EBT card not working after PIN change - CalFresh benefits accessible but locked out?

I had this exact same problem last month! The system glitches sometimes when you change your PIN through the automated system. What you need to do is call the EBT customer service line (not the county office) at 1-877-328-9677. They can unlock your card over the phone. Make sure you have your card number ready when you call. Sometimes there's a 24-hour processing period for PIN changes, but they can still help you if you're locked out completely.

this happens ALL THE TIME with the stupid ebt system!! i changed my pin like 5 times last year and half the time it would mess up. so frustrating when ur at the checkout with a cart full of food and cant pay!! they really need to fix this garbage system

You might be entering the wrong PIN. When you changed it, did you make sure to enter the new one twice when it asked you to confirm? A lot of people mess up at that step. Also, are you sure you're using the right card? I know it sounds silly but I once spent an hour trying to figure out why my PIN wasn't working only to realize I grabbed my regular debit card instead of my EBT card (they look similar in my wallet).

I work with CalFresh clients and see this problem frequently, especially at the beginning of the month when their systems are overloaded. Here's what you need to know: 1. The EBT PIN system has a separate database from the benefits system, which is why you can see your balance but not access it. 2. After 4 incorrect PIN attempts, your card automatically locks for security reasons. 3. To unlock it, you MUST call the EBT customer service line, not your county office. They're the only ones with access to the PIN system. 4. You'll need: your card number, your social security number, and your date of birth to verify identity. 5. They can unlock it immediately over the phone and let you set a new PIN. If you're stuck on hold forever, check out Claimyr.com - they can hold your place in line and call you back when a representative is available. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8. I've had clients use it with good results when the wait times are unbearable.

omg i hate when the pin thing happens!! but also did anyone else get that message about changing pins?? is this a scam thing going around or legit? i never got told i had to change mine before

I think there might be a broader system issue happening. My card worked fine yesterday morning but was declined last night even though I haven't changed my PIN recently. When I checked my balance on the app it showed my benefits were there but I couldn't use them. Maybe it's not just about your PIN change but some EBT system maintenance they're doing? Has anyone heard about scheduled maintenance?

What helped when I was dealing with this issue last year was writing down the steps I took with the automated system when changing my PIN. The customer service rep told me that sometimes the system records the wrong PIN if you press the keys too quickly or if there's a bad connection. For future reference: 1. When changing your PIN, pause briefly after each digit you enter 2. When it asks you to confirm, enter the exact same number again (some people get confused and think they need to enter their old PIN to confirm) 3. Wait for the complete confirmation message before hanging up 4. Try not to use your PIN for at least 2 hours after changing it to give the system time to update I've never had an issue since following these steps.

Just curious - did you change your PIN because of an actual official notice or was it a text message telling you to change it? There have been some EBT scams going around recently where people get texts saying they need to update security info but it's actually fraudsters. If you called the number from a text rather than the official number on your card, you might want to report it.

UPDATE: Finally got through after 3+ hours on hold! The rep said there was an error in their system that caused some PIN changes to not process correctly, but my benefits were never at risk. They unlocked my card and helped me set a new PIN. Just wanted to update in case anyone else runs into this issue. She also mentioned they've been getting tons of calls about this same problem this week, so it seems like a bigger system issue.

THE WORST PART is how they lock you out after only 3 tries!!! my old bank gave you like 5 chances before locking a card. 3 is way too few especially when their system is glitching. and then u have to waste half ur day on hold to fix THEIR MISTAKE. its like they WANT to make it hard for us to actually use our benefits!!

I'm so glad you got this resolved! This is exactly why I always recommend people save that Claimyr service info that @Payton Black mentioned - 3+ hours on hold is absolutely ridiculous when you need to feed your family. I've been dealing with EBT issues for years and it seems like every time they "update" something for security, it just creates more problems for us. At least now we know this is a widespread system glitch and not user error. Thanks for sharing your experience - it'll definitely help other people who run into the same thing!

This is such a common issue and it's really frustrating how poorly the EBT system handles PIN changes! I went through something similar about 6 months ago. One thing that helped me was immediately writing down the exact time and date I changed my PIN, along with any confirmation numbers they gave me. When I had to call customer service later, having that info made the process go much faster. Also, for anyone dealing with this in the future - if you're ever unsure whether a PIN change went through, you can call the balance inquiry line and if it asks you to change your PIN again, that usually means the first attempt didn't work. It's saved me from getting locked out a couple times since then. So glad you got it sorted out @Marilyn Dixon and thanks for the update!

I just went through this exact same nightmare last week! The PIN change system is seriously broken right now. What made it even worse for me was that I was traveling and got locked out while trying to buy groceries in a different city where I didn't know anyone. Had to survive on snacks from a gas station until I could get through to customer service the next day. The rep told me they've had a huge spike in these PIN change failures since they rolled out the new "security enhancement" system in March. She said if you get the automated prompt to change your PIN, you can actually select "remind me later" and it'll give you 30 days before forcing the change - which might be safer than doing it right away while they're still working out the bugs. Really glad you got yours sorted out @Marilyn Dixon! This thread is going to be so helpful for others dealing with this mess.

