CalFresh EBT customer service phone lines down? Can't get through for days!

Same issue here! I thought it was just me. Been trying since Tuesday to report my card stolen and can't get through at all. The county office just tells me to keep calling the EBT customer service line. It's ridiculous - I can't access any of my benefits until I get a new card. I need to feed my family!!

The EBT phone system isn't technically "down" but they're definitely overwhelmed right now. There was a system update in late December that's causing delays with January benefit loads, and now everyone is calling at once. For missing benefits, you actually need to contact your county CalFresh office directly, not the EBT customer service line. The EBT line is only for card issues (lost/stolen/PIN reset). If your benefits aren't showing up, that's a county issue with your case, not a card problem.

i got my benefits loaded yesterday so its not everyone. check ur BenefitsCal account to see if ur still active, maybe u missed recert deadline? they dont usually send notices anymore, all electronic.

I had this exact same problem last week and finally got it resolved. The system is overwhelmed right now, but I found a service called Claimyr that literally saved me hours of waiting on hold. They call the county for you and then connect you when they reach a real person. It worked perfectly for me after I'd spent days trying to get through. Their website is claimyr.com and they have a video showing how it works here: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 Once I got through to a worker, they told me my verification documents were received but hadn't been processed yet because of the backlog. They expedited it and my benefits were loaded the next day.

The EBT system ALWAYS has issues the first week of the month!!! I've been on CalFresh for 3 years and I learned to always keep some emergency food for the first week because something always goes wrong. Either the phone lines are jammed or the benefits are delayed or the website is down for "maintenance" 🙄 If you're missing January benefits and your account shows active, it's probably just the processing backlog. They're supposed to load benefits according to the schedule (1st-10th of the month based on case number) but lately they've been running 3-5 days behind. If it goes beyond that, definitely keep trying to reach your county.

my cousin works for calfresh and said theyre having major staffing issues right now. lots of workers quit over the holidays and theyre super behind on everything. best bet is to go in person if u can but bring a book cuz ull be waiting all day lol

UPDATE: Just saw on the California EBT website that they're experiencing technical difficulties with the phone system and they're working to resolve it. They recommend using the EBT Mobile app for checking balances and the BenefitsCal portal for case information right now. For urgent issues, they specifically suggest contacting your county office directly. Regarding your verification documents - if BenefitsCal shows you need to submit verification but you already did, it could be that they weren't properly attached to your case or they need additional information. Sometimes the system automatically flags for verification even when documents were submitted if they don't meet all the requirements (like a pay stub missing information or an unreadable document scan).

just a quick tip you should download the ebt app its way easier than calling. doesnt help with missing benefits but at least you can check balance and stuff

UPDATE: Finally got through to my county worker! Turns out they received my verification docs but needed one more recent pay stub because my hours increased. They never sent me a notice about it (or it got lost in the mail). The worker was able to process everything while I was on the phone and said my benefits should load within 2-3 business days. So relieved! Thanks everyone for your help and suggestions.

@Malik Robinson So glad you got it resolved! This is exactly why I always tell people to check BenefitsCal regularly - the system has gotten way more digital but they don't really advertise that change. I've been on CalFresh for 2 years and learned the hard way that you can't rely on mail notices anymore. Pro tip: set a calendar reminder to check your account weekly, especially around recertification time. The income reporting requirement that @Freya Andersen mentioned is super important too - I got my case temporarily suspended once for not reporting a small raise quickly enough. Hope your benefits load soon and you can get groceries for your kids!