EBT Cash Aid theft - can't reach CalWORKs worker to report it. URGENT HELP!

Yes, they CAN replace stolen Cash Aid but you have to act quickly! First, call and report to local police to get a police report - you'll need this. Then you must submit the EBT-2259 form (Cash Aid Theft Report) to your county within 3 business days of discovering the theft. Don't wait for a callback - go directly to your local office today if possible and ask for the form. Bring your EBT card and any transaction receipts you have. They verify transactions before replacing funds. Make sure to explain you've been calling without success.

OMG this happnd to me last yr!! so stressful! they do replace it but takes FOREVER and they investigate evrything. make sure u didnt give ur pin to ANYONE not even family cuz they'll deny ur claim. when u report tell them u need emergency funds while they investigate cuz they might give u partial replacement faster for food and stuff

I'm so sorry this happened to you! Getting through to CalWORKs is a nightmare these days. I had my benefits cancelled last month and spent THREE DAYS trying to reach someone. I finally used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me through to a real person in 20 minutes instead of waiting on hold all day. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/jzISHxCPLwE For the theft issue - document EVERYTHING. Take screenshots of the transactions in your EBT account online, write down exactly when you last used the card yourself, and note any unusual places you used it recently. They'll ask for all this information on the theft form.

A few important points about EBT Cash Aid theft: 1. You MUST file a police report 2. Complete EBT-2259 form (available at county office or sometimes online through BenefitsCal) 3. Submit within 90 days, but ASAP for faster processing 4. They will review ATM camera footage if available 5. If approved, replacement can take 5-7 business days Also, while your theft investigation is pending, ask about Emergency Assistance through CalWORKs - this is separate from your regular Cash Aid and might help with immediate needs. They can sometimes issue a partial emergency payment while investigating.

this is why i always transfer my cash aid money to my bank account the MINUTE it hits my ebt card... never leave it sitting on there. too many scammers out there with card skimmers and stuff. theyre targeting benefit recipients specifically now

The system is BROKEN. My cousin had $430 stolen last year and they made her jump through ENDLESS hoops for 2 months before replacing it!!! They treat us like WE'RE the criminals when we're the victims!! And don't expect the "emergency assistance" to actually be emergency speed - took her 2 weeks to get that too. They don't care if your kids go hungry or you get evicted while they "investigate." Try calling your local legal aid office - sometimes they can light a fire under the county workers.

One more important tip: While your cash theft is being investigated, ask your worker about the Immediate Need program. If you have less than $100 in resources and need money for housing/utilities/essential needs, they can issue up to $200 within 3 working days. This is separate from your regular CalWORKs benefit and won't affect your theft claim. You'll need to complete a separate Immediate Need request form when you submit your theft report.

I'm so sorry this happened to you! EBT theft is unfortunately becoming more common. Since you've already filed the police report, that's a great first step. A few additional things that might help: 1. When you go to the county office tomorrow, arrive early (they usually open at 8am) and ask to speak with a supervisor if regular workers can't help immediately 2. Bring copies of EVERYTHING - police report, your ID, EBT card, and any documentation of the fraudulent transactions 3. Ask specifically about "expedited processing" for theft cases - some counties can fast-track these if you explain the urgency 4. Document who you speak with (get names) and ask for case numbers for both your theft report and any emergency assistance requests Also, many food banks and community organizations can provide emergency food assistance while you wait for your benefits to be restored. Call 211 for local resources. You shouldn't have to choose between feeding your kids and paying rent while waiting for the system to work. Stay strong - you're doing everything right!