CalFresh EBT card automated message says 'cannot access your account' - what's happening?

same thinh happened 2 me last month. turned out my benefits got suspended cuz they thought i didnt turn in some paperwork. had to call the county

This usually means one of three things: 1. There's a technical issue with the EBT system (happens sometimes, especially during maintenance) 2. Your benefits have been suspended or discontinued (this would typically come with a notice) 3. Your card has been flagged for suspicious activity First thing I'd check is BenefitsCal to see if your account shows active. If everything looks normal there, it's probably just a system issue that will resolve itself in 24-48 hours. If your account shows a problem on BenefitsCal, you'll need to contact your county office directly.

Did you hit your IRT (Income Reporting Threshold) by any chance? If your income went up and you didn't report it within 10 days, they sometimes freeze the account until they can determine if you're still eligible. Just something to consider.

THE EXACT SAME THING happened to me in January!!! Turned out they sent me a verification request letter that got lost in the mail, and when I didn't respond, they suspended my benefits without telling me!! I only found out when I couldn't access my account just like you. Had to go through HELL to get it fixed. They made me resubmit all my documents even though they had them already. The system is DESIGNED to kick people off any way they can!!

After dealing with this exact issue last year, I discovered Claimyr and it saved me so much frustration. When you call the county CalFresh office tomorrow, you might get stuck in those endless phone queues. Claimyr.com basically waits on hold for you and calls you back when a real person is on the line. They have a video that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 I used it when my account got mysteriously locked and I needed to speak to an actual worker immediately. Went from spending hours on hold to getting a call back in about 45 minutes with an actual person who could help.

u shud check ur mail cuz sometimes they send u a SAR7 and if u dont send it back they cut ur benefits off

When you call the county office tomorrow, make sure to ask them to check if there were any notices sent to you that you didn't receive. Sometimes there are system glitches where notices are generated but never actually mailed. Also ask them to verify your address is correct in the system. In the meantime, if you need food assistance before this gets resolved, you might want to contact your local food bank. Most can provide emergency food boxes without waiting periods. Here's a locator tool: https://www.feedingamerica.org/find-your-local-foodbank

Have you used your EBT card recently? Sometimes if you don't use the card for a while (like 90+ days), they might put a hold on the account.

Can you update us on what you find out when you call? It might help others who run into the same issue.

UPDATE: Finally got through to a person at the county office (used that Claimyr service someone suggested - totally worth it). Turns out they sent me a verification request for my rent and utilities because something looked "inconsistent" in my file. The letter was sent three weeks ago but I never received it! They're reissuing the notice and I have 10 days to submit the documents. They said once I submit, they'll release the hold on my account. So frustrating that they can just cut off benefits without making sure I actually received the notice first!

Thanks for the update! This is exactly why I always recommend people check their BenefitsCal account online regularly, even if everything seems fine. Sometimes you can catch these "pending review" statuses before your benefits get suspended. Also, definitely sign up for electronic notifications like Darcy mentioned - I switched to paperless notices after missing an important letter that got delivered to the wrong apartment in my building. It's saved me so much stress since then. Hope you get your documents submitted quickly and your benefits restored!

Wow, this whole thread is such a perfect example of how broken the CalFresh system is! @Gael Robinson I'm so glad you got it figured out, but it's absolutely ridiculous that they can just suspend benefits because a letter "might" have been sent. I've been dealing with similar issues for months - they keep requesting the same documents over and over, even after I've submitted them multiple times. The worst part is how they make it seem like it's OUR fault when THEIR system doesn't work properly. I'm definitely going to look into that Claimyr service and sign up for electronic notifications. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - it helps to know we're not alone in this struggle!