


Ask the community...
I've been having this exact same issue with Walmart's EBT Cash system for the past month! It's so frustrating because the payment just sits there processing forever - never completes, never gives an error, just hangs indefinitely. Like everyone else mentioned, my card works perfectly at their physical stores, so it's clearly a problem with their online payment processing system. This thread has been incredibly helpful - I had no idea that some EBT accounts need to be specifically enabled for online purchases! I'm definitely going to call the customer service number on my card tomorrow to check if there are any restrictions or flags on my account that might be causing issues. Based on all the positive feedback here, I'm switching to Amazon for my online EBT Cash purchases. The fact that they clearly mark eligible items upfront and have a reliable payment system sounds so much better than Walmart's broken setup. I'm also really interested in trying Target's curbside pickup since I can manage short trips but struggle with walking through large stores. It's ridiculous that we have to work around these technical issues just to use our benefits, but I'm grateful for communities like this where people share real solutions that actually work. Thanks everyone for the detailed advice and for confirming this is a widespread Walmart system problem, not something we're doing wrong!
Welcome to the community, Payton! You're absolutely not alone with this Walmart EBT Cash issue - it's clear from reading through this entire thread that it's affecting so many of us in the exact same way. The infinite processing loop you described is identical to what I and many others have experienced. I'm also new to navigating EBT benefits online, and this discussion has been incredibly eye-opening. I had no idea about the potential account restrictions for online purchases either - it's such an important thing to know but not something they really tell you when you first get your benefits set up. The consensus on Amazon being reliable is really reassuring, and I love that so many people have mentioned the Target curbside option as a great middle ground. It sounds like we have several good alternatives while Walmart hopefully fixes their broken system. Thanks for adding your experience to this thread - the more people who share their struggles with this issue, the clearer it becomes that this is definitely a system-wide problem on Walmart's end, not user error!
I've been dealing with this exact same Walmart EBT Cash issue for about three weeks now! It's so incredibly frustrating - the payment processor just spins endlessly without ever completing or giving any kind of error message. What makes it even more maddening is that my card works perfectly fine when I shop at their physical store. After reading through everyone's experiences here, I'm convinced this is a widespread technical problem with Walmart's online payment system specifically for EBT Cash processing. It sounds like they can handle the food benefit portion just fine, but something about their cash benefit integration is completely broken. I'm definitely going to try Amazon based on all the overwhelmingly positive recommendations in this thread. The fact that they clearly label EBT eligible items upfront and have consistent payment processing sounds like such a relief compared to Walmart's mess of a system. I'm also planning to call the EBT customer service number to check if my account needs any special online purchase flags enabled - I had no idea that was even a thing until reading these responses! The Target curbside pickup option sounds perfect for my situation too since I can handle short trips but navigating large stores for extended periods is really challenging. It's reassuring to know there are multiple reliable alternatives while we wait for Walmart to hopefully fix their broken system. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences and solutions - this community is such a valuable resource for working around these frustrating technical barriers!
This thread has been so reassuring! I've been on CalFresh for about a year and always get nervous when I see unfamiliar numbers calling about my benefits. Reading everyone's confirmations that (858)812-6564 is definitely legitimate San Diego County HHSA puts my mind at ease. The whole Income Reporting Threshold explanation is really eye-opening - I had no idea the county could detect when household members start working and proactively reach out. That's actually pretty amazing from a system perspective! It sounds like the key is being responsive and having your documentation ready when you call back. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this is exactly the kind of real-world advice that makes navigating these systems so much easier!
This whole conversation has been such a learning experience! I'm completely new to CalFresh and had no idea the system was this sophisticated in tracking household changes. It's actually pretty reassuring to know they're monitoring things proactively rather than waiting for us to mess up and then penalizing us. Reading everyone's stories about the Income Reporting Threshold has been incredibly helpful - I would have had no clue what that even meant if I got a similar call. It's amazing how this community breaks down all these complex rules into understandable experiences. Definitely saving this thread as a reference!
