How to reach a real person for CalFresh EBT card issues? Automated number gets me nowhere!

omg same thing happened to me last month!!! the EBT customer service is USELESS. just robots talking to you forever. i think you need to call your actual county CalFresh office not the EBT card number. thats different. the card # is just for balance and lost cards.

The number on the back of your EBT card (1-877-328-9677) is specifically for card-related issues like checking balances, reporting lost/stolen cards, or resetting PINs. For issues with where your card works, you need to contact your county CalFresh office directly. You can find your county office number by calling the general CalFresh info line at 1-877-847-3663 (1-877-847-FOOD) and follow the prompts to get your local office contact information. Each county has different direct numbers. When calling your county office, be prepared with: - Your case number - The stores where your card isn't working - Any error messages you received when trying to use the card They might need to check if those stores are authorized CalFresh retailers or if there's an issue with your specific account.

I found a way to get through last time I had EBT issues! I used a service called Claimyr that got me through to a real person at my county office in like 15 mins. Before that I spent DAYS trying to reach someone. You can check it out at claimyr.com - they have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 Basically they wait on hold for you and call you when a real person picks up. Saved me so much frustration when my benefits were acting weird!

THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS DESIGNED TO MAKE YOU GIVE UP!!! They WANT you to get frustrated and stop trying to get help. I spent 6 HOURS last month trying to reach someone about why my benefits were cut by $87 without explanation!!! The EBT card number is useless for actual program questions. County offices NEVER answer phones. And when you go in person they tell you "we handle that by phone" 🤬🤬🤬 I literally had to take a day off work unpaid just to sit at the office until someone would help me.

There used to be a trick where you could press 0 repeatedly or say "agent" but they changed the system in 2024. Now for actual CalFresh questions (not just card issues) you have to call your county office directly. Some counties have better phone systems than others. Which county are you in?

For Alameda County specifically, the direct CalFresh number is 1-510-263-2420 or you can try their general social services number at 1-510-263-2400. When you call, have your case number and identification ready. As others have mentioned, the EBT customer service line (1-877-328-9677) is only for basic card functions - checking balances, reporting lost/stolen cards, or changing PINs. For issues about where your card works, you need to speak with county eligibility workers. If stores are declining your card even with a balance, there could be several reasons: 1. The store might not be authorized to accept CalFresh 2. Your account might have a temporary hold 3. You might be trying to purchase non-eligible items 4. There could be a system-wide technical issue If you can't reach someone by phone, Alameda County also has a customer service email: CustomerCare@acgov.org

my sister works for calfresh and says mornings are best time to call like right when they open usually less wait times

Something nobody mentioned yet - if your card isn't working at certain stores, first make sure those stores are authorized CalFresh retailers. Not all grocery stores accept EBT, especially smaller independent ones. But more importantly, verify what you're trying to purchase is an eligible food item. Remember CalFresh can't be used for: - Hot prepared foods - Household supplies - Medicine/vitamins - Pet food - Alcohol/tobacco Sometimes the card will decline if even one item in your purchase isn't eligible. The store should provide a receipt showing which items aren't covered by CalFresh. If you're sure these aren't the issues, then yes, definitely contact your county office using the Alameda number someone provided above. The EBT card customer service line won't be able to help with store acceptance issues.

so did u ever get this fixed? i'm having a similar problem now with my card working at some stores but not others

Just wanted to add that if you're still having trouble getting through to your county office, you can also try visiting their website and looking for online forms or chat options. Some counties have started offering virtual assistance or email support for CalFresh issues. Also, if you have a local community center or non-profit that helps with benefits applications, they sometimes have direct contacts at the county offices and can help advocate for you or get you connected faster than calling on your own.

One more tip that's worked for me - if you need to call the county office but keep getting busy signals or long hold times, try calling right at lunchtime (around 12-1pm) or later in the afternoon (3-4pm). Counter-intuitive, but sometimes those "off-peak" times have shorter waits because everyone assumes they're busy then. Also, when you do get through, ask the person helping you for their direct extension or supervisor's contact info in case you need follow-up help. Most county workers are actually pretty helpful once you reach them - the hard part is just getting through the phone system! Glad you got your issue resolved @Dana Doyle! Having your benefits suddenly stop working is so stressful, especially when you can't reach anyone to explain why.

Another option that's helped me when I couldn't get through by phone - try reaching out on social media! Many county offices and state agencies monitor their Facebook and Twitter accounts. I tweeted at my county's official account about my EBT card issues and got a direct message within a few hours with contact info for someone who could actually help. Sometimes public posts get faster responses because they don't want benefit issues visible on their social media feeds. Worth a shot if you're still stuck in phone tree hell!

