FAIRFIELD — Solano County supervisors on Tuesday agreed to use $15,000 from the general fund to replace general assistance benefits that have been swiped from client Electronic Benefits Transfer cards.
The EBT cards are used for the CalWORKs, CalFresh and other program recipients, including general assistance.
“Beginning late 2021, counties throughout California began reporting that CalWORKs, CalFresh and general assistance recipients were experiencing benefits being ‘swiped’ or removed from their EBT cards,” the staff report to the board states.
CalWORKs and CalFresh recipients are directed to file police reports, along with a state form, when benefits have been illegally removed from their cards.
“In Solano County, to date, there have been 69 swiping reports received and reported for CalWORKs benefits and six reports for CalFresh. For CalWORKs and CalFresh benefits, repayments are reimbursed by the state general fund,” the staff report states.
However, general assistance is funded by the county and four general assistance clients, to date “have been victims of having their benefits ‘swiped’ or stolen from their EBT cards, representing approximately $1,440 in benefits.”
“Recipients reporting their benefits were swiped will be required to follow the same process that is required for CalWORKs and CalFresh recipients,” the staff report states.
The board also amended the county write-off policy to include those loan benefits that have been…