This has been such an informative thread to read through! I'm also on CalFresh and would have been just as paranoid about that call - there are so many scams targeting benefits recipients these days. It's really reassuring to see multiple people confirm that (858)812-6564 is definitely a legitimate San Diego County HHSA number. The whole explanation about Income Reporting Threshold requirements is completely new to me - I had no idea they could proactively detect when household members start working! That's actually pretty sophisticated and shows they're trying to help us stay compliant rather than catch us making mistakes. Based on everyone's advice, it sounds like the best approach is: check BenefitsCal first, then call the main county line with your case number and daughter's employment info ready. Thanks for posting this question - it's helped so many of us learn about how the system really works behind the scenes!
I'm so glad you started this thread too! As someone brand new to CalFresh, I had zero clue about any of these Income Reporting Threshold rules. The fact that they can detect when someone in your household starts working and call proactively is honestly mind-blowing to me. I would have been just as suspicious about that call - with all the scam calls targeting people on benefits, it's hard to know what's real anymore. But reading all these confirmations that the number is legitimate San Diego County HHSA is super helpful. I'm definitely bookmarking this whole conversation because the step-by-step advice (check BenefitsCal first, then call with case number ready) is exactly the kind of practical guidance you need but never get from the official materials. This community is amazing for breaking down the real-world stuff!
As a newcomer to both CalFresh and this community, I can't express how valuable this entire thread has been! I just got approved for benefits two weeks ago and was terrified when I realized my EBT card was missing this morning. I was spiraling thinking about how complicated it would be to replace it, especially since I'm still learning how everything works. Reading through everyone's step-by-step experiences has completely calmed my nerves and given me a clear action plan. The practical details like calling the customer service line first, bringing my case number and ID, and going early in the morning are exactly what I needed to know. I had no idea about things like mobile printing units or that most county offices can print cards the same day! It's incredible how much real-world knowledge this community shares that you just can't find on official websites. I'm heading to my county office first thing tomorrow morning with all the right documents thanks to everyone's advice. This is exactly the kind of supportive community that makes navigating these systems so much less overwhelming for those of us who are new to it all. Thank you everyone for taking the time to share your experiences! 🙏
Welcome to both CalFresh and this amazing community! Your gratitude really shows how helpful everyone has been here. It's so reassuring to see how this thread evolved from one person's urgent question into this comprehensive resource that's helping multiple people. As another newcomer myself, I've been taking notes on all these practical tips too! The community knowledge here is just incredible - from timing strategies to document preparation to services I never knew existed. It sounds like you're all set with a solid plan for tomorrow morning. Best of luck at your county office, and please come back to share how it went! Your experience will add to this growing knowledge base and help the next person who finds themselves in this stressful situation. This is what community support looks like at its finest! 💪
As someone who just went through this exact situation last month, I can confirm that yes, you can absolutely get a same-day replacement! Here's what worked for me: First, I called the EBT customer service line (1-877-328-9677) immediately to report my card lost/stolen - this is crucial because it protects your remaining benefits from being used by someone else. Then I went straight to my county office with my ID, case number, and a piece of mail showing my address. The whole process took about an hour including wait time, and they printed my new card right there. All my benefits transferred automatically to the new card and I was able to use it immediately at the store. The key is going early in the morning (around 8am when they open) to avoid the longer wait times later in the day. Don't stress too much - this is something they handle all the time and it's actually pretty straightforward once you know what to bring!
I'm also dealing with a recent move and need to update my CalFresh address! This entire thread has been incredibly helpful - I was completely overwhelmed about the process before reading everyone's experiences. The distinction between using "Report a Change" vs just updating your profile section is exactly the kind of crucial detail I would have missed without this community's guidance. It's really reassuring to hear from so many people that the BenefitsCal online system is working well and that EBT benefits continue loading normally during address changes. Special thanks to @Zoe Kyriakidou for the professional insight about taking screenshots and checking the message center for confirmation! I'm planning to log in tonight and follow all the advice shared here. This community is amazing for helping people actually navigate these systems effectively instead of just getting frustrated with them.
