CalWORKs EBT fraud: My Cash Aid stolen in Kings County - how to report and get emergency replacement?

omg that happened to me last year its awful!! you need to report it to the ebt customer service line RIGHT AWAY like today. the # is on the back of ur card. they will cancel ur card and send u a new one but getting the $ back takes forever tbh

I work at a community resource center and help clients with this issue fairly often. Here's what you need to do: 1) First, file a police report - this is required for Cash Aid theft (unlike for CalFresh) 2) Call Kings County DPSS at 559-852-2200 to report the theft and request a Cash Aid Theft Report form (CF 303) 3) Complete the form and return it with a copy of the police report ASAP 4) Request an emergency replacement - they can sometimes issue it within 3-5 business days if you emphasize your situation with rent coming due For anyone dealing with benefit theft, always keep your PIN secure and change it regularly. Never use your birthdate or other obvious numbers. And always check your EBT account few days to catch unauthorized transactions quickly - you only have 90 days to report them!

i had $340 stolen from my account last month and im STILL waiting for them to replace it!!! they keep saying they're "investigating" but im about to be evicted. the system is broken they dont care about us at all

You might want to try using Claimyr to get through to Kings County DPSS instead of waiting on hold or getting voicemail. I had a similar situation a few months ago and couldn't get anyone to pick up for days. Used claimyr.com and they got someone on the phone for me in about 20 minutes. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/jzISHxCPLwE showing how it works. The callback feature saved me hours of waiting, and I was able to get my theft claim processed much faster. Having a direct conversation with a real worker makes all the difference when you're dealing with benefit theft.

I'm a CalWORKs eligibility specialist (not in Kings County). Here's what you should know about Cash Aid theft replacement: - Kings County follows the standard state procedure for EBT theft - You have 90 days from the theft to report it - They can replace up to one month's benefit amount - The CF 303 form requires specific information about when you discovered the theft - You MUST file a police report for Cash Aid theft (different from CalFresh theft rules) - Request an emergency replacement if you have urgent needs (rent, utilities) One important thing: with the increasing cases of benefit theft, counties are now prioritizing these reports. Make sure to emphasize that your rent is due and you have children. Under certain circumstances, they can issue emergency aid within 3 business days while your claim is being processed.

This is why I ALWAYS transfer my CalWORKs money to my bank account the MINUTE it hits my EBT card. The EBT cards have basically no security features compared to regular debit cards. So sorry this happened to you! One thing - make sure you also check if there's any weird charges on your CalFresh side too. When my cash aid got stolen, they also took some of my food benefits even though they're supposed to be separate accounts.

kings county is the WORST with handling these cases! my sister had her benefits stolen last year and they made her jump through so many hoops. keep calling every single day and document EVERYTHING. write down who you talk to, date and time. if they deny your claim (they probably will the first time), immediately file for a state hearing. thats the only thing that worked for my sister. good luck!!!!

Small update on EBT theft procedures - as of January 2025, California implemented some new protocols for Cash Aid theft claims. Kings County should be following these: 1. All counties now have dedicated EBT theft investigators 2. They must provide a written acknowledgment of your theft report within 5 business days 3. They must make a determination within 30 days (though emergency replacements can happen much faster) 4. They must provide information about free legal aid if your claim is denied If you're having trouble reaching Kings County by phone, you can also email them at KingsCATheft@kingscounty.gov (this is their dedicated theft report email) or visit the office in person. Sometimes in-person visits get faster results for urgent situations like benefit theft.