CalWORKs EBT theft - cash aid completely gone! How long for reimbursement?

omg that happened to me last year!!! took them almost a month to put my money back. u need to call ur caseworker asap and tell them u need emergency benefits cuz of theft!!

Unfortunately, EBT theft is becoming very common. Here's what you need to do: 1. Make sure you've reported it to the EBT customer service line and have your claim number (sounds like you did this already) 2. Contact your CalWORKs worker IMMEDIATELY to report the theft - they can sometimes issue emergency replacement benefits while your claim is being processed 3. File a police report - this is required for the investigation 4. Submit the form "EBT 2259" - Cash Aid Theft Claim Form with your county office Under the new rules (as of late 2024), counties should replace stolen CalWORKs benefits within 10 business days if you've completed all the proper steps. The California Department of Social Services issued guidance that expedites these claims compared to the previous timeline. Keep all documentation of the theft and follow up regularly with your worker.

my sisters boyfriends cousin had the same thing happen got all her money back in like 2-3 weeks i think ?? but she said she had to call like everyday to check on it

UGH this exact thing happened to me in January!!!! Someone cleaned out my ENTIRE cash aid amount ($1,092) in ONE DAY with transactions from some store in Florida (I'm in California!!). It's RIDICULOUS how this keeps happening!! Here's what I learned the hard way: 1) The EBT hotline people are basically useless beyond giving you a claim # 2) YOU MUST TALK TO YOUR ACTUAL CALWORKS WORKER to get emergency aid while waiting 3) File police report IMMEDIATELY, they won't process without it 4) DOCUMENT EVERYTHING!!!!! It took them 19 days to put my money back. I kept calling every other day to check. The worst part was they initially DENIED my claim saying I must have given someone my PIN!!! I had to appeal and fight like crazy. This system is BROKEN!!! Why don't they have better security on these cards?? We should start a class action!!!

trying to call ur caseworkrker is impossible right? they never pick up!! i had this happen (but with calfresh not cash aid) and spent 3 days calling over and over. so frustrating

I work with benefits advocacy and can share accurate information about CalWORKs benefit theft replacement: 1. There is a state-mandated timeline of 10 business days for replacement after a complete claim is submitted 2. A complete claim requires: - EBT 2259 form fully completed - Police report (can be filed online in most counties) - Signed affidavit that you didn't authorize the transactions - Copy of your EBT card (front and back) There's also a provision for emergency replacement benefits while your claim is processed, but this varies by county and is sometimes at the discretion of your worker. Most importantly: Change your PIN immediately, and in the future, consider withdrawing your cash aid as soon as it's deposited rather than leaving it on the card. While not ideal, it's the most secure option until the state implements better EBT security measures.

I've been helping clients with EBT theft claims for the past year, and there's been significant improvement in processing times. What used to take 30+ days is now typically resolved in 7-14 days if you've properly submitted all documentation. One thing to note: if you've experienced previous theft or have multiple claims, they may scrutinize your case more carefully, potentially delaying the process. Also, make sure to document any hardships the theft is causing (potential eviction, utility shutoffs, etc.) as this can help prioritize your emergency benefits request. For emergency assistance while waiting, also consider applying for programs like: - Emergency housing assistance through your county - Local food banks (211 can direct you) - Utility assistance programs Lastly, please change your PIN immediately and consider changing it monthly going forward. Most theft occurs through skimming devices placed on ATMs or payment terminals.

update us when u get ur money back!! im curious if its really faster now like they saying

I'm so sorry this happened to you! EBT theft is unfortunately becoming way too common. I went through something similar about 6 months ago and here's what I learned: The key is getting ALL your paperwork submitted correctly the first time. I made the mistake of not filing the police report immediately, which delayed my case by almost 2 weeks. Once I had everything in order (the EBT 2259 form, police report, and affidavit), it took exactly 9 business days to get my money back. Pro tip: When you call your worker, ask specifically about "emergency replacement benefits" - don't just wait for them to offer it. Some workers won't mention it unless you ask directly. I was able to get about 60% of my stolen amount replaced as emergency aid within 4 days while waiting for the full investigation. Also, definitely change your PIN right away and maybe consider using ATMs inside banks rather than standalone ones if possible. Those skimming devices are everywhere now. Keep us posted on how it goes! The system has definitely improved from what it used to be.