@Isabella Brown Welcome to the community! I m'also pretty new here and just went through this exact same process a few weeks ago. This thread really has been such a valuable resource - I was completely lost about how to navigate the CalFresh system before finding all this practical advice. The Report "a Change vs" profile update distinction is definitely one of those things that s'not obvious but makes all the difference! When you log in tonight, the process should be pretty straightforward based on everyone s'experiences. Just make sure to keep your case number handy and take that screenshot of the confirmation page like @Zoe Kyriakidou suggested. It s so'nice to find a community where people actually share helpful, real-world experiences instead of just complaining about the system. Good luck with your address update - sounds like you re well-prepared'with all the great advice in this thread!
As someone who just moved last month and successfully updated my address through BenefitsCal, I can definitely confirm what everyone else is saying - the online route is SO much better than calling! I was initially skeptical after hearing mixed experiences, but the "Report a Change" section really does work well. The whole process took me about 8 minutes and I got my confirmation number immediately. One thing I'd add that I haven't seen mentioned yet - if you have any automatic payments set up with your bank that reference your old address, make sure to update those too since sometimes they cross-reference that information during reviews. Also, I noticed that my case worker actually sent me a message through the BenefitsCal inbox about a week later just confirming they had processed the change, which was a nice touch. Your EBT will definitely keep working normally - I had zero issues with my benefits loading on schedule. Good luck with your move!
@Javier Mendoza That s'such a great point about updating automatic payments that reference your old address! I wouldn t'have thought of that but it makes total sense that they might cross-reference that info during reviews. It s'also really nice to hear that your caseworker followed up through the BenefitsCal inbox - shows the system is working well when there s'that kind of communication. As someone who s'brand new to all this, I really appreciate you sharing these extra details that aren t'obvious but could definitely matter later. This whole thread has been such an education on not just how to update an address, but all the little things to think about when moving while on CalFresh. Thanks for adding your experience!
Serene Snow
I've been having this exact same issue since Friday! The "Invalid credentials" error has been driving me nuts, especially since I need to check my balance before my weekly grocery run. I was convinced something was wrong with my account or that I'd somehow forgotten my password. Just tried the website login that everyone's recommending and it worked immediately - such a relief! I also had no idea that grocery stores could do balance inquiries for you. That's going to be so helpful as a backup option. This thread has been way more useful than the 30 minutes I spent on hold yesterday trying to reach customer service. It's frustrating that we have to become troubleshooting experts just to access our own benefits, but I'm really grateful for this community sharing solutions. Definitely saving this for future reference in case the app breaks again. Thanks everyone for all the helpful workarounds!
0 coins
Nia Davis
•Welcome to our growing EBT app support community! 😊 You're absolutely not alone in this frustration - so many of us have been dealing with this exact same login issue since their recent system update. I'm really glad you found this thread and got the website login working right away! It's been such a consistent solution for everyone here. The grocery store balance check has been such an amazing discovery too - I honestly had no idea that was even possible before this whole app mess started, and now I use it all the time because it's actually more convenient than opening the app! It's pretty ridiculous that we've all 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 chaos. Hope they get their app fixed soon, but until then you've definitely found the right place for help and workarounds!
0 coins
Keisha Taylor
I've been dealing with this exact same problem since Wednesday! The "Invalid credentials" error has been so frustrating - I kept thinking I was entering something wrong even though I've been using the same login for months. Really relieved to find this thread and know it's not just me going crazy! Just tried the website login that everyone's been mentioning and it worked perfectly on the first try. Also going to try that tip about using the card number instead of username next time the app acts up. I had no idea that grocery stores could check your balance either - that's such a useful backup that I wish I'd known about ages ago! This community has been way more helpful than trying to get through to customer service. It's ridiculous that we have to troubleshoot their broken system ourselves, but I'm so grateful everyone is sharing what actually works. Definitely bookmarking this thread in case it happens again. Thanks to everyone for all the workarounds - you've saved my grocery shopping week!
0 coins
Dmitry Volkov
•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! The card number login trick has been really helpful for several people here when the regular username doesn't work. And yes, the grocery store balance check has been such an amazing discovery - I honestly had no idea that was even possible before this whole mess started! It's become my go-to backup method now. This community really has turned into our own tech support team while the official EBT system is having major problems. It's frustrating that we have to figure out workarounds just to access our benefits, but at least we're all helping each other navigate this chaos. Hope they get their app fixed soon, but until then you've definitely found the right place for solutions and support!
0 coins