CalWORKs EBT card hacked and Cash Aid stolen before rent due - what emergency options do I have?

I'm so sorry this happened to you! Yes, unfortunately EBT theft has become more common. First thing Monday morning, you need to: 1) Call the number on back of your EBT card to report it stolen, 2) File a police report (they might want this for the investigation), 3) Contact your CalWORKs worker and tell them you need emergency assistance because of benefit theft. The county should be able to replace your stolen benefits, but honestly it can take 2-4 weeks in most cases. Ask specifically about the "immediate need" payment - they can sometimes issue emergency funds within 3 days if you qualify. For immediate help this weekend, call 211 right now. They can connect you with food banks that might be open today and emergency rental assistance programs.

omg this is the 3rd post ive seen this month about stolen benefits!!!! they hit my sisters account in december too!!!! did u use ur card at a sketchy atm? thats how they got hers

This is happening way too often lately. Make sure you freeze your EBT card immediately through the EBT app or by calling the number on the back of your card (1-877-328-9677). That line is open 24/7 for reporting stolen cards, though the fraud investigation can't start until Monday. For emergency rent assistance, call the CalWORKs office Monday and specifically request a "Homeless Assistance Payment" - explain that you're at imminent risk of eviction. If you've never received it before, you could qualify for temporary HA even though you're currently housed. For food right now, most counties have weekend food banks. If you share what county you're in, someone might be able to suggest specific resources.

Ur landlord has to give u more than just a day b4 eviction. they cant just kick u out monday if u miss rent today. legally they have to give u notice. so u have some time, but def call ur worker asap on monday. when this happened to me it took 10 business days for them to put the money back after they did there investigation.

Just be prepared - they're going to ask you how someone got your PIN. They always act like it's YOUR fault. When my benefits got stolen last year, the worker kept implying I must have given someone my card or told them my PIN. It was so frustrating! I had to fight for almost a month to get my money back, and they never caught who did it. The system is seriously messed up.

I've helped several clients deal with EBT theft recently. Here's what works best: When you call on Monday, be very specific and ask for these things separately: 1. File the benefit theft report (this starts the investigation for replacement) 2. Request an immediate need payment due to the theft (separate from #1) 3. Apply for Homeless Assistance due to imminent eviction risk 4. Request expedited CalFresh if you don't already have it Also, have you tried using Claimyr to skip the phone wait times? I recommend it to all my clients dealing with CalWORKs emergencies - they'll get you through to a human much faster. Their site is claimyr.com and they have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/jzISHxCPLwE For this weekend, call your landlord right away and explain the situation. Many landlords will work with you if you're proactive and show them proof that a theft occurred and that you're taking steps to resolve it.

This is y i always pull ALL my money out the second it hits my card!!! u gotta do that now, these scammers r everywhere n calworks dont care they make u wait forever

Quick update on timelines - the state actually implemented new rules in 2024 that require counties to process EBT theft claims faster. They're supposed to provide provisional credit within 10 calendar days now while they investigate. Make sure you mention the "expedited timeframe requirement" when you call. Also, for San Bernardino County specifically, try contacting: - Inland Empire United Way (909-980-2857) - they sometimes have emergency rental funds - Community Action Partnership of SB County (909-723-1500) - emergency assistance program Document EVERYTHING - date and time of when you discovered the theft, transaction details from your EBT account, who you spoke with and when. This will help speed up the investigation.

BTW did u check if they got ur food stamps too or just the cash aid? sometimes they take everything!