CalFresh EBT card cancelled AGAIN - second month in a row! What's going on?

This happened to me too! THREE times last year. Turns out the county was sending verification requests to my old address even though I updated my contact info. Have you checked your case online to see if there are any pending tasks or notices? Sometimes they don't mail everything but expect you to check the portal. Try logging into BenefitsCal and look under 'Documents' and 'Tasks' sections. Also check your spam folder if you get email notifications.

my card got cancelled to. they said it was becuz i didnt report my new job but i did tell them when i started. the system is broken. good luck getting anyone on the phone its impossible

Based on what you've described, there are a few things happening here that are fairly common with CalFresh accounts: 1. When your card is "deactivated," it usually means your benefits were discontinued, not just the card itself. The card is simply deactivated as a result of case closure. 2. For the verification issue: Counties are required to give you at least 10 days to provide requested verification before taking negative action. Check your case comments in BenefitsCal to see exactly what they requested and when. 3. Important: Even though your certification period runs until September 2025, you still have continuing eligibility requirements that must be met throughout that period: - Quarterly reports (SAR7) due in specific months - Responding to any verification requests within the timeframe given - Reporting changes that put you over the Income Reporting Threshold (IRT) Recommendation: File for an administrative hearing immediately by calling the state hearing division at 1-800-952-5253. You only have 90 days from the effective date of the action to request a hearing, but if you request it within 10 days of receiving notice, you may be able to get your benefits continued pending the hearing outcome (called "aid paid pending").

The same situation happened to me. I ended up having to reapply completely. The worker told me that if you miss submitting any requested verification, even if you never received the request, they can discontinue your benefits without warning. It's ridiculous that they put the responsibility on us when their system is so unreliable. 😤

Have you checked if your mailing address and phone number are updated in the system? I discovered my contact info somehow reverted to an old address after a system update. Also, set up text alerts! Go to BenefitsCal > Account Settings > Notification Preferences and make sure ALL boxes are checked for text, email, AND mail notifications. That way you're covered if one method fails. Also, take screenshots of your confirmation when you submit anything. I learned this the hard way when they claimed I never submitted my SAR7 even though I had. Without proof, it's your word against their system.

I work with CalFresh recipients regularly, and this scenario unfortunately happens often. Here's what you can do to prevent future problems: 1. Set a reminder on your phone for quarterly reports (SAR7) - typically due around the 5th of your reporting month 2. After submitting ANY document, call the county after 3-5 business days to confirm receipt 3. Request your case be flagged for "special handling" due to electronic notification issues 4. If your card is deactivated again, ask for "expedited reissuance" - they can sometimes reactivate benefits within 3 days instead of 7-10 5. Document EVERYTHING - confirmation numbers, worker names, dates/times of calls While it shouldn't be necessary to be this vigilant, it's unfortunately the reality with overwhelmed county systems. Being proactive can prevent most of these interruptions.

Just wanted to update - I used that Claimyr service someone mentioned above when I had a similar issue last month. Skeptical at first but it actually worked! Got connected to a worker in about 35 minutes (after spending 3 days trying on my own). They found out my case was flagged for "potential income discrepancy" that triggered the card cancellation. Worker fixed it on the spot once I explained my situation.

everyone saying to just call like its so easy 🙄 the phone system hangs up on me EVERY TIME after saying "high call volume" so how exactly am i supposed to fix anything?????

UPDATE: After trying for two days, I finally got through to a real person at the county office. Turns out there was a "system flag" on my account due to a supposed income discrepancy (my employer reported slightly different income than my pay stubs showed). The worker removed the flag, accepted my verification documents, and is reinstating my benefits! They're also sending me a new EBT card that should arrive in 5-7 days. They admitted they had sent a verification request letter that was returned as undeliverable (even though my address hasn't changed). The worker said I should be all set now, but I've requested my case be marked for "special handling" as someone here suggested. Thank you all for the helpful advice! I'm setting up every possible notification option and reminder for my next quarterly report. This has been such a stressful experience.

Great to hear you got it resolved! This is exactly why I always recommend people document everything and be persistent. That "system flag" issue is more common than it should be - happens when there are minor discrepancies between employer-reported income and what you submit. For anyone else dealing with this, ask the worker to check for any "alerts" or "flags" on your account when your benefits get discontinued unexpectedly. Sometimes it's something simple like this that can be cleared up quickly once you know what the actual issue is. The fact that your verification letter was returned as undeliverable even though your address didn't change shows how many system glitches there are. Glad you pushed through and got help!

