EBT card keeps getting declined with 'technical issues' message - can't access CalFresh benefits

same thing happened to me last week!! so annoying. did u try entering ur pin really slowly? sometimes the machine cant read it if u go too fast

OMG the EBT system is SO GLITCHY lately!!! I swear they do this on purpose to make it harder for us to use our benefits. When this happened to me I had to go to the county office IN PERSON which took my entire day and three bus transfers just to get a new card. The worker acted like I was trying to scam them or something. The whole system is broken!!

This is actually a common issue with the EBT system in California right now. There are a few potential causes and solutions: 1. PIN issues - If you entered your PIN incorrectly multiple times, your card might be locked. You'll need to call the EBT customer service (not your county worker) to reset it. 2. Card deactivation - Sometimes cards get deactivated for security reasons, especially if there hasn't been activity for a while or if the system flags unusual purchase patterns. 3. Card damage - The magnetic strip or chip might be damaged. Look for visible scratches or bending. 4. System outage - There have been several EBT system outages recently affecting certain counties in California. The fastest solution is usually calling the EBT Customer Service at 1-877-328-9677. They can tell you exactly what's wrong with your card and fix most issues immediately over the phone. If they can't help, then you might need to contact your county office for a replacement card.

Have u tried using ur card at different times of day? I noticed mine sometimes won't work in the evenings but works fine in the morning. Also, try using it as "credit" instead of "debit" - sometimes that bypasses whatever technical issue is happening. But make sure you still enter your PIN when prompted!

When I had this exact problem trying to access my $380 CalFresh benefits, I was going crazy trying to get through to someone at the county. After spending two days calling and getting disconnected, I found this service called Claimyr that got me through to a real person at the CalFresh office in under 10 minutes. It was seriously a lifesaver. They have a video showing how it works at https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 and their website is claimyr.com. They basically wait on hold for you and call you once they have a real person on the line. My issue turned out to be that my card was flagged for suspicious activity (I had tried using it at too many locations in one day), and the worker was able to remove the flag immediately. Worth checking out if you can't get through on the regular line!

did u check ur balance online? sometimes it looks like the money is there on the automated phone system but the website shows a different story. go to www.ebt.ca.gov and check ur actual balance. also sometimes theres a delay between when benefits are approved and when u can actually use them even tho it says theyre there

One thing no one has mentioned is that sometimes merchants have issues with their EBT processing systems. If you've tried multiple stores, this probably isn't the issue, but it's worth knowing that not all store terminal problems are related to your card. I recommend calling the EBT customer service number others have mentioned. When you call, specifically ask them to check: 1. If your card is active or if it's been flagged 2. If there are any restrictions on your account 3. If there have been any failed transaction attempts and what error codes were recorded Those error codes are crucial because they tell exactly what's happening. Common codes include: - 51: Insufficient funds (even if your balance shows differently) - 54: Expired card - 55: Incorrect PIN - 61: Exceeding withdrawal limit If the customer service rep isn't being helpful, politely ask to speak with a supervisor who might have more technical knowledge about these issues.

did u try turning ur card on and off? like deactivate it and reactivate it through the website? fixed mine once

UPDATE: Problem solved! First, thank you all for your help. I called the EBT customer service number and asked about the error codes like someone suggested. Turns out my card had been flagged for "unusual activity" because I tried to use it at several different stores within a few hours (I was desperate and kept trying different places). The rep was able to remove the security flag right away, and I just used my card successfully at the grocery store! So relieved. If anyone else has this problem, definitely call the EBT customer service line directly rather than the county office.

Thanks for sharing the solution! This is exactly why I love this community - people actually follow up when they get their issues resolved. I had a similar "unusual activity" flag happen to me when I was traveling and tried to use my card in a different county. It's so frustrating that the system doesn't give you any clear indication of what's wrong - just generic "technical issues" or "card declined" messages. For anyone else reading this, it's worth knowing that rapid attempts at multiple locations can trigger these security flags, even though it's totally understandable why someone would try different stores when their card isn't working. The EBT customer service number (1-877-328-9677) really is the best first step for these kinds of technical issues.

I'm so glad you got this resolved! This thread is incredibly helpful - I've been dealing with some EBT issues myself and didn't know about that customer service number. It's really frustrating how the system gives such vague error messages when people are just trying to buy food for their families. The fact that trying multiple stores can trigger a security flag is something they should definitely tell people upfront. Thanks for taking the time to update everyone with the solution - it's going to help a lot of people who end up in the same situation!

This is such valuable information! I've been dealing with similar EBT card issues on and off for months and never knew about that dedicated customer service line. I always thought I had to go through my county office, which usually means hours on hold or taking time off work to go in person. The fact that security flags can be triggered just by trying to use your card at multiple stores is really important for people to know - it's such a natural response when your card isn't working to try somewhere else! I'm definitely saving that 1-877-328-9677 number. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and solutions here - this kind of practical knowledge makes such a huge difference when you're dealing with these frustrating system glitches.

