EBT card suddenly showing canceled status - CalFresh benefits still accessible?

same thing happened to me last month!!! try turning the card over and use the magnetic strip instead of the chip. sometimes the chip gets deactivated but the strip still works. saved me at walmart when i was buying diapers

This is such a common problem with their system lately. There are a few things that usually cause this: 1. Your card may be damaged (especially if the chip isn't working) 2. There could be a temporary system issue with the EBT processor 3. Sometimes they deactivate cards if they suspect fraud 4. Your semi-annual report (SAR7) might have been due and not processed yet Before you panic - check your BenefitsCal account to see if your case shows active. If it shows active but the card isn't working, you probably just need a replacement card. You can request one through the EBT customer service line, but yes, they'll usually take 7-10 business days to arrive.

I think the county is doing this on PURPOSE to make us give up on our benefits!! my card got "canceled" THREE TIMES last year for no reason! They want us to get frustrated and give up! its all part of their plan to cut costs!!!!

Have you tried calling your local county office directly instead of the EBT customer service? They can sometimes reactivate your card on the spot if it's a system error. I had a similar issue and the county worker fixed it right away once I finally got through to them.

This is actually a very common issue that can happen for several reasons. Here's what I recommend based on my experience working with CalFresh clients: 1. First try the magnetic strip as someone suggested - that's a quick fix if it works 2. If that doesn't work, check if you've received any notices in the mail in the last 30 days. Sometimes they send a notice that your card will be deactivated but people miss it. 3. If your BenefitsCal account shows active, you'll likely need a replacement card, but while waiting: - Ask the county if they can issue an emergency replacement card at the office (some counties offer this) - See if they can provide a temporary emergency voucher - Check if your county offers same-day pickup for replacement cards (Los Angeles and San Francisco counties sometimes do) 4. Be sure to mention you have children when you speak with your worker - this can help prioritize your case for emergency assistance. One last thing - sometimes cards get deactivated if there's suspicious activity or if you haven't used it in several months, even if your case is active.

did u try the magnetic strip????? did it work????

Great to hear! For future reference, when this happens it's usually because the chip got damaged or demagnetized. You should still request a replacement card since the magnetic strip is being phased out at many retailers. When you call your worker, ask them to document in your case notes that the chip was faulty so there's a record in case it happens again.

I finally got through to my county worker today. Turns out there was a system update that accidentally flagged some cards as inactive. They're reactivating my chip remotely and I should be able to use it normally in 24-48 hours. For anyone else having this problem, definitely call your county worker and mention the system update from April 2025. Thanks everyone for your help!

So glad you got it sorted out! This is really helpful info about the system update - I bet a lot of people are dealing with this right now. It's crazy how a simple system glitch can cause so much stress when you're just trying to feed your family. Thanks for updating us with the solution, this will definitely help other people who run into the same issue. Hope your chip works perfectly once it's reactivated!

This is exactly why I wish they would send out notifications when they do system updates that might affect our cards! I've been on CalFresh for 3 years and this kind of random card issue has happened to me twice. It's so stressful when you're at the checkout with your kids and your card gets declined for no reason. Really glad the magnetic strip workaround helped you get groceries right away - that's such a useful tip that more people should know about. Definitely going to remember to ask about system updates if this happens to me again. Hope your chip reactivation goes smoothly!

Wow, what a rollercoaster! I'm so glad you got it figured out and that the magnetic strip trick worked to get you groceries right away. This whole thread has been incredibly helpful - I had no idea about system updates causing card issues like this. I'm bookmarking this post because I have a feeling this April 2025 system update is going to affect more people. It's really frustrating that they don't notify us when these updates happen, especially when it can leave families unable to buy food. Thank you for sharing the solution about calling your county worker and mentioning the system update specifically - that's going to save other people a lot of time and stress. Hope your chip reactivation goes smoothly and you don't have any more issues!