BenefitsCal login issues - locked out of EBT account after website upgrade

same thing hapning to me!! the new benefitscal site is garbage. my worker told me to create a whole new account but then it said my ssn was already linked to an account?? make it make sense

I work for a community organization that helps people with CalFresh applications, and we've heard from at least 30 clients this week with the same issue. The BenefitsCal system update is causing widespread login problems. Here's what's working for most people: 1. Try using a different browser (Chrome seems to work better than Safari or Firefox) 2. Clear your browser cache completely before trying again 3. Make sure you're using the exact username format from before (some people used email, others used custom usernames) 4. If you still can't get in, you can request an EBT balance check by phone at 1-877-328-9677 without logging in The system migration should be fully complete by next week, but that doesn't help when you need to check your balance now. Unfortunately, this happens with almost every major system update.

The BenefitsCal site is a JOKE! I've been dealing with this same issue for over a week. Called the county office 6 TIMES, each time waiting over an hour only to be told "we're experiencing technical difficulties" and "try again later." LATER?? People need FOOD! I finally got through to someone yesterday who told me they're aware of the login problems but couldn't give me a timeline for fixing it. Meanwhile my recertification is due in 10 days and if I miss it because of THEIR broken system, they'll blame ME. The whole CalFresh system is designed to make people give up.

i had this problem 2. cant log in for nuthin. ended up just going 2 the actual office and waiting 4 hours but at least got to talk to a real person. they fixed my account while i was there. sucked to waste half a day but better than starving

After struggling with this exact same problem and not being able to access my CalFresh account, I discovered this service called Claimyr that helped me actually reach a real person at the county office. I was skeptical at first but they connected me to a CalFresh worker within 20 minutes when I had been trying for days on my own. The worker was able to verify my identity and manually update my account to work with the new system. You can check them out at claimyr.com - there's a video showing how it works at https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8. Seriously saved me hours of frustration and got my account issue resolved same day.

Quick update on this issue: The county released an official statement yesterday about the BenefitsCal login problems. They're extending all February recertification deadlines by 15 days to accommodate people affected by the system issues. If you're locked out, they recommend: 1. Trying the mobile app instead of the website (some users report more success) 2. Calling your specific county office (not the general EBT line) and requesting a temporary PIN 3. Using the automated phone system at 1-877-328-9677 for checking balances and basic account info They expect the system to be fully operational by February 15th. For anyone with immediate food needs who can't access benefits, you can request an emergency allocation by calling the crisis line at your county office.

Has anyone noticed that once you FINALLY get logged in, the new system is actually better? I struggled for days with login issues but now that I'm in, I can see payment history for the past 12 months (used to only show 3 months), and the document upload feature actually confirms when they receive it now. Still inexcusable that they rolled out an update that locked people out though.

This is so frustrating! I'm dealing with the exact same login nightmare. Been locked out for 4 days now and my kids are asking why we can't go grocery shopping. I tried the mobile app suggestion from @CosmicCaptain and it actually worked! Still can't believe they didn't test this system properly before rolling it out. People depend on these benefits to eat - you can't just break the system and expect people to wait weeks for a fix. At least I can finally see my balance now, but this whole situation shows how broken the system is for people who need it most.

I'm going through the exact same nightmare! Been locked out for 6 days now and it's honestly making me lose sleep. I have two young kids and we're down to basically nothing in the fridge. The worst part is feeling completely helpless - like the system is designed to make you give up. I tried the mobile app suggestion and it finally worked! Thank god because I was about to have a breakdown. It's just so wrong that families are struggling to access their own benefits because of poor system planning. Nobody should have to choose between spending hours fighting with a broken website or feeding their children. Really grateful for this community sharing solutions because the official help has been useless.

I've been going through this exact same issue! Locked out for almost a week now and it's been incredibly stressful. I finally got in yesterday using the mobile app after reading @CosmicCaptain's suggestions - thank you so much for that tip! It's absolutely unacceptable that they rolled out a system update that prevented people from accessing their basic food assistance. I work in IT and I can tell you this kind of massive failure happens when there's inadequate testing and no proper rollback plan. The fact that families with children are going without being able to check their benefits or complete recertifications is just heartbreaking. For anyone still struggling, definitely try the mobile app - it seems much more stable than the website. Also keeping that phone number handy (1-877-328-9677) has been a lifesaver for quick balance checks. We shouldn't have to jump through these hoops just to access our own benefits, but at least we're helping each other find solutions.

