CalWORKs EBT theft - no response after a week, should I wait the full 25 days before calling again?

Don't wait the full 25 days - that's the maximum time they're allowed to take, not how long you should sit around with no money! I had $647 stolen in January, and I had to call EVERY DAY for 9 days straight before someone finally processed my claim. The squeaky wheel gets the grease with CalWORKs. Ask specifically for a supervisor when you call, and mention you have an emergency hardship due to the theft. They can expedite replacement in urgent situations.

Thank you!! I was worried I'd annoy them if I called too much. Did you have to provide any extra proof besides the theft report? I'm worried they won't believe me since I don't have any 'evidence' besides my word that I didn't spend the money myself.

I waited 22 days and they still hadnt done anything so i just showed up in person and cried at the office lol. Suddenly they found my paperwork and fixed it that day. idk if thats helpful but sometimes u gotta be dramatic

Same!! Had to go in person TWICE and bring my kids w/ me so they could see we were struggling. Phone calls did nothing for me.

Ugh, going through this right now too. My entire March payment ($982) was stolen the minute it hit my account. So frustrating! Don't wait the full time - I'm on day 14 of calling daily. One tip: make sure you've submitted the EBT-106 form for cash aid theft. Some counties won't even start the investigation without it, and they don't always tell you that upfront.

I didn't know about the EBT-106! The worker just had me fill out some form while I was there but never gave me a copy or told me what it was called. Is this something different I need to submit?

I work for an advocacy org and help clients with this exact issue. Here's what you need to know:1. The 25-day timeframe is the MAXIMUM allowed by law, not the standard processing time2. Call and specifically ask for your case to be flagged as a hardship due to rent being due3. If you have children, mention that specifically4. Request to speak to a supervisor if the regular worker won't help5. Document every call - write down the date, time, who you spoke withCalifornia has been getting better about EBT theft replacement since the law changed in 2023, but they still drag their feet unless you're persistent.

This is super helpful, thank you! I do have my 2 year old and will definitely mention that. Do you know if they're supposed to give me a copy of the theft form I filled out?

Yes, you should have received a copy of the EBT-106 form (Cash Aid Theft Report). If they didn't give you one, call and ask for confirmation that it was submitted and get the claim number. Having that reference number is important for follow-ups.

When my benefits got stolen in December, I tried calling for days and couldn't get through to anyone. I finally used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to skip the phone queue and got connected to a real person in minutes. Told them about my hardship situation and had my benefits replaced in 4 days instead of waiting the full 25. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/jzISHxCPLwE. Seriously saved me from getting evicted!

I've never heard of Claimyr before. Does it actually work? I've been calling the main number and just getting the automated system that disconnects after an hour.

It worked for me! Instead of waiting on hold forever, they call the county for you and then call you when they've got a worker on the line. That's how I finally got through to someone who could actually help with my theft claim.

You CANNOT wait 25 days!!!! I almost got EVICTED because I believed them when they said to wait. Ended up homeless with my kids for 2 weeks before they finally fixed it. Call EVERY DAY and be annoying. Also try calling right when they open in the morning - thats when I finally got through.

Oh my god that's terrifying. I'm so sorry that happened to you. I'm definitely calling tomorrow morning as soon as they open.

did u check ur IRT form? sometimes they stop benefits if u go over the income reporting threshold and dont report it. happened to me once and i thought it was theft but turned out i just made too much at my job that month...

No, it was definitely theft - I could see the transactions on my EBT account history at stores I've never been to in another city. My balance went from $714 to $0 in one day with 4 different withdrawals.

Update us on what happens! And if they keep giving you the runaround, contact your county Board of Supervisors office. Sounds extreme, but my friend did that after waiting 3 weeks for theft replacement, and suddenly her case was \