Update: I went to Bank of America today with my EBT card and ID, and it worked perfectly! The teller let me withdraw my entire Cash Aid amount with no problems or fees. Thank you all so much for the help! This is going to make paying my rent so much easier.

This is such valuable information! I've been on CalWORKs for about 8 months now and had no idea about the Bank of America teller option. I've been making multiple ATM trips every month too, especially when I need to pay my car payment and insurance at the same time. One thing I'd add - if you don't have a Bank of America nearby, you can also check if your credit union participates in the EBT program. My local credit union told me they can do full Cash Aid withdrawals at the teller window too, though they might charge a small fee (mine was $2). Still way better than making 3-4 ATM trips! Also, for anyone reading this - make sure you bring a valid photo ID when you go to the teller. They're required to check it for EBT transactions.

BTW did u check if they got ur food stamps too or just the cash aid? sometimes they take everything!

I'm so sorry this happened to you - what a horrible situation to wake up to! I went through something similar about 6 months ago and it's absolutely terrifying. One thing that really helped me was calling my landlord immediately (even on the weekend) and explaining the situation with proof. I took screenshots of my EBT account showing the theft and sent them along with a brief explanation. My landlord actually gave me an extension when they saw it was fraud, not just me being late on rent. Also, make sure you file that police report ASAP on Monday - some counties won't process the benefit replacement without it. And ask your CalWORKs worker about "special circumstances" funding - it's different from regular emergency assistance and can sometimes be approved faster when there's documented fraud involved. For immediate food help this weekend, try calling churches in your area even if you're not religious. Many have weekend food pantries or can connect you with families willing to help. The Salvation Army also sometimes has emergency weekend assistance. Hang in there - this is NOT your fault and there are people who will help you through this!

Hey! I'm new here but wanted to share what I learned when I was in a similar situation last year. The WTW program can seem overwhelming at first, but there are definitely options that work for single moms with young kids. A few things that helped me: - Ask specifically about "concurrent activities" - you might be able to combine things like adult education classes with work experience to meet your hours - If you're interested in healthcare, many counties have medical assistant or home health aide programs that are in high demand and lead to good-paying jobs - Don't let them pressure you into just job search activities if that's not what you want - you have the right to choose education/training if it makes sense for your goals One heads up - make sure you understand the "good cause" exemptions for when you might need to miss hours (sick kids, lack of childcare, etc.). Knowing these upfront can save you from getting sanctioned later. It sounds like you're on the right track now with getting more info from your worker. The online admin program sounds like a great fit for your situation! Keep advocating for yourself - you know your needs better than anyone else.

Great question about concurrent activities! From my experience, yes you can often combine different WTW activities to meet your hours. For example, I did an online customer service certification program for 20 hours/week and then did a work experience placement at a local nonprofit for 10 hours/week to get my full 30 hours. The work experience gave me real-world practice while I was learning the skills in my online classes. For medical assistant programs, most have both online and in-person components. The coursework (anatomy, medical terminology, etc.) is usually online, but you'll need to do hands-on clinical training and externships in person. However, some programs are more flexible about when you do the in-person parts - like evening or weekend clinical sessions. One thing I wish someone had told me earlier - ask about "education in combination with work" options. If you're doing the admin program, you might be able to get a part-time office job or internship that counts toward your hours while you're still learning. It's like getting paid to practice what you're studying! Definitely ask the counselor to show you exactly how different combinations of activities would work to meet your 30 hours. They should be able to map out a few different scenarios for you to choose from.

This is so frustrating and scary when you're depending on those benefits! I went through something similar last year where my CalWORKs just vanished from the system overnight. In my case, it turned out the county had flagged my case for a "quality control review" during their monthly processing, which temporarily suspended my benefits while they did their audit. The problem was nobody told me this was happening! What saved me was going directly to the county office in person with all my documents - ID, last benefit notice, recent paystubs, etc. The front desk worker was able to look up my case immediately and see what was going on. Turns out it was just a routine review that got stuck in the system somehow. Since you mentioned your rent is due soon, definitely emphasize the emergency nature when you call. Use the phrase "emergency aid" - they're supposed to expedite cases where people are facing homelessness. Also ask specifically if your case is under any kind of review or hold status. Sometimes these system glitches happen when cases get pulled for random audits. Hope you get this sorted out quickly! Keep us updated on what happens.

I'm so sorry you're going through this stress! This exact same thing happened to me about 6 months ago and I was absolutely terrified. My CalWORKs benefits just vanished from BenefitsCal overnight with no explanation. In my case, it turned out the county had done some kind of system maintenance that corrupted a bunch of case files. When I finally got through to someone (took 3 days of non-stop calling), they said my case got "orphaned" during a database update and wasn't properly linked back to my EBT card. Here's what worked for me: I went to the county office first thing in the morning with my ID, last benefit letter, and my EBT card. The worker was able to see my case was still active in their main system, just not showing up in BenefitsCal or the EBT system. She put in an emergency request to reconnect everything and my benefits were restored within 24 hours. Since your rent is due soon, definitely mention you're facing homelessness when you call - that should get you bumped to priority status. Don't let them brush you off! This is happening to way too many people lately and it's not your fault. Keep fighting for your benefits! 💪

I'm so glad you got your card frozen and are taking all the right steps! That $3.50 test transaction is definitely solid evidence that your card was compromised. When you file the police report tomorrow, make sure to mention both transactions and emphasize that you've never been to that Shell station - the location data will help prove it wasn't you. One more tip: when you get your replacement card, consider setting up account alerts so you get notified immediately of any transactions. Many people don't realize this is an option, but it can help you catch fraud within minutes instead of days. You've got this! The fact that you acted so quickly and have clear evidence of the test transaction puts you in a really good position for getting your benefits replaced. Keep us posted on how it goes with the police report and your county worker!

I'm so sorry you're going through this - benefit theft is absolutely terrifying and unfortunately way too common right now. The advice everyone's given you is spot on, especially about acting fast with the police report and EBT customer service. One thing I'd add: when you talk to your county worker, ask specifically about "expedited replacement" if you can show immediate hardship (like your rent being due). Some counties can process emergency replacements faster than the standard 30-45 days, especially if you have documentation showing you need the money for housing or essential needs. Also, that test transaction at the Shell station is actually really strong evidence in your favor - make sure to emphasize to both the police and your worker that you've never been to that location. GPS data from transactions can be crucial proof that it wasn't you. You're doing everything right by reporting immediately. Don't let anyone make you feel like you're to blame for this - these thieves are getting more sophisticated and targeting benefit recipients specifically. Stay strong and keep advocating for yourself!