CalWORKs EBT theft still happening - switched to direct deposit and protected my Cash Aid
Ya'll I need to share something important for everyone getting CalWORKs. After having my Cash Aid stolen THREE TIMES last year, I finally listened to my worker and set up direct deposit. It's been 4 months with zero problems! The EBT card skimming is still happening everywhere and the county still hasn't fixed it completely. My friend just had $842 stolen last week and she's fighting to get it back. It's super easy to set up - you can use pretty much ANY bank account (I use Chime but my sister uses Cash App). You just fill out the form at your county office or submit it on BenefitsCal. My worker told me they're probably going to start requiring direct deposit for everyone eventually because the card theft is so bad. SERIOUSLY don't wait until you get hit with theft. It took almost 2 months to get my money back the last time and I nearly got evicted. Has anyone else switched to direct deposit? Did your county make it difficult?
23 comments
Join the conversation
Misterclamation Skyblue
This is really good advice. I work with CalWORKs recipients and we've seen a huge spike in EBT theft cases. Direct deposit is absolutely the safest option right now. The county is struggling to keep up with all the theft claims. One thing to note: when you set up direct deposit, your benefits will typically arrive in your account 1-2 days EARLIER than they would on your EBT card. Make sure your account information is 100% correct on the form - even one wrong digit will cause delays. Also, for anyone who doesn't have a traditional bank, you can use almost any financial app that provides account and routing numbers (Cash App, Venmo, Chime, etc.). Just make sure whatever account you choose doesn't have monthly fees that could eat into your benefits.
0 coins
Gabriel Ruiz
•YES! I forgot to mention that - my benefits hit my Chime account like 2 days before they used to come on my EBT. That alone was worth switching!
0 coins
Peyton Clarke
i tried to do this but my worker kept telling me they need a voided check and i don't have checks with my online bank. does anyone know if they REALLY need an actual check or is there another way??
0 coins
Misterclamation Skyblue
•You don't need a voided check! Your worker is giving you outdated information. You just need to print out your account information from your online banking - it needs to show your name, account number, and routing number. Most online banks let you download a direct deposit form or account verification letter that has all this information. Bring that to your worker or upload it to BenefitsCal along with the direct deposit form.
0 coins
Vince Eh
THEY ARE STILL DRAGGING THEIR FEET ON FIXING THIS CARD THEFT PROBLEM!!! I had $1,103 stolen in December and STILL haven't gotten it back!!! Called over 20 TIMES and got nowhere. When I finally got through last week they said my claim was "pending review" - what does that even mean?? My kids had to go without Christmas presents because of this garbage system. I'm switching to direct deposit today. Should have done it months ago but my worker never mentioned it was an option. The whole system is designed to keep us in poverty I swear.
0 coins
Sophia Gabriel
•You might want to try Claimyr to get through to a real person at the county office faster. I was also stuck in the endless phone system loop trying to resolve my benefit theft claim. Used their service at claimyr.com and they got me through to a worker in about 15 minutes when I'd been trying for days. They have a video demo of how it works: https://youtu.be/jzISHxCPLwE After I finally got through, the worker was able to escalate my claim and I got my money back in about 10 days. Definitely switch to direct deposit though - it's the only way to truly protect your benefits right now.
0 coins
Tobias Lancaster
does any1 know if u can split ur benefits? like get some on ebt and some direct deposit? i need cash on my ebt for the laundromat but don't want all of it on there
0 coins
Ezra Beard
•Unfortunately you can't split your Cash Aid between direct deposit and EBT. It's all or nothing. What most people do is get the full amount via direct deposit, then withdraw what cash you need for laundry etc. Much safer that way than having it all sitting on your EBT card waiting to be stolen.
0 coins
Statiia Aarssizan
My worker never mentioned this was even a option!!! I just had $635 stolen last month and they said it would take 90 DAYS to investigate!!! How am I supposed to pay rent??? Nobody told me direct deposit was possible and Ive been getting CalWORKS for 2 years! Why aren't they telling everyone about this??
