EBT card suddenly not working at stores - CalFresh benefits showing but can't buy food

There are a few things that could be happening here: 1. Your card might be damaged or demagnetized (happens a lot with EBT cards) 2. Your benefits might be showing in your account but on hold for some reason 3. There could be a PIN issue - sometimes the system resets PINs 4. Your semi-annual report (SAR7) or recertification might have been due and not processed First thing - try using the EBT card at an ATM just to check your balance directly from the machine (not the phone system). Sometimes the phone system shows outdated info. If that confirms you have money, then try changing your PIN through the automated system. If none of that works, you need to reach your county office directly.

did u try turning the card different way? sometimes the cashiers swipe it wrong. or try using the chip if ur card has one. mine stopped working 4 times last year and it was just the magnetic strip getting worn out. they can mail u a new 1

This happened to me a few months ago - turns out they had put my benefits on hold because they claimed they sent me a verification request that I never responded to (I NEVER received it!). The most frustrating part was my CalFresh account online showed the benefits were available, but they were basically frozen. You absolutely need to talk to someone at your county office, but I know how impossible that seems. After trying for days, I found this service called Claimyr that got me through to a live person in about 10 minutes. You go to claimyr.com and they basically wait on hold for you and call you when they get a real person. They have a video showing how it works here: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 Totally worth it to avoid the hours of frustration. Once I finally got through, they fixed my issue that same day and I could use my card again.

Yes, it actually does work! It's the only way I've been able to reach anyone at the county office in the last year. Saved me hours of hold time and frustration.

THEY ARE ALWAYS DOING THIS!! The system is DESIGNED to make it impossible to get help. I've had my benefits mysteriously stop working 3 times in the past 2 years even though my account showed money available. Each time it was some stupid paperwork issue they never bothered to tell me about!!! Once was because they claimed I missed an interview that was never scheduled. Another time they said my verification documents "couldn't be read" but never asked me to resend them. The THIRD time they said I had another case in another county (I HAVE NEVER LIVED ANYWHERE ELSE). The system is broken on purpose to discourage people from getting the benefits they're entitled to!!!!!

Have you checked BenefitsCal to see if there are any notifications or alerts on your account? Sometimes they post messages there about required actions even if they don't successfully contact you another way. Also, did you recently hit your Income Reporting Threshold (IRT)? If your income went up and crossed that threshold (it's listed on your approval notices), and you didn't report it, that could cause a hold on benefits.

maybe u owe money back from an overpayment and they froze ur account? my sister had that happen and they took all her benefits for 2 months without warning her first

Just to clarify - they absolutely cannot legally just freeze your benefits without sending you a Notice of Action first. If they have, that's an appealable issue. Once you get through to someone, ask specifically if any notices were sent, when they were sent, and to what address. If they failed to properly notify you, make sure to mention that you want to appeal based on lack of proper notification.

glad you got it fixed! the same thing happened to my neighbor last month. the system is so broken!