CalFresh EBT not working to order groceries online through Walmart - anyone else?
Trying to order groceries through Walmart's website with my CalFresh EBT card since my car broke down, but keep getting payment errors. I've double-checked my balance ($487) and tried both the app and website but no luck. Called the EBT customer service and they said my card is active with no restrictions. Has anyone else experienced this? Is Walmart still accepting CalFresh for delivery in 2025? The county office is impossible to reach by phone and I'm out of food for my kids. Any tips on how to get this working or alternative delivery options that take EBT?
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Dmitry Volkov
ya walmart still takes ebt online i just used mine yesterday but u gotta pay the delivery fee separate with a credit card they dont let u use ebt for that part
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Sofia Martinez
AuthorThanks! Do you use the same payment method screen or is there a special place to enter EBT? I keep getting to checkout and it says payment method not accepted.
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Ava Thompson
There's a specific way you need to add your EBT card on Walmart's site. First, make sure you're using the correct website - some people accidentally use Walmart+ which processes differently. Go to regular Walmart.com, then look for 'Payment Methods' in your account settings. Add your EBT card there BEFORE starting your order. When you checkout, you'll need to select which items are EBT-eligible (most food items are) and which aren't. Then you'll need a separate payment method for the delivery fee and any non-eligible items. If that doesn't work, try removing your card completely and adding it again - sometimes their system glitches with EBT cards.
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Sofia Martinez
AuthorThank you so much for these detailed steps! I just tried removing and re-adding my card in the account settings first like you suggested, and it worked! I didn't realize I needed to add it to my account before starting the order. Really appreciate the help.
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CyberSiren
Check if your address is actually in Walmart's EBT delivery zone. They expanded a lot in 2024, but not all areas are covered. Also, make sure you're not trying to use EBT cash (if you have CalWorks too) - only regular CalFresh benefits work for online orders. The system should show you which items are EBT eligible with a little "EBT" tag next to them. Another thing: your total order needs to be at least $35 for delivery with EBT.
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Miguel Alvarez
not all walmarts do the ebt delivery even if your in the zone, i had this problem and had to use amazon fresh instead they take calfresh too
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Sofia Martinez
AuthorThanks for mentioning the $35 minimum! That might have been part of my problem. My cart was only $32 so I added a few more items. I'll also check out Amazon Fresh as a backup.
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Zainab Yusuf
I HATE the Walmart online system with EBT!!! Been using it for months and randomly stops working ALL THE TIME! Their customer service is USELESS with EBT issues. Last time I called they kept transferring me between departments for 45 MINUTES and nobody could help. Then suddenly it started working again two days later with NO explanation!!! The system is broken and nobody fixes it because poor people using benefits don't matter to these companies!!!
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Sofia Martinez
AuthorThat's so frustrating! Did you find any alternative services that work better with EBT? I can't afford to wait days for this to randomly start working again.
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Connor O'Reilly
I went through this exact same problem last month. The issue wasn't actually with Walmart but with my EBT card needing to be registered for online purchases at the county level. Apparently, they implemented some new security protocols in 2025 where your EBT card needs to be specifically approved for online transactions. I spent DAYS trying to reach someone at the county office with no luck - constant busy signals and disconnections. Finally, I discovered a service called Claimyr that got me through to an actual CalFresh worker in under 30 minutes. They basically hold your place in the phone queue and call you when a real person picks up. The worker was able to update my EBT card settings right away, and Walmart started working immediately after. Their site is claimyr.com and they have a demo video at https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 showing how it works. Totally saved me from having to take time off work to physically go to the office.
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Dmitry Volkov
does that service cost money? seems weird to pay just to talk to calfresh ppl
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Connor O'Reilly
Yeah, there is a fee, but I figured it was worth it instead of missing work to go to the office in person or spending hours redialing. For me it was either that or no groceries for my kids for another week. But everyone's situation is different.
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Sofia Martinez
AuthorThis is super helpful, thank you! I'll try the other suggestions first to see if it's just a Walmart issue, but if I need to reach the county, I'll definitely check out that service. I've already spent hours trying to get through on the phone with no luck.
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Miguel Alvarez
try instacart they take ebt now too but make sure u check which stores on there take it not all of them do and the app is way easier than walmart
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Sofia Martinez
AuthorThanks for the suggestion! I'll download Instacart and check it out. Do you know if they have the same $35 minimum?
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Ava Thompson
One more thing to check - if you've been receiving CalFresh for a while but this is your first time using it online, your county might have your card flagged for in-store use only. This is a security feature they started implementing in some counties. If the troubleshooting with Walmart doesn't work, this could be the issue. You might need to contact your county worker to specifically enable online purchases for your EBT card.
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Sofia Martinez
AuthorUpdate: I got it working! It was a combination of issues - I needed to add my card in account settings first, and my order was under the $35 minimum. After fixing those things, it went through perfectly. Thanks everyone for all your help! For anyone else having this problem, try these steps before assuming it's a county issue.
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Fidel Carson
So glad you got it working! This thread is going to be super helpful for other people dealing with the same issue. I've bookmarked it because I know I'll probably run into this problem eventually too. The step-by-step troubleshooting here is way better than anything I could find on Walmart's help pages.
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Fernanda Marquez
This thread has been incredibly helpful! I just moved to a new area and was nervous about setting up EBT online ordering since I'd heard it can be tricky. Reading through all these detailed solutions and seeing how supportive everyone is makes me feel so much more confident about trying it. The step about adding your EBT card to account settings BEFORE placing an order seems like such a simple but crucial detail that I never would have known. I also really appreciate how many people shared backup alternatives - having multiple options like Walmart, Amazon Fresh, Target/Shipt, and Instacart means I won't be stuck if one service has issues. The timing tip about ordering during off-peak hours is genius too. Planning to do a small test order this weekend using these steps. Thank you all for sharing what actually works from real experience!
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Fatima Al-Mansour
Welcome to the community and your new area! Moving can make everything feel more complicated, but you're definitely in the right place for support. Your approach of doing a test order first is really smart - that's what I wish I had done when I was new to all this. One thing that might be helpful since you just moved is to double-check that your new address is in the delivery zones for all the services mentioned here. Sometimes coverage can vary even within the same city. Also, if you need to update your address with your county CalFresh office for any reason, that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier might be useful for getting through to them quickly. The community here is super helpful, so definitely don't hesitate to ask if you run into any issues with your first order. Good luck with the move and your grocery delivery setup!
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Aurora Lacasse
Moving definitely adds an extra layer of complexity to everything! I went through a similar situation last year and one thing I learned is that even if your new address is technically in a delivery zone, some drivers are less familiar with certain neighborhoods and might have trouble finding your place. It might be worth adding detailed delivery instructions in your account (like which entrance to use, landmark descriptions, etc.) to avoid any delivery issues on your first order. Also, since you're new to the area, you might want to check if there are any local grocery stores that partner with these delivery services - sometimes they have better stock and faster delivery than the big chains. The community here is super welcoming to newcomers, so definitely reach out if you need any area-specific advice!
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