EBT card possibly compromised - should I change PIN before CalWORKs deposit tomorrow?

YES CHANGE YOUR PIN NOW!! My sister had her entire Cash Aid stolen last month right after it loaded. The thieves somehow got her card info and drained everything before she even woke up. The county gave her ZERO help and now she's still waiting for them to "investigate" while she can't pay rent. The EBT card system is completely insecure!!

Changing your PIN is definitely a good idea, especially if you haven't done so in a while. I recommend changing your PIN at least once every 2-3 months as a regular security practice for your CalWORKs benefits. Also, avoid using obvious numbers like birthdates or simple sequences. As for withdrawing at 6am - yes, the earlier the better. The funds typically become available between midnight and 6am on your deposit date, and benefit theft usually happens within the first few hours of funds becoming available. I withdraw mine immediately and deposit into my credit union account too. One additional tip: when entering your PIN at ATMs, cover the keypad with your other hand to prevent hidden cameras from recording your PIN entry.

OMG my cousins friends had there ebt card used in like FLORIDA when they live in sacramento and they didnt even go anywere?? like how does that happen??

Changing your PIN is a good precaution, but you should also be checking your EBT account regularly for any suspicious activity. I work with CalWORKs recipients who've experienced benefit theft, and unfortunately, the reimbursement process can take 90+ days when benefits are stolen. More protection tips: 1. Never share your PIN with anyone 2. Change your PIN at least monthly (use the EBT website or call the number on your card) 3. Avoid saving your EBT card information on websites/apps 4. Check for card skimmers at ATMs by gently tugging on the card reader 5. Set up BenefitsCal alerts to notify you immediately when your benefits deposit And yes, I'd definitely recommend going early to withdraw funds when they deposit.

i had mine stole 2 times and the only thing that worked was changing my pin every time right before the deposit comes. then i take all money out first thing and keep it at home not even in a bank. nobody can steal cash under my mattress lol

If you're having trouble reaching someone at the CalWORKs office to ask about protecting your benefits, you might want to try Claimyr. I was getting disconnected constantly when trying to talk to someone about my Cash Aid security concerns, but Claimyr got me through to a real person in about 15 minutes. They have a quick video that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/jzISHxCPLwE I asked the worker about EBT security and learned that changing your PIN before deposit days is actually one of their recommended practices. The worker also helped me set up additional security features on my BenefitsCal account that I didn't know existed.

To answer your question about freezing the EBT card - California doesn't currently offer a true "freeze" feature like credit cards have. However, you can: 1. Change your PIN immediately before and after using your card 2. Keep minimal funds on the card by transferring to your bank quickly 3. Request a replacement card if you suspect your current one is compromised When you request a replacement, your old card becomes invalid, which essentially acts like a freeze. Just be aware you'll need to wait for the new card to arrive.

last week i did the same thing ur talking about and my benefit was loaded at like 12am not 6am? so if i was u id check it earlier might be there already

Just to follow up - were you able to successfully change your PIN and withdraw your benefits? I'm always anxious until I hear people were able to secure their CalWORKs funds safely.