EBT Edge app not loading benefits or showing wrong balance - Anyone else?
Has anyone else been having issues with the EBT Edge mobile app lately? For the past week, when I try to check my CalFresh balance, the app either freezes on the loading screen or shows a completely wrong balance. Yesterday it said I had $0 but when I called the hotline it said I actually have $237 left! I've tried deleting and reinstalling the app three times, cleared cache, even tried on my husband's phone, but nothing works. It's making grocery shopping super stressful because I never know what my actual balance is. County office put me on hold for 45 minutes before disconnecting. Anyone experiencing similar issues or know how to fix this?
34 comments


Carmen Ortiz
Yes! The EBT Edge app has been glitchy since they did that system update last month. I've found that the balance sometimes updates correctly around midnight but shows incorrect info during business hours - weird, right? Until they fix it, I'd recommend checking your balance by calling the EBT customer service number on the back of your card. That's the most reliable way to get your actual balance. The automated system works 24/7 and doesn't require talking to anyone.
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Yuki Yamamoto
•Thanks for confirming I'm not crazy! I'll try checking at midnight to see if that works. The phone system is reliable but such a hassle when I'm in the store trying to figure out what I can afford. Do you know if they're actually working on fixing it?
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Andre Rousseau
mine says -$45 somehow?? like how do you have NEGATIVE foodstamps lol. app is definitely broken.
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Zoe Papadakis
•Same here! Mine was showing negative $23 yesterday but then today it's randomly working fine. I think they're doing some kind of system maintenance but didn't bother telling anyone about it. Classic.
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Jamal Carter
The app has been a nightmare since I started getting CalFresh benefits in January. Half the time it won't even let me log in! I've basically given up on it and just call the number on my card before I go shopping. Wish they'd invest in better technology instead of making everything so difficult for people who need help. It's like they WANT to make this process frustrating.
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AstroAdventurer
•Totally agree! It feels like every government system is designed to fail. I waited 3 months just to get approved for CalFresh, and now I can't even check my balance properly. Had to explain to my kids why we had to put groceries back at checkout last week when the register said my card was declined, even though I supposedly had benefits. So embarrassing.
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Mei Liu
I was having the exact same problem last week! After struggling with the app and spending hours trying to reach someone at the county office, I found this service called Claimyr that helped me get through to a real person at CalFresh in about 10 minutes. They basically hold your place in the phone queue and call you back when a worker is available. I used it through their website at claimyr.com and watched their quick demo video (https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8) to see how it works. The CalFresh worker told me they're aware of the app issues and suggested using the website BenefitsCal.com instead of the app until they resolve it. Might be worth trying if you need to speak to someone directly about your specific account.
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Yuki Yamamoto
•Thank you! I'll check out that service because I really need to talk to someone about my account. The app is showing my next deposit date is wrong too, and I need to make sure my benefits aren't being affected. I'll try BenefitsCal in the meantime.
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Liam O'Sullivan
I work for a community organization that helps people with CalFresh applications, and we've been hearing about this issue from multiple clients. The EBT Edge app has been experiencing synchronization problems with the state's benefit management system. Here's what we're telling people: 1. The most accurate way to check your balance is by calling the EBT customer service number (not the county office) 2. BenefitsCal.com is more reliable than the app right now for checking benefit status 3. Your actual benefits are not affected - this is just a display issue 4. The system is supposed to be fully fixed by June 15th according to the last update we received If you're experiencing issues with your actual benefits (not just the display in the app), then you should definitely contact your county worker directly.
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Andre Rousseau
•june 15th?? thats like 3 weeks away! some of us need to buy food now lol
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Yuki Yamamoto
Update: I tried checking at midnight like someone suggested, and weirdly enough it DID show the correct balance for about an hour! Then back to showing $0 this morning. I also tried BenefitsCal but it only shows my last deposit amount, not current balance. Calling the number works but it's so inconvenient when I'm actually at the store trying to shop. Thanks everyone for confirming it's a widespread issue! At least I know my benefits are actually there even if the app is lying to me.
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Zoe Papadakis
•Pro tip: take a screenshot when it shows the right balance! That's what I've been doing so I at least have some idea of what I have left after shopping trips.
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Carmen Ortiz
Just got an email from CalFresh saying they're aware of the EBT Edge app issues and are working on fixing it. They recommend using the phone system or BenefitsCal website in the meantime. At least they finally acknowledged the problem! Hopefully it gets fixed soon.
