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!

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!

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!

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!

I'm new to this community and going through my first CalWORKs redetermination next month, so this entire discussion has been incredibly helpful! I was getting really anxious about what documents I'd need to prepare, but reading everyone's experiences has put my mind at ease. It's good to know that the standard requirement is just the most recent month's bank statement, and that if they need additional months, they have to specify exactly which ones and why. I'll definitely use the advice about asking directly "which specific months do you need me to submit?" to get clear guidance from my worker. The release form option that lets the county verify directly with the bank also sounds like a great backup plan. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences - this community is such a valuable resource for navigating the system!

I'm new to this community and just wanted to say thank you to everyone who shared their experiences here! I have my first CalWORKs redetermination coming up in a couple weeks and was feeling really overwhelmed about what paperwork they might ask for. Reading through this thread has been so reassuring - it sounds like the standard is just your most recent month's bank statement, and if they need anything beyond that, they have to be specific about what and why. I love the advice about asking directly "which exact months do you need me to submit?" to avoid any confusion. The release form option for letting the county verify directly with your bank is also something I hadn't heard of before but sounds really helpful. It's so nice to have a community where people share practical advice like this - navigating government benefits can feel so intimidating when you're doing it alone!