I'm so sorry this happened to you! EBT theft is unfortunately becoming more common. Since you've already filed the police report, that's a great first step. A few additional things that might help: 1. When you go to the county office tomorrow, arrive early (they usually open at 8am) and ask to speak with a supervisor if regular workers can't help immediately 2. Bring copies of EVERYTHING - police report, your ID, EBT card, and any documentation of the fraudulent transactions 3. Ask specifically about "expedited processing" for theft cases - some counties can fast-track these if you explain the urgency 4. Document who you speak with (get names) and ask for case numbers for both your theft report and any emergency assistance requests Also, many food banks and community organizations can provide emergency food assistance while you wait for your benefits to be restored. Call 211 for local resources. You shouldn't have to choose between feeding your kids and paying rent while waiting for the system to work. Stay strong - you're doing everything right!

I went through this exact same situation 6 months ago and it was terrifying! Here's what worked for me: When you go to the county office tomorrow, ask specifically for the "EBT Fraud Unit" - they handle these cases faster than regular workers. Also, if you have a smartphone, download the ebtEDGE app and take screenshots of all the fraudulent transactions with timestamps. The investigators told me this helped speed up my case because they could see exactly when/where the fraud occurred. One thing that saved me was asking about the "Replacement Benefits Pending Investigation" option - they gave me 50% of my stolen amount within 5 days while they completed the full investigation. Don't let them tell you this doesn't exist! And definitely follow up every 3-4 days by phone or in person. The squeaky wheel gets the grease with CalWORKs unfortunately. You've got this - stay persistent!

As a newcomer to this community, I just want to say how incredibly valuable this thread has been! I'm currently in week 2 of waiting for my Cash Aid to actually appear on my EBT card despite BenefitsCal showing it as "deposited" for over a week now. I was honestly starting to think I was the only one dealing with this issue, but reading everyone's experiences here has been such a relief. The fact that this processing delay is so common yet completely unexplained by caseworkers is beyond frustrating - especially when you're already stressed about making ends meet. The misleading "deposited" terminology really needs to be changed to something like "processing" or "pending" because seeing that word makes you think the money should actually be available! Thank you all for creating such a supportive environment where people can share real experiences and get honest answers about how this system actually works. I'm definitely saving that Claimyr tip for future reference too. It's amazing how this community fills the gaps that official channels leave wide open. Fingers crossed my payment finally shows up soon!

As a newcomer to this community, I can't express how helpful this entire thread has been! I'm currently dealing with the exact same situation - got approved for CalWORKs last week and BenefitsCal shows my Cash Aid as "deposited" since Monday, but my EBT card still shows $0. I was starting to panic thinking something went wrong with my application, but reading everyone's experiences here has been such a huge relief. It's incredibly frustrating that caseworkers don't explain this 3-4 business day processing delay upfront - the word "deposited" is so misleading when the money isn't actually available yet! The stress of staring at that zero balance when you desperately need the funds for rent and groceries is something they really should warn people about. Thank you all for sharing your real experiences and creating such a supportive space. I'm definitely bookmarking that Claimyr tip too in case I need to reach my caseworker quickly. This community seems like such a valuable resource for understanding how the system actually works versus what we're told officially. Fingers crossed my payment shows up by Thursday!

I want to add something important that others haven't mentioned. The pregnancy special need payment is separate from the Maximum Aid Payment (MAP) increases. If you're in the second trimester and verified your pregnancy, you get both: (1) the $47 special needs payment AND (2) your MAP increases because your household size is considered one larger while pregnant. So you actually get more than just the $47 that people are mentioning. When I was pregnant last year, my cash aid went up by about $150 total between both changes.

Hi Diego! As someone who just went through this process last year, I can confirm what others have said about the second trimester rule. Just wanted to add that when you call about the MC 237 form, you can also ask them to email it to you or you can download it from the CDSS website under forms. That way you can bring it already printed to your doctor appointment instead of having to make a separate trip to pick it up. Also, make sure your doctor fills out the due date section completely - some doctors leave parts blank and then the county kicks it back for completion. Good luck with everything and congratulations on your pregnancy!