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Yuki Yamamoto
•Thanks for sharing! I never got that email for some reason. Glad they're at least aware of it.
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Malik Thompson
I've been dealing with this exact same issue! The app has been showing my balance as $12 when I actually have over $150 according to the phone system. What's really frustrating is that I rely on the app to budget my grocery trips, especially when I'm shopping with my kids. I've started writing down my balance after calling the number each morning and keeping track of what I spend manually in my phone notes. It's old school but at least I know where I stand. Really hoping they get this fixed soon because constantly calling while trying to juggle shopping and kids is exhausting!
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Paolo Ricci
•That's such a smart workaround! I'm definitely going to start doing the manual tracking thing too. I hadn't thought of writing it down after calling each morning - that would save me from having to call while I'm actually in the store with my cart half full. It's ridiculous that we have to come up with these old school solutions for what should be basic technology, but at least we're all figuring out ways to make it work until they fix it!
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Paolo Longo
I've been having the exact same problem! The app showed I had $0 for three days straight, but when I called the number it said I had $89. What's really annoying is that I went to the store twice thinking I was out of benefits and had to leave empty-handed. Now I'm paranoid about checking my balance before every shopping trip. I tried the BenefitsCal website like someone mentioned but it's not much better - it takes forever to load and sometimes just times out. Really glad to know it's not just me dealing with this mess. Hopefully they actually fix it by June like that community worker said, but I'm not holding my breath given how long government systems usually take to get updated.
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Ivanna St. Pierre
•Oh my gosh, the exact same thing happened to me! I actually left the store twice last week thinking I was out of benefits when I really had money left. So embarrassing having to abandon my cart at checkout. I've started calling the number right before I go shopping now, but it's such a pain. At least we know our benefits are actually there even when the app is being completely useless. Fingers crossed they get this sorted out soon!
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Oliver Weber
I'm so relieved to find this thread! I thought I was going crazy dealing with the same exact issues. My EBT Edge app has been showing wildly incorrect balances for weeks now - sometimes $0, sometimes random amounts that make no sense. Just yesterday it told me I had $3.47 when I actually had $156 according to the phone system. I've been calling the customer service number before every grocery trip which is such a hassle, especially when I have my toddler with me. The phone system works but having to call while standing in the grocery store aisle trying to calculate what I can afford is really stressful. Thanks to everyone sharing their workarounds - I'm definitely going to try that midnight checking trick and start writing down my actual balance each morning like someone suggested. It's frustrating that we have to jump through all these hoops just to access our own benefits, but at least now I know it's a known issue and hopefully will be fixed soon!
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Ravi Sharma
•I totally feel your pain with having to call while managing a toddler in the store! That's exactly the kind of situation that makes this app issue so much more than just an inconvenience. I've been in similar spots where I'm trying to juggle my phone, my cart, and keep my kids from running off while waiting for the automated system to tell me my balance. The midnight checking trick has been a lifesaver for me - definitely try that! And yeah, it's wild that we're all having to become financial detectives just to buy groceries with our own benefits. Hopefully they actually stick to that June timeline, but like you said, government tech updates don't exactly have a great track record for being on time.
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Lauren Wood
I've been lurking on this community for a while but had to create an account to chime in on this! I'm having the exact same EBT Edge app problems - it's been showing my balance as $15.32 for over a week now, no matter how much I spend or when I check. Called the automated line and I actually have $203! What really gets me is that I almost didn't buy groceries for my family last weekend because I thought I was nearly out of benefits. I ended up doing a tiny shopping trip and felt terrible about it until I called to double-check. Now I'm paranoid about the app and call every single time before shopping. The worst part is when you're at checkout and your card gets declined even though the app says you have money - happened to me at Target and I was mortified. Thanks everyone for the workarounds and for confirming this is widespread. Really hoping they fix it sooner than June because this is affecting real families trying to put food on the table!
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Yuki Ito
•Welcome to the community, Lauren! I'm so sorry you're dealing with this frustrating situation too. That feeling of almost not buying groceries because you thought you were out of benefits really hits home - it's awful how this app glitch is making people second-guess whether they can afford to feed their families. The checkout decline situation is the worst! I've been there and it's so embarrassing, especially when you're already dealing with the stress of budgeting benefits. I'm glad you found this thread and realized you're not alone. Definitely try calling the automated line before shopping trips for now - it's annoying but at least reliable. Hopefully with more people speaking up about this issue, they'll prioritize getting it fixed faster than June. Thanks for sharing your experience!
