CalFresh EBT card suddenly declined despite having sufficient funds - is it down?

This happened statewide a few months ago - there was a system outage that lasted about 6 hours. You can check if there's a known issue by calling the EBT customer service number on the back of your card. Sometimes they'll have an automated message about system issues. If there isn't an outage, it could be that your benefits were put on hold for some reason. Did you recently submit your SAR7 or recertification? Sometimes there's a temporary freeze during processing.

THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS GARBAGE!!! Same thing happened to me TWICE last year and nobody could tell me why!!! County workers just shrug and say "system issues" but meanwhile my kids don't eat!!! One time they froze my benefits because they "didn't receive" my income verification even though I UPLOADED IT THROUGH THE BENEFITSCAL PORTAL WITH CONFIRMATION!!! Had to resubmit everything and wait 3 days to get my benefits back. Check your BenefitsCal messages - maybe they sent you something about verification or fraud investigation (they randomly do those).

mine worked fine today at foodmaxx but sometimes certain stores have problems with their ebt machines! try a different store maybe?

This could be several things: 1. System-wide EBT outage (happens 2-3 times a year) 2. Store-specific terminal issue (more common) 3. Card damage (magnetic strip wears out) 4. Account hold due to pending verification 5. Benefit period timing issue For #1 and #2: Try another store or wait 24 hours For #3: Request a replacement card through BenefitsCal For #4: Check for any pending verification requests For #5: Sometimes if you try to use your card right when benefits are being loaded (usually 1st-10th of month depending on your case number), there can be a temporary unavailability If it persists, you'll need to reach your county worker. Do you know your case number and county office?

i had this happen and it turned out my case worker had put a hold on my account because they thought i moved out of the county. never got any notice or anything, just suddenly couldn't use my benefits. took forever to get someone on the phone to fix it

If you need to reach your county worker quickly, I'd recommend using Claimyr (claimyr.com). I was in a similar situation where my benefits were suddenly unavailable, and I couldn't get through to anyone at the county office. Claimyr got me connected to a real person in about 15 minutes instead of waiting on hold for hours or getting disconnected. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8. Saved me a ton of frustration, especially when it was an urgent food issue like yours.

UPDATE: There does appear to be a partial system outage affecting some EBT transactions in several counties. According to the California EBT customer service line, they're experiencing "technical difficulties with benefit authorization at certain retailers." They estimate resolution within 24-48 hours. In the meantime, try smaller grocery stores as they often use different processing systems than larger chains like Walmart.

In situations like this while waiting for the system to get fixed, don't forget there are emergency food resources available. Many food banks don't require any documentation for immediate assistance. Just Google "food bank near me" or call 211 for referrals to emergency food programs. Most CalFresh offices also have emergency food boxes available if you explain your situation. Don't let your kids go hungry waiting for the system to be fixed!

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this stress! Based on what Emma found out about the partial system outage, it definitely sounds like it's not your fault. I had a similar scare last month where my card was declined at Target but worked fine at a smaller grocery store the next day. Since there's a known issue with certain retailers, I'd suggest trying a local market or smaller chain store tomorrow morning. They often process EBT through different systems than the big box stores. Also, if you have any WIC-approved stores nearby, they sometimes have more reliable EBT processing. Keep us updated on how it goes - we're all rooting for you to get this sorted out quickly!

I'm so glad you found this community helpful during such a stressful situation! I went through something similar about 6 months ago where my card was declined at Safeway but worked perfectly at a small corner market the same day. It's definitely frustrating when you're already dealing with food insecurity and then the system fails you. One thing I learned from my experience is to always keep the EBT customer service number (1-877-328-9677) saved in your phone - even though the hold times are terrible, sometimes they can at least confirm if there's a known outage so you don't panic thinking it's your account. Also, many smaller ethnic grocery stores (like Asian or Latino markets) tend to have really reliable EBT processing and often have great prices too. Hope your trip to the local market goes smoothly tomorrow!

I'm so sorry you're going through this stress! It sounds like you've gotten some really helpful advice here. Just wanted to add that if you do end up needing to contact your county office, try calling right when they open (usually 8 AM) - I've had better luck getting through early in the morning before the phone lines get jammed. Also, if you have the CalFresh mobile app, sometimes it shows different information than the website, so it might be worth checking both to see if there are any alerts or messages you missed. Really hoping the local market works for you tomorrow - keeping my fingers crossed that this gets resolved quickly for you and your kids!

I'm so glad to see this community coming together to help you figure this out! Reading through all the responses, it really sounds like you've got a solid plan now. The system outage Emma confirmed makes so much sense - I've noticed that when there are partial outages like this, the big chain stores (Walmart, Target, etc.) tend to be affected first while smaller independent stores often keep working fine. One more thing that might help: if you do try the local market tomorrow and it still doesn't work, ask the cashier to try running it as "credit" instead of "debit" - sometimes that bypasses whatever processing issue is happening. I learned that trick from a really helpful cashier at my neighborhood store during a similar situation last year. Also want to echo what Charlie said about not letting your kids go hungry while waiting for this to be resolved. There's absolutely no shame in using emergency food resources when the system fails you like this. You're being such a great parent by advocating for your family and seeking help when you need it. Really hoping everything works out smoothly at the market tomorrow!

