Someone stealing my CalWORKs Cash Aid IMMEDIATELY after deposit - 2nd month in a row!

The same exact thing happened to me last year. You need to immediately: 1. Call the EBT customer service line (877-328-9677) and report the card stolen/compromised 2. Request a new card with a different number 3. File a police report - this is CRUCIAL for getting your benefits replaced 4. Submit form CA 801 to your county office for benefit replacement 5. Change your PIN even on the new card when you get it In my case, it took 6 weeks to get the money back, but they did replace it eventually. Make sure you're not using your PIN at sketchy ATMs or stores with card skimmers. Also check if anyone has access to your mail who might have intercepted a replacement card.

omg this is my WORST FEAR!!! i always take all my money out the minute it hits my account now bc i heard about this happening. did u use ur card at a gas station recently? theres skimmers everywhere now

the county dont care about us at all when this happens!! i had $342 stolen 3 months ago and still havent got it back. they said i probably gave someone my pin but I DID NOT!!! good luck even getting anyone on the phone they NEVER answer

This is unfortunately becoming more common with EBT/Cash Aid benefits. The fact that it happened within 3 minutes of deposit suggests it might be someone who knows when your benefits are deposited. Some things to consider: • Check if your online EBT account was compromised (change passwords) • Look at whether anyone has access to your mail • Be aware that some people are placing hidden cameras near ATMs to capture PINs • Consider changing your deposit date (you can request this) Regarding replacement: California has a specific process for benefit theft replacement. You need to submit: 1. The EBT card theft report (which you've done) 2. A police report (very important) 3. The CA 801 form mentioned above 4. A signed affidavit stating you didn't authorize the transaction The standard processing time is 30-45 days, but if you explain your hardship situation (rent due, children to support), you may qualify for an expedited replacement. Request to speak with a supervisor specifically about expediting due to imminent homelessness risk.

u shud use cash app or venmo or sumthin instead of leavin it on the ebt card. thats what i do, transfer it right away soon as it hits

When mine was stolen ($734 gone instantly), I discovered someone had created a duplicate of my card somehow. The investigation took FOREVER, but I kept escalating and eventually spoke to a Welfare Fraud investigator who took it seriously. Important question: are these unauthorized withdrawals happening at ATMs or are they purchases? That makes a difference in how they investigate. For ATM withdrawals, they can sometimes get security camera footage, which speeds things up dramatically. Also, while waiting for resolution, ask your worker about the emergency hardship exception. If you have documentation showing rent due and the police report for the theft, they MAY be able to issue emergency funds while the investigation is ongoing. Not guaranteed, but worth asking about.

After reading your post, I went and checked my account right away! Everything seems fine for me this month, but now I'm paranoid. One thing I learned from a similar situation - when you file the police report, get the officer's name and badge number, and ask for the case number right away. You'll need all that for the paperwork with the county. Also, when you get your new card, immediately change the PIN to something totally different than what you've used before. My caseworker told me a lot of people just rotate between the same few PINs, which makes it easier for thieves.

Just checking back - were you able to file the police report and submit the CA 801 form? One more tip: when you talk to your caseworker, specifically mention "immediate need due to benefit theft" and ask about the "CalWORKs Immediate Need payment" option. It's meant for emergency situations like yours where waiting for the regular investigation would cause severe hardship. Also, document EVERYTHING - names of who you speak with, times, case numbers, etc. This helps if you need to escalate to a supervisor or even contact your county Board of Supervisors (which sometimes gets faster action).

I used that Claimyr service that someone mentioned earlier today and it actually worked! Got through to my county office in about 4 minutes after trying for days on my own. The worker I spoke with said they've been seeing a big increase in EBT theft cases lately. She put a rush on my case after I explained my situation with the rent being due. Still have to wait for the investigation but at least I feel like someone is actually working on it now.