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Zara Perez
I'm so glad I found this thread! I've been dealing with this exact same issue for about two weeks now. The EBT Edge app keeps showing my balance as $0.00 but when I call the number on my card, I actually have $142 left. It's been causing so much anxiety because I keep thinking I'm out of benefits when I'm not. I actually drove to three different stores last week trying to figure out why my card wasn't working, only to find out later that the app was just completely wrong. The phone system works but it's such a pain having to call every time I want to check my balance. I tried the BenefitsCal website too but it's super slow and sometimes doesn't load at all. Really hoping they get this fixed soon because it's making grocery shopping way more stressful than it needs to be. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and tips - at least now I know I'm not the only one dealing with this mess!
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Carmella Fromis
•Welcome to the thread, Zara! Your experience sounds exactly like what so many of us have been going through. That anxiety of thinking you're out of benefits when you're not is really hard to deal with - I totally get it. The fact that you drove to three different stores trying to figure out what was wrong really shows how disruptive this app issue is to people's daily lives. It's not just a minor inconvenience when it's affecting how we feed our families. I've been using the phone system before every shopping trip now too, and while it's reliable, it's definitely frustrating to have to do that extra step every time. Thanks for sharing your story - the more people who speak up about this, the more pressure there is to actually fix it quickly!
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Ravi Sharma
I'm having the exact same problem! The EBT Edge app has been completely unreliable for me too - showing either $0 or some random incorrect amount while the phone system gives me my actual balance. What's really frustrating is that I discovered this issue the hard way when my card got declined at the grocery store checkout, even though the app said I had $47 available. Turns out I actually had $184 according to the automated phone line! I felt so embarrassed having to leave my groceries behind. Now I make sure to call the EBT customer service number before every shopping trip, but it's such an extra hassle. I really appreciate everyone sharing their workarounds here - I'm definitely going to try that midnight checking trick and start keeping a written record of my balance. It's ridiculous that we have to work around a broken system just to access our own benefits, but at least we're all helping each other figure out solutions while we wait for them to fix it!
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Myles Regis
•I'm so sorry you had to experience that embarrassment at checkout! That's exactly the kind of situation that makes this app issue so much more than just a technical glitch - it's affecting people's dignity and daily lives. The fact that the app showed $47 when you actually had $184 is just wild - how does it get that wrong?? I've been following this thread as someone new to CalFresh (just got approved last month) and I'm honestly shocked at how unreliable this system is. It's bad enough navigating the application process, but then the tools they give you to manage your benefits don't even work properly. Thanks for sharing the midnight checking tip and manual tracking suggestions - I'm definitely going to start doing both. Really hoping they prioritize fixing this because nobody should have to abandon groceries at checkout due to a faulty app!
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Jacinda Yu
I'm dealing with this exact same issue! The EBT Edge app has been showing my balance as $8.50 for over a week now, but when I call the automated line I actually have $156. What's really frustrating is that I've started second-guessing every grocery trip because I don't trust what the app is telling me. Last Tuesday I almost didn't go shopping at all because I thought I was nearly out of benefits. I ended up calling the number from the parking lot of Safeway and discovered I had plenty left for a full week of groceries. It's such a relief to find this thread and know it's not just me! I've been feeling like I was doing something wrong or my account was messed up. Thanks to everyone for sharing the workarounds - I'm definitely going to start calling each morning and writing down my actual balance like some of you suggested. It's frustrating that we have to create these manual backup systems, but at least we can still access our benefits even if the app is completely unreliable right now.
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Sofia Peña
•I'm so glad you found this thread too, Jacinda! That feeling of second-guessing every grocery trip is exactly what I've been experiencing. It's crazy how this app issue is making all of us paranoid about something as basic as buying food. I had a similar parking lot moment at Walmart last week - sat there for 10 minutes calling the automated line because the app was showing something completely different from what I knew I should have. The manual tracking system really does help with the anxiety of not knowing your real balance. I've been writing mine down every morning after calling, and it's made grocery shopping so much less stressful. Hopefully they stick to that June timeline someone mentioned, but until then at least we've all got each other's backs with these workarounds!
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Connor Murphy
I'm also having this exact same issue! The EBT Edge app has been showing my balance as $23.14 for almost two weeks now, no matter what I spend. When I call the automated line, I actually have $89 left. It's so stressful because I keep worrying I'm going to run out of money mid-shopping trip. Last weekend I was at Kroger and the app said I had $23, so I was being super careful about what I put in my cart. Ended up only buying essentials and felt bad about not getting fresh fruit for my kids. Then I called the number later and realized I could have afforded a much better shopping trip! Now I'm calling before every store visit, but it's such a hassle especially when I'm trying to quickly grab groceries after work. Really hoping they get this fixed by that June date someone mentioned. Thanks everyone for the tips about checking at midnight and writing down the balance - definitely going to try those strategies!