0 coins
Gabriel Ruiz
•That's exactly what happened to me! My worker only mentioned it AFTER I got hit with theft the 2nd time. I think they're overwhelmed with all the theft cases. Definitely go to your county office asap and fill out the direct deposit form. Bring your account info with you - routing number and account number.
0 coins
Misterclamation Skyblue
Another tip: If you've been a victim of EBT theft, you can still set up direct deposit while your claim is being processed. Don't wait for them to resolve your theft claim before making the switch. Make sure to check your balance regularly even with direct deposit. While direct deposit eliminates the risk of card skimming theft, you should still monitor your account for any issues with your benefits amount or payment dates. Also, if you're helping a family member set up direct deposit, make sure the account is in the name of the person who is the case head. The county won't deposit CalWORKs benefits into an account that doesn't match the name of the person authorized to receive the benefits.
0 coins
Peyton Clarke
•does it matter if its a joint account? me and my boyfriend share our chime account but the calworks case is just in my name
0 coins
Misterclamation Skyblue
•Joint accounts are fine as long as your name is on the account. The important thing is that you (as the case head) have legal access to the account. Just make sure when you fill out the direct deposit form, you put your name exactly as it appears on your CalWORKs case.
0 coins
Vince Eh
Just a warning to everyone - even after you set up direct deposit, YOUR EBT CARD IS STILL ACTIVE! I found this out the hard way when someone stole my card from my mailbox (I thought I didn't need it anymore). You still need to keep track of your EBT card for CalFresh benefits since those can't be direct deposited. Only your Cash Aid can go to your bank account.
0 coins
Statiia Aarssizan
•omg thank you for saying this!!! i would have totally just thrown mine away
0 coins
Ezra Beard
One thing to be aware of if you're setting up direct deposit - you need to submit a new direct deposit form if you change banks or accounts. I switched from Wells Fargo to Chime last year and forgot to update my direct deposit info with CalWORKs. My monthly cash aid tried to go to my closed account and it caused a 3-week delay getting my money. Had to get an emergency payment from the county to cover my rent. Just something to keep in mind!
0 coins
Gabriel Ruiz
•That's a good point! Did they make you come in person to update your banking info or could you do it online? I'm thinking about switching to a different bank soon.
0 coins
Ezra Beard
•I had to go in person to my county office, but some counties let you upload the form through BenefitsCal now. I'd call your worker first to check what your county requires.
0 coins
Reginald Blackwell
i dont trust banks they can freeze ur account for no reason and then what??? at least with ebt card i know the money is there.
0 coins
Misterclamation Skyblue
•That's a legitimate concern, but consider this: if your EBT card is skimmed and your benefits are stolen, those funds are gone until the county investigates and replaces them, which can take months. While bank accounts can have issues, they generally offer much better fraud protection than EBT cards. You might want to consider using one of the newer online banks or payment apps that have fewer restrictions and fees than traditional banks. Many CalWORKs recipients have had good experiences with Chime, Cash App, and similar services for their direct deposit.
0 coins
Peyton Clarke
•my chime has never been frozen and i've been using it for 2 years. ebt cards get stolen ALL THE TIME now and its way worse than any bank issues
0 coins
Connor Gallagher
This post is so helpful! I've been putting off switching to direct deposit because I was worried about the process being complicated, but after reading everyone's experiences I'm definitely going to do it this week. Had no idea the benefits arrive earlier too - that's a huge bonus since I'm always stressed about timing with rent. Quick question for anyone who's done this - do you still get the same notification when your benefits are deposited, or do you just have to check your bank account? My EBT card always sends me a text when money gets added and I rely on that to know when my benefits hit.
0 coins
Paolo Rizzo
•Hey Connor! You won't get the same text notifications that EBT sends, but most banks and apps like Chime, Cash App etc. have their own notification systems you can turn on. I get push notifications on my phone whenever money hits my account - sometimes even faster than the old EBT texts! You can usually set these up in your banking app under notifications or alerts. Way better than wondering if your benefits posted or not. Definitely make the switch - you'll wish you did it sooner!
0 coins