I used that Claimyr service that someone mentioned earlier today and it actually worked! Got through to my county office in about 4 minutes after trying for days on my own. The worker I spoke with said they've been seeing a big increase in EBT theft cases lately. She put a rush on my case after I explained my situation with the rent being due. Still have to wait for the investigation but at least I feel like someone is actually working on it now.

I'm so sorry this happened to you! This is absolutely terrifying and unfortunately becoming way too common. A few additional things that might help: 1. When you go to the county office Monday, bring copies of EVERYTHING - the police report, your EBT transaction history showing the unauthorized withdrawal, and any correspondence you've had about this. 2. Ask specifically about the "replacement within 10 days" rule - California is supposed to replace stolen benefits within 10 business days if you have all the required documentation. 3. If they give you the runaround, ask to speak with the EBT coordinator or fraud specialist. Every county office should have someone designated to handle these cases. 4. Consider contacting your local legal aid organization - they often have advocates who can help navigate the system faster than going it alone. The fact that this happened two months in a row suggests your card number/PIN was compromised early on. When you get the replacement card, consider only using it at your bank's ATMs if possible - avoid gas stations, convenience stores, and standalone ATMs where skimmers are more common. Stay strong - you WILL get through this. The system is broken but the money should eventually be replaced. Document everything and don't let them dismiss your case!

Update: I just found out my neighbor's benefits were stolen too! Same day as mine. We think there might be a skimmer at the corner store where we both shop. BE CAREFUL everyone and maybe only use ATMs inside actual banks if possible.

This is so frustrating but glad you finally got resolution! I'm dealing with the exact same thing right now - someone got my card info and drained $734 from my account 5 days ago. I've been calling every day and they keep saying "we're processing your claim" but no timeline. Did you have to provide anything besides the EBT-2259 form and police report? I'm worried I'm missing some documentation that's slowing down my case. Also did they give you any kind of case number to track the progress? I feel like I'm calling into a black hole every time.

Sending you so much support during this difficult time! As someone who works with families navigating public benefits, I want to emphasize that you should absolutely apply - you clearly meet the eligibility criteria. A few additional tips that might help: - When you call for the expedited interview, mention that you have a child under 6 and are experiencing homelessness. This puts you in priority status. - If possible, try calling the county office first thing in the morning (8-9am) when phone lines are less busy. - Keep a journal of your applications, calls, and interactions - dates, times, worker names if you get them. This helps if you need to escalate later. - Ask about emergency aid while your application is processing - some counties have small emergency funds for immediate needs like diapers/formula. You're being a strong advocate for your daughter by seeking help when you need it. That takes courage, and you should be proud of taking this step. Wishing you both stability and security soon! 💙

I just wanted to add that if you run into any roadblocks with your application, don't give up! Sometimes it helps to visit the office in person if phone calls aren't working. Bring your daughter with you if you can - workers often respond more urgently when they see the actual child who needs help. Also, once you get approved, look into local food banks and WIC (Women, Infants, and Children program) if you haven't already. WIC specifically helps with formula, baby food, and other essentials for kids under 5. Many food banks also have diaper programs. One more thing - if your county has a Family Resource Center or similar community organization, they often have advocates who can help you navigate the system and make sure you're getting all the benefits you're entitled to. Some even have emergency assistance programs while you're waiting for CalWORKs approval. You're doing everything right by reaching out and getting informed before applying. Your little girl is lucky to have such a determined mom fighting for her! 🙏

I'm also navigating CAPI benefits and had similar tax confusion! What everyone said is correct - CAPI itself isn't taxable income, but you definitely should file taxes for any work income you had. I'd also suggest keeping detailed records of when you received CAPI versus when you had work income, just to make everything clear if questions come up later. Since you mentioned your immigration status is pending, having organized documentation showing you're following all tax requirements properly could be really helpful for your case. The VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) program often has volunteers who are familiar with immigrant tax situations if you need free help preparing your return.

I've been through a similar situation with mixed income sources during immigration proceedings, and I just want to echo what others have said about the importance of filing taxes for your work income even though CAPI isn't taxable. One thing that really helped me was creating a simple timeline showing when I received different types of income throughout the year - it made tax preparation much clearer and gave me confidence that I was reporting everything correctly. Also, if you're nervous about making mistakes, many community organizations offer free tax prep specifically for immigrants and low-income families during tax season. They understand the complexities of having benefits alongside work income and can walk you through everything step by step. Don't let the confusion discourage you - you're asking all the right questions and being proactive about compliance, which speaks well for your character during your immigration process!

Just to clarify something important: even though the COLA is a "known" change, the different benefit systems (CalWORKs, CalFresh, SSI) don't automatically talk to each other as well as they should. The best practice is: 1. If the COLA puts you over your IRT - report immediately (required for CalWORKs) 2. If the change is more than $50/month - report for CalFresh (technically required) 3. If under both thresholds - you can wait until your next SAR7, but reporting now prevents any possible issues Report it through BenefitsCal and get a confirmation number as proof. This covers you completely.

Just wanted to add my experience - I'm a former county eligibility worker and can confirm that yes, you should report the COLA increase even though it seems redundant. The issue is that while SSI data flows into CalWIN, the actual benefit calculations for CalWORKs and CalFresh run on different schedules and sometimes don't sync up properly. What happens is SSI reports the COLA to the state, but your individual case might not get recalculated until your next review period unless YOU trigger it by reporting the change. This is especially true if your county is backlogged (which most are). The safest approach: Report any income change over $50 through BenefitsCal within 10 days. Take a screenshot of the confirmation. This way you're covered for both programs and won't get hit with an overissuance later. The system should work automatically, but it doesn't always, and the burden falls on you to prove you reported it.