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Axel Bourke
•Oh my heart goes out to you about not getting fresh fruit for your kids because you thought you didn't have enough money! That's exactly the kind of real impact this broken app is having on families. It's not just a technical inconvenience - it's affecting what we're able to put on our tables for our children. I've had similar moments where I've put things back that my family needed, only to find out later I had plenty of benefits available. The after-work grocery run struggle is so real too - you're already tired and just want to get in and out quickly, but instead you have to stand there calling the automated line while juggling everything else. I'm definitely going to try your approach of calling before heading to the store rather than from the parking lot. Thanks for sharing your experience - it really helps to know we're all dealing with the same frustrating situation and finding ways to work around it together!
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LilMama23
I've been dealing with this exact same frustrating issue! My EBT Edge app has been stuck showing $17.85 for the past 10 days, but when I call the automated number I actually have $124 available. What's really stressing me out is that I've started rationing my grocery trips because I thought I was almost out of benefits. I actually skipped buying protein last week because the app made me think I couldn't afford it - then I found out I had plenty left! It's affecting how I'm feeding my family and that's just not okay. I've tried everything - uninstalling, reinstalling, clearing cache, using different phones - nothing works. The phone system is reliable but calling every single time I want to check my balance is exhausting, especially when I'm juggling work and kids. Really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences and workarounds here. I'm definitely going to try that midnight checking trick and start writing down my real balance each morning. It's ridiculous that we all have to become detectives just to access our own benefits, but at least we're helping each other navigate this mess. Fingers crossed they actually fix this by June and don't push the timeline back like government systems usually do!
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Sadie Benitez
•I completely understand that stress about rationing grocery trips and skipping protein! That's such a real impact on your family's nutrition and wellbeing. It's heartbreaking that a broken app is making parents second-guess whether they can afford to properly feed their kids. I'm new to this community but have been reading through everyone's experiences, and it's clear this isn't just a minor glitch - it's seriously affecting people's daily lives and food security. The fact that you had plenty of benefits available but didn't know it really shows how harmful these technical failures can be. I'm definitely going to bookmark all these workarounds everyone has shared - the morning balance check and manual tracking seem like the most reliable strategies until they hopefully fix this mess by June. Thanks for being so open about how this is affecting your family - it really highlights why this needs to be a priority fix, not just whenever they get around to it.
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Natasha Volkova
I'm so relieved to find this thread! I've been having the exact same problem with the EBT Edge app for about three weeks now. It keeps showing my balance as $31.67 no matter what I spend, but when I call the automated line I have $178 available. What's really been getting to me is the anxiety every time I go to the store - I never know if my card will actually work or if I'll get that embarrassing decline at checkout. Just this morning I was at Target and almost put back the milk and eggs because I thought I was running low, but then I called from the cereal aisle and found out I had plenty left. It's exhausting having to call every single time, especially with my two young kids asking "why are we waiting, mom?" while I'm on hold. I've tried all the usual fixes - deleting the app, restarting my phone, even got a new phone thinking it was a device issue. Nothing works! Thanks to everyone for sharing the midnight checking tip and the manual tracking idea - I'm definitely going to start writing down my balance each morning after calling. It's frustrating that we have to create these workarounds just to buy groceries, but at least now I know it's not just me going crazy. Really hoping they stick to that June timeline because this is affecting real families trying to put food on the table!
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Aaliyah Jackson
•Natasha, I totally feel you on the anxiety of never knowing if your card will work! That constant stress of wondering if you'll be embarrassed at checkout is so draining. The cereal aisle phone call with kids asking "why are we waiting" really hits home - I've been in that exact situation so many times lately. It's bad enough dealing with a broken app, but trying to explain delays to impatient kids while you're just trying to buy basic groceries is its own special kind of stress. I'm also fairly new to CalFresh (got approved about 6 months ago) and honestly didn't expect the technology to be this unreliable. The manual tracking system has been a lifesaver for me - I call first thing in the morning now and write the balance on a sticky note that goes in my wallet. It's old school but at least I can shop with confidence. Hopefully they actually meet that June deadline because none of us should have to jump through these hoops just to feed our families!
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