I'm so sorry this happened to you - EBT theft is unfortunately becoming way too common and it's absolutely terrifying when you have kids depending on that money. I went through something similar last year and want to share what I learned: First, you're doing the right thing filing the police report. When you go to the county office tomorrow, bring that police report number and ask specifically for the CW 2215 form that others mentioned. Don't leave without filing this form - it's crucial for getting your benefits replaced. Here's something that really helped me: when I explained to the supervisor that I had children at home and no other resources for food/rent, they were able to provide what's called an "Immediate Need" payment while the investigation was pending. It wasn't the full amount stolen, but it was enough to cover groceries and part of my rent. They have special provisions when minor children are involved. Also, definitely get a completely new EBT card with a new number - not just a PIN change. The skimmers can copy your entire card number, so changing the PIN won't help if they have all your card info. One last tip: if you have trouble getting through to your worker or getting help at the office, document everything. Write down names, dates, what you were told. If you don't get emergency assistance, ask them to put in writing why you were denied - sometimes this motivates them to actually help. You will get through this! The stolen benefits can be replaced, it just takes patience and persistence.

I went through this exact same nightmare about 8 months ago! Had my card with me the whole time, never shared my PIN, but someone still managed to drain my entire cash aid at an ATM clear across the city. I know how terrifying this feels, especially with kids depending on that money. Here's what I wish someone had told me: When you go to the county office tomorrow, don't just ask for emergency assistance - ask specifically for "Immediate Need for families with minor children." This is different from regular emergency aid and they're required to process it faster when kids are involved. Also, bring your ID, your EBT card (even though it's compromised), the police report number, and any screenshots you might have of your account showing the fraudulent transactions. Write down the exact date/time you discovered the theft and the last legitimate purchase you made. The investigation took about 7 weeks for me, but I got emergency assistance within 2 days that covered groceries and helped with rent. Don't let them tell you that you have to wait - with minor children in the home, they have expedited procedures. One more thing - after this happened to me, I started only using ATMs inside banks or major stores, never standalone ones. The skimmers are usually on the sketchy ATMs in gas stations or small shops. Stay strong, mama - they will make this right, but you have to be persistent and know your rights!

Congrats on your baby girl! 💕 I just wanted to add that when you do get through to report the birth, make sure to ask about getting your newborn added to your Medi-Cal too if she isn't already. Sometimes they handle CalWORKs and Medi-Cal separately and you don't want any gaps in her healthcare coverage. Also, since you have a 3-year-old already, you might want to ask about the CalFresh (food stamps) increase too when you report the birth. Adding another family member should bump up your food benefits as well, not just the cash aid. The hospital social worker might also be able to help you navigate some of this if your county worker is being unresponsive. They usually have direct lines to the eligibility workers and can sometimes get things moving faster. Hang in there mama - the bureaucracy is frustrating but you'll get through it! ❤️

Congratulations on your beautiful baby girl! 🎉 I went through this exact same situation about 6 months ago and wanted to share what worked for me. You definitely need to report within 10 days, and the hospital discharge papers are absolutely sufficient to get started - don't wait for the birth certificate! I reported mine through BenefitsCal online and it was actually pretty straightforward. Just take clear photos of all the hospital paperwork showing baby's name, your name as mom, and birth date. Your grant should increase starting the month after you report (not the same month you report). For a family of 3, you're looking at roughly $100+ more per month compared to what you were getting for just you and your 3-year-old. One thing I wish someone had told me - when you report online, definitely screenshot or print the confirmation page! And also call your county office to leave a voicemail saying you've reported online. That way you have it documented both ways. Don't forget to ask about: - The $30 monthly diaper allowance (you should get this for both kids under 3 now!) - Adding baby to your Medi-Cal - Updating your CalFresh benefits for the larger family size - WTW exemption for caring for a child under 24 months (if you haven't used this exemption before) You've got this mama! The system is frustrating but stick with it - those extra benefits will really help with all the newborn expenses. ❤️

This is such a wonderful success story! @CosmicCadet, congratulations on your new job and for successfully navigating the system! It's so encouraging to see how this community came together with practical advice - from the specific CW 89 form number to the Claimyr service suggestion to warnings about getting things in writing. Your experience really highlights how important it is to be proactive and call ahead when possible. For anyone else reading this who might face a similar situation, this thread is a goldmine of actionable advice. Thanks for taking the time to update us on how it worked out - these kinds of follow-ups are incredibly valuable for future community members who might be dealing with the same challenges! 🌟

What an incredible thread to read through! @CosmicCadet, huge congratulations on landing that new job - that's fantastic news! 🎉 As someone who's been helping folks navigate the benefits system for a while, I'm really impressed with how this community rallied around you with such practical, detailed advice. The CW 89 form recommendation from @NebulaKnight was spot-on, and @Fatima Al-Mazrouei's warning about getting documentation in writing is so important - I've seen too many cases where workers accidentally cancel the wrong benefits. Your proactive approach of calling ahead really paid off! For anyone else reading this later, this thread is a perfect example of why it's worth taking the time to understand the specific forms and procedures rather than just hoping things work out at the interview. The benefits system can definitely be confusing, but stories like this show that with the right information and a little persistence, you can successfully navigate it. Thanks for sharing your positive outcome - it's exactly these kinds of success stories that help build confidence in our community! 💪

I'm so glad you found all this helpful information! As someone new to the CalWORKs system, I'm learning a lot from this thread too. One thing I wanted to add - when you go to the VITA site, bring any documents you have like your CalWORKs award letter, Social Security cards for you and your kids, and any records of that babysitting income (even if it's just a note you wrote yourself with dates and amounts). Also, I've heard that some VITA sites get really busy during peak tax season, so it might be worth calling ahead to make an appointment or ask about their busiest/slowest times. The fact that you can potentially get thousands back in credits is amazing - that money can really make a difference for families like ours!

This thread has been so eye-opening! I'm also a CalWORKs recipient with a 4-year-old, and I had no idea about these tax credits. My case worker never mentioned filing taxes since I'm not working. Reading about people getting thousands back is amazing - that kind of money could help me finally get my car fixed so I can look for work more easily. I'm definitely going to find a VITA site near me. Does anyone know if they can help with previous years too? I think I missed filing last year because I assumed I didn't need to without a job. Also, for those who mentioned keeping records of the babysitting income - should I write down what I remember from memory, or is it better to be honest that I don't have exact records? I don't want to get in trouble but I also don't want to miss out on credits I'm entitled to. Thank you all for sharing your experiences - this community is such a lifesaver!

Wow, what an amazing outcome! This whole thread has been so educational for me as someone who just started receiving CalWORKs benefits. I had no idea about the Work Study exemption or that you could request restoration of lost benefits when the county makes mistakes. I'm definitely bookmarking this conversation and writing down those regulation numbers in case I ever face similar issues. It's honestly ridiculous that we have to become policy experts just to get the benefits we're entitled to, but your persistence really paid off. Thank you for sharing your experience and for updating us - it gives me so much more confidence about advocating for myself if problems come up with my case!

This is such an inspiring success story! As a new CalWORKs recipient, I've been worried about making mistakes with paperwork or not understanding all the rules. Your experience shows how important it is to know the specific policies and regulations. I'm definitely writing down MPP Section 44-111.24 about Work Study exemptions and the info about restoration of lost benefits through state hearings. It's frustrating that we have to become policy experts just to get what we're legally entitled to, but your persistence really paid off. Thank you for sharing all the details and for updating us - it gives me confidence that I can advocate for myself if issues come up with my case. Really glad you got everything resolved and hope your payment comes through quickly so you can catch up on rent!