CalWORKs fraud investigation for using EBT card in different county - what happens next?

They CANNOT call it fraud just for using your EBT in another county! California is a state-wide program and you can use your benefits anywhere in the state. I've dealt with this exact situation before - they might be investigating if they think you actually LIVE in the other county (which would be a reportable change if true). But simply shopping or using your benefits in another county is 100% allowed. Your best move is to gather proof that you still live at your reported address - recent mail, utility bills in your name, school records for your kids, etc. Also maybe get a statement from your sister confirming she provides childcare for you which explains why you're in that county regularly.

This happens ALL THE TIME! The county systems flag "unusual" spending patterns and automatically trigger fraud investigations. It's a total waste of resources and causes unnecessary stress for recipients. I went through something similar when I was working across county lines - they acted like I was running some kind of scam when I was just trying to feed my family while working my butt off. Just make sure you respond to EVERYTHING they send you and keep detailed records of all communications. If they try to establish an overpayment or cut your benefits, immediately request a fair hearing - you have 90 days to do this.

they can use ur card usage to figure out if u actually live where u say. my cousin got caught like this cuz she was staying at her bf house in another county but still claiming she lived at her old address. they do check patterns not just one time usage

Former eligibility worker here - using your EBT card in another county is NOT fraud by itself. However, they may be concerned about residency fraud (living in a different county than reported). Here's what typically happens after the initial interview: 1. The investigator will review your card usage patterns 2. They may conduct a home visit (sometimes unannounced) 3. They might contact landlords, employers, or childcare providers 4. You'll receive a Notice of Action if they find any violations My advice: create a simple written statement explaining your sister's childcare arrangement with dates/times and why you sometimes shop in that county. Include your sister's contact info and your work schedule. Be proactive - send this to your worker and the investigator. The vast majority of these investigations end with no finding of fraud.

When I had something similar happen, I couldn't get anyone on the phone to explain what was going on. Kept getting voicemail or disconnected. After trying for days I finally used Claimyr (claimyr.com) and got through to someone in 15 mins when I'd been trying for over a week! They got me directly to my investigator who cleared things up - turns out it was all a misunderstanding. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/jzISHxCPLwE Seriously worth it to avoid the stress of waiting weeks for answers. The investigator was actually helpful once I could actually talk to them.

To answer your follow-up questions: 1. Home visits - Sometimes they tell you, sometimes they don't. They often do unannounced visits specifically to verify residency. If you're not home, they might leave a notice asking you to contact them, or they might try again later. 2. If you're not home during a visit, that alone isn't proof of non-residency. People have jobs, errands, etc. However, if they visit multiple times at different hours/days and never find you there, that could be used as part of their evidence. 3. Documentation is your best defense. Keep copies of: - Work schedule - Childcare arrangement (written statement from sister) - Utility bills/mail - School records for kids - Landlord statement CalWORKs regulations specifically state that temporary absences from your home county for work, childcare, or family visits don't constitute a change in residency.

i dont understand why they waste time on this stuff when theres actually people committing real fraud!!! like my neighbors who have 3 brand new cars but somehow get full benefits. meanwhile they investigate u for shopping near ur sisters house. the whole system is a joke

One more important thing: make sure you're keeping good records of your reporting. These investigations sometimes get triggered when there's any hint that you might not have reported a change (even if you didn't actually have any changes to report). Check your SAR7 and SAWS2 forms from the past year to make sure everything is consistent and accurate. Also, if your childcare arrangement with your sister has been consistent, you should definitely mention it on your next SAR7 in the section about childcare arrangements. This builds a paper trail that supports your explanation. And if your sister is providing unpaid childcare, you might actually qualify for CalWORKs childcare benefits that would allow you to pay her as your provider - worth asking your worker about!

Watch out for them asking for bank statements too. They might try to see if you're spending money primarily in the other county. Make sure you can show a pattern of expenses in your home county too (rent payments, utilities, etc). Don't volunteer any information they don't specifically ask for, but always be truthful when answering direct questions. And FYI - the worst case scenario usually isn't losing benefits entirely. If they somehow determine you live in the other county, they would typically just transfer your case to that county rather than terminate you completely. So even in the unlikely event they don't believe you, you shouldn't lose your CalWORKs completely.

Just wanted to add that you should also keep track of the dates and times of all your interactions with the investigator. Write down what they asked, what you told them, and any deadlines they gave you. If this drags on or if they make any decisions you disagree with, having a detailed timeline will be super helpful if you need to file an appeal or fair hearing request. Also, don't let them pressure you into admitting to anything you didn't do. Using your EBT card for legitimate grocery shopping while caring for your kids is exactly what the program is for. You're working AND taking care of your children - that's what CalWORKs is supposed to support. Stay strong and don't let them intimidate you into thinking you did something wrong when you clearly didn't.

I went through almost the exact same thing last year! The investigator made me feel like a criminal just for grocery shopping near my mom's house where I drop off my daughter for babysitting. It's so frustrating because you're literally doing everything right - working, arranging childcare, using your benefits for food - but they make you feel guilty about it. The investigation took about 6 weeks for me, but they cleared me completely once I provided documentation showing my living situation and childcare arrangement. Like others said, gather everything you can: lease agreement, utility bills, your work schedule, and definitely get something in writing from your sister about the childcare. One thing that really helped me was creating a simple calendar showing my work days and when I needed to use my sister's childcare, then matching it to my EBT usage dates. It clearly showed the pattern and proved I wasn't living somewhere else. Don't let them make you feel bad for being a responsible parent who's trying to work and take care of your kids. You're doing nothing wrong!