I went through this exact same nightmare last year! The EBT customer service line is absolutely useless for anything beyond checking your balance. What finally worked for me was calling my county office first thing Monday morning (like 8:01 AM sharp) and staying on hold for about 45 minutes. Pro tip: Use speaker phone and do other stuff while you wait - don't hang up even if it seems hopeless. I also found that having all my info ready helped speed things up once I got through: case number, Social Security number, recent shopping receipts showing the declines, and the specific store names where your card isn't working. If your county has the same issue as mine did, it was probably a system glitch that flagged my account for "unusual activity" just because I shopped at a different store than usual. Took them literally 2 minutes to fix once I explained the situation to a real person. The whole system is designed terribly but the actual workers are usually pretty helpful once you reach them!

If you're still having trouble getting through to your county office, another option is to contact your local state assembly or senate representative's office. They often have constituent services staff who can help cut through bureaucratic red tape with benefits issues. I had to do this once when my county office wasn't responding and my benefits got suspended for no clear reason. The representative's office made a few calls and got my issue resolved within 48 hours. You can find your representatives at findyourrep.legislature.ca.gov. It might seem like overkill, but sometimes you need someone with more authority to advocate for you when the regular channels aren't working.

I just want to thank everyone in this thread for sharing such helpful information! I've been dealing with a similar EBT card issue for the past few days and was getting so frustrated with the automated system. Reading through all these responses has given me a clear action plan - I'm going to call my county office directly first thing Monday morning at 8:01 AM like Sofia suggested, and I have backup options like contacting my state representative if needed. It's really reassuring to know that other people have faced the same problems and found solutions. The distinction between the EBT customer service line and county offices makes so much sense now - I was definitely calling the wrong number! This community is amazing for sharing real, practical advice that actually works.

One thing that hasn't been mentioned yet - if you're having issues with your EBT card being declined at specific stores, you can also check the USDA's SNAP Retailer Locator online at www.fns.usda.gov/snap/retailer-locator to verify which stores in your area are actually authorized to accept CalFresh benefits. Sometimes smaller stores lose their authorization and don't immediately update their signage, or there might be temporary system issues with certain retailers. Also, if you're shopping at a store that definitely accepts EBT but your card keeps getting declined, ask the cashier to try running it as "EBT Food" rather than just "EBT" - some newer card readers require you to specify the benefit type. And always ask for a receipt showing the decline reason if possible, as this can help the county office troubleshoot your issue faster when you do get through to them. The county office route that everyone's suggesting is definitely the way to go though - the EBT customer service line really is just for basic card functions like balance checks and reporting lost cards.

I just went through something similar last month and it was so frustrating! What worked for me was calling my county office at exactly 8:00 AM when they opened - I got through on the second ring instead of waiting on hold forever. Turns out my card was flagged because I tried to use it at a farmers market that wasn't properly set up in their system yet. The county worker fixed it in about 5 minutes once I explained what happened. Also, if you're still having trouble, try asking the store manager at the places where your card isn't working - sometimes they can tell you exactly what error message their system is showing, which helps the county office figure out the problem faster. One manager told me their card reader was showing "invalid merchant" which helped narrow down that it wasn't an issue with my account but with how that specific store was coded in the system. Hope you get it sorted out soon! Having your benefits suddenly stop working when you need them is incredibly stressful.

Just wanted to share another resource that helped me when I was dealing with EBT issues - many food banks and community organizations have benefits navigators or case workers who are familiar with the CalFresh system and can help you navigate these problems. They often have direct contacts at county offices or know the best times to call. I went to my local food bank when I was having similar card issues and their benefits coordinator not only helped me figure out what information to gather before calling, but also sat with me while I made the call and helped explain my situation to the county worker. Sometimes having an advocate who speaks the "system language" can make all the difference. You can find local food banks and benefits assistance through 211 (just dial 2-1-1) or search online for "CalFresh enrollment assistance" in your area. Even if you don't need food assistance right now, many of these organizations offer free help with benefits issues as part of their services.

I just want to echo what everyone else has said about the distinction between the EBT customer service line and your county CalFresh office - this is SO important and I wish they made it clearer! I spent hours calling that 1-877 number when I had a similar issue where my card worked fine for balance checks but kept getting declined at stores. What finally worked for me was calling my county office on a Wednesday around 2 PM (seemed less busy than Mondays) and having everything ready: case number, the specific stores where it wasn't working, and screenshots of my balance from the EBT app. The worker told me there was a "merchant restriction" on my account that got triggered when I used my card at a gas station that also sells groceries - apparently their system flagged it as suspicious activity. One tip I'd add: if you have the EBT Edge mobile app, check if there are any alerts or notices on your account before calling. Sometimes there are messages about temporary holds or required actions that aren't obvious from just checking your balance. And definitely ask for a reference number when you call so you can follow up if needed! Really glad you got your issue resolved @Dana Doyle - it's such a relief when your benefits start working again after days of stress!