EBT system errors causing CalFresh benefits to disappear - paper benefits better?

The EBT system definitely has its issues, but they won't be bringing back paper food stamps. Those were phased out nationwide years ago for good reasons (reduced stigma, better tracking, less fraud). For your specific problem, it sounds like there might be an account synchronization issue between your county's benefit system and the EBT network. Have you tried checking your balance through the BenefitsCal website rather than just calling the EBT customer service? Sometimes they show different information during system updates. Also, request an official benefit issuance statement from your county worker that shows exactly when benefits were loaded - this can help prove your case.

omg same thing happened to my sister last month!!! her benefits just disappeared from her card. took her like 2 weeks to get it fixed and meanwhile her kids had nothing to eat. the system is totally broken

I work with several CalFresh clients and I've seen this issue before. What's likely happening is one of three things: 1. Your EBT card could be damaged (magnetic strip issues) 2. There might be a system flag on your account that's automatically holding benefits pending verification 3. Your semi-annual report (SAR7) might have triggered a benefit recalculation First step: Get a printout of your EBT transaction history at any participating grocery store customer service desk. This will show if benefits were actually loaded and then spent, or never loaded at all. Different problems require different solutions. If benefits were never loaded, you need to contact your county eligibility worker directly. If benefits were loaded and then disappeared, that's an EBT card issue and you need to request a replacement card and possibly a benefit restoration.

I miss the old paper food stamps too sometimes! But remember they had problems too - they could get stolen, damaged, or lost and there was NO way to replace them. At least with EBT, if you report a lost or stolen card, your benefits are protected. I had a similar problem last year and it turned out there was a MAJOR system update happening that caused some accounts to show zero balance for about 48 hours. Super scary but the benefits came back. Have you waited a day or two to see if it resolves?

i had this happen once and it ws because my card got deactivated for suspicious activity (which i didn't do btw). they never even told me, just shut it off!! had to go in person to get it fixed

The WHOLE SYSTEM is designed to be frustrating so people give up and stop using their benefits. It's intentional. My worker admitted this to me off the record. They make it so complicated and difficult that people just stop trying to get what they're entitled to. Then the county gets to keep the money. Classic government tactics. They'll NEVER fix the system because it's working exactly how they want it to.

I had EXACTLY this issue last month! After trying for days to reach someone at the county (disconnected 4 times after waiting over an hour each time), I found this service called Claimyr that actually got me through to a real person at my county CalFresh office in under 5 minutes. They basically hold your place in line and call you when they reach a person. Saved me so much time and stress! Here's their website: claimyr.com They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 Once I finally spoke to someone, they found that there was a system flag on my account that incorrectly marked my last verification documents as "pending" even though I'd submitted everything. They fixed it that day and my benefits were restored the next day.

my neighbor had this happen and it turned out somone had stolen her card info somehow and emptied the account!! check if theres transactions you didnt make!!

Just to follow up on this - while there are legitimate frustrations with the EBT system, it's important to know your rights. If your benefits were authorized but not received, you can request what's called a "benefit restoration" once the issue is resolved. Also, if this emergency situation means your family has no food, you can request an expedited replacement of benefits due to hardship. Document EVERYTHING - take screenshots of your BenefitsCal account showing zero balance, note the dates/times you called, names of workers you spoke with, etc. This documentation will be crucial if you need to file for a state hearing later. The EBT system processes millions of transactions successfully each day, but individual technical issues do happen and should be addressed promptly, especially when children's nutrition is at stake.

UPDATE: I just checked with our county office about this issue, and there is actually a known system problem affecting some accounts right now. A recent software update to the EBT processing system created conflicts with certain account types. They're working on a fix, but in the meantime, affected clients need to contact their county worker directly to have benefits manually reauthorized. OP, definitely try using one of the methods suggested above to reach your worker directly. Once you explain this is a known system issue, they should be able to help much faster.

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this - it's absolutely terrifying when you have kids to feed and your benefits just vanish! I've been using CalFresh for about 2 years now and thankfully haven't had this exact issue, but I've definitely experienced the frustration of trying to reach someone at the county office. One thing that helped me in the past was going directly to my local county office in person if possible. I know it's a pain, but sometimes showing up physically gets faster results than calling. Also, if you have a case number, try logging into the BenefitsCal website and sending a secure message through their system - sometimes that gets a quicker response than phone calls. Really hoping this gets resolved quickly for you and your family. Keep us updated on what works!

I'm really sorry you're going through this stress with your benefits disappearing - having to worry about feeding your kids because of system glitches is absolutely unacceptable. While I understand the frustration that makes paper stamps seem appealing, the EBT system does have some important protections once you know how to navigate it. Based on what others have shared here, it sounds like there might be a known system issue affecting multiple accounts right now. I'd definitely recommend trying that Claimyr service someone mentioned to actually get through to your county worker - sometimes these technical problems can be fixed in minutes once you reach the right person who can see what's flagging your account. In the meantime, if your family is facing immediate food insecurity, don't forget that many local food banks and community organizations can provide emergency assistance while you're waiting for this to get resolved. Your kids shouldn't have to go hungry because of bureaucratic system failures. Keep documenting everything and don't give up - you're entitled to those benefits and there are people here rooting for you to get this fixed!

This is so frustrating and I completely understand your anger about the system! I've been a CalFresh recipient for about a year now and while I haven't had benefits completely disappear like yours, I've definitely experienced the nightmare of trying to reach someone at the county office. One thing that worked for me when I had a different EBT issue was calling the state's CalFresh hotline (1-877-847-3663) instead of just the EBT customer service line. They have access to different systems and can sometimes see things that the regular EBT folks can't. Also, they tend to have shorter wait times than calling your county directly. I know everyone's suggesting different ways to reach your county worker, but if none of those pan out, you can also file a complaint with the California Department of Social Services online. When there's an official complaint filed, counties are required to respond within specific timeframes. Hang in there - this shouldn't be happening to families and you have every right to be upset. Your kids deserve better than this broken system putting their food security at risk!