This whole thread has been so eye-opening! I'm new to CalFresh (just got approved last month) and had no idea these PIN change issues were so common. Reading everyone's experiences makes me feel way more prepared for when I inevitably run into system glitches. I'm definitely saving that EBT customer service number and the Claimyr service info that @Payton Black shared. It's honestly ridiculous that we have to have backup plans and workarounds just to access the benefits we're entitled to, but I'm so grateful for this community sharing all these practical tips. The fact that they're basically using us as guinea pigs for their "security enhancements" without proper testing is infuriating - these aren't just inconveniences when you're trying to feed your family! Thanks to everyone who shared their stories and solutions, especially @Marilyn Dixon for the detailed updates. This is exactly the kind of real-world info you can't get from official sources.

This is such valuable information! I just joined this community because I'm having similar issues with my EBT card - not with PIN changes, but random declines even when I have benefits available. Reading through all these experiences makes me realize how widespread these system problems really are. The fact that @Marilyn Dixon had to wait over 3 hours on hold just to fix their mistake is absolutely unacceptable. I'm definitely saving all the tips shared here, especially the Claimyr service and that smart advice about writing down confirmation numbers and times. It's frustrating that we have to become experts on workarounds just to use our benefits reliably, but I'm so grateful for this community sharing real solutions. Thank you everyone for being so helpful - this is the kind of practical support that makes a real difference when you're dealing with a broken system!

I'm so sorry you went through this stress @Marilyn Dixon, but thank you for sharing such a detailed account of what happened! This is incredibly helpful information. I'm a new CalFresh recipient and honestly had no idea that PIN changes could cause such major issues. The fact that you had to wait 3+ hours on hold to fix THEIR system error is absolutely ridiculous - especially when you have kids to feed and limited time to deal with bureaucratic nonsense. I'm definitely bookmarking that Claimyr service that @Payton Black mentioned and writing down all the tips people have shared here. It's sad that we need backup plans and workarounds just to access our basic benefits, but this community knowledge is invaluable. I'm also making a note to select "remind me later" if I get that automated PIN change prompt until they get their system bugs worked out. Thanks again for taking the time to update us on the resolution - knowing this was a widespread system issue and not user error will really help others who encounter the same problem!

This is such an important thread - thank you @Marilyn Dixon for sharing your experience and keeping us updated! I've been on CalFresh for about 8 months and thankfully haven't hit a PIN change issue yet, but reading everyone's stories has me definitely prepared now. The 3+ hour wait time is absolutely unacceptable when people need to access their benefits to feed their families. I'm saving that Claimyr service info and all the other tips shared here. What really gets me is how they rolled out this "security enhancement" without proper testing - we shouldn't be the ones suffering when their system fails. I'm also going to remember that tip about selecting "remind me later" when the automated prompt comes up, at least until they work out these bugs. It's frustrating that we have to strategize around their technical problems, but I'm so grateful for this community sharing real solutions and support when the official system lets us down!

Wow, this whole thread has been such an eye-opener! I'm really sorry you had to go through that stress @Marilyn Dixon, but thank you for documenting everything so thoroughly - it's going to help so many people. I've been on CalFresh for about 2 years and I actually got one of those automated PIN change prompts just last week. After reading all this, I'm SO glad I hit "remind me later" instead of doing it right away! I had no idea their new security system was causing so many issues. The fact that you waited over 3 hours on hold to fix THEIR mistake is absolutely infuriating - especially when you have kids to feed. I'm definitely saving that Claimyr service info and all the other practical tips everyone has shared here. It's ridiculous that we need backup plans and workarounds just to access our basic benefits, but this community is invaluable for sharing real-world solutions when the official system fails us. One thing I'd add based on my experience: if anyone else gets locked out like this, some food banks or community organizations can provide emergency food assistance while you're waiting to get your card fixed. It's not ideal, but it can help bridge the gap when you're dealing with these system failures and can't afford to wait days for resolution.

This thread has been incredibly helpful - thank you so much @Marilyn Dixon for sharing your experience and keeping everyone updated! I'm fairly new to CalFresh (about 4 months) and had no idea these PIN change system failures were so common. Reading everyone's stories and tips has me feeling much more prepared for when I inevitably encounter similar issues. The 3+ hour wait time you endured is absolutely unacceptable, especially when you have kids to feed and it was their system error, not yours. I'm definitely saving that Claimyr service info that @Payton Black shared - that sounds like a game-changer for dealing with these ridiculous hold times. I'm also taking notes on all the practical tips shared here: writing down confirmation numbers and times, using the "remind me later" option for PIN changes until they fix these bugs, having backup emergency resources like food banks, and being strategic about when to make system changes. It's frustrating that we need all these workarounds just to access our basic benefits reliably, but this community knowledge is invaluable when the official system fails us. Really glad you got everything resolved in the end! This whole discussion is going to help so many people who run into the same problem.

This thread has been such a lifesaver to read through! I'm about 6 months into CalFresh and thankfully haven't encountered the PIN change nightmare yet, but wow - the fact that @Marilyn Dixon had to wait over 3 hours to fix THEIR system glitch is absolutely maddening. When you've got kids to feed and a cart full of groceries, every minute counts. I'm definitely saving all the incredible resources shared here, especially that Claimyr service from @Payton Black and the genius tip about hitting "remind me later" when you get those automated PIN change prompts. It's honestly shocking they rolled out this "security enhancement" without proper testing - we shouldn't be unwilling beta testers for a system we depend on for basic necessities! The practical advice everyone's shared here is pure gold: writing down confirmation numbers, avoiding system changes on weekends, keeping emergency cash if possible, and knowing about food bank options as backup. It's ridiculous that we need all these workarounds, but this community knowledge is literally invaluable when the official system fails us. Thank you everyone for turning a frustrating experience into such a helpful resource for all of us navigating this broken system!