cancelling before you've received your first paycheck. If you report the change within 10 days of getting the job, you're protected from overpayment claims even if processing takes time.

To add to what others have said, when you report your new job, make sure to include: 1. Your start date 2. Expected hours per week 3. Hourly wage/salary 4. First expected pay date This gives them all the info needed to determine if you'll still be eligible for partial benefits or if your case should be closed. And definitely keep documentation of when and how you reported the change (screenshots, confirmation numbers, certified mail receipt, etc). Congratulations on the new job, by the way! That's a big accomplishment worth celebrating.

One more thing I wanted to mention - since you're starting work, you might qualify for the CalWORKs Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). When you file your taxes next year, make sure to claim this credit. It can give you back a significant amount of money depending on your income and number of children. Also, don't forget that after your CalWORKs case closes due to employment, you may be eligible for Transitional Medi-Cal for up to 12 months regardless of your income. This is really important to maintain healthcare coverage for you and your children.

make SURE u do that SAR7 when they send it even if ur not on cash aid no more!!! if u miss it they mite cut off ur other benefits too!!!

Just to update you on what documents you'll likely need: 1. Birth certificates for all children (official ones, not hospital records) 2. Social Security numbers or proof of application for them 3. School records or medical records showing the children live with you 4. Your ID and proof of residence 5. Income verification (pay stubs, etc.) 6. Any child support documentation if applicable And definitely ask for a supervisor if the worker still gives you trouble. The income limits for a family of 5 (you plus 4 children) are actually quite reasonable, so unless you have significant income, you should qualify. Remember to ask for retroactive benefits too - they should go back to the date you first tried to add the children if you were eligible then.

Update: I went back to the office today with ALL the documents for my kids. Turns out there was a mix-up with my case - they had me confused with someone else who has a similar name!!! The supervisor apologized and they're processing my application now. They also said I can get benefits backdated to when I first tried to apply. Thank you everyone for your help and advice!! I was so stressed about this but now it's getting fixed! For anyone else having similar issues - definitely ask for a supervisor and bring ALL your documentation!!