


Ask the community...
I'm a CalFresh recipient and got this exact same message last month! I was terrified at first - thought it meant my benefits were being discontinued or something was wrong with my case. After calling the EBT customer service line (much faster than county office!), they explained it's just the system doing its monthly maintenance check on benefit ages. Apparently every month the system reviews all accounts to track which benefits are approaching expiration dates, and sometimes it shows this confusing notification even when nothing actually changes. As long as your balance is correct and you can use your card normally, you should be fine! I've had zero issues since getting that message. Really wish they'd make these notifications clearer - "monthly system check completed" would be so much less scary than "account aged, status changed"! This thread has been super helpful for understanding what's actually happening behind the scenes.
This is such a helpful explanation, thank you! I'm new to CalFresh and seeing messages like this is really scary when you don't understand what they mean. Your tip about calling the EBT customer service line being faster than the county office is really valuable - I'll definitely remember that. It's so frustrating that these routine system processes aren't explained clearly upfront, but I'm grateful for communities like this where people share their experiences and help each other understand how everything actually works!
I'm a CalFresh recipient and just got this same message yesterday! Reading through everyone's experiences has been such a relief - I was convinced my benefits were about to be cut off and was already stressing about how I'd afford groceries this week. It's really frustrating how these system notifications are so vague and anxiety-inducing when they're apparently just routine maintenance. I had no idea about the 12-month benefit expiration rule or that the system automatically uses oldest benefits first - seems like pretty basic information they should tell us upfront! The tip about calling EBT customer service instead of waiting hours for the county office is really helpful too. Thank you everyone for sharing your knowledge and creating such a supportive space where we can actually get clear answers about these confusing parts of the system. This community is a lifesaver!
I'm having the exact same problem! Started getting the "Invalid credentials" error yesterday and I thought I was losing my mind. I've tried resetting my password three times and even called my bank thinking my card was compromised. So relieved to find this thread and know it's a widespread issue with their system! Just tried the website login that everyone's been mentioning and it worked on the first try - you all are lifesavers! I also had no idea that grocery stores could check your balance for you, that's going to be so helpful as a backup option. This community has been more helpful in 10 minutes of reading than 2 hours of trying to get through to customer service. It's ridiculous that we have to troubleshoot their broken app ourselves, but I'm so grateful everyone is sharing solutions. Definitely bookmarking this thread in case it happens again. Thanks everyone for all the workarounds - you've saved me a lot of stress and frustration!
Welcome to the EBT app disaster support group! 😅 You're definitely not losing your mind - this login issue has been plaguing so many of us since their recent update. I'm so glad you found this thread and got the website working! It's been such a relief for everyone here. The grocery store balance check trick has honestly become my favorite discovery from this whole mess - I actually use it more than the app now because it's usually faster and the cashiers are always super helpful about it. This community really has become our unofficial tech support while the official EBT system is having a meltdown. We shouldn't have to be troubleshooting experts just to check our benefits, but at least we're all helping each other figure it out! Hope they get their app fixed soon, but until then we've got each other's backs.
I've been having this exact same issue since Thursday! The "Invalid credentials" error has been so frustrating, especially when I'm 100% sure I'm entering the right information. I was starting to panic thinking my account got hacked or something was wrong with my benefits. Just tried the website login after reading all these helpful comments and it worked immediately! Can't believe I didn't think to try that first. Also going to remember that grocery store balance check trick - had no idea that was even an option and it sounds so much more convenient than dealing with this broken app. This thread has been incredibly helpful - you all have provided more solutions in one place than I could ever get from their customer service. It's really frustrating that we have to become tech support experts just to access our own benefits, but I'm so grateful for this community looking out for each other. Definitely saving this thread for future reference. Thanks everyone for sharing your workarounds and making me feel less crazy about this whole situation!
Welcome to our unofficial EBT troubleshooting support group! 😊 You're definitely not going crazy - this login issue has been affecting so many of us since their system update. I'm so glad you found this thread and got the website working right away! It's amazing how such a simple workaround can save so much frustration. The grocery store balance check has been a total game-changer for me too - I actually prefer it now because the cashiers are usually super quick about it and you don't have to worry about app glitches. It's pretty ridiculous that we've had to become our own tech support team just to check our benefits, but this community has been incredible at sharing solutions and supporting each other through this mess. Hopefully they get their app sorted out soon, but until then we've all got your back!
I'm experiencing the exact same frustrating issue with Walmart's EBT Cash system! It's been going on for over a month now - the payment just sits there processing indefinitely, never completing or giving any error message. Like you, my card works perfectly fine at their physical stores, so it's definitely a website/system problem on their end. After reading through all these helpful responses, I'm convinced that Amazon is the way to go. Multiple people have confirmed their EBT Cash system is reliable and they clearly mark eligible items upfront. I'm also planning to call the EBT customer service number to check if there are any online purchase restrictions on my account - I had no idea that was even a thing until reading this thread! The Target curbside pickup option sounds perfect for those of us who can manage short trips but struggle with lengthy store navigation. It's reassuring to know there are multiple working alternatives while Walmart hopefully fixes their broken system. Thanks for starting this discussion - it's clear this is a widespread issue affecting many of us!
Hey Cedric! Welcome to the community - you're definitely not alone with this Walmart issue! It's so frustrating that they can process regular food benefits online but their cash system is completely broken. I'm new here too but this thread has been incredibly helpful. I'm planning to try Amazon as well based on all the positive feedback. The fact that they clearly mark EBT eligible items upfront sounds so much better than Walmart's confusing system where you don't know if something will work until checkout fails. The Target curbside pickup idea is brilliant too - I hadn't thought of that as an option but it makes perfect sense as a middle ground. Thanks for adding your experience to this discussion - it really helps to know how widespread this problem is!
