CalWORKs Cash Aid and EBT benefits stolen from Wells Fargo - what's the timeline for getting money back?

I went through something similar in March. Someone skimmed my card at a gas station and emptied my account two days later. The timeline depends on which benefits were stolen, but for CalWORKs Cash Aid, you should get it back faster than the CalFresh/EBT part. For my cash benefits, it took exactly 10 business days after submitting all the paperwork. The EBT/food benefits took almost a month though. Make sure you submitted form CW 2218 for the Cash Aid theft and the EBT 2259 for the food benefits. If you only filled out one form, go back ASAP and do the other one too!

they give u back the money but u gotta wait sometimes. my brother had his card stolen 2 months bak and they took all his cash aid from the atm. he got the money back after like 3 weeks but they made him go back 2 the office again bcuz they said he didnt sign somthing right the first time so watch out 4 that

Sorry this happened to you! Unfortunately, benefit theft investigations take time, but here's what you can expect: 1. CalWORKs Cash Aid replacement: Typically 10-15 business days after they verify your claim 2. CalFresh/EBT replacement: Can take 20-30 calendar days Since you mentioned bills coming due, ask your worker about an "immediate need" payment while your claim is processing. They can sometimes issue emergency funds if you're at risk of eviction, utility shutoff, etc. Also, when you set up your new card, create a different PIN and change it regularly. And never use the card at gas pumps - go inside to pay. Skimming devices are everywhere these days.

THE COUNTY ISNT GOING TO HELP YOU!!! They make these "investigations" take FOREVER hoping you'll just give up! I had $785 stolen in January and I'm STILL fighting to get it back. They keep saying "we're processing your claim" but nothing happens. They don't care that people have rent and bills. First they accused ME of taking out the money and "forgetting" then they said I must have given my PIN to someone. It's all LIES to avoid paying us back what was STOLEN. The system is RIGGED against us!!!

Same thing happened to my cousin last year good luck getting through to anyone on the phone tho 🙄

I had this exact problem back in February - someone got my card info and drained my account at a Wells Fargo ATM I've never even been to! What helped me get my money back faster was constantly following up. I couldn't get through on the regular phone lines, so I used this service called Claimyr.com that got me connected to a real CalWORKs worker in about 10 minutes instead of waiting on hold for hours. They have a video of how it works: https://youtu.be/jzISHxCPLwE It seriously made a difference because I was able to talk to someone who could check on my claim status and push it through. I had my Cash Aid back in 8 days and my CalFresh in about 3 weeks. Without following up I think it would have taken way longer.

Yes there's a fee but it was worth it to me since I needed my benefits back asap. They just call the county for you and connect you once they get through. Saved me hours of waiting on hold.

Also, make sure you check your IRT (Income Reporting Threshold) letter. If this theft puts you below your IRT, you might qualify for a supplemental payment even before your theft claim is processed. Some counties are better about offering this than others, but it's worth asking about!

Just went through this in April. The worker probably didn't give you clear answers cause honestly they don't know for sure. Mine took 12 days for the cash aid and about 25 days for the CalFresh. But my friend had to wait almost 2 months when it happened to her last year! While your waiting, call 211 and ask about emergency food assistance. Most counties have food banks that can help right away. Also if you have kids, tell their school - sometimes they have emergency resources for families.

AND another thing!!! When you do finally get your money back, NEVER keep it all on your EBT card!!! As soon as you get your benefits, take most of the cash out and put it somewhere else. Leave just enough for a few days. These thieves are targeting our benefits and the county doesn't care!!!

Ya my cousin got it back after like 2 weeks but only because she kept calling them everyday lol 😂

Quick update: I went back to the county office today and asked about the immediate need payment. They're processing a partial payment that should hit my account in 3 days! It's not the full amount but it'll cover my electricity bill at least. Thanks everyone for your advice!

I'm so sorry this happened to you! I went through almost the exact same thing about 6 months ago. Someone skimmed my card at a grocery store and cleaned out my account over the weekend. The waiting period is the worst part because you're stuck with no money for essentials. Based on my experience, here's what helped me get through it faster: - Document EVERYTHING - take photos of your police report, keep copies of all forms - Get a case number from the county and write it down somewhere safe - Ask for your worker's direct extension so you don't have to go through the main line - If you have any proof of where you were when the theft happened (work schedule, receipts, etc.), bring that too The good news is that legitimate theft cases usually do get resolved. Mine took about 2 weeks for cash aid and 3 weeks for CalFresh. The key is staying on top of them without being rude - they're more likely to help if you're polite but persistent. Hang in there! It's incredibly stressful but you will get your money back.

I'm really sorry you're going through this - benefit theft is unfortunately becoming more common and it's so stressful when you're already struggling financially. I haven't personally experienced this, but I wanted to share some additional resources that might help while you're waiting: - Many churches and community centers offer emergency food pantries that don't require paperwork or long waits - If you're behind on utilities, most companies have hardship programs where they'll work with you if you call and explain the situation - Your local Salvation Army or Catholic Charities might be able to help with emergency rent assistance Also, once you get your replacement card, consider setting up text alerts if your county offers them - that way you'll know immediately if there's any suspicious activity on your account. I hope your immediate need payment comes through quickly and that the full investigation gets resolved soon. Keep advocating for yourself and don't let them brush you off!

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this! I went through benefit theft about 8 months ago when someone got my card info at a sketchy ATM. The whole process is nerve-wracking, especially when you have bills due. From my experience, here's what you can expect: - CalWORKs cash benefits usually come back in 7-14 business days if your case is straightforward - CalFresh takes longer - typically 3-4 weeks - The "immediate need" payment you got is a lifesaver while waiting One thing that really helped me was keeping a detailed log of every interaction with the county office - dates, times, who I spoke with, and what they said. It made follow-up calls much easier and showed I was serious about tracking my case. Also, when you do get your benefits back, consider using your CalWORKs cash at ATMs inside banks rather than standalone ATMs - they're generally safer from skimmers. And definitely change your PIN to something completely different from what you had before. The waiting is the hardest part, but legitimate theft cases like yours do get resolved. Stay persistent but patient with the workers - they're processing a lot of these cases lately unfortunately.