CalFresh EBT card mysteriously restricted/canceled daily - county workers can't explain why!

omg yes this happened to my cousin last month!! took her like 2 weeks to fix it and she kept getting different answers every time she called

This sounds like a system flag in the EBT database. I used to work for a county office (not in benefits directly) but I've seen this happen when there's a mismatch between your identity verification in multiple systems. Some things to try: 1. Ask specifically to speak with an EBT card specialist, not just any eligibility worker 2. Request they check if there's a fraud alert on your account 3. Make sure your address matches EXACTLY across all systems 4. Ask them to check if there's an issue with the magnetic strip batch on the cards they're giving you Sometimes county offices have different departments that don't communicate well with each other. The person helping you might not have access to see what's triggering the restriction.

have u been trying to use the card at the same store? sometimes certain stores trigger security flags in the system especialy if its a small store or gas station type place. try a different major grocery store

This EXACT thing happened to me in April and it was a NIGHTMARE! The county kept giving me new cards that would die within hours. Turns out there was a fraud investigation happening on my account that the regular workers couldn't see. Someone had tried to duplicate my card. The ONLY way I fixed it was using Claimyr to get through to a supervisor. I was getting nowhere with the regular line - just got disconnected or had to wait for hours. With Claimyr (claimyr.com) they got me through to an actual supervisor in like 15 minutes who could see the fraud flag and remove it. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 Might be worth a try since it sounds like you need a higher-level person to look at your account.

the whole ebt system is TRASH!!! ive been on calfresh for 4 years and theres always some dumb problem. cards not working, benefits not loading, website down, nobody answering phones. and who suffers? OUR KIDS!! the government doesnt care if our families starve while they "fix technical issues" that shouldnt happen in the first place!!

I had something similar happen, though not quite as extreme. What fixed it for me was having the worker check if there was a data synchronization issue between my case file and the EBT card system. For the immediate food need - ask about emergency food assistance. The county should be able to issue you an immediate voucher since you can't access your benefits. Also, make sure to document every visit (get names, time/date, what was said). If this continues, you may have grounds for filing a state hearing request for failure to provide timely access to your benefits. If you keep getting different answers, specifically request to speak with an EBT coordinator - not all county workers are trained on the card system specifics.

my friend had her card get cancelled and it was cuz her ex was reporting her for fraud or somethin even tho she wasnt doing anything wrong

So this one time I had a similar issue where my card kept getting deactivated but it turned out to be because I had moved counties a year earlier and somehow the system still had conflicting address information even though I'd updated everything. The regular eligibility workers couldn't see the problem but when I finally got to speak with a supervisor they found that my case had some kind of internal flag due to the county transfer that never resolved. Took them like 5 minutes to fix once I got to the right person but it was weeks of frustration before that. Also make sure your recertification isn't due! Sometimes they restrict cards when paperwork is missing.

Based on everything you've shared and the timing, this actually sounds like it could be a database corruption issue. Sometimes when they do system updates, individual accounts can get caught in error loops. I strongly recommend you: 1. Request an immediate supervisor review (not just another eligibility worker) 2. Ask them to check the "card status history log" which shows exactly when and why a card status changes 3. Request they do a full "EBT account reset" (this is different from just issuing a new card) 4. Make sure you get a direct contact number for following up In the meantime, you can request that they process a "protective payment" which allows you to pick up benefits via a paper voucher until the EBT issue is resolved.

update us if u fix it plz im having similar issues

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this! I just went through something similar last month and it was incredibly stressful. In my case, it turned out that there was a "pending verification" flag on my account that wasn't showing up to the regular workers. What finally helped was going to the office first thing in the morning when the supervisors are usually there and explaining that I needed someone who could access the full EBT system logs, not just basic case information. Also, don't let them keep giving you new cards if the old ones aren't actually "broken" - sometimes they'll keep issuing new cards instead of fixing the underlying account issue. Ask them to explain exactly WHY each card is being restricted before they hand you another one. For your kids in the meantime - most counties have emergency food programs or can connect you with local food banks while this gets sorted out. You shouldn't have to go hungry while they figure out their system problems!

This is so frustrating but you're not alone! I had a very similar issue about 6 months ago where my card kept getting restricted within hours of getting a replacement. What finally worked for me was calling the EBT customer service line (1-877-328-9677) instead of just going through the county office. The EBT customer service reps have access to different system information than the county workers and can see technical issues that might not show up on the county side. In my case, there was a "security hold" that had been triggered by some automated fraud detection system, but it was a false positive. The county workers couldn't see or remove this type of hold. Also, if you have any old EBT cards lying around (even expired ones), bring them with you to show there's a pattern. Sometimes seeing multiple restricted cards helps them understand it's a system issue, not user error. Really hope you get this resolved soon - having hungry kids while your benefits are sitting there inaccessible is absolutely heartbreaking!

I work at a local food bank and we see this EBT card restriction issue more often than people realize. While you're working to get this resolved, please don't hesitate to reach out to food banks in your area - most of us understand that EBT system failures are beyond your control and we're here to help bridge the gap. Also, one thing I've learned from clients who've faced this: when you do get it fixed, ask the county to put a note in your file explaining what the issue was and how it was resolved. Sometimes these problems can resurface months later, and having that documentation can save you from going through this whole process again. Hang in there - you're doing everything right by advocating for yourself and your kids. The system is broken, not you.

This exact same thing is happening to me right now! I'm on day 3 of my card being restricted and I have $520 in benefits I can't touch. The county workers keep telling me "the system shows your card should work" but it clearly doesn't! I've gotten two replacement cards and both died within an hour. Reading through these comments is actually giving me hope that there might be a real solution. I'm definitely going to try calling that EBT customer service line (1-877-328-9677) that Ali mentioned, and I'm going to ask specifically about fraud alerts and account resets like Victoria suggested. It's so maddening that we have to become detectives to figure out their broken system, but at least now I have some specific things to ask for instead of just getting the runaround. Thank you for posting this - knowing I'm not the only one dealing with this mess helps!

This is happening to so many people lately! I went through this nightmare in March and it took almost 3 weeks to resolve. What finally worked for me was documenting EVERYTHING - every visit, every phone call, every worker's name - and then filing a formal complaint with the state. The key breakthrough came when I demanded to speak with an "EBT Systems Administrator" (not just a supervisor). These are specialized staff who can access the backend database and see technical flags that regular workers can't. Once I got to the right person, they found that my account had gotten stuck in some kind of automated fraud review loop. Also, while you're fighting this, make sure to request "immediate need" assistance - the county is required to provide emergency food vouchers when there's a system failure preventing access to your benefits. Don't let them tell you to "just wait" while your kids go hungry! Keep pushing - you deserve access to the benefits you're entitled to, and their system problems are NOT your fault!