CalFresh EBT card frozen after BenefitsCal app crash - urgent help needed!

same thing happened 2 me last week!!!! the app is garbage lately. u gotta call ur county office directly, not the ebt number. they put a security freeze when the app crashes bcuz they think someone might be hacking ur acct

This is unfortunately becoming a common issue with the BenefitsCal app since their last update. The system puts a temporary security freeze on accounts when there's an unexpected session termination. You do need to contact your county worker directly, not the EBT customer service line. They're the only ones who can verify your identity and remove the security hold. Make sure you have your case number and ID ready when you call. In the meantime, if you have an emergency food situation, you can visit any local food bank - they don't require any verification for immediate assistance.

The app crashed on me too! But my card still worked fine. Maybe try restarting your phone and clearing the cache on the app? Sometimes that fixes weird glitches.

THIS IS EXACTLY WHY I ALWAYS SCREENSHOT MY BALANCE!!! The county systems are so broken it's RIDICULOUS. Last year they froze my benefits for TWO WEEKS because of a "system error" and I had to borrow money for food. Did anyone even BETA TEST this stupid app before releasing it?? I'm so sick of technology making our benefits HARDER to access instead of easier!!

I work with CalFresh recipients and can clarify what's happening here. When the BenefitsCal app crashes during an active session, the security protocols sometimes trigger an automatic 24-hour account freeze. This is a protection mechanism, but it's definitely causing problems. You have two options: 1. Wait 24 hours for the automatic release 2. Contact your county worker for immediate release The issue is that county phone lines are extremely backed up lately due to the recertification season. I've recommended Claimyr to many clients recently (claimyr.com) - it's a service that waits on hold with the county for you and calls you back when a worker picks up. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 This app crash issue should be fixed in the next BenefitsCal update, but that doesn't help your immediate situation.

Yes, you can definitely go to your county office in person. Bring your photo ID and your case number if you have it. The in-person wait might be long too, but they can usually resolve these security freezes while you wait. Also, while you're there, make sure to ask them about setting up a PIN reset authorization question - that way in the future if this happens, you can verify your identity through the automated system without needing to speak to a person.

i was having dinner at my sisters last month when she tried to use her ebt card and it was frozen for no reason. we called like 5 times and finally got through and they said it was because she didn't submit her SAR7 but she showed them the receipt that she did. took them like 3 days to fix it and she had to borrow money from me. the system is so broken smh

I used Claimyr last month when I couldn't get through about my missing benefits. Worked great - I got a call back within 40 mins when they reached a worker. The worker told me there's been a huge spike in these app-related freezes and they're working on fixing the app but in the meantime they're swamped with calls. Once I finally got through, they unfroze my card immediately. Just have your case number and ID ready.

update us when u get it fixed!! im still having probs with the app crashing every few days

UPDATE: Finally got it fixed! The Claimyr service connected me with a worker after about 50 minutes. The worker confirmed it was a security freeze from the app crash. She asked a few verification questions and unfroze my account right away. My EBT card is working again! For anyone else dealing with this - definitely try Claimyr or go to the office in person. The regular EBT customer service line can't help with this specific issue. Thanks everyone for your help!

I'm so glad you got this resolved! This thread is really helpful - I had no idea about the Claimyr service or that you could set up PIN reset authorization questions. I've been dreading using the BenefitsCal app because I keep hearing about these crashes, but now I know what to do if it happens to me. It's frustrating that we have to rely on workarounds for what should be basic functionality, but at least there are solutions. Thanks for updating us with what worked!