CalFresh EBT card randomly cancelled without my request - help getting benefits back ASAP

This happened to me in February! Turned out someone at the county office had accidentally processed a card cancellation when they were updating my address in the system. Such a nightmare. You need to get through to an actual worker ASAP because you might need a new card issued.

my cousin had this happen last month..they told her it was becuz she didnt turn in her SAR7 form but she DID turn it in! maybe check if u missed any paperwork deadlines?

This happened to me too, but it was because there was a fraud alert on my account. Apparently someone had tried to duplicate my card. You should ask them specifically if there was a security flag on your account.

There are a few common reasons this happens: 1. Missed verification deadline (even if you thought you submitted everything) 2. Suspected fraud (sometimes triggered by unusual purchasing patterns) 3. System error during regular updates 4. Another household member requested cancellation 5. Address mismatch or returned mail The fastest solution is speaking directly with a county eligibility worker. While you wait for a callback, check your BenefitsCal account for any notices or alerts. Also check if you can still see your case as active online - if it shows active there but your card is cancelled, that's usually a card-specific issue rather than a benefits termination.

I work with CalFresh recipients daily, and unfortunately, this is becoming more common. If your case shows active in BenefitsCal but your card is cancelled, it's almost certainly a card-specific issue. The quickest way to resolve this is getting through to a county worker who can verify your identity and issue a new card. Have you tried using Claimyr to get through to CalFresh? It's a service that waits on hold with the county office for you and calls you back when a real person answers. Much better than calling for hours yourself. Their website is claimyr.com and you can see how it works at https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8. In the meantime, check if there's an emergency food bank near you - many can provide same-day assistance while you sort this out.

THIS IS WHY I HATE THE SYSTEM!!! They just randomly cancel people's benefits with NO WARNING and expect us to just deal with it. I had my benefits stopped THREE TIMES last year for "paperwork issues" even though I submitted EVERYTHING on time. The county workers don't care that people go hungry while they "process" fixing their own mistakes. It's DISGUSTING how they treat us!!!

UPDATE: Finally got through to a worker using that Claimyr service (which worked great btw). Turns out there was a system error during their monthly update that flagged my card as "inactive" even though my benefits are still active. They're mailing me a new card that should arrive in 3-5 business days, but the worker also arranged for emergency pickup at the county office tomorrow! They said my benefits are safe and will transfer to the new card. Such a relief! Thanks everyone for your help and suggestions.

One more tip - when you get your new card, immediately set up a PIN that's different from your old one. I've heard of cases where the same error happened again because the system had some kind of conflict between old and new card information. Also, the first time you use it, do a small purchase like under $5 to make sure it's working properly before trying to do your big grocery shop.

So glad you got it resolved! This exact same thing happened to my neighbor last month - system glitch during their monthly processing that cancelled active cards. The emergency pickup option is a lifesaver when you have kids to feed. Just wanted to add that if anyone else runs into this, you can also ask the county worker to email you a temporary card number while you wait for the physical card - some counties will do this for emergency situations. It lets you use EBT online at stores like Walmart or Amazon Fresh until your new card arrives.

I'm so sorry this happened to you! As someone who's been on CalFresh for 2 years, I can tell you that system glitches like this are unfortunately pretty common during their monthly updates. The good news is that since your case shows active in BenefitsCal, your benefits are definitely safe - it's just a card access issue. I've had my card randomly deactivated twice due to "system maintenance errors" and both times they were able to issue a replacement card within 24 hours once I got through to a worker. If you can't get through by phone today, try going to your county office first thing in the morning - they usually prioritize emergency situations like this when you have kids. Also, don't forget to check with local food banks while you wait - many have same-day assistance programs specifically for situations like this where there's a temporary gap in benefits access.

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this stress! As a newcomer to this community, I'm learning a lot from reading everyone's experiences. It sounds like you got great advice and I'm relieved to see your update that it's getting resolved. I'm keeping this thread saved for reference since I'm still pretty new to navigating CalFresh myself. The tip about Claimyr seems really useful - I had no idea services like that existed. Thanks to everyone who shared their knowledge here, it's so helpful for those of us who are still learning the system!

I'm so glad you were able to get this resolved, Clarissa! As someone who's been through similar CalFresh issues, I can totally relate to that panic when your card suddenly stops working and you have a family to feed. It's really frustrating how these system glitches happen during routine updates, but at least now you know what to do if it ever happens again. The Claimyr service sounds like a lifesaver - I'm definitely bookmarking that for future reference. Thanks for sharing your experience and the solution, it's going to help so many other families who might face this same issue. Hope everything goes smoothly when you pick up your emergency card tomorrow!