CalWORKs & CalFresh benefits stolen from my EBT card in Lakewood while I'm in Salinas! How is this happening?

I'm sorry this happened to you. Yes, this is unfortunately becoming more common - it's called EBT skimming where thieves place hidden card readers on store payment terminals or ATMs to steal your card information. Even if you have your physical card, they can make a duplicate. For CalFresh (food stamps), you can get those benefits replaced. Call the EBT Customer Service line at 1-877-328-9677 immediately to report the theft and cancel your card. Then contact your county office to file a "Stolen Benefits Claim." The bad news is that for Cash Aid, it's much harder to get those funds replaced. California finally passed a law in 2023 to provide some replacement of stolen Cash Aid, but there are strict requirements: - You must report within 10 days of discovering the theft - You need to file a police report - You need to sign an affidavit under penalty of perjury Do all of this ASAP - the sooner you report it, the better chance you have.

This litterally happened to me last month!! My benefits got used in San Diego and I live in Sacramento!! I waited on hold with the county for THREE HOURS before getting hung up on. Such bs, they make it impossible to talk to anyone. I ended up having to borrow money from my sister to pay rent. 😡

u need 2 cancel ur card RIGHT NOW!!! they probly got ur pin somehow too. my cousin had this happen and the theives kept making new charges every day until she canceled her card. go to benefitscal.com and u can request new card there faster than calling sometimes

File a police report ASAP! I work at a community resource center, and the county won't process your CalWORKs theft claim without one. For the CalFresh portion, you need to fill out a CF 303 form (Statement of Facts - Lost/Stolen/Nonreceipt CalFresh Benefits). For the Cash Aid, there's a different form - CW 1812 (Affidavit for Cash Aid EBT Theft Replacement). Document everything - dates, times, transaction amounts, where they occurred. The county will need all of this. And keep calling your eligibility worker every day until you get through. If you're facing immediate hardship, ask about emergency food assistance or expedited CalFresh to help until your regular benefits might be restored.

this is why i always transfer my cash aid to my bank account as SOON as it hits my ebt card!!! never leave cash sitting on your ebt card because once its stolen theres no guarantee youll get it back. the county tokld me they only replace cash aid theft ONCE per year now and only if u meet all these crazy requirements

I had a similar situation last year, and here's exactly what you need to do: 1. Call EBT Customer Service (1-877-328-9677) to report the theft and cancel your card. Sounds like you already did this. 2. File a police report in YOUR city (Salinas). The theft is considered to have occurred where you are, not where the benefits were used. Get a copy of the report. 3. Contact your county office to submit form CW 1812 for Cash Aid replacement and CF 303 for CalFresh replacement. The Cash Aid replacement is limited to one time per year and up to $2000, thanks to the 2023 law (AB 1613). 4. Request emergency assistance while your claim is being processed. The county can provide expedited CalFresh benefits (within 3 days) if you qualify. 5. Keep detailed records of all communications, including names of workers you speak with, dates, and summaries of what was discussed. The Cash Aid replacement can take 30-90 days, but CalFresh is usually faster (7-15 days). Make sure you follow up weekly if you don't hear anything.

OMG my sister had her benefits stolen while she had her card too!!! The worker told her criminals put skimmer machines on ATMs that steal your card info when you use them! So crazy. She got her foodstamps back after like 2 weeks but she never got her cash aid back. Its so messed up!!!

idk if this helps but theres food banks that can help u until ur benefits come back. in salinas theres the food bank for monterey county on sanborn rd. they dont ask for much paperwork and give enough food for a week or so

Since you mentioned you're having trouble reaching the county office, make sure you're trying early in the morning right when they open. That's usually the best time to get through. Also, email them through your BenefitsCal account - it creates a documented trail of your attempts to report the theft, which can be important if there are any disputes about when you reported it. For your immediate needs, the county should be able to issue emergency CalFresh benefits within 3 days if you explain your situation. But you MUST get through to them to request this. Be persistent. If your worker isn't responding, ask to speak with a supervisor.

I'm so sorry this happened to you - EBT skimming is unfortunately becoming a huge problem in California. As someone who works with families facing similar situations, here's what you need to know: **Immediate steps:** 1. Good that you canceled your card! While waiting for the new one, you can still use your CalFresh benefits by calling the EBT hotline and doing phone transactions at participating stores. 2. **Police report:** File it in Salinas (where you live) - bring your EBT transaction history, ID, and any documentation you have about the fraudulent charges. 3. **County contact:** Try calling your county office at 8:00 AM sharp when they open. If you can't get through, go to the office in person - they can't ignore you if you're physically there. **Emergency help while waiting:** - Request expedited CalFresh replacement (3-day processing) - Ask about emergency food assistance - Contact 211 (dial 2-1-1) for local food banks and emergency resources in Salinas **Forms you'll need:** - CF 303 for CalFresh replacement - CW 1812 for Cash Aid replacement (remember: only one replacement per year, up to $2000) The Cash Aid replacement law (AB 1613) is newer, so some workers might not be familiar with it. Don't let them tell you it's not possible - cite the law by name if needed. Stay strong - you will get through this! 💪