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this - EBT theft is absolutely devastating when you're already struggling financially. I went through this exact situation about 4 months ago and it was one of the most stressful experiences ever. Here's what worked for me to get through it faster: 1. I immediately went to my local CalWORKs office in person (didn't just call) and spoke to a supervisor about emergency aid. Sometimes showing up physically gets better results than phone calls. 2. When filing the police report, I made sure to get the report number same day and submitted it with my EBT 2259 form within 24 hours. Speed really matters here. 3. I documented EVERYTHING - took photos of my EBT card, screenshots of my account balance before/after, printed out the unauthorized transaction history, etc. The whole process took 12 business days for me to get my full $856 back, but I did get about $400 in emergency replacement within 5 days which saved me from eviction. One thing nobody tells you - once you get your money back, they'll issue it on a NEW EBT card with a different number. The old card gets permanently deactivated. So don't panic if your current card suddenly stops working - that's actually a good sign that your replacement is coming. Stay strong and keep following up every few days. You WILL get your money back!

This exact thing happened to my neighbor just last month! She lost $687 in cash aid overnight to fraudulent transactions. What really helped her was immediately freezing her EBT card through the customer service line (sounds like you already reported it), then going straight to the county office first thing the next morning with all her paperwork. She brought: - Her EBT card - Screenshots of her account showing the fraudulent transactions - Her phone with the claim number ready - ID and any CalWORKs paperwork she had The worker was able to start processing emergency replacement benefits that same day because she came prepared. She got about $400 back within a week as emergency aid, then the full amount took another 8 days after that. The key thing she told me was being persistent but polite with follow-ups. She called every Tuesday and Friday to check status (not every day - that just annoys them). Also definitely file that police report online if your county allows it - much faster than going to the station. Most counties have online reporting for financial crimes now. You got this! The system has gotten way better at handling these cases quickly. Just make sure you have ALL the paperwork they need so there's no delays.

I'm really sorry this happened to you - EBT theft is becoming such a huge problem and it's incredibly stressful when you're already counting on every dollar. I work as a benefits advocate and see this way too often. The good news is that California has really improved their response times for EBT theft claims. Here's what you should expect and do: **Immediate steps:** - Change your PIN right now if you haven't already - Get that police report filed ASAP (many counties allow online filing) - Contact your CalWORKs worker TODAY about emergency replacement benefits - Fill out form EBT 2259 and submit with all required docs **Timeline:** With all proper documentation, you should see replacement within 10 business days. Many counties are now processing complete claims in 7-12 days. **Emergency aid:** Don't wait for the investigation! Ask your worker specifically about emergency replacement benefits - you can often get 50-70% of the stolen amount within 3-5 days while the full claim processes. **Pro tip:** Go to your county office in person tomorrow morning if possible. Bring your EBT card, ID, screenshots of fraudulent transactions, and your claim number. Face-to-face often gets faster results than phone calls. The system isn't perfect, but it's much better than it used to be. You WILL get your money back - just make sure you have all the paperwork submitted correctly to avoid delays. Keep us updated on how it goes!

I'm so sorry this happened to you! I went through EBT theft about 3 months ago and it was absolutely terrifying - lost $724 in cash aid that I desperately needed for rent. Here's what I learned from my experience: The NEW timeline (as of 2024) is much better than it used to be. I got my money back in exactly 10 business days once I submitted everything properly. But the key is having ALL the paperwork ready at once: 1. EBT 2259 form (get this from your county office or online) 2. Police report (I did mine online - super quick) 3. Signed statement that you didn't authorize the transactions 4. Copy of your EBT card front/back Most importantly - call your worker TOMORROW and specifically ask for "emergency replacement benefits." Don't assume they'll offer it! I got $450 back within 4 days as emergency aid while waiting for the full investigation. This literally saved me from eviction. Also change your PIN immediately and consider withdrawing your cash benefits the same day they deposit from now on. I know it's not convenient but these cards have zero fraud protection compared to regular bank cards. The good news is that California really has improved this process. You WILL get your money back - just make sure you submit everything correctly the first time to avoid delays. Hang in there!

