Small update on EBT theft procedures - as of January 2025, California implemented some new protocols for Cash Aid theft claims. Kings County should be following these: 1. All counties now have dedicated EBT theft investigators 2. They must provide a written acknowledgment of your theft report within 5 business days 3. They must make a determination within 30 days (though emergency replacements can happen much faster) 4. They must provide information about free legal aid if your claim is denied If you're having trouble reaching Kings County by phone, you can also email them at KingsCATheft@kingscounty.gov (this is their dedicated theft report email) or visit the office in person. Sometimes in-person visits get faster results for urgent situations like benefit theft.

I'm so sorry this happened to you! EBT theft is unfortunately becoming way too common. Just wanted to add a few tips that helped me when I went through this: - When you file the police report, ask for the report number immediately and keep it handy - you'll need it for all your paperwork - Take screenshots of your EBT account showing the unauthorized transactions if you can access it online - If you have any receipts from around the time of the theft showing you were somewhere else, keep those too as proof - Don't let them discourage you if they seem skeptical - theft is real and you have rights Also, while you're waiting for this to get resolved, check if your local food banks or churches have emergency food assistance. Many places in the Central Valley have programs specifically to help families dealing with benefit theft. Stay strong - you'll get through this!

I went through this exact situation 2 years ago and I'm so glad I applied! My daughter has autism and was getting CalWORKs with us (family of 4). When she got approved for SSI at $1,047/month, our CalWORKs dropped by about $200 but we still came out ahead by over $800 monthly. The process was stressful but worth it. A few things that helped me: I kept a daily log for 6 weeks before the interview documenting every meltdown, sleep issue, and daily living challenge. I also got letters from her therapists and teachers. The key is showing how the autism affects her ability to function compared to other kids her age. One thing to watch for - they'll ask about any accommodations or supports she gets at school. Have that IEP or 504 plan ready! And yes, report the SSI approval right away when you get the letter, don't wait for the first check. Good luck mama, you're doing the right thing for your family!

I just want to add that you should also ask about retroactive benefits when you apply! If your son gets approved for SSI, Social Security can pay benefits back to the date of application (up to 6 months prior in some cases). So even though the process takes months, you won't lose out on that money - it'll come as a lump sum with the approval. Also, once he's on SSI, make sure to apply for any state disability programs or assistance your county offers. Some counties have additional support services or even small cash assistance programs for families with disabled children. Your case worker should have info about local resources. The waiting is the hardest part, but from everything I've seen and heard from other families, you'll definitely be better off financially. The SSI payment alone is almost as much as your entire CalWORKs grant right now!

I've been on CalWORKs for about 8 months and I completely understand that anxiety! The waiting period after submitting your SAR7 is always stressful, especially when you have a new worker you haven't met yet. From my experience, if you triple-checked everything and included all your pay stubs like you mentioned, you're probably in great shape. Workers typically only call if something is missing or unclear - silence usually means everything is processing normally. You should receive a Notice of Action in the mail within 2-3 weeks confirming your benefits for the next period. Since you're in Alameda County, I'd suggest calling the main office in about a week just to confirm they received your SAR7 if you want peace of mind. You don't necessarily need to reach your specific worker - you can ask anyone there to verify that your document was received and scanned into the system. Also, you handled the rent increase question correctly - that doesn't need to be reported on the SAR7 since it doesn't affect your CalWORKs grant amount. Only income changes over your threshold, address changes, and household composition changes need to be reported between SAR7s. Definitely set up that BenefitsCal online account for next time - being able to submit digitally and track the status is so much less stressful than mailing and wondering! Good luck finishing school - balancing work, education and navigating CalWORKs is tough but you're doing all the right things! 📚

I just want to echo what everyone else is saying - the anxiety after submitting your SAR7 is totally normal! I've been on CalWORKs for about 5 months now and I still get nervous every time, even though I know logically that no news is good news. One thing that really helped me was what someone mentioned earlier about calling for "document verification" rather than trying to reach your specific worker. I did this after my second SAR7 and the person was able to immediately tell me it had been received and scanned in, which gave me such peace of mind. Since you mentioned you're finishing school while working part-time, I just wanted to say how much I admire that! I'm in a similar situation (working toward my teaching credential) and some days it feels impossible to keep up with everything. But communities like this one make such a difference - knowing other people are going through the same challenges and finding ways to make it work is so encouraging. Definitely create that BenefitsCal account when you get a chance. I finally did it last month and wish I had done it sooner - being able to see your case status online takes away so much of the guesswork. You've got this! 🌟

I just wanted to share my experience since I had my SAR7 review last week and was in almost the exact same situation as you! I was also stressed about bank statements because my printer wasn't working and I only have online banking. Turns out I didn't need them at all. My worker just had me fill out the SAR7 form during the appointment, asked if my income, household size, or address had changed (all no for me), and that was it. The whole thing took about 15 minutes. She didn't even ask to see my paystub since my WTW income was the same. I think a lot of people get confused because the annual redetermination (the big one they do once a year) requires way more documentation including bank statements. But the 6-month SAR7 is much simpler - they're basically just checking if anything major changed in your situation. Since you said your income and WTW placement are exactly the same, you should be totally fine. Just make sure to submit it on time because that's what really matters. Don't stress too much about what your cousin went through - every case is different and she might have had changes that required extra verification.

I went through my SAR7 review about 3 weeks ago and had the same concerns about bank statements! Turns out I didn't need them at all. My worker explained that the SAR7 is really just a "check-in" to see if your basic situation changed - income, who lives with you, where you live, etc. Since you mentioned your WTW hours and income are exactly the same, you should be fine without bank statements. The worker will probably just verify that nothing changed and have you sign the form. I brought a recent paystub just in case, but she didn't even look at it since my income was the same. The annual redetermination is the big one where they want to see everything including bank statements, assets, etc. Your cousin might be thinking of that one, or maybe she had some change in her situation that triggered additional verification requirements. Don't stress too much about it - just make sure you get your SAR7 submitted on time. That's way more important than worrying about documents you probably won't need!

This is such a valuable thread for everyone dealing with EBT cash withdrawal issues! As someone who's been on CalWORKs for a while, I wish I had known about the grocery store cash back option earlier - would have saved me so much stress. One thing I'd add is that you can also check if your county has any emergency rental assistance programs that work alongside CalWORKs. In my county, they have a rapid rehousing program that can sometimes help with immediate rent payments while you're waiting to access your benefits. Also, for anyone reading this in the future - if you're consistently having trouble accessing enough cash for rent, consider asking your worker about the CalWORKs Housing Support Program or seeing if you qualify for a housing voucher through your local housing authority. It's frustrating that we have to jump through so many hoops just to pay our basic expenses, but this community really shows how we can help each other navigate the system!

This whole situation really highlights how broken the system is - they give you a replacement card but don't warn you about withdrawal limits that could literally make you homeless! I'm so glad everyone came together with practical solutions. For anyone else dealing with this, I'd also suggest keeping a backup plan ready. You can sometimes get money orders at places like the post office or grocery stores using your EBT card, which your landlord might accept instead of cash. Also, if you're ever in this emergency situation again, try calling 211 - they can sometimes connect you to same-day emergency rental assistance programs in your area. The fact that we have to become experts at navigating all these workarounds just to access our own benefits is ridiculous, but at least we have each other to share the knowledge!