CalFresh EBT not working at Farmers Market - anyone else having issues?

same thing happnd to me last week! thought it was just my card but guess not. the lady at the strawberry stand told me they been having issues with the system since they updated something

I haven't had issues at our local farmers market but I did notice that sometimes the EBT machines don't work if the weather is bad or cloudy? Something about the satellite connection I think. Did you try going to the main market booth instead of individual vendors? Our market has a central place where you swipe your EBT card and get tokens to spend with vendors.

This is actually a known issue right now. I work with a community organization that partners with farmers markets, and several markets across the state are having problems with their EBT processing systems. It's related to a software update from the company that manages the wireless payment terminals. It's NOT related to your individual CalFresh benefits or account status, so don't worry about your recertification. The issue should be resolved within 2 weeks according to what we've been told. In the meantime, you can check if your farmers market has implemented the temporary paper voucher system - some markets are using this as a workaround until the technical issues are fixed.

Just to add to the helpful information already shared, this definitely isn't related to your individual CalFresh account. If you're worried about your upcoming recertification, I recommend checking your BenefitsCal account to make sure your contact information is current so you don't miss any notices. The recertification packet should arrive about 45 days before your certification period ends. When you complete it, be sure to provide all the verification documents they request - income, housing costs, etc. - to avoid any processing delays.

My sister had the EXACT same problem but at a different farmers market in the north county area. So its definitely a widespread issue!!! The county never tells us ANYTHING when these systems go down, its so frustrating. Like we're just supposed to figure it out ourselves??

When you were trying to reach EBT customer service, you might want to try using Claimyr next time. I was having issues with my CalFresh benefits a few months ago and got stuck in the phone queue for HOURS. I found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that actually calls and waits on hold for you, then calls you when a real person is on the line. Saved me so much time and frustration. They have a video showing how it works here: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8. Might be helpful for when you need to reach someone about the farmers market issue or your upcoming recertification.

Listen, this is EXACTLY why I always keep a backup plan for my groceries! The EBT system is constantly having "technical difficulties" and it's always us recipients who suffer. I've learned to never count on the farmers market EBT system - too many individual vendors with different machines. I stick to major grocery stores for the first week after benefits are loaded, then try farmers markets later in the month. That way if there's a problem, I'm not left with hungry kids and an empty fridge. The system is DESIGNED to make it hard for us to use our benefits, especially at places with healthy food like farmers markets!

Speaking of recertification since you mentioned it, don't forget that you now have to complete the SAR7 every 6 months too. I nearly lost my benefits because I thought the recertification replaced the SAR7, but my worker told me we need to do both. The SAR7 is the semi-annual report and recertification is the annual review. Just a friendly reminder since they don't always make this clear!

btw has anyone noticed the benefit amounts went up a bit this year? i got like $38 more this month for my family of 4 and wasnt sure if it was a mistake or if theres a cost of living increase thing?

I'm new to using CalFresh at farmers markets - is there a way to find out which markets in my area are having these EBT issues before I make the trip? I live pretty far from the downtown market and would hate to drive all that way just to find out the system is down. Also, when you mentioned Market Match doubling benefits, is that available at all farmers markets or just certain ones? Thanks for all the helpful info everyone is sharing here!