CalFresh benefits disappeared from EBT card overnight - emergency help needed!

omg same thing happened 2 my cousin last month!!! she said she had 2 call the county office not the ebt number. they told her it was somthing about her SAR7 being late but she SWEARS she turned it in on time

This is unfortunately not uncommon. There are several reasons this could be happening: 1. System glitch - sometimes the EBT system has temporary outages 2. Your Semi-Annual Report (SAR7) or annual recertification deadline may have passed 3. The county received information about a change in your household that affected eligibility 4. Suspected benefit fraud (unusual purchasing patterns can trigger this) 5. Administrative error The EBT customer service line is very limited in what they can actually do. You need to contact your county CalFresh office directly. They're the only ones who can see what happened to your benefits and potentially issue emergency replacement benefits if appropriate.

I'm dealing with this EXACT SAME ISSUE right now!!! My benefits disappeared two days ago - $780 just GONE!!! Called county office 17 TIMES yesterday and couldn't get through. Their stupid phone system just keeps disconnecting me after 30+ minutes on hold. I've been trying to feed my kids on ramen and whatever's left in the pantry. This system is designed to FAIL US.

This actually happens more frequently than you might think, especially around the beginning of the month when system updates occur. Here are the steps you should take: 1. First, check if your card is actually working by calling the EBT customer service number (866-328-9677) and checking your balance that way - sometimes the app/website shows incorrect information 2. If that confirms zero balance, contact your county CalFresh office directly. Explain that your benefits disappeared without notice and request emergency assistance. Under CalFresh regulations, if you're already approved and your benefits were erroneously discontinued, they can often restore them within 24-48 hours. 3. If you can't reach anyone by phone, you may need to go in person to your county office with your EBT card and identification. 4. Document everything - take screenshots of your BenefitsCal account showing active status, any confirmation numbers from submitted documents, etc. 5. If you're in immediate need, ask about emergency replacement benefits. The county can expedite benefits in crisis situations.

Everyone keeps saying to "call the county office" but has anyone actually gotten through lately? I spent THREE DAYS trying to reach someone about my verification documents last month. The system is completely broken.

did u chek if someone stole ur benefits?? my friends cousin had all her benefits stolen last year some1 made a fake copy of her card or something

UPDATE: I just spoke with a CalFresh policy specialist about this issue. There was apparently a system-wide update to the EBT database last night that's causing balance display issues for some recipients. She advised: 1. Try using your card at a store or ATM to check the actual balance (even a balance inquiry at an ATM would work) 2. If the funds are truly gone, it's likely due to one of these recent policy changes: - New quarterly verification requirements for certain households - Automated income verification through the Federal Data Services Hub that might have flagged a discrepancy - The recent adjustment to income reporting thresholds (IRT) for 2025 Important: If you're experiencing an emergency food situation, request an expedited interview when you call. Under California regulations, they must address emergency food needs within 3 business days.

just go to the food bank till u get it fixed thats what i always do when theres problems with my calfresh

I'd like to clarify something important: if your benefits were valid yesterday and disappeared today without any notification, this is almost certainly a system error or administrative issue, not an eligibility problem. Under CalFresh regulations, the county MUST provide you with a Notice of Action (NOA) at least 10 days before reducing or terminating your benefits. The only exceptions are very specific circumstances like confirmed fraud or explicitly requesting case closure. When you call tomorrow, specifically mention that you did not receive the legally required 10-day notice, and that you're requesting immediate benefit restoration while they investigate the issue. Use those exact terms. This often triggers a faster response as it references their legal obligations.