How long does CalWORKs benefit theft reimbursement take in LA County?

omg this happened to me last month!!! took me exactly 18 days to get my money back. make sure u saved that paper they gave u with the reference number. they might call u to verify some stuff too

I had this happen in December and it's absolutely terrible. LA County is actually pretty good about Cash Aid theft reimbursement compared to other counties. Mine took 12 days and they added the funds directly back to my EBT card. Keep that claim number they gave you and call the EBT customer service line every few days to check the status. For rent, you might want to ask about emergency assistance - sometimes they can issue a special payment if you explain your situation involves housing stability. The CalWORKs Homeless Assistance program might help if you're at risk of eviction because of this.

they told me 10 days and it took 45!!!!! dpss always lies about timeframes dont trust what they say. and they kept telling me "its processing" every time i called. such bs.

When this happened to me, I found that calling the LA County DPSS was almost impossible - I'd wait for hours and then get disconnected. I finally used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me through to an actual person at DPSS in about 15 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/jzISHxCPLwE Once I got through to someone, I explained my situation and they actually expedited my theft claim because I had kids and no food money. Got it back in 8 days instead of the 3+ weeks they initially told me. Definitely worth trying to talk to someone directly about your situation rather than just waiting.

This is why I always transfer my CalWORKs money to my regular bank account THE SECOND it hits my EBT card!!! Those cards have zero security and DPSS doesn't care. Sorry this happened to you. In my experience they do eventually reimburse but they make you jump through hoops first.

My nephew was on Cash Aid and had his benefits stolen twice last year. The first time it took about 2 weeks to get reimbursed. Second time was faster, around 9 days. He's also in LA County. The worker told him that you need to check if they need any additional verification from you. Sometimes they need more proof or documentation and won't tell you unless you call them. Also make sure you've changed your PIN number! And check if your address is current on file. If they mailed you a new card you need the right address.

LA County has a specific protocol for benefit theft reimbursement that follows state regulations. Here's what affects your timeline: 1. When you reported the theft - within 3 days is optimal 2. The amount stolen - larger amounts get additional review 3. Your theft history - first-time claims process faster 4. Transaction patterns - unusual patterns require investigation The 10-30 day timeframe is accurate, with the average being 14 days in LA County. You can request expedited processing if you're facing eviction or utility shutoff by submitting an Immediate Need request. Contact your Eligibility Worker directly and explain that this is creating a housing crisis. Keep documentation of ALL communications. If it exceeds 30 days, you can file a formal complaint with the California Department of Social Services (CDSS).

One important thing to know is that CalWORKs has gotten a lot better at handling theft claims since they updated their procedures in 2024. They now prioritize cases where the theft would cause housing instability or food insecurity. When you call, specifically mention that this theft is affecting your ability to pay rent - this can move your case to priority status. For your immediate needs, check with local organizations like 211 LA County who might have emergency rental assistance programs.

Update: I wanted to thank everyone for their advice! I used that Claimyr service to get through to DPSS and explained that I was facing eviction without my benefits. The worker put in for expedited processing and I got my money back in 9 days! They also gave me a letter explaining the situation that I could show my landlord. Still had to pay a late fee on my rent, but at least I'm not getting evicted. Thanks again for all the help!

Great to hear you got your money back! This is really helpful info for anyone else dealing with benefit theft. The expedited processing option seems like something more people should know about - I had no idea that was even possible. Quick question though - when you say you got a letter for your landlord, was that something they automatically provided or did you have to specifically request it? And was it just a basic explanation or did it include any official documentation about the theft claim? Thanks for sharing your experience!

This whole thread is super helpful - I'm bookmarking it just in case this ever happens to me. One thing I want to add is that if anyone is dealing with this situation, you should also report the theft to the EBT customer service hotline (1-877-328-9677) in addition to filing the claim at DPSS. They can put a flag on your account and sometimes catch additional fraudulent transactions that you might not have noticed yet. I learned this from a friend who works at a nonprofit that helps people with benefits issues. They said scammers often test small amounts first before doing the big theft, so there might be other transactions you didn't catch. Also, consider signing up for text alerts on your EBT account so you get notified immediately when money is spent - that way you can catch theft faster next time.

I'm new to CalWORKs and this is honestly terrifying to read about. I had no idea benefit theft was even a thing! Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences and advice - especially about transferring money immediately when it hits the card and setting up text alerts. I'm definitely going to be way more careful now. For those who got reimbursed, did you notice any patterns in when or how your cards got compromised? Like was it from using ATMs, making purchases at certain stores, or online transactions? Trying to figure out how to protect myself better.