Had to reset my EBT PIN and now my CalFresh card works - ATM cash issues fixed!
After 3 weeks of stress trying to access my CalFresh benefits, I FINALLY figured out what was going on! Every time I tried to use my EBT card at the ATM to withdraw cash benefits, it kept saying "invalid PIN" even though I KNEW I was entering it right. Called the EBT customer service number like 6 times but kept getting disconnected before reaching anyone. Finally went in person to the county office yesterday and they helped me reset my PIN code completely (turns out my card was partially blocked after too many wrong attempts, but nobody told me this!). Card works perfectly now! Posting this in case anyone else runs into this weird problem with their EBT. The county worker said this happens more than you'd think.
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Jamal Wilson
The exact same thing happened to me last month! I was freaking out because my kids needed food and I couldn't access anything. Did they give you any back benefits for the time you couldn't use your card?
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Zoe Papanikolaou
•No back benefits since technically the money was still on the card, I just couldn't access it. They said I should have come in sooner instead of just trying to call. But at least I can use it now!
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Mei Lin
Just to clarify something important here - it sounds like you might be confusing CalFresh with CalWORKs. CalFresh (food stamps) benefits cannot be withdrawn as cash from ATMs - they can only be used to purchase eligible food items at approved retailers. If you're withdrawing cash, that would be from CalWORKs benefits, which is California's cash aid program. Both programs use the same EBT card, but they're separate benefit types with different rules and eligibility requirements. Either way, I'm glad you got your PIN issue resolved!
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Zoe Papanikolaou
•Oh! You're right - I get both CalFresh and CalWORKs on the same card and always mix up which is which. The cash part is definitely CalWORKs. Thanks for explaining the difference. I was wondering why some stores would let me buy certain things and others wouldn't!
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Liam Fitzgerald
my ebt pin got locked 2x this year already sooo annoying
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GalacticGuru
For anyone dealing with EBT PIN issues, here's what you need to know: 1. After 4 incorrect PIN attempts, the card gets temporarily locked for security reasons 2. You can reset your PIN by calling the EBT Customer Service line (877-328-9677) 3. You can also reset it online through the cardholder portal at www.ebt.ca.gov 4. If going to the county office, bring your EBT card and photo ID Remember that PIN resets take effect immediately, but you'll need to wait until midnight before trying again if your card was locked due to too many attempts. Also, choose a PIN you can remember but isn't obvious (don't use 1234, birth years, etc).
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Amara Nnamani
•thank u for this info! never knew about the 4 attempts thing
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Giovanni Mancini
I had this same issue but couldnt get through on the phone ever!!!! spent like 3 days trying. finally gave up and went to the office and waited 4 hours just to reset a stupid pin. the system is designed to make us suffer i swear
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Fatima Al-Suwaidi
•I know the frustration of trying to reach someone at the county office. I actually found a service called Claimyr that helped me get through to a real person when I had PIN issues with my EBT card. Instead of waiting on hold for hours, they call and wait for you, then call you when they reach a person. Saved me a trip to the office. Check out their site at claimyr.com - they have a video showing how it works at https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8. It really helped when I couldn't afford to sit on hold all day with two kids at home.
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Mei Lin
One important thing to remember about your EBT card PIN: if you don't use your benefits for a while (usually more than 90 days), the system might flag your account as inactive even if you have the correct PIN. This is part of fraud prevention. If you're having trouble with your PIN and haven't used your benefits recently, make sure to mention this to the county worker or phone representative.
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Liam Fitzgerald
last time i went to the county office to fix my ebt they fixed it in 5 min but i waited 3 hrs to see someone lol
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Jamal Wilson
Does anyone know if you can have different PINs for the CalFresh part and the CalWORKs part of your benefits on the same card? I'm worried about someone getting my PIN and taking all my cash benefits.
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GalacticGuru
•Unfortunately, no - there's only one PIN per EBT card that accesses both your CalFresh and CalWORKs benefits. That's why it's especially important to choose a secure PIN and never share it with anyone. If you're concerned about security, you can change your PIN frequently through the EBT website or by calling customer service.
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Zoe Papanikolaou
Update: Just want to say thanks to everyone for your comments and advice! I've been using my card successfully for the past week. I also set up text alerts for when my benefits get loaded and for each transaction, so I can monitor my account better. Definitely recommend doing that if you haven't already!
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