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now and it's so frustrating! My kids spend equal time with both me and their dad, but only his household got the P-EBT cards even though I'm the one who handles most of their school paperwork and doctor visits. What I've learned from talking to other parents in our situation is that the P-EBT system is really outdated when it comes to shared custody. It sounds like you've gotten some great advice here about contacting the school district's nutrition department specifically and filing a formal complaint with your county office. One thing that helped me was documenting how much I spend on groceries for the kids during my custody time. I tracked receipts for a few weeks to show that I'm providing half their meals, which made it easier to argue why the benefits should be shared. Even if the system can't split the cards automatically, having that documentation helps when you're trying to work things out with your co-parent or if you need to escalate to the county. The whole situation is unfair to families like ours, but don't give up! There are ways to make it work even if it takes some persistence.

I'm going through something very similar right now! My ex got our kids' P-EBT cards even though we have 50/50 custody and I'm the one who gets CalWORKs benefits for them. What's really helped me so far is calling the school district's nutrition services department directly (not just the main school office) - they told me that sometimes the P-EBT system uses old data from when the kids were first enrolled or from whoever filled out the original free lunch application. I also found out that you can request a "benefit inquiry" through your county CalWORKs office specifically about P-EBT distribution issues. My caseworker initially didn't know about this process, but when I pushed and mentioned that other counties handle shared custody situations, she was able to connect me with someone who specializes in P-EBT problems. One practical tip - I started keeping detailed records of all my grocery receipts during my custody time and took photos of meals I prepare for the kids. It's helped me show exactly how much I'm contributing to their nutrition, which has been useful in conversations with both my ex and the county. The system definitely isn't set up for modern custody arrangements, but don't give up! There are people who can help once you find the right department to talk to. Keep pushing for a fair solution - those benefits are meant for your kids regardless of which mailbox they showed up in.

I'm completely new to this community and just started my CalWORKs application last month. This whole thread has been absolutely eye-opening! I had no clue that BenefitsCal could be so unreliable with status updates - my caseworker never mentioned anything about potential delays or inaccuracies in the online portal. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been both incredibly helpful and honestly pretty shocking. It's wild that in 2025 we're dealing with government systems that are this glitchy and unreliable, especially when people are depending on these benefits for basic necessities like rent and food. The stress that Liam went through (and that so many others have experienced) shouldn't be necessary just because a website can't sync properly with the actual case management systems. I'm definitely saving all the practical tips from this discussion - taking detailed notes during interviews, asking for confirmation numbers, checking EBT balance before payment dates instead of trusting BenefitsCal, and most importantly, trusting what the worker tells you verbally rather than what shows up online. This kind of real-world advice is exactly what new applicants like me need but never get from official sources. Thank you all for creating such a supportive space where we can learn from each other's experiences. It's clear that community knowledge is way more valuable than any official documentation when it comes to actually navigating these confusing systems successfully!

I'm new to this community and honestly this entire thread has been such a reality check! I'm in the middle of my CalWORKs application process right now and had no idea that BenefitsCal could be so unreliable. Reading about everyone's experiences with the system delays and inaccuracies is both helpful and pretty concerning - it's crazy that people have to stress about whether their basic needs will be met just because a government website can't update properly. The practical advice shared here is gold - taking notes during interviews, getting confirmation numbers, checking EBT balance instead of trusting the portal, and most importantly trusting what workers tell you verbally rather than what shows up online. It's honestly frustrating that we have to learn these survival strategies from each other instead of getting proper guidance from the system itself. Thank you all for being so open about sharing your experiences and creating such a supportive space. It's clear this community knowledge is way more valuable than any official resources when it comes to actually navigating these confusing systems. I'll definitely be bookmarking this thread for when I get to my own recertification!