I just wanted to jump in here as someone who's been through this exact situation before! It's so scary when your EBT card suddenly stops working, especially when you have kids depending on you. From reading through all the great advice everyone's shared, it really does sound like you have a solid plan now. I've had the best luck with smaller grocery stores during system outages - they often use completely different processing networks than the big chains. There's also something to be said for building relationships with local store owners and cashiers who understand the community and are more willing to help troubleshoot when issues come up. You're doing everything right by reaching out for help and not just suffering in silence. Keep us posted on how it goes tomorrow - this whole thread will be such a valuable resource for other families who might face similar situations in the future!

I'm really glad you found this community too, Sofia! It can definitely feel overwhelming when you first start navigating CalFresh - there are so many things they don't tell you upfront, like the possibility of random system outages or the tricks for getting through to customer service faster. This thread is a perfect example of how sharing our experiences helps everyone be better prepared. Emily, I'm really pulling for you tomorrow at the local market! If for some reason it still doesn't work, don't get discouraged - with a confirmed partial outage affecting certain retailers, it really could just be a matter of finding the right store with a working system. And honestly, reading through everyone's responses here has reminded me of so many helpful strategies I'd forgotten about. This community really does make such a difference when you're dealing with food insecurity stress. Looking forward to hearing your update!

I'm so sorry you're going through this stress, Emily! This exact same thing happened to me about 3 months ago - card declined at Target even though I had over $300 in benefits. Turns out it was a system issue affecting certain stores. Based on Emma's update about the partial outage, it definitely sounds like that's what you're dealing with. I ended up going to a smaller family-owned grocery store the next day and my card worked perfectly there. The owner even mentioned that the big chain stores often have more problems during system glitches because they use different processing networks. Don't panic - this isn't your fault and it will get resolved! In the meantime, if you need food tonight, many churches and community centers have emergency food pantries that don't require any paperwork. Just focus on taking care of your kids and yourself, and try a different store tomorrow. Keep us posted on how it goes!

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this scary situation! As someone who's been on CalFresh for about a year, I can totally relate to that panic when your card suddenly doesn't work. Reading through all the responses here, it really sounds like you're dealing with the partial system outage that Emma mentioned rather than an issue with your specific account. I had a similar experience a few months ago where my card was declined at CVS but worked fine at a small corner store the same day - it's definitely frustrating but usually resolves within 24-48 hours. The advice about trying smaller, locally-owned stores is spot on - they often use different payment processing systems that aren't affected by the same outages that hit the big chains. Also, I learned the hard way to always have the EBT customer service number saved in my phone (even though the wait times are brutal). If you need immediate food assistance while waiting for this to resolve, don't hesitate to reach out to local food banks - most don't require any documentation for emergency help. You're being such a good advocate for your family by reaching out here for support. Hoping your local market visit goes smoothly tomorrow!

I'm so glad to see how this community has rallied around you, Emily! As someone who works at a local food bank, I wanted to add that if you do need emergency food assistance while waiting for the EBT system to be fixed, most food banks in California are set up specifically for situations like this. We regularly help CalFresh recipients who are dealing with card issues, system outages, or delays in benefit processing. No judgment, no complicated paperwork - just getting food to families who need it. Many of us also keep updated lists of which local stores tend to have the most reliable EBT processing during system issues. The smaller family-owned markets really are your best bet during outages like this. Wishing you luck tomorrow at the local grocery store, and remember that asking for help when the system fails you is exactly what these safety nets are designed for!

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this stressful situation! Reading through all the helpful responses here, it really does sound like you're caught up in the partial system outage Emma confirmed rather than having an issue with your specific account. I had almost the identical experience about 8 months ago - card declined at Walmart with plenty of benefits available, but worked perfectly at a small neighborhood market the next day. The big box stores definitely seem more vulnerable to these processing glitches. One thing that helped me was calling ahead to smaller stores to ask if their EBT system was working before making the trip - saved me some frustration. Also, if you do end up needing to contact your county office, I've found that using the online chat feature on BenefitsCal (when it's working) sometimes connects you faster than phone calls. Really hoping the local grocery store works out for you tomorrow morning - keep us updated! This thread is going to be so valuable for other families who run into similar situations.

I'm so sorry you're going through this stress! This exact thing happened to me last month at Costco - my card was declined even though I had over $200 in benefits. I was so embarrassed and panicked, especially with my toddler getting cranky in the cart. It turned out to be a system issue that affected several big retailers in our area for about 36 hours. I ended up going to a small family-owned market the next day and my card worked perfectly there. The owner told me that during these partial outages, the smaller independent stores often stay connected because they use different payment processors than the big chains. Based on Emma's update about the confirmed system outage, it definitely sounds like that's what you're dealing with. Don't blame yourself - this happens more often than you'd think! I'd definitely try a smaller grocery store tomorrow morning. Also, if you're really worried about your account status, sometimes the automated EBT balance check line (the number on the back of your card) will have a recorded message about known system issues. Hang in there - this will get resolved!