CalFresh EBT card locked after 'maximum PIN attempts exceeded' - can I use it today?

ive had this happen twice!! the first time they told me it was locked for 24 hrs but actually only took like 4-5 hrs before i could use it again. second time was faster like maybe 2-3 hrs. just depends on their system i think

That's a relief! Maybe I can still get groceries tonight then. Did you have to do anything special after changing your PIN or just wait?

The EBT system has a security feature that temporarily locks cards after too many incorrect PIN attempts. Technically, it's supposed to unlock immediately after you successfully change your PIN through customer service, but in practice there's often a 2-4 hour processing delay while the change syncs through their system. If you already called and changed your PIN successfully, I'd recommend trying again after about 3 hours. If it still doesn't work by evening, call again and ask them to verify your PIN was properly reset in the system.

My bf said he thought it was 24 hours no matter what even if u change the pin. This makes more sense tho

DONT WASTE YOUR TIME WITH THAT 1-800 NUMBER!!!! I was in the exact same situation last month and kept calling that stupid EBT customer service number and getting nowhere. After being on hold for 45 minutes I gave up. I found this service called Claimyr that got me through to an actual human at my county CalFresh office in like 10 minutes! They can unlock your card right away if you verify your identity. Check out their site claimyr.com or see how it works here: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 - totally worth it when you need food NOW and not tomorrow!

does this actually work? the county never answers when i call them

Yes! I was skeptical too but they actually called the county line for me and when they got through, they called my phone and connected me. Saved me from having to sit on hold for hours.

This is a common issue with the EBT system. When a card is locked due to excessive PIN attempts, there are two different processes happening:\n\n1. The PIN reset: This happens right away when you call\n2. The security lock: This can take 2-24 hours to clear, depending on when the system runs its daily update cycle\n\nIf you've already reset your PIN, you're halfway there. The system will unlock your card automatically, usually within a few hours, but sometimes it takes until midnight when their system does a full refresh. One thing that might help: try using it at a different store. Sometimes the terminal at one store hasn't updated but others have.

Thank you! This explains why different people have different experiences with the timing. I'll try another store this evening.

is ur card old?? mine was doing weird stuff like this and the county worker said sometims the magnetic strip gets worn out if its an old card. might need a replacement card if it keeps happening

It's about 2 years old, so maybe? But this is the first time my son got ahold of it and tried entering random PINs. I'll definitely keep that in mind if it happens again though.

try putting it in a plastic baggie before swiping sometimes that helps when mine acts weird

lol what? how would that even work?

idk man but my cousin who works at walmart told me about it and it fixed my card when it wasnt reading right! worth a try

did it work?? were u able to use it yet?? im invested in ur dinner plans now lol

Update! It worked at the second store I tried about 4 hours after resetting the PIN. We're having spaghetti tonight lol. Thanks everyone for the help!

Glad it worked out! One more tip: you can set up an EBT account online at connectebt.com to monitor your balance and transactions. That way you can also see when your card becomes active again if this ever happens in the future. It's also good for spotting any suspicious activity on your account.

That's really helpful, thank you! I'm going to set that up right now so I can keep better track of things.

So glad you got it sorted out! This happened to me a few months ago and I was panicking because it was right before the weekend. Pro tip for anyone reading this - if you have kids, maybe keep your EBT card in a secure spot they can't reach. Learned that the hard way when my 4-year-old decided to "help" me at the grocery store checkout and kept pressing random numbers on the PIN pad. Now I keep it in a zippered pocket in my wallet that's harder for little hands to get into!

Yes! Those RFID blocking wallets are great for multiple reasons. I got one after my card info got skimmed at a gas station last year - it has a separate zippered compartment that's perfect for keeping my EBT card away from my toddler's grabby hands. Just make sure to get one with a strong zipper because kids are surprisingly good at figuring out how to open things they shouldn't! Also, if you're looking for extra security, some of them have little combination locks on the zipper pulls.

Yes, the RFID blocking works the same for EBT cards! They have the same chip technology as regular debit/credit cards, so they're just as vulnerable to skimming. I've been using an RFID wallet for about 6 months now and it's been great - no issues with the card working when I need it, but peace of mind knowing it's protected when I don't. The combination lock ones are definitely worth the extra few dollars, especially if you have kids who are determined little problem solvers like mine! Just remember to test the combination a few times when you first get it so you don't get stuck fumbling with it at the checkout line.

Reading through all this, I'm realizing how many parents have dealt with this exact situation! My 3-year-old got hold of my card last week and thankfully I caught her before she could do any damage, but it was definitely a wake-up call. I've been keeping my EBT card in the same wallet pocket as my other cards, which clearly isn't the safest approach with little ones around. The RFID blocking wallet with a combination lock sounds like the perfect solution - protecting against both curious kids and potential fraud. It's crazy that we have to think about EBT cards being skimmed too, but I guess any card with a chip is vulnerable these days. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and solutions!