Second EBT skimming theft of my CalWORKs Cash Aid - Does CA still reimburse in 2025?

Yes, they are still replacing stolen Cash Aid benefits! California actually made this permanent after all the EBT theft problems in 2022-2023. I had mine stolen in February (about $670) and got it replaced within 3 weeks. The process is a little better now but you still need to: 1. Report it to the EBT Customer Service line IMMEDIATELY (1-877-328-9677) to get your card deactivated 2. File a police report (can usually be done online) 3. Contact your county CalWORKs office to fill out the "EBT Cash Aid Theft Reimbursement Form" (I forget the exact form number) 4. Provide the transaction details showing when/where the money was taken They're supposed to process these claims within 10 business days now, but mine still took about 3 weeks total. Make sure you keep calling to check on the status!

omg this happened to me 3 TIMES last year!!! its so frustrating cuz the county acts like its our fault. when i went in they kept asking me if i shared my pin or if family members had access to my card. like no some thief stole it!!! but ya they do still reimburse u but it takes forever. my last one took like 5 weeks even tho they say 10 days. make sure u do the police report right away. also they might make u come in for an interview about it, not just over the phone. thats what happened to me the 3rd time.

Just to provide some accurate information here: California permanently extended EBT theft reimbursement for Cash Aid through Senate Bill 764 that passed in late 2023. The policy allows for reimbursement of unauthorized transactions that occurred after January 1, 2022. Some important updates to know: - Multiple claims are allowed with no specific limit, but they do investigate patterns - Current processing time is meant to be 10 business days, but county backlogs often extend this - Reimbursement now covers both in-state and out-of-state unauthorized transactions - They can issue emergency aid while your claim is processing if you have no resources to meet basic needs Make sure when you call your CalWORKs office to specifically ask about emergency assistance while your claim is being processed. They won't always offer it unless you directly request it.

THIS IS WHY I ALWAYS TRANSFER MY CASH AID OUT OF MY EBT ACCOUNT THE SECOND IT HITS!!!! i never leave money on that card anymore. to many scammers out there. soon as my benefits load i go straight to my bank and move it to my checking account. cant steal what aint there!!

u need to get one of those ebt card sleeves. my cousin works for calfresh and she says they help protect from the wireless skimmers. also change ur pin often like every month. thats what i do.

When you call your county office, you're probably going to have a hard time getting through. I spent 3 hours trying when my benefits were stolen last year. If you want to avoid that frustration, try using Claimyr (claimyr.com). They basically wait on hold with the CalWORKs office for you and call you back when a real person is on the line. Saved me so much time and stress when dealing with my theft claim. They have a quick video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/jzISHxCPLwE And like others said, immediately transfer your benefits to a bank account when you get them! That's the best protection.

One more important thing - when you're filing your claim, make sure you tell them you need expedited processing because you have no other resources. Under the current rules, if you have no way to pay for necessities (rent, utilities, food) they're supposed to process your claim as an emergency and get you at least partial benefits within 3 business days. Be very clear about your situation when you talk to them.

Has anyone actually gotten the emergency aid while waiting for the theft reimbursement? When i asked about it they told me i had to apply for homeless assistance instead which is a whole different thing with different rules and paperwork

Update: I filed the police report online and called my county office. Was on hold for almost an hour before getting through. They're sending me the EBT theft form by email and said I need to return it with the police report number within 5 days. They didn't mention anything about emergency aid until I specifically asked (thank you all for that tip!). The worker said they can potentially issue emergency funds within 3 business days, but I need to provide bank statements showing I don't have other resources. Just a heads up for anyone else dealing with this.

I'm so sorry this happened to you again! As a fellow CalWORKs recipient, I know how scary and stressful this is. Just wanted to add a couple things that helped me when I went through this last year: 1. When you submit your paperwork, ask for a confirmation number or receipt that shows they received everything. This helps you track your case if it gets delayed. 2. Keep calling every few days to check status - don't just wait for them to contact you. The squeaky wheel gets the grease with these offices. 3. If you're comfortable with it, consider asking family or friends if they can help with groceries this week while you wait. I know it's hard to ask, but sometimes people want to help and just don't know how. You're doing everything right by acting quickly and filing all the reports. Hang in there - you'll get through this! The system is frustrating but they do eventually make it right.

I'm really sorry you're going through this - EBT theft is such a violation and it's awful that criminals are targeting people who are already struggling. Based on what others have shared here, it sounds like you're on the right track with getting everything reported quickly. One thing I wanted to mention that I learned the hard way - when you get your replacement card, consider setting up account alerts if your county offers them. Some counties will send you text alerts when transactions happen on your card, so you can catch theft faster. Also, I started taking photos of ATMs before I use them to check for anything that looks off or newly attached. The waiting is the worst part, especially when you have bills due. But it sounds like the emergency aid option might help bridge the gap. Definitely keep pushing for that since you have rent coming up. Counties don't always volunteer information about what's available, so you have to advocate for yourself. Sending you strength while you deal with this mess - you shouldn't have to be an expert on fraud protection just to access your basic benefits!