EBT Edge App freeze/unfreeze card feature suddenly disappeared - what happened?

mine disappeared too!! freaking out cuz my card got skimmed last month and lost $200 before i noticed. thats why i started using the freeze feature every night before bed

I just checked mine and you're right - the freeze option is gone. I called the EBT customer service number on the back of my card and waited almost 40 minutes to talk to someone. The representative told me they temporarily disabled the feature due to "technical updates" but couldn't tell me when it would return. She suggested calling your county office if you're concerned about card security since they might have more information about the timeline. In the meantime, she recommended changing your PIN regularly and checking your balance daily to monitor for unauthorized transactions. If you do see suspicious activity, report it immediately - you have 90 days from the transaction date to dispute it and potentially get benefits back.

is the freeze thing only for calfresh or does it work for cash aid too? i never knew this was even a option lol

I've been trying to reach someone at my county office about this exact issue but keep getting stuck in their phone system! After getting disconnected three times yesterday, I finally discovered a service called Claimyr that helped me get through to a real person at the CalFresh office. Just went to claimyr.com and they had me watch a quick demo video (https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8) that explains how it works. They basically wait on hold for you and call you back when a real person answers. Anyway, I finally spoke with someone who confirmed they're aware of the freeze feature being removed from the app. Apparently there were some security issues they're fixing, and they expect it to be back in about 3-4 weeks. In the meantime, she recommended checking your balance frequently and changing your PIN every few weeks.

I work as an eligibility worker (not posting which county for privacy), and we've been getting calls about this all week. The freeze feature was temporarily removed due to a security update after they discovered vulnerabilities in the system. It's scheduled to return with the next app update, probably in early March. In the meantime, official recommendations are: 1. Change your PIN immediately and then again every 2 weeks 2. Check your balance at least every other day 3. Consider withdrawing benefits in smaller amounts if you're concerned (though I personally don't recommend this approach) If you do see unauthorized transactions, report them immediately by calling the number on the back of your card AND notify your county office. Benefit replacement for fraud can take up to 30 days to process, but they are prioritizing these cases right now.

GUYS be super careful right now!!! My sister just had $350 stolen from her CalFresh yesterday!! She said she always used the freeze feature but since it disappeared someone must have skimmed her card. She's a single mom with 2 kids and now has to wait who knows how long to get her benefits back. The county office told her 10 business days minimum but could be longer. I'm switching to only using my EBT at one store that I trust and checking my balance every single day until they fix this.

wat did the freeze button even look like? i been using ebt for 2 yrs and never seen this lol

Just a quick update - I checked with our technical team today and they confirmed the freeze feature should be returning in the next app update around March 10-15. They're also adding additional security features to help prevent skimming. In the meantime, please be extra vigilant with your EBT cards.

This is so helpful to know! I just joined this community after my case worker mentioned it. I've been using CalFresh for about 6 months now and honestly had no idea the freeze feature even existed until I saw this post. Now I'm kicking myself for not knowing about it sooner, especially reading about all the skimming issues. I'm definitely going to change my PIN right away and start checking my balance every day like everyone's suggesting. Thank you all for sharing this information - it's scary how they can just remove security features without warning us! Looking forward to when it comes back in March.

Just wanted to add my experience - I discovered the freeze feature was gone when I tried to use it after shopping at a new grocery store last week. I've been paranoid about card skimmers ever since my neighbor got hit for $400 at a gas station. What really bothers me is that there was zero communication about this "temporary" removal. If they knew there were security vulnerabilities, shouldn't they have warned us BEFORE taking away our only protection tool? I'm grateful for everyone sharing updates here because the official channels have been useless. Changed my PIN yesterday and I'm only shopping at two stores I trust until March. Stay safe everyone!

This whole situation is really eye-opening for me as someone who's relatively new to using CalFresh. I had no idea about the freeze feature until I saw this thread, and now I'm realizing how much I don't know about protecting my benefits. The fact that they can just remove security features without any notification is honestly terrifying. I've been pretty casual about checking my balance - maybe once a week at most - but after reading about everyone's experiences with skimming and fraud, I'm definitely going to start checking daily. Already changed my PIN and I'm going to stick to the two grocery stores I know are reputable until the freeze feature comes back. Thank you all for sharing your knowledge and keeping each other informed when the official system clearly isn't doing its job!

This is really concerning! I just started using CalFresh a few weeks ago and had no idea there even was a freeze feature until I saw this post. Reading about all the skimming incidents has me really worried - I've been using my card at different stores without thinking twice about security. I'm definitely going to change my PIN right now and start checking my balance every day like everyone's suggesting. It's frustrating that they removed a security feature without any warning, especially when fraud seems to be such a big problem. Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences and updates - this community is so helpful for staying informed when the official channels don't communicate properly!

I'm so glad I found this thread! I just got approved for CalFresh last month and honestly had no clue about any of these security features. Reading about everyone's experiences with card skimming is making me realize how naive I've been - I've been using my card everywhere without a second thought. The fact that they can just remove security features without telling anyone is really scary, especially for those of us who are new to the system and don't know what we're missing. I'm going to change my PIN today and start checking my balance daily like everyone's recommending. It's frustrating that we have to rely on community forums like this to get basic information about protecting our benefits. Thank you all for sharing your knowledge and looking out for each other - this is exactly the kind of support new recipients need!