I'm dealing with this exact same Walmart EBT Cash issue! It's been happening to me for about two weeks now - the payment just hangs there processing forever, never completing the transaction. Like everyone else mentioned, my card works perfectly fine at their physical stores, so it's definitely a problem with their online system. Reading through all these responses has been so helpful - I had no idea that EBT accounts might need to be specifically enabled for online purchases, or that there were so many reliable alternatives available. I'm definitely going to try Amazon based on all the positive feedback, and the Target curbside pickup option sounds perfect since I can manage short trips but long shopping walks are really difficult. One thing I wanted to add is that I tried using Walmart's customer chat feature to ask about this issue, and the representative literally told me "EBT cards don't work online" - which is obviously wrong since so many other sites accept them! It really shows how poorly trained their customer service is about their own payment systems. Thanks for starting this discussion - it's such a relief to know this is a widespread technical issue and not something wrong with our cards or accounts!
I'm so glad I found this thread! I was in almost the exact same situation a few months ago - got a call from that number about my benefits and was terrified it was a scam. Like others have mentioned, that's definitely a legitimate San Diego County HHSA number. The fact that your daughter just started working is almost certainly why they're calling about IRT (Income Reporting Threshold) requirements. I wish I had known about this community when I was dealing with it - would have saved me so much anxiety! The advice here is spot on: check BenefitsCal first, then call back with your case number and your daughter's employment info ready. The eligibility workers really are trying to help you stay compliant rather than looking for reasons to cut benefits. Don't let the stress overwhelm you - this is totally manageable and you're being smart by verifying before just ignoring the call!
This whole thread has been so educational! I'm really grateful for communities like this where people share their real experiences. As someone who's also pretty new to CalFresh, I had no idea about all these IRT rules and requirements. It's amazing how something that seems scary (getting an unexpected call about your benefits) can actually be the system working to protect you from bigger issues later. Reading everyone's stories has definitely made me more confident about dealing with these situations in the future. Thanks for sharing your experience and adding to all the helpful advice here!
I'm really glad you posted about this - I would have been just as suspicious! Reading through all these responses has been so educational. That number is definitely legitimate San Diego County HHSA, and it sounds like your daughter's new job is what triggered the call. I had no idea about the Income Reporting Threshold requirements before seeing this thread - the whole system seems so complex! The consensus seems clear: check your BenefitsCal account first, then call them back during business hours with your case number and your daughter's work info ready. It's actually reassuring to know they're being proactive about helping people stay compliant rather than waiting for us to make mistakes. Thanks for asking this question and helping all of us learn more about how the system works!
This has been such an eye-opening thread for me too! I'm relatively new to CalFresh and had no clue about these IRT rules either. It's crazy how many nuances there are to the system that they don't really explain upfront when you get approved. Reading everyone's experiences with this exact situation has been incredibly reassuring - especially knowing that the workers are actually trying to help prevent problems rather than create them. I love how supportive this community is with sharing real experiences and practical advice. Definitely bookmarking this thread for future reference!
Esmeralda Gómez
I'm new to this community but wanted to say congratulations on getting this resolved so quickly! Your experience is incredibly valuable for others who might face the same situation. It's amazing how you went from panic to resolution in just 24 hours by following the community's advice. The process you followed - checking BenefitsCal for missed notices, uploading documents immediately, calling with specific terminology like "good cause" and requesting expedited processing - is like a perfect step-by-step guide for anyone dealing with similar benefit issues. Even though your daughter's monthly amount decreased from $375 to $290, that's still meaningful support and shows the system worked as intended when her income increased. The fact that the worker was understanding about the missed notice due to your move gives me hope that the system can be compassionate when people face genuine circumstances beyond their control. Thanks for taking the time to update us throughout this whole process. Stories like yours really help build confidence in the community and show that these scary-looking problems often have solutions when you know where to look and who to ask!
0 coins
Ezra Beard
•Welcome to the community! I'm also new here but have been following this thread from the beginning, and it's been so inspiring to watch this situation unfold. What really struck me is how the community came together to provide practical, actionable advice that actually worked. From explaining what the "Aging" status meant to sharing specific terminology like "cure period" and "good cause" - everyone contributed something valuable that helped lead to this positive outcome. It's also reassuring to see that even though the system can seem intimidating and confusing at first, there are usually solutions available when you know how to navigate it properly. The fact that Zara was able to get expedited processing and maintain her daughter's benefits (even at a reduced amount) shows that persistence and the right approach really do make a difference. Thank you for sharing this whole journey with us - it's given me confidence that if I ever face a similar situation, I'll know where to start and what steps to take!
0 coins
Dylan Cooper
I'm new to this community but wanted to congratulate you on such a successful resolution! As someone who's dealt with CalFresh before, I know how terrifying it can be when benefits suddenly disappear, especially when you're depending on them for basic needs like groceries. Your story is a perfect example of how this community can make a real difference. The way everyone jumped in with specific advice - from explaining the "Aging" status to sharing terminology like "good cause" and "cure period" - shows how valuable shared experiences can be. It's also encouraging to see that the county worker was understanding about your missed notice due to the move. The reduction from $375 to $290 is actually pretty reasonable given your daughter's increased income, and it's so much better than losing benefits entirely or having to reapply from scratch. The fact that you'll get expedited processing within 3-5 days is fantastic news. Thank you for updating us throughout this whole process - your experience will definitely help other community members who might face similar situations. It's a great reminder to check BenefitsCal regularly and act quickly when issues arise. Hope your benefits are restored even sooner than expected!
0 coins