EBT Edge website down for anyone else in California?
Was trying to check my CalFresh balance on the Edge website tonight before grocery shopping tomorrow, but the site keeps giving me an error message. Can't log in at all. Is this happening to anyone else in California? Tried the app too but that's showing some maintenance message. Hoping this isn't some issue with my benefits because I just did my recertification last month and everything should be good to go. Getting kinda worried because I've got 3 kids to feed this week and my account was super low last I checked. Anyone know if there's scheduled maintenance or something?
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Emma Wilson
Yeah, I've been having the same problem for the last 3 hours. Called the number on the back of my EBT card and the automated system says there's maintenance until 2 AM. Apparently they're updating something in the system. Your benefits should still be there - it's just the website/app that's down. You can always check your balance by calling the EBT customer service number (it's on the back of your card) even when the website is down.
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Javier Cruz
•Omg thank you!! I was starting to panic that something happened with my benefits. I'll try calling the number to check my balance. I need to do a big grocery run tomorrow.
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Malik Thomas
its always going down on the 1st and 15th when benefits get loaded lol seems like they never plan for the traffic
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NeonNebula
•this happens EVERY SINGLE MONTH i swear!! the whole system is a joke. why can't they fix this??
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Isabella Costa
mines working now, try again
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Javier Cruz
•Thanks yall it's working now … I thought they had got me 😂😂
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Ravi Malhotra
If you're still having trouble accessing your CalFresh benefits online or through the automated system, I'd recommend using Claimyr to get through to an actual EBT customer service representative. I was stuck in the same situation last month during another outage and couldn't get through the phone lines. Claimyr got me connected to a real person in about 10 minutes when I had been trying for hours. They have a video that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8. Their website is claimyr.com if you want to check it out. It saved me a ton of stress when I needed to confirm my benefits were actually loaded during a system outage.
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Freya Christensen
•Does that actually work?? I've spent HOURS on hold with EBT customer service before and usually just give up.
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NeonNebula
ALWAYS take screenshots of your balance and benefits deposit dates!!! I learned this the hard way when the system went down right before I needed to go shopping. The county workers will tell you it's "just a glitch" but how are we supposed to plan our food budget when we can't even check our balance?? The whole system needs to be rebuilt from scratch IMO.
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Omar Farouk
•This is actually excellent advice. Screenshot your balance after each shopping trip, and especially after benefits are deposited. I also recommend writing down your monthly issuance date (when benefits are added to your account). For most CalFresh recipients, benefits are issued on a staggered schedule between the 1st and 10th of each month, based on the last digit of your case number.
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Malik Thomas
happened to me 2 i freaked out lol
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Javier Cruz
•Same! I was like nooo they cancelled my benefits somehow! But it's working again now thankfully
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Emma Wilson
For future reference, if you're having trouble with the EBT Edge website or app, here are some alternatives: 1. Call the EBT customer service number on the back of your card 2. Check your last receipt from a store where you used EBT (it usually shows your remaining balance) 3. Call your county CalFresh office directly during business hours 4. Use the BenefitsCal website (sometimes it works when EBT Edge is down) Also, if you're worried about your recertification status, that's separate from the EBT system. You can check that on BenefitsCal or by contacting your county office directly.
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Isabella Costa
•good info thx
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Sean Flanagan
This happens way too often! I've noticed the EBT system goes down almost every month around benefit loading time. What's frustrating is that they never send out notifications ahead of time about planned maintenance. A simple email or text alert would save so many people from panicking about their benefits. I always worry something went wrong with my case when I can't access the system. At least now I know to check the automated phone line first before assuming the worst!
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Callum Savage
•Totally agree! It would be so helpful if they had some kind of notification system. I'm new to CalFresh and this was my first time dealing with the website being down - I had no idea this was a regular thing! I was convinced something went wrong with my application or benefits. A simple text message saying "system maintenance from X time to Y time" would save everyone so much stress and confusion.
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AaliyahAli
This is so frustrating! I'm also new to CalFresh and had the exact same panic when I couldn't log in earlier tonight. I thought maybe I missed some paperwork or deadline since I just got approved last week. Thank goodness for this thread - now I know this is a regular occurrence and not something wrong with my case. I was planning to do my first big grocery trip with my benefits tomorrow so I really needed to check my balance. Going to save that customer service number from the back of my card in my phone for next time this happens. Really wish they would give us some kind of heads up about maintenance windows!
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Hunter Brighton
•Welcome to CalFresh! I totally get that panic - I had the same reaction when I first started using the benefits and couldn't access the system. It's really common for the EBT website and app to go down during high-traffic times, especially around the 1st and 15th when most people's benefits get loaded. Don't worry, your benefits are still there even when you can't see them online! For your first grocery trip, you can always ask the cashier to check your balance when you swipe your card, or call that customer service number before you go shopping. Hope your first shopping experience goes smoothly tomorrow!
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Max Knight
I'm pretty new to this community but wanted to chime in since I had the same exact experience tonight! I was trying to check my balance before heading to the store tomorrow morning and kept getting error messages. Reading through all these comments has been super helpful - I had no idea this was such a regular thing. It's reassuring to know it's just system maintenance and not an issue with my benefits. I'll definitely be saving that customer service number and taking screenshots of my balance like some of you suggested. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and tips!
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