I'm so sorry you went through this stressful situation! I'm new to CalFresh and reading all these responses is both helpful and terrifying - I had no idea the system could be this glitchy. Your experience really highlights how important it is to stay on top of everything and document every interaction. I'm definitely going to set up all the notification options and calendar reminders for my quarterly reports after reading this thread. Thank you for sharing your story and the update - it gives me hope that these issues can be resolved with persistence, even though it shouldn't be this difficult in the first place. I'm bookmarking this thread as a reference guide!

This is such an important thread for anyone dealing with CalFresh issues! As someone who works in social services advocacy, I see these system glitches happening way too often. A few additional tips that might help prevent future problems: 1. Always request a receipt or confirmation when submitting documents in person - don't just hand them over 2. If you have a smartphone, use the "BenefitsCal Mobile" app which sometimes shows notifications faster than the website 3. Consider getting a free Google Voice number as a backup contact method - this creates an extra layer of notification redundancy 4. Join your local county's CalFresh Facebook group if they have one - workers sometimes post important updates there The system absolutely should not require this level of vigilance from recipients, but until these infrastructure issues are addressed, being proactive is unfortunately necessary. Your persistence in getting this resolved will hopefully help others who face similar situations. Thanks for sharing your experience and keeping us updated!

Wow, what a journey you've been through! I'm so relieved to hear you finally got it resolved. Reading through this entire thread has been incredibly educational - I had no idea there were so many potential issues that could cause sudden benefit cancellations. The "system flag" for income discrepancy sounds like something that could happen to anyone, especially with how employers sometimes report things differently than what shows on our pay stubs. I'm definitely taking notes from all the advice shared here - setting up multiple notification methods, taking screenshots of everything, asking about alerts/flags on accounts, and documenting every interaction. It's frustrating that we have to be this proactive just to keep our benefits active, but I'm grateful for this community where people share real solutions. Your persistence really paid off, and I'm sure your experience will help other members who face similar situations. The fact that so many people jumped in with helpful advice shows how supportive this community is. Thank you for keeping us updated - it gives hope that these problems can be solved even when the system seems to be working against us!

As someone who's been on CalFresh for about 6 months now, this thread is both incredibly helpful and absolutely terrifying! I had no idea the system could be this unreliable. Reading about all these random cancellations and notification failures makes me realize I need to be way more proactive than I thought. I'm going to implement pretty much every suggestion mentioned here - updating all my notification settings, setting monthly calendar reminders to check BenefitsCal for any pending tasks, taking screenshots of everything I submit, and keeping detailed records of all my interactions. It's really unfortunate that we have to be this vigilant just to maintain benefits we're entitled to, but clearly that's the reality. Keisha, I'm so glad you finally got your situation resolved! Your persistence really paid off, and sharing your experience (including the stressful parts) is going to help so many other people. The tip about asking workers to check for "alerts" or "flags" on accounts seems particularly valuable - I never would have known to ask about that. Thank you to everyone who shared their knowledge and tips in this thread. This is exactly why community support is so important when dealing with complex government systems!

Welcome to everyone who's new to CalFresh! As someone who's been navigating this system for over two years, I can definitely relate to how overwhelming it can feel when you realize how many potential issues there are. But honestly, this thread is a perfect example of why this community is so valuable - experienced members sharing real solutions that actually work. A few additional suggestions based on my experience: - If you're tech-savvy, consider setting up a simple spreadsheet to track all your important dates (quarterly reports, recertification, etc.) and confirmation numbers - Some counties have local CalFresh navigator programs that can help you one-on-one - search "[your county] CalFresh navigator" to see if there's free assistance available - When you do get connected to a worker, always ask for their direct extension if possible - it can save you hours of hold time for follow-up questions Keisha, I'm so glad you got everything resolved! Your willingness to share both the frustrating parts and the solution is going to help countless other members. The "system flag" issue you experienced is definitely more common than it should be, and now we all know to ask about it specifically. To all the newcomers - don't let this thread scare you too much! Yes, the system has issues, but being informed and proactive goes a long way. Plus you've got this amazing community to help when problems do arise. We've all been there!