CalWORKs EBT benefit theft - they emptied my account this morning! How to get emergency replacement?

Omg same thing happened to my sister last year!! So sorry ur dealing with this. Those thieves are using skimmers and cameras at ATMs. Make sure u change ur PIN asap.

I'm so sorry this happened to you. You need to take these specific steps: 1. File a police report immediately - you'll need the report number for faster processing 2. Contact your CalWORKs worker directly (not just the EBT hotline) to request an immediate replacement under the "uncontrollable circumstance" provision 3. Ask specifically about emergency assistance for rent since that's time-sensitive 4. Bring your claim number, police report, and any transaction records to your county office in person if possible The county can issue emergency replacement benefits while your theft claim is being processed, but you need to emphasize the immediate need. Make sure to use the words "immediate need" and "hardship" when talking to your worker.

Getting hold of your worker is crucial right now. I had trouble reaching mine for weeks until I found Claimyr.com - it's a service that basically waits on hold with the county office for you and calls you back when they have a real person on the line. Saved me hours of hold time. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/jzISHxCPLwE For benefit theft, you really need to talk to an actual worker, not just leave messages. The EBT customer service people can't authorize emergency replacements.

Make sure when you talk to your worker that you specifically request an "Immediate Need" payment. This is different from the regular EBT theft claim. Under CalWORKs regulations, they can issue emergency funds for housing/essential needs while your claim is being processed. Also, contact your local legal aid office - they can sometimes expedite these cases. Don't take no for an answer about the emergency assistance!

DID U SAVE UR RECIEPTS FROM THE STORE???? Sometimes they put skimmers on the card readers especially at walmart!!! I NEVER use my EBT at walmart anymore because of this!!! They stole my CalFresh benefits once but I couldn't prove it because I didnt have my recipts. NOW I TAKE PICTURES OF EVERY RECIEPT WITH MY PHONE AND SAVE THEM ALL!!!! Also when u get a new card NEVER use the same PIN as before, they might have cameras watching u type it in!!!!

Hey there - so sorry you're going through this. Two years ago my cash aid got stolen the same way. What nobody told me at first is that you can also apply for Homeless Assistance even if you're not homeless yet. If you're at risk of eviction because of the theft, tell your worker you need to apply for HA right away. They can give you money to cover your rent while the theft investigation happens. I would've been evicted if I hadn't known this!

they should really do more 2 protect us from this stuff!! my friend said the county worker told her over 30% of benefit theft never gets caught & they dont have enough investigators. system is totally broken!!

I'm glad you were able to get an appointment. Make sure to bring ALL of these documents tomorrow: 1. Police report (or report number if you filed online) 2. Your EBT card (even though it's compromised) 3. Bank statements showing the fraudulent withdrawals 4. Copy of your lease/rental agreement 5. Any notices from your landlord 6. Photo ID 7. Your children's identification or birth certificates Also, if your worker tries to tell you that you have to wait for the EBT fraud investigation to complete before getting help, ask to speak to a supervisor. Under MPP Section 44-211.5, they are required to evaluate immediate need separately from the theft investigation. Don't let them confuse the two processes!

this happend to me back in january, total nightmare!!! make sure u check ur mail EVERY day after u report it cuz they sent me a form I had to send back in 10 days but i didnt see it till too late and had to start the whole process over again!!!!

I'm so sorry this happened to you! This is absolutely terrifying and I can't imagine how stressed you must be. I went through something similar about 6 months ago - not as much money stolen but still devastating. A few things that helped me: 1. When you go to your appointment tomorrow, bring a written statement explaining your immediate needs (rent due date, kids' food needs, etc.) - sometimes having it in writing helps them process it faster 2. If you have any text messages or emails from your landlord about rent, bring those too 3. Ask about getting a rushed replacement card - mine took 3 days instead of the usual 7-10 when I emphasized it was theft-related Also, I know this sounds crazy but start keeping a small notebook to write down every person you talk to, their name, the date/time, and what they told you. It helped me so much when I had to follow up because I could reference exactly who said what. You're doing all the right things and I really hope they help you tomorrow. Keep us updated - we're all rooting for you! 💙