Same and im in Bakersfield ca

Just wanted to add that I had this exact same issue last month in San Diego county! My card kept getting declined even though my balance showed $312 available. What's really frustrating is that I wasted gas driving to 4 different stores thinking it was a store-specific problem. Turns out it was the same "unusual activity" flag that @StarStrider dealt with. The EBT customer service rep explained that their system flags accounts when you try to use the card at multiple locations within a short time frame, which is so backwards since that's exactly what people do when their card isn't working! They really need to improve their error messages - saying "technical issues" when the real problem is a security flag just causes more confusion and stress. Anyway, calling that 1-877-328-9677 number is definitely the way to go for these kinds of problems. They fixed it in about 5 minutes once I got through to someone.

This whole thread is so helpful! I just started receiving CalFresh benefits last month and had no idea about any of these potential issues. The fact that the EBT system flags your card for "unusual activity" just for trying multiple stores is honestly ridiculous - that's literally what anyone would do if their card wasn't working! And those vague error messages like "technical issues" are so unhelpful when you're standing there with groceries you can't pay for. I'm definitely saving that EBT customer service number (1-877-328-9677) for future reference. It's amazing how much practical information you can get from this community that you just won't find anywhere else. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and actually explaining how this stuff really works!

This thread is incredibly informative! I just moved to California and got my first EBT card a few weeks ago, so I had no idea about any of these potential issues. The whole "unusual activity" flag system seems so poorly designed - of course people are going to try multiple stores when their card isn't working! It's like they're penalizing you for being persistent about trying to buy food. And those generic error messages are terrible - "technical issues" tells you absolutely nothing when you're standing there stressed out with groceries you can't afford to pay for out of pocket. I'm definitely saving that EBT customer service number (1-877-328-9677) in my phone right now. It's so valuable to have a direct line that can actually diagnose and fix these problems instead of having to go through the county office. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and solutions - this is exactly the kind of practical knowledge that makes such a difference when dealing with these government systems!

This whole thread has been such a lifesaver! I'm dealing with this exact same issue right now in LA County - my EBT card shows $298 available but keeps getting declined everywhere I try to use it. I was getting so frustrated and worried there was something seriously wrong with my account. Reading through everyone's experiences, it sounds like this "unusual activity" flag is way more common than I realized. I definitely tried my card at multiple stores yesterday when it wasn't working, so that's probably what triggered it. I had no idea that was even a thing! Going to call that EBT customer service number (1-877-328-9677) first thing in the morning. It's so helpful to know there's a direct line that can actually diagnose and fix these problems instead of having to navigate the county office system. Thanks everyone for sharing your solutions and following up with updates - this community is amazing for getting real answers to these confusing bureaucratic problems!

The new cards don't work. That's the problem.

Hey Mike, can you clarify what you mean by "new cards"? Are you talking about recently issued replacement cards, or cards with the new chip technology? I'm curious because most of the issues people are describing in this thread seem to be related to security flags rather than the physical cards themselves. The EBT customer service line should be able to tell you if there's a problem with your specific card or if it's a system issue. Have you tried calling 1-877-328-9677 to check?

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm new to CalFresh and had no idea about any of these potential issues with EBT cards. The "unusual activity" flag system seems so counterproductive - of course people are going to try multiple stores when their card isn't working! It's the most logical response. I'm definitely saving that EBT customer service number (1-877-328-9677) in my phone right now. It's so frustrating that the error messages are so vague - "technical issues" tells you nothing when you're standing there with groceries you can't afford. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences and actually following up with solutions. This is exactly the kind of practical information that makes navigating these systems so much easier!

This is such an important thread! I just went through this exact same situation last week in Sacramento County. My card had $215 loaded but kept getting declined everywhere - Target, Safeway, even the corner market. The worst part was standing in line feeling embarrassed while people behind me were getting impatient. Like everyone else mentioned, I had no idea that trying multiple stores would trigger a security flag! It's such backwards logic. I ended up calling that EBT customer service number (1-877-328-9677) and the rep was actually really helpful - she explained that the system flagged my account for "rapid successive transaction attempts" and cleared it immediately. The whole call took maybe 15 minutes including hold time. I really wish they would redesign those error messages to be more specific. "Technical issues" could mean literally anything, and when you're already stressed about feeding your family, those vague messages just make everything worse. Thanks to @StarStrider for posting this and everyone else for sharing such detailed solutions!

This whole thread has been incredibly educational! I just started receiving CalFresh benefits two months ago and had no idea about these security flags or that there was a dedicated EBT customer service line. The fact that trying multiple stores can trigger their system is so counterintuitive - that's literally the first thing anyone would do when their card stops working! I'm definitely saving that 1-877-328-9677 number in my phone. It's frustrating that the system gives such vague error messages like "technical issues" when people are just trying to buy food for their families. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences and solutions - this community provides so much more practical information than any official documentation I've seen. Really grateful for people like @StarStrider who take the time to update us with what actually worked!