EBT card suddenly deactivated - need urgent help replacing it for CalFresh benefits

This happened to me last month! There are a few possible reasons your card might've deactivated: 1. Your card was inactive for 180+ days 2. You entered your PIN wrong too many times 3. You reported it lost/stolen previously 4. There's a system glitch (happens more than they admit) For replacement, you have three options: - Visit your county office in person (fastest, same-day replacement possible) - Request online through BenefitsCal portal (takes 5-7 days typically) - Call the EBT customer service number (not the county) at 1-877-328-9677 to request replacement If you absolutely need emergency food right now, ask your county worker about emergency food assistance while waiting for your replacement card.

mine did this during recert, took FOREVERRR to get help, they kept bouncing me back and forth between departments, said it was a "system flag" whatever that means 🙄

I work with a local food bank and see this problem frequently. If you go to your county office in person, ask specifically for an "Immediate Need" or "Emergency Replacement" EBT card. Bring your ID and know your case number if possible. Many counties can print a card on-site the same day, though some rural counties may not have this capability. While you're waiting, you can also apply for emergency food assistance through local food banks. Call 211 to find locations near you that have emergency food boxes with no waiting period. Some even deliver if you have transportation issues.

Have you checked if you got flagged for fraud? Sometimes they deactivate cards when theres a suspicious purchase or something. My cousin had his card deactivated because he bought groceries in Nevada when he was on vacation (didnt know you couldnt use it out of state).

I had a similar issue last year and spent HOURS trying to reach someone at the county office. After getting disconnected multiple times, I found this service called Claimyr that helped me get through to a real person at the CalFresh office. You just go to claimyr.com and they basically wait on hold for you, then call you when a real person picks up. Saved me so much frustration! They have a video showing how it works here: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 When I finally got through, I found out my card was deactivated because they needed to verify my address after I moved but the notice got lost in the mail. The replacement took 3 days after they sorted everything out.

Something to watch out for - check if your semi-annual report (SAR7) or recertification was due recently. If you missed submitting required paperwork, they sometimes deactivate the card instead of just stopping future benefits. It's a really harsh policy but happens a lot. Check your BenefitsCal account to see if there are any pending tasks or notices.

Try the customer service this morning, they open at 8am and it's less busy than afternoons. just don't press any buttons and wait for a live agent. sometimes if u press all the menu options it just disconnects u lol. good luck!!

I had this happen and finally got it fixed yesterday! In my case, they said there was a "card status mismatch" in their system. Apparently sometimes when they update their systems, active cards get flagged as inactive. I had to go in person to the county office with my ID and proof of address. The worker reactivated my existing card rather than issuing a new one, and it worked immediately. I was able to use it at the store about an hour later.

Just to follow up on what others have said - when you go to the county office, bring these documents to speed things up: 1. Photo ID 2. Your deactivated EBT card (they sometimes can reactivate it) 3. Proof of address (utility bill or lease) 4. Something showing your case number if you have it Also, make sure to tell them it's an urgent food security issue for your family. Some counties have a triage system that prioritizes emergency food access cases. If they say they can't help you same-day, specifically ask to speak with an "Emergency Response Worker" or supervisor about expedited service.