I'm dealing with this exact same login nightmare! Been locked out for 5 days now and it's been so stressful trying to check my balance with rent due this week. The mobile app tip from @CosmicCaptain was a lifesaver - finally got in this morning! It's honestly shameful that they launched this update without proper testing when people literally depend on these benefits to survive. I've worked in customer service before and I can't imagine releasing something this broken to the public. The automated phone line (1-877-328-9677) has been helpful for quick balance checks when the website was completely down. Thank you to everyone sharing solutions here because the official support has been absolutely useless. No one should have to spend hours troubleshooting just to access their own food assistance!

I've been having the exact same problem for over a week now! It's absolutely maddening that they can roll out a "system upgrade" that completely locks people out of their own benefits. I have two kids and we're running dangerously low on groceries, but I can't even check if my February payment went through. The mobile app suggestion from @CosmicCaptain finally worked for me after days of frustration with the website! It's honestly disgraceful that families are going without food while the state can't get their basic technology working. The phone number (1-877-328-9677) has been my backup for balance checks, but we shouldn't need workarounds just to access what's rightfully ours. Thank you to everyone sharing solutions because the official "help" has been completely worthless. This whole mess just proves how the system treats people who need assistance - like we're disposable.

This whole situation is absolutely infuriating! I've been locked out for 8 days now and it's causing so much anxiety for my family. We're a single-income household and I rely on CalFresh to supplement our grocery budget, especially with how expensive everything has gotten. The mobile app suggestion from @CosmicCaptain was the only thing that finally worked for me after trying everything else! It's completely unacceptable that they would deploy a system this broken when people literally depend on these benefits to eat. I've been a software tester for 10 years and this level of failure tells me they either did zero user acceptance testing or completely ignored the results. The fact that we're all having to troubleshoot each other's problems while the official support is nowhere to be found just shows how little they care about the people who actually use these services. Thank you to everyone sharing workarounds - this community has been more helpful than anything from the state!

I've been dealing with this exact same issue for almost two weeks now! It's absolutely heartbreaking that so many families are struggling just to access their own benefits. I finally got into my account using the mobile app after seeing @CosmicCaptain's suggestion - you're a lifesaver! It worked on the first try when the website was still completely broken for me. What really gets me is that this could have been completely avoided with proper testing. When you're dealing with something as critical as food assistance, there should be backup systems and gradual rollouts, not this disaster that leaves families wondering if they can buy groceries. I've been using the automated phone line (1-877-328-9677) for quick balance checks too, which has been super helpful. Thank you to everyone sharing solutions here because the official support has been absolutely useless. It's sad that we have to rely on each other instead of the people who are supposed to help us, but I'm grateful for this community looking out for one another during this mess!

This is absolutely unacceptable! I've been locked out for 6 days now and it's causing so much stress for my family. We depend on CalFresh to help with our grocery budget and not being able to check my balance or access my account is terrifying. I tried the mobile app suggestion from @CosmicCaptain and it finally worked! Thank you so much for sharing that tip - you literally saved my sanity. It's infuriating that they would roll out a broken system that prevents people from accessing their basic food assistance. The automated phone line (1-877-328-9677) has been helpful for balance checks when nothing else worked. This whole situation just shows how little they care about the people who actually depend on these services. We shouldn't have to become tech experts just to check our own benefit balance! Thank you to everyone in this community for sharing workarounds - you've all been more helpful than any official support.

This is such a frustrating situation that so many families are dealing with! I've been following this thread and it's clear the BenefitsCal system rollout has been a complete disaster. What really stands out to me is how this community has stepped up to help each other when the official support has failed. @CosmicCaptain, your suggestions about the mobile app and phone number have literally helped dozens of families access their benefits - you've done more to solve this crisis than the entire state IT department! It's heartbreaking that people are losing sleep and worrying about feeding their children because of poor system planning. The fact that we have software testers and IT professionals in this thread confirming this was completely preventable just makes it more infuriating. For anyone still struggling: try the mobile app first, then the automated phone line at 1-877-328-9677. And remember - the 15-day extension for recertifications means you won't lose benefits if you're still locked out. We shouldn't have to be each other's tech support, but I'm grateful we're all here looking out for one another!