EBT system down in California? Card declined and locked out of account

omg same thing happening to me!! tried to use my card at walmart and it got declined. the cashier looked at me like i was trying to commit fraud or something, SO EMBARRASSING!! i have $342 on my card according to my last text alert. i haven't tried logging into the portal yet but now im scared to try if yours got locked. this is ridiculous, they need to fix this ASAP!!!

At least I'm not alone! Did you try calling the customer service number on the back of your card? Mine is 1-877-328-9677 but I couldn't get through to an actual person after waiting forever.

This is happening statewide right now. I work with several CalFresh clients and all of them have reported similar issues today. The EBT system appears to be experiencing a major technical outage. Here's what I can tell you:\n\n1. DON'T keep trying to log in to your EBT account as multiple failed attempts will lock you out of the system\n2. You shouldn't need to get a replacement card - your current card should work again once the system is back up\n3. The county offices are aware of the issue but they can't do much until the state-level system is fixed\n4. Based on previous outages, these typically resolve within 24-48 hours\n\nIf you need emergency food tonight, consider contacting your local food bank or calling 211 to find emergency food resources in your area. I know this doesn't solve the frustration, but hopefully it helps to know it's not just your account and you shouldn't need a new card once the system is restored.

Thank you so much for this information! I was panicking thinking I'd done something wrong or that my benefits got cut off without notice. I'll try to borrow some money from my sister for tonight and hopefully the system will be back up tomorrow. Do you know if they'll make any announcements when it's fixed?

i think its bcus of the system updates they were doing. got a text last week saying something about maintenance but didnt say itd affect using our cards! so mad right now cuz i had to leave all my stuff at the store and my kid is being all whiny about dinner

Wait, what text about maintenance? I didn't get any notification about scheduled maintenance. Was it from the official EBT number? Can you share what exactly it said? I check my texts religiously and definitely didn't see anything like that.

I'm experiencing the exact same issue. My card was declined at Grocery Outlet even though I have a $387 balance. When I called the customer service line, I kept getting disconnected after waiting 30+ minutes. It's beyond frustrating!\n\nI discovered that using Claimyr (claimyr.com) helped me finally get through to someone at the county. They have this service where they call and wait on hold for you, then connect you when a real person answers. I watched their quick demo video (https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8) and decided to try it since I was desperate. The worker confirmed it's a statewide system issue and advised against going to the office for a new card since the problem is with their central system, not individual cards.\n\nThey said engineering teams are working on it and estimated resolution by tomorrow morning. In the meantime, I contacted my local food bank for emergency assistance.

That's so helpful! I've been trying to get through to someone all day with no luck. Going to check out Claimyr right now because I need to know if my benefits will automatically work again or if I need to do something on my end when the system is back up. Thanks for sharing this!

theres always something wrong with this stupid system!!! first they made us reapply during the pandemic and now the cards dont work?? im so sick of dealing with this bureaucracy nightmare. meanwhile my kids are hungry and i look like im trying to scam the grocery store. THANKS CALIFORNIA

Exactly!! And it's always when you NEED it most! Last system issue happened right after Christmas when everyone was low on money. It's like they do this on purpose I swear 🤬

saw on facebook some ppl saying its working again in some counties. any1 tried their card in the last hour? im scared to try again and get embarrassed

I just successfully used my card at Aldi about 20 minutes ago in Sacramento County. The cashier mentioned several customers had issues earlier today, but it seems to be working now. Maybe try a small purchase first to test it?

UPDATE: Just received official confirmation from the California Department of Social Services that the EBT system outage has been identified and they're implementing fixes county by county. Some areas are already back online. They expect full restoration by midnight. \n\nYou do NOT need to get a replacement card or visit any office. Once the system is restored, your current card should work normally. Your account lock will automatically reset once their systems are functioning again.\n\nIf you need to check if your area is working yet, try calling the EBT customer service line and using the automated balance check feature. If it provides your balance, the system is likely working in your county again.

THANK YOU for this update! I was able to get through on the automated line just now and it gave me my balance, so I'm going to try using my card in a little bit. This whole situation has been so stressful, but I'm relieved it's being fixed and I don't need to get a new card or go to an office.

For future reference, when these system outages happen, many stores have an offline process they can use for EBT transactions. It's typically limited to a small amount (around $50) and not all cashiers know how to do it, but you can ask to speak with a manager. They can run your card offline with a manual voucher system during EBT outages. Doesn't help everyone, but it's good to know for essential purchases during these rare system failures.

I had no idea this was possible! Thanks for sharing this tip. Do you know which stores typically offer this? I usually shop at Food 4 Less and sometimes Target. Would either of those have this offline option?

UPDATE: My card is working again! Just used it successfully at the corner store. Thanks everyone for your help and confirming it wasn't just me having issues. This community is a lifesaver when navigating these CalFresh challenges!

So glad to hear your card is working again! This was such a widespread issue today - I saw reports from people in LA, San Diego, Fresno, and the Bay Area all having the same problems. It's frustrating how these system outages always seem to happen at the worst possible times. At least now we know for next time that it's usually a temporary technical issue and not something wrong with our individual accounts. Thanks for posting about this and keeping everyone updated!

I'm so relieved to see this thread! I'm new to CalFresh and when my card got declined at Safeway this morning, I thought I'd somehow messed up my application or that my benefits had been canceled. I spent hours on the phone trying to reach someone and was getting ready to take time off work tomorrow to go to the county office. Reading everyone's experiences here saved me so much stress and wasted time. It's really helpful to know that system outages like this do happen occasionally and that the cards usually work again once the technical issues are resolved. Thanks to everyone who shared updates and tips - this community is amazing for navigating these situations!

This is exactly why I always keep the EBT customer service number saved in my phone and screenshot my balance whenever I check it! Had a similar scare about 6 months ago where my card wasn't working at Target, and I was convinced my benefits had been cut off. Turned out to be a much smaller system glitch that lasted only a few hours, but the stress was unreal. For anyone new to CalFresh - system outages like this are thankfully pretty rare, but when they happen they can affect the whole state. The key things to remember: don't panic, don't keep trying to log in (you'll lock yourself out), and check online communities like this one to see if others are having the same issue. Usually means it's a technical problem, not something wrong with your account. Also, definitely save some local food bank numbers in your phone for emergencies like this - most don't require paperwork and can help bridge the gap during these outages.