I'm so sorry you're going through this! EBT theft is unfortunately becoming way too common and it's absolutely infuriating when you're already struggling financially. I went through this exact situation about 8 months ago - someone cleaned out my entire $892 in cash aid overnight with transactions in Nevada (I'm in Sacramento). Here's what I wish someone had told me: 1. **Go to your county office IN PERSON tomorrow morning** - don't just rely on phone calls. Bring your EBT card, ID, screenshots of the fraudulent transactions, and your claim number. Face-to-face gets results faster. 2. **Ask specifically for "emergency replacement benefits"** - they won't always offer this automatically. I got about $500 back within 5 days as emergency aid while the full investigation happened. 3. **File the police report online if your county allows it** - way faster than going to the station. You just need the fraudulent transaction details and your EBT card info. 4. **Submit the EBT 2259 form with ALL required docs at once** - police report, signed affidavit, copy of your card front/back. Any missing paperwork delays everything. The whole process took me 11 business days to get my full amount back once I had everything submitted properly. The new timeline really is better than it used to be. Also - change your PIN immediately and consider withdrawing your cash aid the same day it deposits from now on. These EBT cards have terrible fraud protection compared to regular bank cards. You WILL get your money back! Just stay persistent and make sure you have all the paperwork they need. Keep us updated on how it goes!

I'm so sorry this happened to you! EBT theft is becoming such a widespread problem and it's absolutely devastating when you're already relying on those benefits. I actually went through this same nightmare about 2 months ago - woke up to find my entire $765 in cash aid completely wiped out by transactions in Arizona (I live in the Bay Area). The panic and frustration you're feeling right now is so valid. Here's what worked for me to get through it as quickly as possible: **Immediate action items:** - Change your PIN right now if you haven't already - Go to your county CalWORKs office first thing tomorrow morning (don't just call - show up in person with all your documentation) - Ask specifically for "emergency replacement benefits" - you have to request this directly, they won't always offer it **What to bring to the office:** - Your EBT card and ID - Screenshots of the fraudulent transactions - Your claim number from the EBT hotline - Any CalWORKs paperwork you have I was able to get $450 back as emergency aid within 6 days, which literally saved me from eviction. The full investigation took another 8 days after that, so 14 days total to get everything back. The key is having ALL your paperwork submitted correctly the first time - the EBT 2259 form, police report (you can file online in most counties), signed affidavit, and copies of your card. Any missing docs will delay everything. You WILL get your money back! California has really improved this process. Stay persistent but polite when following up. You've got this! 💪

I'm so sorry this happened to you! EBT theft is absolutely terrifying and frustrating, especially when you're counting on that money for basic needs like rent. I haven't personally experienced this, but I've been following this thread and want to say how helpful everyone's advice has been. It sounds like the key things are: 1. Go to your county office in person ASAP (tomorrow morning!) with all your documentation 2. Specifically ask for "emergency replacement benefits" - don't wait for them to offer 3. Make sure you have ALL the required paperwork submitted at once to avoid delays 4. File that police report online if possible to save time The fact that multiple people here got their money back within 10-14 days (and emergency aid within a week) is really encouraging. It sounds like California has genuinely improved this process compared to the horror stories from a few years ago. Change your PIN immediately and definitely consider withdrawing your cash benefits the day they deposit from now on. It's frustrating we have to take these extra precautions, but clearly EBT cards don't have the same fraud protection as regular bank cards. You've got a solid plan based on everyone's advice here. Stay persistent and you WILL get through this! Please keep us updated on how it goes - I think a lot of people would benefit from hearing about your experience.