CalFresh EBT card not working at farmers market - funds showing but transactions declined

same thing happened to me but at the rancho cordova farmers market!! so frustrating especially with kids waiting hungry

This is actually a known issue right now with some of the wireless EBT terminals at farmers markets. The county sent out a notification about it but obviously not everyone got the memo. The problem is with the new wireless payment system they rolled out in January 2025 - it's not compatible with all the older terminals some vendors are still using. You have three options: 1. Ask the vendor if they have access to the manual voucher system (some still carry these as backup) 2. Try vendors with newer terminals - usually the larger stands with multiple employees have updated their systems 3. The Market Match booth itself should have a functioning terminal that works with all EBT cards regardless of the issue This should be resolved by the end of March according to the latest CalFresh newsletter.

Before you go back, you should check your EBT account online through the BenefitsCal website or app just to make sure there isn't an issue with your specific account. Sometimes after recertification there can be glitches where the card shows a balance but isn't actually activated properly for transactions. Login to your account and make sure your case status shows as 'Active' and not 'Pending' or something else. If anything looks off, you'll need to contact your county worker.

The EBT system is ALWAYS having "technical issues" conveniently when people need to buy food!! I've had problems at farmers markets, grocery stores, and even walmart. They claim it's "maintenance" or "upgrades" but it's suspicious how often it happens at the beginning of the month when benefits load!!! The whole system is designed to make it harder for people to use their benefits!!

I've been using CalFresh benefits at the farmers market for years and have run into similar issues occasionally. One thing to check: are you trying to use your benefits for prepared foods? Remember that CalFresh EBT can only be used for: - Fruits and vegetables - Meat, poultry, fish - Dairy products - Breads and cereals - Snack foods and non-alcoholic beverages - Seeds and plants that produce food It cannot be used for hot foods, prepared items ready to eat on-site, vitamins, medicines, pet foods, cleaning supplies, hygiene items, or alcohol/tobacco. Some vendors at farmers markets sell both eligible and non-eligible items, and if you're trying to purchase something that isn't covered, that could be the issue.

btw did you try using your card at a regular grocery store after? sometimes my card works fine at safeway even when it gets denied at the farmers market

Have you called your county caseworker? When I had a similar issue last year after recertification, I found out they had entered my information incorrectly and my account was flagged. It took almost 2 weeks to resolve and I had to submit additional income verification even though I had already provided everything during recertification. So frustrating! I would definitely call your county office ASAP. Sometimes these issues don't resolve on their own and the longer you wait, the more complicated it can get, especially if it's related to your recent recertification.

my sister had this happen and it turned out she went over the income reporting threshold without realizing it. they call it the IRT and if you make more than that amount you're supposed to report it within 10 days. she got a raise and didn't report it until her next SAR7 and they suspended her benefits temporarily. might wanna check if something like that happened?

Just wanted to update everyone - I had the same issue last weekend and finally got through to someone at the county yesterday. The rep told me there was a system-wide issue with EBT cards at farmers markets using certain wireless terminals (just like someone mentioned above). They're aware of the problem and working on fixing it. For now, she said you can ask the market manager if they have a manual voucher system as a backup. Also, some vendors have the updated terminals that work fine. Hope this helps someone!

I'm dealing with the exact same issue! My card has been working fine everywhere else but got declined at three different vendors at the Midtown Farmers Market last Saturday. Really glad to see this isn't just me - I was starting to worry my benefits got suspended or something. The Market Match program is such a lifesaver for stretching our grocery budget, especially with fresh produce being so expensive lately. Going to try calling the county office tomorrow morning right at 8 AM like someone suggested. Thanks for posting about this - it's reassuring to know others are experiencing the same technical problems and that there might be a fix coming soon!