CalFresh EBT card not working - keep getting declined when I try to use my new card

did u call to activate it? u have to do that first before it works. the activation # should be on back of card or on the letter that came with it

You definitely need to activate your new EBT card before you can use it. When you first receive your CalFresh card, you need to call the number on the back to activate it AND set up your personal PIN number. Without completing both these steps, the card will decline every time. The system will ask for your card number, date of birth, and the last 4 digits of your SSN to verify your identity. Then you'll create a 4-digit PIN that you'll use for all transactions. Make sure to pick something you can remember but not something too obvious like 1234. Once activated, your card should work immediately at any store that accepts EBT. If you still have trouble after activating, call your county office directly to make sure there aren't any holds on your account.

I HAD THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM!!!! It's so frustrating because nobody tells you clearly what to do with these cards!!! When I got mine, I tried using it for like TWO WEEKS before someone finally told me I had to activate it. Even worse, when I called the activation number, it kept hanging up on me when I tried to set my PIN. I had to call like 5 times before it finally worked. The whole system is designed to make it hard to get your benefits if you ask me.

quick tip: when u activate make sure ur using the same phone # that's on file with CalFresh or it might not work right. happened to my cousin

If you're having trouble getting through on the EBT customer service line to activate your card, you might want to try Claimyr. I was in the same situation and kept getting disconnected when trying to reach someone. Claimyr helped me get through to a real person at the county office who was able to help me troubleshoot my card activation issues and verify my information was correct in their system. Their service basically waits on hold for you and calls you when a real person answers. I found them at claimyr.com and they have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 Might save you some frustration if you keep getting disconnected.

After you get your card activated, make sure you also create an account on the EBT app (it's called ebtEDGE). It'll show you your balance and transaction history, plus all the stores near you that accept EBT. Makes things way easier to manage. The app also lets you report if your card is lost or stolen in the future. One thing to watch for - when you're at the checkout, some stores require you to select "Food Stamps" or "EBT Food" on the payment terminal rather than "Debit" even though you're entering a PIN. Confused me at first! Hope you get it working soon!

one more thing always keep ur recipts cuz sometimes the system messes up n takes money from ur account but u dont get the food. happened to me n I had to prove it with the recipt

UPDATE: Finally got it working! Called the activation number (had to try 4 times before it didn't disconnect me) and set up my PIN. Went to the store right after and it worked perfectly. Thank you everyone for your help! Going to download the EBT app now too.