btw once u activate, download the ebt fresh app too! it shows u which farmers markets accept ebt AND which ones do the market match program where they DOUBLE your benefits for fruits & vegetables!

Welcome to the CalFresh community! Yes, you absolutely need to activate your EBT card before using it. Here's what you need to do: 1. Call the customer service number on the back of your card (usually 1-877-328-9677) 2. Have your card number, ZIP code, and date of birth ready 3. Follow the prompts to set up a 4-digit PIN that you'll use for purchases Your benefits should already be loaded on the card once it's activated - they get deposited automatically based on your case approval. You can check your balance by calling the same number after activation. One helpful tip: write down your PIN somewhere safe! If you forget it, resetting can be a hassle. Also, consider downloading the ebt fresh app that someone mentioned - it's great for finding farmers markets that accept EBT and offer matching programs. Don't worry about looking confused at the store - we've all been there! The cashiers are usually helpful if you need assistance with your first EBT purchase. Good luck with your shopping!

This entire thread is both eye-opening and deeply concerning. I'm also dealing with this exact same issue in Illinois - my EBT card works perfectly fine in physical stores but has been getting rejected for Walmart Plus online orders for the past month. What started as what I thought was just my individual problem is clearly a nationwide crisis affecting the most vulnerable populations. I'm a graduate student with a disability that makes long shopping trips extremely difficult, and I specifically chose Walmart Plus over other services because of their advertised EBT acceptance. Reading through everyone's experiences - from disabled veterans to single parents to elderly caregivers - it's clear that this isn't just inconvenient, it's genuinely harmful to people who depend on accessible grocery delivery. The inconsistent responses from customer service that everyone's reporting really shows that either Walmart doesn't know what's happening with their own systems, or they're deliberately giving false information. Either way, it's unacceptable for a company this size to leave customers in the dark for months while continuing to advertise services that don't work. I'm adding Illinois to the growing list of affected states and will definitely be filing USDA and BBB complaints. The suggestion about reaching out to local news is excellent - this story needs more visibility. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and resources. The fact that we're all supporting each other through this situation really shows the strength of communities that are often overlooked by big corporations.

I'm also experiencing this exact same issue in Washington state! My EBT card has been getting rejected for Walmart Plus online orders for about 3 weeks now, even though it works perfectly fine when I shop in-store. I'm a wheelchair user and specifically got the subscription because physical shopping is extremely challenging for me - I can only carry limited items and navigating crowded stores in my chair is exhausting and sometimes impossible during busy times. Reading through all these experiences from 10+ states is absolutely infuriating. It's clear this isn't a series of isolated "technical glitches" but a massive nationwide system failure that Walmart is either unable or unwilling to fix promptly. The fact that they're still advertising EBT delivery acceptance while knowing their system is broken across the entire country feels like deliberate false advertising targeting vulnerable populations. What makes this even worse is that people with disabilities, seniors, caregivers, single parents, and others who genuinely NEED delivery services are being disproportionately harmed while still being charged the same membership fees as everyone else. This is definitely discrimination based on payment method, which disproportionately affects low-income individuals. I'm adding Washington to our growing list and will be filing complaints with the USDA, BBB, and my state's attorney general office. I'm also going to contact local disability advocacy groups because this is clearly an accessibility rights issue. Thanks to everyone for sharing resources and experiences - this thread has become an invaluable tool for organizing our response to this corporate negligence.

I just wanted to thank everyone who contributed to this thread! I stumbled across it while searching for solutions to the same ATM issue I experienced last week. Even though the maintenance period is over now, all the backup options you shared are gold - I had no idea about the pharmacy cash withdrawal option or that Dollar stores do cashback with EBT. I'm copying all these tips into my notes for next time because it sounds like these maintenance outages happen pretty regularly. It's really unfortunate that we have to crowdsource this information instead of getting proper communication from the system administrators, but I'm so grateful for communities like this where we look out for each other. The grocery store cashback method saved me when I needed emergency cash for a prescription copay - worked perfectly at my local Vons. Thanks again for sharing your knowledge and experiences!

This whole thread has been incredibly eye-opening for me! I've been on CalFresh for about 8 months but this is my first time experiencing the ATM cash withdrawal issue. I tried getting money yesterday for my daughter's daycare payment and kept getting that dreaded "maintenance error" message at three different Bank of America ATMs. I was honestly terrified that my benefits had been suspended or something was wrong with my case. Reading everyone's experiences here has been such a huge relief - knowing it's just routine system maintenance that apparently happens every few months. I had absolutely no idea about any of these workaround options! The grocery store cashback method is brilliant and I'm definitely going to remember that for future outages. It's really frustrating that there's no official notification system to warn recipients about these maintenance windows, especially when so many of us depend on cash access for essential expenses like rent, childcare, and transportation. Thank you all for creating such a supportive community where we can share practical solutions and reassure each other during these stressful situations. I'm bookmarking this thread and definitely staying active in this forum - the collective knowledge here is invaluable for navigating all the quirks of the EBT system that nobody officially prepares you for!

my favorite thing is seeing when people try to steal my card info at those card skimmers!! the app shows every transaction so i can see if someones trying to use my card somewhere i wasnt at!

I just wanted to add that if you have any issues with the app not working or if you need to reset your PIN, you can also visit your local county office and they can help you with that. Sometimes the app might not work if your card has been temporarily suspended for security reasons (like if you entered your PIN wrong too many times at a store). The county workers are usually pretty helpful with tech issues like this. Also, make sure your phone has enough storage space - I had a friend who couldn't get the app to work properly because her phone was almost full!

I'm so sorry you're going through this stressful situation! Reading through all these responses, it's clear you're dealing with the partial system outage that Emma confirmed rather than an issue with your specific account. I went through something very similar about 4 months ago - my card was declined at Safeway even though I had plenty of benefits, and I had that same scary feeling that something was wrong. It turned out to be a system glitch that lasted about 2 days, and I had success at a small independent grocery store while the big chains were still having issues. The advice everyone's given about trying smaller, family-owned markets is spot-on - they really do use different payment processing systems that often stay working during these outages. I'm also glad people mentioned the emergency food resources - there's absolutely no shame in using food banks when the system fails you like this. You're being an amazing parent by reaching out for help and making sure your kids are taken care of. Definitely try that local market tomorrow morning, and if the first transaction doesn't go through, ask them to try running it as credit like Diego suggested. This thread has become such a valuable resource - thank you for starting this conversation that will help so many other families! Keeping my fingers crossed that everything works out smoothly for you tomorrow.

I'm so sorry you're experiencing this stress! As a newcomer to this community, I'm amazed by all the helpful advice and support everyone has shared. From reading through the responses, it really sounds like you're dealing with the partial system outage Emma confirmed rather than any issue with your account. I've only been on CalFresh for a few weeks, so I had no idea that EBT system outages were even possible! This thread has been incredibly educational for me - learning about trying smaller stores, calling ahead to check if their systems are working, and having backup communication methods like the online chat on BenefitsCal. Emily, I hope your visit to the local grocery store tomorrow goes perfectly! It's clear you have such a solid plan now. This community's knowledge and support is truly incredible - thank you all for showing newcomers like me what real mutual aid looks like. I'll definitely be bookmarking this thread for future reference!