CalWORKs Cash Aid was stolen from my EBT - emergency steps needed for rent payment

omg the same thing happened to me last year! u need to call the EBT customer service first to report it stolen and get a new card. then call ur caseworker right away to tell them. they can start an investigation but its gonna take time. my landlord was super mad but i showed him the police report and he gave me extra week

I'm sorry this happened to you. You need to take several specific steps immediately: 1. Call EBT Customer Service (877-328-9677) to report the theft and request a new card 2. File a police report - this is REQUIRED for benefit theft claims 3. Contact your CalWORKs worker to submit a "CF 303 - Benefit Theft Report" form 4. Ask about Emergency Assistance funds while your case is investigated 5. Request expedited processing due to your pending eviction risk California does replace stolen Cash Aid, but the process takes time. Gather any evidence you have (transaction details, where you last used the card, etc.) to support your claim. If approved, replacement benefits can be issued within 5-10 business days.

wow that relly sucks!! my cousin got her cash stolen and the county made her wait like 2 months before they replaced it. she almost got evicted too! the whole system is messed up cuz its not your fault someone stole it!!! 😠

When this happened to me in January, I discovered that counties are now required by California law to replace stolen Cash Aid. The key is filing ALL the right paperwork quickly. One thing I learned: if you don't get a police report filed within 3 days of discovering the theft, they can deny your claim. Also, make sure you document EXACTLY when you discovered the theft and all activities on your EBT card for the past week. While waiting for your replacement benefits, you can also apply for CalWORKs Homeless Assistance if you receive an eviction notice. It's a one-time payment to prevent homelessness, and benefit theft qualifies as a qualifying emergency.

Has anyone else noticed these thefts are happening WAY more lately?? My worker told me they're seeing record numbers of EBT skimming cases where thieves put a device on store card readers to steal card info. They especially target the first week of the month when benefits load. I wonder if that's what happened to you? Either way, I'd bet the customer service line will have a super long wait today because of all the theft cases. 😫

When I had to deal with benefit theft last year, I tried calling the county CalWORKs office for DAYS with no luck - constant busy signals or being put on hold forever until I got disconnected. I finally used Claimyr.com to get through to my worker. It's a service that basically waits on hold for you and then calls you when a real person answers. Saved me hours of frustration and I got my theft claim processed within 48 hours. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/jzISHxCPLwE But definitely follow the steps others mentioned - police report, EBT customer service, and the CF 303 form are all required.

wait. how did u find out the money was stolen? did u get a text saying ur money was withdrawn or did u just check ur balance? becuz theres a scam going around where they text u pretending to be EBT and tell u ur money was taken but its just to get u to call a fake number and give them ur real info. make sure ur calling the REAL EBT number on the back of ur card not some number u got in a text!!!!

Update on your options while waiting for replacement benefits: 1. CalWORKs Immediate Need: If you haven't received CalWORKs benefits in the current month, you might qualify for Immediate Need payment (up to $200). 2. Emergency special payment: Some counties have special funds for emergency situations - specifically request this from your worker. 3. Homeless Assistance Program: As I mentioned earlier, if you're at risk of eviction, you may qualify for temporary help. 4. Payment plan with landlord: Show your landlord the filed police report and CF 303 form as proof you're actively addressing the issue. Also, to prevent future theft, create a new PIN that's hard to guess (not birthdays or simple sequences), check your balance frequently, and consider using the BenefitsCal app's card freeze feature between uses.

My friend works for the county and she says they're supposed to process these claims super fast now because of all the theft happening. Like within 10 days if u have all the proof. Good luck!!! 🍀

I'm so sorry this happened to you! This is such a stressful situation. I went through something similar a few months ago and wanted to share what worked for me. After you file the police report and contact your worker, ask specifically about "Immediate Needs" payments - some counties can provide emergency funds within 24-48 hours for situations like this. Also, when you talk to your landlord, bring copies of ALL your paperwork (police report, EBT theft report, etc.) and ask if they have any emergency rental assistance programs they work with. Many landlords would rather work with you than deal with eviction costs. One more tip: when you get your new EBT card, set up text alerts for ALL transactions. That way if someone tries to use it again, you'll know immediately instead of finding out days later. The BenefitsCal app also lets you check your balance and transaction history in real-time. Hang in there - the system does work, it just takes time. Keep all your documentation organized and follow up regularly with your worker. You've got this! 💪

I'm really sorry you're going through this - EBT theft is becoming such a huge problem and it's heartbreaking when it affects families who are already struggling. I wanted to add a few things that might help with your immediate situation: If your county has a CalWORKs Emergency Services unit, they can sometimes issue same-day emergency payments for situations exactly like this. When you call your worker, specifically ask to speak with Emergency Services and mention that you're facing imminent eviction due to benefit theft. Also, many local churches, community centers, and nonprofit organizations have emergency rental assistance funds that can bridge the gap while you wait for your benefits to be replaced. Try calling 211 from your phone - they can connect you with local emergency assistance programs in your area. For your landlord conversation, emphasize that this is theft (not mismanagement of funds) and that California law requires the county to replace stolen benefits. Most landlords understand that benefit theft is completely out of your control. If possible, get any agreement about extended payment time in writing. You're doing all the right things by acting quickly. The fact that you discovered it right away and are filing all the proper reports will work in your favor. Keep pushing and don't take "no" for an answer when asking for emergency assistance - your situation absolutely qualifies. Sending you strength! 💪

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this! EBT theft is unfortunately becoming way too common. I went through this exact situation about 6 months ago and here's what saved me: 1. After filing your police report, ask the officer for a CASE NUMBER - you'll need this for your county claim 2. When you call your CalWORKs worker, specifically mention you need "emergency replacement benefits due to theft" - there's actually a fast-track process for this now 3. Most importantly: ask about the CalFresh/CalWORKs Emergency Food and Cash program while your claim is being processed. This can provide temporary assistance within 72 hours For your landlord situation - bring them a copy of the police report AND the EBT theft claim paperwork. In my experience, most landlords will work with you when they see you're dealing with actual theft vs just not having money. Some will even accept a partial payment with a written agreement for the rest. Also, check if your county has a "Fraud Unit" hotline - they often process theft claims faster than going through your regular worker. In Los Angeles County, for example, they have a dedicated EBT fraud line that moves much quicker. You're handling this the right way by acting fast. The replacement benefits DO come through, usually within 5-10 days if you have all your paperwork in order. Hang in there! 💪

I'm really sorry this happened to you - EBT theft is so frustrating and scary, especially when rent is due! I had my benefits stolen twice last year and learned some hard lessons about the process. One thing I want to emphasize that others mentioned but is SUPER important: when you call your CalWORKs worker, don't just say your money was "stolen" - use the specific phrase "I need to report EBT benefit theft and request emergency replacement benefits." The workers have specific protocols they have to follow when you use those exact words. Also, while you're waiting for your benefits to be replaced, check if your county participates in the Restaurant Meals Program (RMP). If they do and you qualify, you might be able to get some immediate food assistance even without cash on your EBT card. For your landlord situation - in addition to showing them the police report, mention that California recently passed stronger laws requiring counties to replace stolen benefits. Most landlords know about the EBT theft epidemic now and understand it's not your fault. One last tip: document EVERYTHING. Take photos of all your paperwork, save confirmation numbers from phone calls, and write down the names of everyone you speak with. This saved me when my first claim got "lost" in the system. You're doing all the right things by acting quickly. The stress is awful but you WILL get through this! 💪