CalFresh EBT card suddenly deactivated without notice - urgent help needed!

This happened to me two months ago! Turns out there was a system glitch that flagged a bunch of cards as potentially compromised. You need to call your county office directly, not the EBT customer service line. Each county has a different direct number. Which county are you in?

omg thats the worst feeling ever!!!! happened to me once but it was cuz i entered my pin wrong 4 times lol. but if u didnt do that then yeah u need to call ur caseworker. they might have sent u a letter that u missed??

I work for a nonprofit that helps people with CalFresh issues. There are several reasons your EBT card might suddenly deactivate: 1. Security flag (as mentioned above) 2. Fraud investigation (even if you didn't do anything wrong) 3. System error during batch processing 4. Unreported income that was detected through data matching 5. Missing verification documents For LA County, try calling (866) 613-3777 which is their direct benefits line. But honestly, you'll likely face the same long wait times. Have you checked your BenefitsCal account for any notices? Sometimes they post important information there before sending a physical letter.

This might sound random, but have you tried using your card at an ATM just to check your balance? Sometimes the card readers at grocery stores have issues but the card itself is fine. I've had that happen where my card was declined at one store but worked fine elsewhere. Worth a shot before spending hours on the phone!

THE SYSTEM IS DESIGNED TO MAKE YOU GIVE UP!!!! They deactivate cards without notice all the time and make it IMPOSSIBLE to reach anyone. I had to go IN PERSON to my county office after my card randomly stopped working last year. Waited 4 hours just to be told it was a "system error" and they reactivated it in 2 minutes. This is how they discourage people from using benefits we're entitled to!!!!

Have you tried using Claimyr? It saved me so much time when I had a similar issue with my CalFresh benefits last month. Instead of waiting on hold forever, Claimyr holds your place in line and calls you back when a real person is available. I was about to drive to the office and wait all day, but used this instead and got through in about 40 minutes. Their site is claimyr.com and they have a demo video of how it works here: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8

One more thing to check - did you recently update your address or other information? Sometimes when information is updated in the system, it can trigger a security protocol that temporarily deactivates your card until you verify your identity. This is actually becoming more common as counties try to prevent EBT fraud.

have u tried turning it off and on again??? lol jk but seriously maybe the magnetic strip is damaged? my card stopped working once when it got too close to my phone in my purse

Just wanted to follow up - were you able to get this resolved? If you're still having trouble, you can also try reaching out to your county through their email or online contact form. Sometimes that's faster than calling, especially for LA County which is notoriously difficult to reach by phone.

For anyone finding this thread later with the same problem: I recommend taking a screenshot of your current balance before your card stops working (if possible). That way you have proof of your benefits if you need to escalate the issue. I had to do this when my card was deactivated during a system migration last year, and it helped the supervisor understand that my benefits were still active in the system despite my card not working.