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.

I went through this exact same situation about 6 months ago! My card got deactivated out of nowhere and I panicked because I had two young kids to feed. Here's what I learned that might help: If you can't get through to the county office phone lines, try calling different times throughout the day. I found that calling right after lunch (around 1-2pm) sometimes worked better than mornings when everyone calls. Also, if you have any WIC offices near you, sometimes their staff can help you navigate the CalFresh system or at least point you to emergency food resources while you wait. They deal with similar benefit programs and often know shortcuts. One thing that saved me was asking neighbors in my apartment complex if anyone had extra non-perishables they could spare for a few days. Most people are really understanding when you explain the situation, especially when kids are involved. Keep us posted on how it goes tomorrow at the county office! Fingers crossed they can reactivate your existing card like what happened to William.

I've been through this nightmare before and it's so stressful when you have kids depending on you! One thing that really helped me was going to the county office right when they open - I got there at 7:45am and was one of the first people in line. The staff seemed more helpful and less rushed in the morning. Also, if you do end up needing emergency food while waiting for your card, check if your local schools have weekend food backpack programs. Even during the school year, many schools have extra food pantry resources they can share with families in crisis situations like this. Another tip - when you call the EBT customer service line, write down the confirmation number they give you when you request a replacement card. That way if there are any delays, you can reference that number when calling back or visiting the office. Really hoping you get this sorted out quickly! Keep fighting for your family - you're doing everything right by being proactive about this.

This is such a helpful thread! I'm a single mom and this exact thing happened to me 3 months ago - my EBT card just randomly stopped working at the checkout line with a cart full of groceries. So embarrassing and scary when you're already stretching every dollar. What worked for me was actually going to the county office first thing in the morning like others suggested, but I also called the EBT customer service line (1-877-328-9677) while I was driving there. I stayed on hold during the entire drive and finally got through to someone who could see that my card was flagged due to a "security review" - apparently buying groceries at multiple stores in one day triggered their fraud detection system. The rep was able to remove the flag immediately over the phone, and my card started working again within 2 hours. So definitely try calling that number before going to the office - you might save yourself a trip! Also wanted to mention that if anyone reading this is in the Bay Area, the Alameda County Social Services office on San Leandro Street has been really good about same-day EBT replacements in my experience. They seem more equipped than some of the smaller offices. Dominic, really hoping you get this resolved quickly! Having kids depending on you makes this situation so much more stressful.

I work as a case worker for a different county but deal with EBT card issues daily. A few additional things that might help: 1. If your card was deactivated due to "unusual activity," they sometimes require you to verify recent transactions before reactivating. Have your receipts from the last few purchases ready just in case. 2. Some counties have a "Card on Demand" program where they can print replacement cards instantly - ask specifically if your county has this service when you call or visit. 3. If you end up needing a new card mailed, you can sometimes get expedited shipping (usually arrives in 2-3 business days instead of 5-7) if you explain it's for emergency food access for children. 4. Document everything - get names, reference numbers, and confirmation numbers for any calls or visits. This helps if you need to escalate or follow up later. The system can be frustrating but most workers genuinely want to help families get food access restored quickly. Don't hesitate to advocate firmly for your family's urgent needs. Good luck tomorrow!

This thread has been so incredibly helpful! I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - my EBT card got declined yesterday at Target and I have no idea why. My benefits should be fine and I haven't missed any paperwork deadlines. Reading through everyone's experiences and solutions has given me a much clearer action plan. I'm going to try calling the EBT customer service line first thing tomorrow morning at 8am like Victoria suggested, and if that doesn't work I'll head straight to my county office with all my documents ready. The tip about asking specifically for "Card on Demand" service is something I never would have known to ask for. It's so reassuring to see this community come together to help each other navigate these frustrating system issues. Dominic, I really hope you were able to get your card reactivated today! Please update us when you can - your situation is helping so many other families who are dealing with the same problem. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences and practical tips. This is exactly why I love this community!

So glad to hear you got it resolved, Dominic! This is exactly why I love this community - everyone jumped in with such helpful advice and real experiences. The fact that it was just a "suspicious activity" flag from shopping at two stores is both frustrating and reassuring at the same time. Frustrating that the system is so sensitive, but reassuring that it was fixable quickly once you got to the right person. Your experience is going to help so many other families who run into this same issue. I'm bookmarking this thread for future reference - it's like a complete troubleshooting guide for EBT card problems! Thanks for taking the time to update us even though you were probably exhausted from dealing with all the stress. Really happy your kids won't have to worry about food this week. 💙

Wow, what a journey this thread has been! I'm new to this community but have been following along as someone who's had my own EBT card issues in the past. Reading through everyone's experiences and seeing how you all came together to help Dominic is just incredible. The fact that something as normal as shopping at two different stores can trigger a fraud alert and deactivate your card is honestly mind-blowing to me. The system seems way too sensitive when families are just trying to find the best deals or when their usual store is out of stock. I wanted to add one more tip that helped me when I had card issues - if you're ever in this situation and the county office is closed (like on weekends), some 24-hour pharmacies like CVS or Walgreens can check if your EBT card is active by running a small transaction. It won't solve the problem but at least you'll know if it's a card issue or an account issue before you waste time calling different numbers. Dominic, so happy you got everything resolved! And thank you to everyone who shared their expertise - this thread is going to help so many families in the future. This community is amazing! ❤️

This entire thread has been such a lifesaver for understanding EBT card issues! As someone who just started receiving CalFresh benefits last month, I had no idea how many different things could cause your card to suddenly stop working. The fact that shopping at two different stores can trigger a fraud alert is honestly terrifying - that's exactly what I do every week to find the best deals and stretch my benefits further. Dominic, I'm so glad you got your card reactivated the same day! Your experience and everyone's advice here has taught me so much about how to handle this if it ever happens to me. I'm definitely going to keep this thread bookmarked. One question for the more experienced folks here - is there any way to prevent the "suspicious activity" flags from happening? Like, should I call ahead if I'm planning to shop at multiple stores in one day, or is there a way to notify them about unusual shopping patterns? I travel for work sometimes and worry about using my card in different cities triggering the same kind of flag. Thanks again to everyone who shared their knowledge and experiences. This community is incredible for helping families navigate these complex systems! 💚