CalFresh EBT funds disappeared same day loaded - system glitch showing midnight withdrawal

This happened to my cousin last month - it's definitely a system glitch. There was a scheduled maintenance on the EBT system that ended up causing all kinds of problems. If you log into the BenefitsCal portal (not the app, use the website), go to 'Transaction History' and take screenshots of both the deposit and withdrawal happening minutes apart. Then call your county worker directly (not the EBT hotline) and report it as an 'Administrative Error'. They should be able to see it was system-generated and not a valid transaction. Ask them to issue emergency replacement benefits while they investigate. Good luck!

OMG this is literally happening to so many people right now! Their system is completely messed up. Mine showed my benefits vanishing too but then randomly reappeared 3 days later WITHOUT ME DOING ANYTHING. The phone lines are useless - I tried for 2 days straight. If you have facebook join the 'CalFresh Recipients Support' group - there's like 500+ comments about this exact issue from the last week. Some counties are fixing it faster than others tho..

Just an FYI for anyone dealing with this issue - I work for a community nonprofit that helps people with CalFresh problems. This is a known technical issue affecting accounts that were just recertified or had recent verification documents uploaded. The midnight withdrawal is a system error code, not an actual purchase. You can try calling your county office, but I recommend using Claimyr.com to get through faster. It's a service that waits on hold for you and calls you back when a real person answers. They have a demo of how it works here: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8. Much better than wasting hours on hold or taking time off work to visit an office in person.

This is CRIMINAL how they play with our benefits!!!!! Its the THIRD time this year my EBT has had "technical problems" and every time we gotta jump through hoops to get OUR MONEY back while our kids go hungry. The county KNOWS the system is broken and does NOTHING!!!! Last time I had to go to the office TWICE and wait 3 hours each time just to get a supervisor to admit it was their error not mine. DOCUMENT EVERYTHING and don't let them tell you its your fault!!!!

Are you sure you didn't authorize someone else to use your card? Sometimes family members know the PIN and use it. Or maybe your account was hacked? You should change your PIN immediately just to be safe. I'm just saying this because when benefits vanish it's usually because someone used them, not usually a computer glitch. Check if you can see the store location where they were spent.

hey i just saw an update on the county website!! They posted a notice saying there's a known issue with benefits showing as withdrawn for some households who recertified in April. They're saying benefits will be restored within 72 hours and no action is needed. Check their site!

I contacted my eligibility worker about your issue, and they confirmed they're aware of the system-wide problem. The issue specifically affects accounts that had recertification or verification documents processed between April 28th and May 3rd. The system incorrectly coded the benefits as "withdrawn" instead of "pending verification" in some cases. Here's what they recommended: 1. Don't request a new card - that won't solve it 2. File a formal Administrative Error report (Form CF 863) either online or in person 3. Request emergency replacement benefits which they're required to issue within 3 business days 4. Keep screenshots of all transaction history Most importantly, document the names of everyone you speak with and reference numbers for all calls. If they don't resolve it within 3 business days of your formal request, you can file for a State Hearing which usually gets faster results.

nobody gonna talk about how the benefitscal app is ALWAYS down when something like this happens?? its like they do it on purpose so we cant see whats going on or get proof

update: i had the same thing happen and my benefits came back after 4 days without me doing anything. might be different for different counties tho

I just went through this exact same nightmare last month! The midnight withdrawal thing is definitely a system glitch - happened to me and about 8 other people I know who all recertified around the same time. Here's what worked for me: I couldn't get through on the phone either, so I went to my local office first thing in the morning (like 7:45 AM before they opened) and was literally first in line. Brought printed screenshots of the transaction history showing the deposit and immediate withdrawal. The worker knew exactly what I was talking about and said it's been happening a lot lately. She filed the administrative error report right there and issued emergency benefits the same day. Took about 6 hours to show up on my card. Don't wait for it to fix itself - some people's benefits came back automatically but others never did. The key is getting there early before the office gets swamped. Also bring your ID, the damaged card, and any paperwork from your recertification. Good luck!